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In this episode, we tour Psalms 81–89 and discover a powerful thread running through these songs: God desires to bless His people, draw near to them, and remain faithful even when they fail.

Psalm 81 begins with joyful celebration of the Exodus, but God reminds Israel that blessing flows from listening to His voice. Rather than portraying God as harsh and eager to punish, these psalms repeatedly show Him ready to bless His people when they return to Him.

We then explore Psalms 82–83, where God is presented as Judge over every nation and every lesser spiritual power. Israel’s God is not merely a local deity; He is the Most High who rules over all.

Psalms 84–87 shift our attention to the beauty of God’s presence. The psalmists delight in the Tabernacle, celebrate Jerusalem, and use names such as Lord of Hosts and Most High to proclaim God’s greatness. Along the way, we see recurring themes of drawing near to God, righteousness, and God’s steadfast chesed love.

Psalm 86 gives us a beautiful model for prayer: “Guard my life, bring me joy, teach me, and give me an undivided heart.” It also looks forward to the day when all nations will worship the Lord.

Finally, we wrestle with Psalm 88, the darkest psalm in the Psalter and the only one that does not end with praise. Yet Psalm 89 immediately answers with worship and a reminder of God’s covenant with David. Even when God’s people wander, He promises that He will not remove His steadfast love.

As Book Three of the Psalms closes with a doxology, these songs leave us with a lasting hope: God remains faithful to His covenant, His kingdom, and His people.

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Music: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 73–80, where the psalmists wrestle with one of life's hardest questions: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while God's people suffer? Again and again, these psalms remind us to shift our perspective and remember one unchanging truth—God is still King.

We begin with Psalm 73, where the psalmist honestly struggles with envy and discouragement before declaring, "But God..." We explore how God's presence becomes our true strength and examine connections between this psalm and the New Testament, including Jesus' words about the "pure in heart" and Paul's language of those who were once "far off" but have been brought near.

As we move through Psalms 74–76, we see God revealed as the righteous Judge of both Israel and the nations. Though evil may seem to triumph for a season, these psalms proclaim that God will judge wickedness, remain faithful to His covenant, and ultimately receive worship from all peoples. Along the way, we notice recurring images of shepherds and sheep, reminding us that God continually cares for and leads His people.

Psalms 77–80 repeatedly look back to Israel's history, especially the Exodus, to remind God's people of His faithfulness in the past. Even in seasons of doubt, when it feels as though God has forgotten His chesed—His steadfast covenant love—the psalmists choose to remember His mighty acts. We also discover why knowing the stories of Genesis through Samuel enriches our understanding of these songs, as the psalmists continually draw from Israel's history to strengthen hope in the present.

Finally, Psalm 78 challenges every generation to pass on the story of God's faithfulness. Parents are called to teach their children God's works and His instruction so that the next generation will place its hope in Him. The section concludes with Psalm 80, where Israel is pictured as God's carefully tended vine and the people cry out for a faithful leader—a hope that ultimately points us forward to the coming Son of Man.

Throughout these psalms, we see a consistent message: when life is confusing and evil seems to prevail, God's people remember who He is, what He has done, and confidently place their hope in the God who remains in control.

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Music: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 63–72, discovering a recurring pattern that runs throughout these songs: life's circumstances may rise and fall, but God's people always have reasons to praise Him.

David begins in Psalm 63 by expressing a deep longing for God, reminding us that worship is not dependent on our circumstances but on the unchanging character of the One we worship. As we move through these psalms, we see God rewarding the righteous, actively working in His creation, and faithfully caring for His people. From the praise of all the earth in Psalm 66 to the missionary heart of Psalm 67, we are reminded that God's blessings are meant to display His glory among the nations.

We also explore the vivid imagery of Psalm 68 as God is portrayed as the victorious King taking His throne, and we see how these psalms continue to build on the larger story of Scripture. In Psalms 69 and 70, David honestly acknowledges his own sin and his need for God's help, while Psalm 71 provides a beautiful model for overcoming discouragement by remembering God's lifelong faithfulness and responding with praise.

Finally, we conclude with Psalm 72, which closes Book Two of the Psalms with a glorious vision of the righteous King whose reign extends to the ends of the earth. While originally connected to Solomon, this psalm ultimately points us to the greater King, the Messiah, whose kingdom will never end. The book closes with a doxology, reminding us that no matter how many hardships we encounter along the journey, praise belongs to God.

As you listen, notice how these psalms continually connect back to the larger story of the Old Testament. To help you recognize those connections, we've created a companion PDF that traces the story of the Old Testament and highlights the events and themes the psalmists often reference. It's available on our website for $1.99 and is a great resource for individuals and families who want to read the Psalms with greater context and confidence.

If you want the FREE hand outs that go along with this series, sign up for our newsletter at our website.

Our website is The Context and Color of the Bible

We are on Facebook - The Context and Color of the Bible | Facebook
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Music: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/