Psalms a Book of Books

‌Opening Prayer

‌Heavenly Father, Creator of life and love I worship you. Open my eyes to see all the ways that you are moving in my life. May your words guide me today. Help me hear your voice and understand your will. God protect me from evil and keep my feet on your path. Amen.

‌Read Genesis 1

Psalm 33:6-9

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

‌The Book of Beginnings

The book of Psalms is divided into five separate books:

• Book 1 Psalms 1–41
• Book 2 Psalms 42–72
• Book 3 Psalms 73–89
• Book 4 Psalms 90–106
• Book 5 Psalms 107–150

Jewish tradition and some commentators like ‌Warren Wiersbe suggest that this division may be a reflection on the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. ¹

Genesis, the first book of the Torah, is the book of beginnings.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3

In the beginning, God speaks and brings into existence an ordered universe. The lyrics of creation craft an idyllic garden where the man, Adam, and the woman, Eve, live in perfect harmony with God and each other. Adam and Eve are the image bearers of God, they speak to God directly, and are given stewardship by God over the rest of creation.

In the beginning, perfection; but then human sinfulness enters Eden, and Adam and Eve are separated from God. The history that follows will recount the best and worst of humanity in its attempts to reconnect and rediscover what it means to be an image bearer of God. Sinful people make choices that lead to heartache, violence, and death. Yet, in these darkest days Genesis also show us the ones who trust in God and follow in faith.

In the beginning, the Psalms present the same contrast between those who seek and follow God and those who ignore his words at their own peril.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1–2

David is the featured author of many of these Psalms and his life story is also one of great spiritual triumphs and moments of despair. As we read the Psalms we are given a true glimpse of our own human condition. Yet, without fail we are always asked to put our trust in the creator God who loves us and saves us.

‌Prayer

‌God, thank you for being the God of all beginnings. May my journey through the Psalms be a new beginning for my relationship with you. Help me to see your truth and live it out in my daily life. God thank you for being with me in times of difficulty and times of joy. Grow my understanding of all your ways as I trust in you and my savior, Jesus. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

1. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 8. ↩