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Greetings listeners. Did you know that the New Testament quotes the book of Psalms more than any other Old Testament book? Psalms is a unique collection of poetry that has comforted and inspired people for centuries. But the Psalms are more than just beautiful words. They give us a window into human emotions, they teach us how to worship and they point directly to Jesus. Today we're giving you a quick guide to the Psalms. We'll cover key themes, unique phrases like Selah and some surprising way the Psalms connect to Jesus. Whether you've read the Psalms a hundred times or you've never opened the book never opened the book there's something here for you. Let's dive in. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Let's start by talking about what the book of Psalms is.

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Psalms is one of the most well-loved parts of the Bible. It's an Old Testament book that comes after the book of Job and before Proverbs. It's a collection of 150 individual poems written over several centuries. You'll find psalms of praise, psalms of sorrow, psalms asking for help and even psalms celebrating God's victory. The psalms is entitled Praises in the Hebrew text, and that tells you a lot about what this book is about. No matter the emotion behind a psalm, whether it's joy, sorrow or even anger, it always comes back to praising God. The psalms provide a means through which we, god's people, can communicate with him through songs, worship and prayer. These psalms are primarily directed Godward. God himself is the intended audience, and these God-directed praises have inspired worship far beyond the pages of Scripture inspired worship far beyond the pages of scripture. Many beloved hymns and contemporary songs draw directly from the Psalms. For instance, Martin Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is rooted in the powerful truths of Psalm 46, while the modern worship song I Am Not Alone reflects the comforting assurance of Psalm 23. The Psalms continue to give voice to our worship in every generation. Now I thought about actually singing a few lines from these songs, but when I shared that with my husband, he gave me a look that made me think hmm, maybe I'll just put some links in the show notes so you can go listen to them on YouTube. Now here's a fun fact Psalms is the longest book in the Bible and it also contains both the shortest chapter in the Bible, that's Psalm 117, and the longest chapter, psalm 119. It's right in the middle of most Bibles, making it easy to find when you need a quick word of encouragement.

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But the Psalms aren't just randomly thrown together. They're actually divided into five sections or books, and many scholars believe this organization mirrors the five books of Moses Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. When we think of the book of Psalms, we often picture King David pouring out his heart to God. But he wasn't the only one who contributed to this collection. In fact, the Psalms were written by several different authors over many years, each bringing their own experiences and perspectives to these heartfelt songs and prayers. King David is credited with writing at least 75 of the 150 Psalms. That's half. Other contributors include the sons of Korah, who wrote 10 Psalms, asaph, who wrote 12, and even some well-known figures like Solomon and Moses. Some Psalms

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were written by lesser-known individuals, such as Heman and Ethan. Interestingly, 48 of the Psalms don't list an author at all. The latest psalm was written almost 2,500 years ago. The earliest psalm was probably written about 3,500 years ago. Think about that for a moment. That would be like someone in the year 5,500 AD reading something written today, .

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Now that we know what the Psalms are, let's look at the big themes you'll find in the book and, trust me, there's a Psalm for every season of life. Whether you're celebrating a victory, mourning a loss or feeling stuck in the middle, there's a psalm for that. Let's walk through some of these biggest themes. First, there's praise and worship. The central theme of the book of Psalms is worship. God is worthy of all praise because of who he is, what he has done and what he will do. His goodness extends through all time and eternity.

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Many psalms are songs that declare God's greatness, his power and his faithfulness. A great example is Psalm 8, which says Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. This psalm reminds us that creation itself points to God's glory. When we see a sunset, hear a bird singing or feel the warmth of the sun, those majestic moments invite us to worship. The Psalms show us that praise isn't just something we do in church. It's a way of life.

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On the flip side, many Psalms are full of lament, which is a fancy word for expressing sorrow or grief. These psalms teach us that it's okay to bring our questions, frustrations and even complaints to God. One of the most famous laments is Psalm 22, which opens with the words that Jesus himself cried out on the cross my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It's a raw, honest cry of pain. And yet by the end of that psalm, the tone shifts to trust and hope. So what's the takeaway? Lamenting isn't a lack of faith. It's an act of faith. It shows that we're still turning to God even in our hardest moments.

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Then there are Psalms of Thanksgiving, where the focus is on gratitude for God's blessings. Psalm 107 is a great example. It begins with the phrase give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. That's a reminder that even when life feels uncertain, god's love is constant. The Psalms teach us to give thanks not just when life is good, but even when things are tough, because God's faithfulness never changes.

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Another major theme is trust. The Psalms encourage us to put our faith in God even when things don't make sense. The best known example is Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. It's a psalm that speaks of God's care and guidance. It reminds us that even when we walk through dark valleys, we don't have to be afraid because God is with us. Trust. Psalms teach us that our security doesn't come from our circumstances. It comes from God. So whether you're praising God, crying out for help, giving thanks or learning to trust, there's a psalm that speaks to your situation.

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Next up, let's talk about some unique words and phrases you'll find in this incredible book. One of the things that makes the book of Psalms really stand out is the use of unique words and phrases that you don't see in other parts of the Bible. You've probably noticed words like Selah or Hallelujah sprinkled throughout the Psalms, but what do they mean? Let's take a look at a few of the most interesting ones. Let's start with one of the most mysterious words selah S-E-L-A-H.

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This word shows up 71 times in Psalms, but scholars are still not completely sure what it means. The best guess is that it's a musical or liturgical term, something like a pause or a signal to stop and reflect on what was just said. Oh and, by the way, it is seen three times in the book of Habakkuk. When you see Selah, it's a reminder to pause and meditate on what you've just read. Just take a breath and let the words sink in. Here's an example from Psalm 46:10, which says Be still and know that I am God, selah. That pause is a cue for us to take those words to heart. So the next time you see Selah, don't rush past it. Take a moment to reflect.

