Lesson 1
Exposition of the Book of Psalms:
Psalms Alive (Part 2)
Psalms Book 1 (Psalms 1-26)
Healing Passages in the Book of Psalms
I.
The Bible Pharmacy is Always Open!
A.
We now begin a study of the medicine chest in the book of Psalms.
1.
() RX when you are miserable from covered-up sin: confession to God brings God’s forgiveness and your joyful relief. Guilt feelings and internal woes are guaranteed for as long as you fail to confess it.
2.
() RX for depression: focus on God and let Him lift your spirits (not on what makes you blue); () look above to God (and away from what depresses you) for His hand to lift you from your pit; () there is no hope in what causes your depression, so look up to God and find
3.
() RX for fear and trembling: mount up with the wings of a dove for a spiritual flight to a place of rest in the comforting arms of God.
4.
() RX for desperation to find help (great distress): ask God to rescue you, wait for Him to help you, and praise Him for responding and coming to your aid.
5.
() RX for insomnia: use your time awake to pray for your needs and for other’s needs until God intervenes.
6.
() RX for affliction due to sin: cry to the Lord, confess sins, and expect deliverance from distress (pain may remain, but it will not distress you).
7.
() RX for any affliction: a time to spend time with God and His Word; () God is your refuge and help, and an ever-present help in trouble; () God promises to preserve your life (protect you from harm) according to His perfect will.
8.
() RX for one who has a life and death illness: Christ is with you as a loving shepherd is there for a hurting sheep. He will strengthen you and give you the power to deal with your illness as your personal Great Physician.
9.
() RX for brink-of death experience: realize your dependence on God, and cry out for mercy and help from Him. David found deliverance and we can, too. Our deliverance may be here or in heaven.
10.
() RX for any fear: seek the Lord and expect deliverance from all your fears from the One who holds your future.
11.
() RX for sickness for those who have been helpful to the weak: expect to be sustained on your sickbed and restored to health or promoted to glory.
12.
() RX for having many cares and burdens: cast each of them on the Lord and enjoy His promised relief.
13.
() RX for being scorned and mocked for your faith: don’t look for comfort in the world; cry out to God and enjoy His presence and power.
Psalms Book 1 (Psalms 1-41) Titles & Themes
The titles in this document are 150 song titles for the five books of Psalms. All these songs were sung as songs of worship by choirs of Levites in the temple. Psalms 27-41 are with added features here (making them short paragraphs) because they are omitted in the paragraphs to come.
Psalm 1 is The Two Ways of Life. ()
Psalm 2 is The Victory of God's Messiah (Royal and Messianic).
Psalm 3 is A Morning Prayer of Trust (Individual Lament). ()
Psalm 4 is An Evening Prayer of Relief (Individual Lament).
Psalm 5 is A Morning Prayer, Preparatory to Worship.
Psalm 6 is A Cry for Relief (Individual Lament and Healing).()
Psalm 7 is A Prayer for Justice (Individual Lament).
Psalm 8 is Man's Dignity and God's Glory (Praise and Messianic). ()
Psalm 9 is Praise for Destruction of the Enemy (Alphabetic and Praise).
Psalm 10 is A Plea for Action (Individual Lament and Alphabetic). ()
Psalm 11 is The Assurance of Faith.
Psalm 12 is A Prayer for the Faithful (Individual Lament). ()
Psalm 13 is From Doubt to Trust (Individual Lament).
Psalm 14 is Judgment for Denying God. ()
Psalm 15 is The Guest of God.
Psalm 16 is The Joy of Loyalty (Praise and Messianic). ()
Psalm 17 is The Vindication of the Righteous (Individual Lament).
Psalm 18 is The Victor's Gratitude (Praise).
Psalm 19 is God's Glory Above and Within (Praise).
Psalm 20 is A Supplication for Victory (Thanks, Messianic, and Royal). ()
Psalm 21 is Thanksgiving for Victory (Thanks and Royal).
Psalm 22 is Triumph in Suffering (Penitential, Individual Lament, Praise, and Messianic).
Psalm 23 is My Shepherd (Healing). ()
Psalm 24 is An Inaugural Anthem (Messianic).
