The Psalms are an easy part of the Bible to read. There are many Christians that will state it is their favorite book of the Bible, or that it holds their favorite scripture. As we reflect on the Psalms, we come to understand how to interact and communicate with God.

The Psalms were written as a songbook for the Israelite people and emphasizes the themes of the Old Testament. The Israelites were constantly reminding themselves of what God had done, so they knew what kind of god was their God. They also face their present with songs full of sorrow because of the state of being they found themselves in. Then, we read Psalms about various periods of the future, some that have happened, and some that have not.

So the Psalms deal with the past, present, and future.

In these songs the people of God were reminding themselves of when God had been their deliverers, their protector, their healer, and so much more (see Psalms 78, 105, and 136 as an example of this). God had sent himself to them. The Israelites' identity was grounded in their relationship to God. He was their God, and they His people (Genesis 17:8).

But the songs don't stop there. The Psalms look forward to when God would use the Israelites to bless the nations (by sending a Son of David, Jesus), and the nations would join them in their songs. "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!" (Psa. 72:18-19, ESV). "My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever" (Psa. 145:21, ESV).

The Psalms use the reality of the past and future, to strengthen the hope of the present. This is because this is where the Israelites lives, and where we live as well. God has sent Himself, His Son, and now He sends us to the broken world.

‍