Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Welcome to the second of our three-part “Psalm Summer” Bible study series. If you missed Part 1, there was obviously a “Communication Breakdown.” So, for 2.5 minutes while waiting for you to catch up, we will be energized by some aging rock gods.
Before we hear from the real God who speaks in the Psalms, be reminded of the personal connection you can have with these passages. The Lord can speak to you through Psalms about whatever is on your heart or mind. So, I encourage you to pray and ponder their meaning. Based on the comments and emails I received, this belief was shared and confirmed, showing the power of Psalms to connect with us on a personal level.
Our first Psalm passage is among the most famous and widely recognized by its opening verse:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4).
David wrote Psalm 23 in a time of distress overlayed by his trust in the Lord. Remember that David was a shepherd in his youth. Therefore, the opening verse reflects his understanding of the relationship between the flock and its leader. Read more about the theological meaning of “shepherd” in Vol. 72.
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A central theme of Psalm 23 is that during one’s lifetime, through perilous times, one must overcome fear and rely on God’s provision and guidance. Most often, the Psalm is read at funerals to lift the spirits of mourners with a poignant reminder that this life is transitory and we will return to our eternal home: “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
Now let’s review Psalm 103, also authored by David. Psalms are prayers of praise, while many are gut-wrenching cries for help. Psalm 103 falls into the praise category. However, when life is challenging, the Lord still expects us to praise Him because we are supposed to trust Him during good times and bad.
Therefore, if you are experiencing a dark time, lift yourself up, muster the energy to be strong, and read all 22 verses. Warning: That will not be an easy task, and don’t hold back tears because Psalm 103 reads with great truth and authority. Moreover, the greatest power in the universe wants you to read His truth. Here are the first five verses:
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Praise the Lord, my soul, and who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles” (Psalm 103:1-5).
Moving on, we review the eight-verse Psalm 121, which sounds like it was written before embarking on a journey or pilgrimage. Since summer is traditionally the travel season, these verses can offer comfort and a reminder to save an extra seat for the Lord:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121).
Now, we discuss a very personal-sounding Psalm 139. It clearly suggests that God knows every fiber of your being and every thought you form. Pointing to that truth is an extraordinary verse:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
If that verse sounds familiar, it also appears early in Jeremiah when the Lord told the prophet his mission:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Keep in mind it is estimated that Psalms were written between 1010 - 930 BC, while Jeremiah was authored between 656 - 586 BC—roughly about 350 years after the Psalms. However, God’s words about how He formed and knew you are so breathtaking that He repeated them for Jeremiah. Today, that verse is cited by the pro-life movement.
Since Psalm 139 has 24 verses, there is only space for a select few, which means you must read it on your own while celebrating “Psalm Summer”:
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely” (Psalm 139:1-4).
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-16).
Psalm 139 ends with David asking for self-improvement:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Thanks for reading this far. Join us next week as we study the New Testament’s most frequently quoted Psalm. As always, I look forward to your comments and emails since this is an interactive Bible study. God bless you!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor-supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit will host a four-day exhibit at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 17-21. Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>
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