Psalm 25 is An Acrostic Prayer for Help (Imperfect Acrostic and Healing).
Psalm 26 is A Worshiper's Prayer (Praise).
Psalm 27 is A Song of Trust. Psalms 27-41 are all by David. Psalm 33 is assigned by the LXX to David, even though his name is missing at the top. Courageous trust for the LORD when David needs His assistance!
Psalm 28 is An Answered Prayer (Individual Lament). Save and shepherd Your people who wait on You! ()
Psalm 29 is God's Glory in the Storm (Praise). Polemic against false gods being responsible for storms. Only the LORD is responsible for weather phenomena!
Psalm 30 is Praise for God's Healing (Praise and Healing). Praise that God’s anger is temporary, but His favor is permanent for His own! ()
Psalm 31 is A Prayer of 32: Surrender (Individual Lament and Messianic) When his foes plotted to kill him, God protected him!
Psalm 32 is The Joy of Forgiveness (Penitential and Healing). Submit to the LORD rather than resisting stubbornly. This looks like his Bathsheba incident. ()
Psalm 33 is A Call to Congregational Worship (Praise). The righteous rejoice in the LORD because it is fitting!
Psalm 34 is The Goodness of the Lord (fourth Imperfect Acrostic, Praise, and Healing). How to achieve a full life in the LORD! ()
Psalm 35 is A Plea for Vengeance (Imprecatory and Thanks). Because David’s enemies hated him without a cause, God would vindicate him so he could praise Him over and over!
Psalm 36 is A Lesson in Contrast. David prayed for the continued love of His LORD so his integrity would be preserved from his enemies! ()
Psalm 37 is A Vindication of Providence (fifth Imperfect Acrostic). Don’t be disturbed over the prosperity of the wicked for divine justice is still coming to upset their applecart!
Psalm 38 is The Lamentation of a Sufferer (Penitential, Individual Lament, and Healing). David was chastened by God for sin. He asked for this distress to end as he
repented. He expected God’s soon rescue! ().
Psalm 39 is An Appeal for Strength (Individual Lament). He suffered a prolonged illness that brought him close to death. He sought God’s treatment to him not as a stranger but with favor!
Psalm 40 is A New Song of Praise (Praise, Healing, and Messianic). David reports his deliverance from mud and mire from his enemies by the LORD to the congregation as an encouragement for them to trust the LORD!
Psalm 41 is Thanksgiving for Healing and Vindication (Individual Lament, Thanks, and Healing). The LORD will show mercy to a believer who helps the needy!
Psalms Book 2 (Psalms 42-63) Titles & Themes
Psalms 42 and 43 are Longing for God (Praise and Healing). ()
Psalm 44 is A Plea for Justice (National Lament).
Psalm 45 is The Marriage of a King (Royal and 40: Messianic).()
Psalm 46 is A Mighty Fortress (Praise and Healing).
Psalm 47 is A Victorious King (42: Royal, Messianic, and Praise). ()
Psalm 48 is A Holy City (Messianic and Praise).
Psalm 49 is The Folly of Earthly 44: Wealth. ()
Psalm 50 is The Nature of True Worship.
Psalm 51 is A Cry for Forgiveness (Penitential). ()
Psalm 52 is The Fate of an Arrogant Sinner (Individual Lament).
Psalm 53 is The Judgment for Denying God. ()
Psalm 54 is A Prayer for Assistance (Individual Lament).
Psalm 55 is A Protest Against the Wicked (Individual Lament and Healing).
Psalm 56 is The Triumph of Faith (Individual Lament, Praise, and Healing).
Psalm 57 is A Prayer for Protection (50b: Individual Lament). ()
Psalm 58 is A Protest Against Injustice (Individual Lament and Impre catory).
Psalm 59 is A Prayer for Rescue (Individual Lament and Imprecatory). ()
Psalm 60 is A Plea for Ultimate Victory (National Lament).
Psalm 61 is A Prayer for a King (Individual Lament, Messianic, and Healing).
Psalm 62 is An Unshakable Faith.
Psalm 63 is A Thirst for God (Praise).