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Another word that pops up frequently in the Psalms is Hallelujah, which means praise the Lord. It's a combination of two Hebrew words Hallelu, which means praise, and Yah, which is short for Yahweh, god's name. In Psalms chapters 111 through 113, each one begins with hallelujah and in chapters 146 through 150, each begins and ends with it. These psalms are all about pure praise, ending the book of psalms on a high note. So whenever you hear or say hallelujah, remember you're joining in an ancient call to worship that's been echoed by believers for thousands of years.

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Another unique term is sheol, s-h-e-o-l, which you'll see in some of the older psalms. Depending on your Bible translation, you may see instead the phrase realm of the dead. Sheol is a Hebrew word that refers to the realm of the dead or the grave. It's considered the netherworld. It's not exactly the same as what we think of as heaven or hell, but it represents the idea of life after death in ancient Hebrew thought. It's not a place where God is entirely absent. There can be no escape from God, even in Sheol, according to Psalm 139, verse 8. For example, in Psalm 16:10, David says For example, in Psalm 1610, David says you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. Scholars see this verse as a prophecy about Jesus' resurrection. David is saying that God will not let his faithful servant stay in the grave and Jesus' resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of that promise. And we see that in Acts 2:27 and Acts, chapter 13:35. So when you're reading the Psalms and you come across Selah, hallelujah or Sheol, don't just skim over them. These words carry deep meaning, inviting us to pause, to praise and to remember God's promises. Next we're going to see how the Psalms point to Jesus in some surprising ways. Stick around, in some surprising ways. Stick around.

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One of the major focuses of the Psalms are messianic prophecies. We call them messianic because they are prophecies about the coming Messiah. These were written centuries before Jesus was born, yet they describe his life, death, resurrection and eternal reign in amazing detail. Let's look at three key examples. First, psalm 22, the Suffering Messiah. This psalm is sometimes called the Psalm of the Cross. Jesus quotes the very first verse while he's on the cross. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And we see that in Matthew 27: 46. As you read through Psalm 22, you'll notice even more details that match the crucifixion. First, in chapter 22, verse 16, it says they pierce my hands and my feet, and in chapter 22: 18, it says they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Well, these events happen to Jesus exactly as described in this psalm. It's a powerful reminder that his death was not random. It was part of God's plan all along.

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Next we have Psalm 110, the reigning Messiah. This psalm is one of the most quoted in the New Testament. It begins with the Lord says to my Lord Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool. And we see this in multiple places in the New Testament In Matthew, mark, luke and Acts. Jesus quotes this psalm in Matthew 22: 44 to show that he is more than just a descendant of David. He is David's Lord. This psalm points to Jesus's eternal reign as King and Messiah. And the third example I want to give you is Psalm 118, the cornerstone. There we find the famous phrase the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Jesus quotes this in Matthew 21: 42, referring to himself he was rejected by the religious leaders, but he became the foundation of our faith. These examples show us that the Psalms aren't just about ancient Israel. They're about Jesus. They remind us that the Bible is one big story that leads to the cross and beyond.

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So now I know you're excited about really getting into the Psalms. Let me give you three tips for reading this book. It's different from reading other parts of the Bible. Unlike the Gospels or the historical books, the Psalms aren't stories or narratives. They're songs, prayers and poems. So how do you approach this unique book? Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the Psalms.

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First, read with your heart, not just your head. The Psalms are deeply emotional. They express joy, sorrow, anger, fear and hope. These aren't dry theological statements. Their heart felt cries to God. So when you read the Psalms, let yourself feel the words. If a Psalm is joyful, rejoice along with it. If it's sorrowful, let yourself lament. Don't just analyze the words. Experience them. For example, when you read Psalm 23 and see the words the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want Think about what it means for God to guide and care for you personally. The Psalms invite you to engage both your mind and your emotions.

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Second, I want you to pay attention to the superscriptions. You'll notice that most of the Psalms 116 of them to be exact have little notes at the beginning, things like a Psalm of David or for the director of music. These are called superscriptions and they provide valuable context. Some superscriptions tell you who wrote the Psalm, like David Asaph or the sons of Korah. Like David Asaph or the sons of Korah. Others explain what occasion the Psalm was written for. For example, psalm 51 is David's confession after his sin with Bathsheba. While the superscriptions aren't part of the original text, they're ancient and can help you better understand the psalm's meaning, context and the circumstances that inspired the psalm. So don't skip over them.

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And thirdly, don't try to read the psalms like a story. The psalms are not a continuous narrative. There's no beginning, middle and end, like you'll find in the books of Genesis or Acts. Instead, each psalm stands alone as its own prayer or song. Think of the psalms like a playlist of songs. Each one has its own message and mood. Some are joyful, some are somber, some are reflective. Because of this, you don't have to read the Psalms in order. You can jump around based on what you need in the moment, feeling anxious, read Psalm 46. Feeling grateful, try Psalm 100. Feeling guilty, go to Psalm 51. There's no wrong way to engage with the Psalms. Just don't expect a linear story.

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And as a final thought, the Psalms are meant to be lived, not just read. So approach them with an open heart. Let the words sink deep into your soul and use them to guide your worship of God and your conversations with God. Let them also inspire you to use them to gain better perspective on life's various situations. On life's various situations. Listeners, the Psalms teach us to pray honestly, worship deeply and trust God fully. They remind us that we're never alone in our joys or our struggles, and they point us to Jesus as our Savior and King. So, whether you're in a season of praise or a season of lament, remember there's a psalm for that. And until we meet again, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith so that we can spread God's word further. Please share, like, follow, comment and subscribe.