Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

What the psalmists can teach us

  • November 7, 2021
  • Denise George
  • Church Life, Spiritual Disciplines, Sunday School Resources
(TAB Media photo)

What the psalmists can teach us

Lifeway Christian Resources’ January Bible Study, “Psalms: The Character of God,” can be a good way to begin the new year.

The Character of God

The Psalms teach believers how to pray, communicating with God the Creator. The psalmists show that prayer can be elegant, using metaphors, similes and rhythmic prose:

  • “He [the godly man] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season … ” (Ps. 1:3).
  • “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures … ” (Ps. 23:1–2).
  • “The Lord is my light and my salvation — of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1).

The psalmists also show that prayer can be poems or songs of praise to God, thanking Him, celebrating His goodness and strength:

  • “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth … . Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs … for the Lord is good and his love endures forever … ” (Ps. 100:1, 2, 5).
  • “O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty … I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live … ” (Ps. 104:1, 33).

The psalmists most often, however, show that praying can be awkward or intimidating, especially for the Christian who is new to the discipline. They give today’s believers permission to ask deep, troubling questions, to voice anger and resentment.

King David and the other psalmists show that prayer is not always a perfect, polished, polite masterpiece. Nor does it have to be. Often, prayer is urgent and raw, as frantic as someone screaming from the top floor of a burning building. Prayer can be an earthy, frantic, ASAP plea for help:

  • “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak … ” (Ps. 31:9–10).
  • “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress … ” (Ps. 102:1–2).

Prayer can be a call from the depth of the heart of the frightened, lonely, confused or frustrated. It can be a mother’s plea for her sick newborn; tears from one who has lost a loved one; the “Why?” of a terminal diagnosis. It can be the utterance of someone in pain, expressed in unrefined or angry language.

  • “I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’” (Ps. 42:9).
  • “You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us” (Ps. 44:10).

In studying the Psalms and becoming “friends” with the psalmists, Christians not only learn how to pray, but how to worship, gain a fuller appreciation for the Heavenly Father, and better understand God’s love and character.

The psalmists pen the words that often are difficult for believers to form and say. The Psalms captivate and engage, overflow the heart and bring believers to their knees, as they did previous generations and will do in the future.

How to host a Bible study group

  • Decide where to meet: Some enjoy gathering in a home, but a classroom in the church building can be more advantageous — everyone knows the location; it provides a safe, familiar setting; and, in case of accident or injury, the church carries proper insurance.
  • Decide whether to meet during the day or evening, and set a certain time to begin and end, sticking to it closely.
  • Name the goal: The purpose of Lifeway’s January Bible Study 2022 is to “come together,” learn about the character of God as revealed in the Psalms, study what it means to live as God’s people who demonstrate His character in a fallen world, and relax and fellowship, strengthening friendships.
  • Seat everyone, serve refreshments where appropriate and ask each participant to introduce him or herself.
  • After introductions, ask the leader to introduce the Bible study, sharing the material, the study process and procedure, and the purpose and goals.
  • Invite everyone to participate. Make sure those who wish to contribute are allowed to do so. Ask participants to keep their comments brief and be considerate of the others who wish to share.
  • Begin and end each meeting with prayer.
  • Bible study resource: Produced by Lifeway, “Psalms: The Character of God Personal Study Guide eBook,” includes electronic content for seven sessions, applicable scripture and learning activities.

Leader and study guides

“Psalms: The Character of God” January Bible Study 2022: Leader Guide, $13.99: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/january-bible-study-2022-psalms-leader-guide-P005831440?intcmp=lw:recs:pdp:1&merch=rec:005831440

“Psalms: The Character of God” January Bible Study 2022: Personal Study Guide eBook, $8.99: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/january-bible-study-2022-psalms-personal-study-guide-ebook-P005831439?intcmp=lw:recs:pdp:5&merch=rec:005831439

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Who is influencing you?
    First person: Who is influencing you?
    June 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Miss Georgia contest winner says following Christ ‘best decision I could have ever made’
    Miss Georgia contest winner says following Christ ‘best decision I could have ever made’
    June 21, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘High-five Fridays’ among efforts to build relationships with inner-city school
    ‘High-five Fridays’ among efforts to build relationships with inner-city school
    June 20, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Study asks pastors about relationship between home, work life

Among married pastors, 9 in 10 (89%) say their spouse is enthusiastic about their life in ministry together.

First person: A critical ministry role some may overlook

Sound engineers? Your role is far more critical than audio levels, EQ and running a sound board.

Pew report shows Catholicism’s roots, challenges in American life

While reporting relatively low levels of attendance at Mass, almost half of U.S. adults (47%) say they have a personal or family relationship to Catholicism, a new Pew Research Center survey finds. 

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for June 22

Here’s the Bible Studies for Life Sunday School lesson commentary for June 29, written by Bobby McKay, pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel