This past year, my two friends and I read through the Psalms. As I read, I noticed many interesting key themes. I learned that the Psalms are very repetitive. The writers are trying to make certain things crystal clear.
Today I would like to share five themes I found in the Psalms.
Theme #1: God’s Steadfast Love
God’s steadfast love is mentioned over 120 times in the Psalms. The phrase “His steadfast love endures forever,” is used 24 times in Psalm 136 alone. Isn’t that incredible?
Psalm 118:1, and 107:1 proclaim the same thing:
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!”
The first part of this verse tells us to give thanks to God for His steadfast love. I’m sitting here wondering how often I thank God for His wonderful characteristics. I’m sorry to admit it’s not often. Ouch!
The second part says God’s love is not only steadfast, it’s everlasting! God will never break up with you; He will always love you.
This is in sync with Hebrews 13:8 which says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
All of God’s traits remain the same. He is not a wishy-washy guy up in the clouds. If the Psalms say that His steadfast love endures forever, we know it will. We will always be steadfastly loved by God. That’s pretty amazing!
Theme #2: Man Is Like a Breath
Psalms 144:4 says, “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.”
And Psalms 39: 5 declares, “Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!”
These verses make me tense. They remind me life is so short and it’s a fragile thing.
I got a firsthand look at how delicate life is when my grandpa died. I was never close to him and the last time I ever saw him was in 2019. Four years had passed, then one day in 2023, my mom told me my dad’s dad had passed away. It shocked everyone. He had cancer in the past but was doing well and one day just keeled over and died.
Life is fragile and can go away in an instant. That’s why these verses in the Psalms make me nervous. It’s a reality and it happens. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. My question to you is, what are you going to do with today and all the days you will hopefully be blessed with here-on-out?
Theme #3: God’s Splendor and Majesty
God’s splendor and majesty is talked about throughout the Bible, but I especially noticed it in the Psalms.
Psalm 29:2 says it beautifully, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”
As I read about God’s splendor, majesty, holiness, and power again and again, I realized something. I often think of God through a worldly lens. It’s so hard for me to comprehend God’s power and majesty when all I have to compare it to is the world. But He isn’t tied down by worldly standards. He is more glorious and worthy than we can even comprehend. And He deserves every ounce of the glory we give Him!
What I’ve learned is to try to give God all the glory due Him. And to try to not conform my thinking of Him to worldly standards. God isn’t worldly, He’s heavenly.
Theme #4: God Can be Our (fill in the blank)
Remember those two friends I mentioned reading the Psalms with at the beginning? Well, one of those friends decided that every time the Psalmist said something like, “For You, O Lord, are my hope,” (Psalm 71:5) she was going to write it down in her notebook. She ended up coming up with a long list of verses that ranged from saying “God is my deliverer” to “God is my hiding place”. Apparently, the Psalmists knew God could be their help, deliverer, hiding place, or anything else they needed.
Psalms 70:5 says, “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!”
In this Psalm David needed help and a deliverer. He let the Lord be those things he needed. God can fill in any gaps you have as well. If you need a wise counselor, God can do that. If you need a refuge in which to hide, God can do that too. He can fill in any gap you have in your life. Because as Psalm 73:26 says, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Theme #5: Praise the Lord!
The phrase, “Praise the Lord” is mentioned so many times in the Psalms! It’s the opening phrase in chapters 111,112,113,146,147,148 and 150. And really, why wouldn’t we praise the Lord? He made us this beautiful temporary home, sent His son to die for us, and made heaven, the perfect place we will live someday. Even in my own life I see specific blessings for which to praise Him. He provided me with amazing friends, has given me wonderful adults in my life, and pulled me out of my dark pit of anxiety. God is wonderful. He is worthy of all the glory and praise we can give Him.
Psalm 150 says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!”
“Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
I hope these key themes encouraged you today.
Wow, this is so good! I love the different themes that Ellie draws out. I have read thePsalms frequently, and I love them. This is a great resource to studying the Psalms. Thank you Ellie for writing this! ☺️