The Different Types of Psalms and How They Draw Us Closer to God
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The book of Psalms in the Old Testament is a collection of Hebrew poems and songs that focus on our relationship with God and our worship of Him. Through the various Psalms (150 total), we are invited to cry out to the Lord through the ups and downs of life and worship Him as the one true God worthy of our praise, thanksgiving, trust, and devotion.
Reading a Psalm everyday is a simple and powerful way to expand your understanding of God and enrich your prayer life.
Below is a breakdown of the types of Psalms and how you can deepen your communion with the Lord through reading, meditating on, and praying in response to the Psalms. Many psalms fit into more than one of these categories:
Thanksgiving
Psalms of thanksgiving often begin with praise to God. These psalms describe a situation of distress and how God rescued the psalmist and/or God’s people. Through these songs and poems, we are invited to acknowledge God’s salvation in our lives and express our gratitude to Him.
Psalm 100 NLT
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.[a]
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Wisdom
These psalms delve into topics such as wisdom, righteousness, and the outcomes of embracing or rejecting God's law. Through these psalms we are encouraged to seek wisdom and discernment in our daily lives.
Psalm 1 NLT
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Lament
Psalms of lament are expressions of sorrow, pain, grief, or complaint, often directed towards God. They offer us space to vocalize our struggles, hardships, and even anger, all while maintaining our trust in the Lord.
Psalm 13
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.
Royal and Prophecy
Royal or Kingship Psalms celebrate God's covenant with David and his kingship. They explore themes of divine rule, authority and the relationship between God and the king. Through these psalms we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to His covenant and are shown prophetic images of Jesus, the Messiah.
Psalm 45 NLT
For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
1 Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[b] endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.
At your right side stands the queen,
wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre[c] will shower you with gifts.
The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Trust and Imprecatory
These psalms express a deep faith and dependence on God's power and righteousness. They also include prayers for God’s intervention, seeking judgment upon adversaries or evildoers. Trust and imprecatory psalms help us place our trust in God, even when facing opposition or injustice.
Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
Who can praise you from the grave?[b]
6 I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
8 Go away, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
May they suddenly turn back in shame.
Praise
Psalms of praise encourage congregational worship to God. These hymns extol God's greatness and majesty, inviting worshipers to praise God and give reasons for their adoration. These psalms give language to our praise, and help us express our love for God in words.
Psalm 111
1 Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
5 He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.
7 All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.
8 They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever!
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage Psalms or a Psalms of Ascent are psalms that were traditionally sung by Hebrews as they journeyed to Jerusalem for religious festivals. These psalms capture the experience of the pilgrimage, including the anticipation, the challenges, and the joy of reaching the destination. They help us express our trust in God, reliance on His strength, and the desire to be near His presence.
Psalm 121 NLT
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
Temple
Temple Psalms center on the Jerusalem Temple, highlighting its role in worship. They often convey a longing to visit the Temple, offer praise for God's presence within it, and celebrate the joy of worship experienced in its courtyards. These Psalms remind us of the importance of God’s House, the Church, and our experience of His Presence within the Body of Christ.
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