If I were allowed access to only one book of the Bible, it would have to be the Book of Psalms.
Because it contains just about everything; the story of creation, the history of the Israelites, God’s interaction with his people, descriptions of the world to come, encouragement from others, examples for daily living, and much more.
The psalms are often referred to as beautiful poetry; I even own a book called The Psalms, Poetry on Fire. But they are even more than that; they depict life’s trials and triumphs, the setbacks, failures, and losses, and also the joy of milestones, achievements, love, and hope.
We can sense the psalmist’s intimate relationship with God with how clearly he described His many qualities. We can find encouragement and motivation to give thanks and praise to God just as the original writers did.
Amazingly, this book can have the same effect upon us today as it had on people over thousands upon thousands of years gone before us – is there any other book that can make that claim?
The Book of Psalms is even much more than that, though. It foretold the coming of Jesus, and the 1st century Bible writers quoted extensively from the Psalms because they played an essential part in identifying Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
Jesus’ last words before his death were from Psalm 31.5. Psalm 16:10 was a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection.
After his ascension to heaven, Jesus is seated at his Father’s right hand, awaiting the completion of Psalm 110:1.
For me, the Psalms contain the fulness of God’s unconditional love and hope that he has for his creation, for his people.
I would like to encourage you to read them often, acquire the taste, and make it a habit to soak yourself in the great wisdom that the psalms contain.
You might like to start by reading some of my articles which unpack the meaning of different Psalms;
Psalm 23 ~ The Good Shepherd
Psalm 121 ~ He watches over you
Psalm 91 ~ A Psalm of Comfort
As you draw closer to God, you will begin to sense the breadth and length and height and depth of His love for us all through these Psalms.
The more we understand and accept God’s love, the more love we have to give back to Him and the people who matter the most to us.
Psalm 139 describes how God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.
He watched you grow in the womb and is always thinking of you because he loves you.
13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end[a]—I am still with you.
Psalm 139:13-18 (NRSV)
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