How to Read Through the Psalms in 30 Days

“Other books of the Bible speak to us. The Psalms speak for us.”

adapted from St. Athanasius, 4th Century Church Father

(This is a repost from a year ago. Still reading the Psalms . . .)

Whenever I don’t know what to read in the Bible, I read the Psalms.

In the midst of our shared national crisis, even if you want to read the Bible, where do you start? It’s daunting to pick up the Bible and know where to begin. The Bible contains 66 different books, and almost 1,500 chapters.

Unless a person follows a reading plan or participates in a method Bible study, how can any reader relate to the biblical context and derive meaning from portions of this ancient text?

Whether or not you and I know details about the Bible, such as when the words were written or the circumstances or who wrote the words, the book of Psalms stands on its own 2 feet.

This book of the Bible, Psalms, rests precisely in the middle of the Bible, a hinge to turn people’s thoughts to God.

One song at a time, life-giving songs and prayers

Psalm is the word for song. The book of Psalms is the collection of individual psalms, 150 in all––songs and prayers.

Speaking of one psalm, you would refer to Psalm 1, singular––not Psalms 1, just as you would refer to a song title rather than songs or a poem, not poems unless referring to more than one.

Years ago, someone taught me to read 5 chapters in the Psalms every day throughout a month. While I do not do this every month or keep up every single day, I can pick up the Bible any day, any time and read 5 psalms.

Instead of reading psalms consecutively, 1, 2, 3, etc. read the psalm that corresponds to that day of the month and then add 30 to that number. Read the next psalm, then add 30 again and again until you have read 5 psalms.

For example, today’s date is March 30, so I read Psalm 30, then 60, 90, 120, 150.

What has astonished me about this method for reading the book of Psalms is how a theme can appear that threads different psalms together. Similarities emerge.

Since I began several months ago starting each day reading psalms, the Psalms have helped me during a personal crisis that began before this pandemic hit.

My eyes and my thoughts have been lifted.

I can see and appreciate universal truths.

How do I apply the psalmist’s words to my life?

Verses from the psalms that correspond to today’s date, the 30th of March, selected:

“I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”

Psalm 30:1–2

As I read this psalm in light of a worldwide pandemic, I’m thinking about health and healing. How disease itself is an enemy to everyone.

Many psalms record how the psalmist feels abandoned by God when suffering strikes, as does Psalm 60. Forsaken. Under the hand of God’s judgment. Will he save us?

“You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry––now restore us.

You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures for it is quaking.

You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. . .

Give us aid against the enemy for the help of man is worthless.

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”

Psalm 60:1–3, 11–12

Can I apply these words to the current world crisis of coronavirus? Are you and I now in the midst of desperate times?

Does God want people to turn to him for help, to ask him to deliver you and me from the threat of enemies, both seen and unseen?

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God . . .

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad for all our days . . .”

Psalm 90:1–2, 12–14

Amazingly, when a personal need leads me to read the Bible, the words can literally lift off the page and reach my soul.

Because the Bible’s words are living. Sharp. Penetrating.

“I call to the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and deceitful tongues.

What will he do to you and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?

He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows and with burning coals of the broom tree.”

Psalm 120:1–4

What’s that mean?

A puzzling theme throughout the psalms is repeated reference to a person’s enemies. Psalms that call for judgment against a person’s or a nation’s enemies are called imprecatory psalms.

imprecatory––(noun) to invoke or call down (evil or curses), as upon a person.

In effect, the psalmist asks God to judge his enemies.

What makes the psalmist believe that God would protect him and punish his enemies?

When the psalmist refers to his enemies, I ask myself first, Who are my enemies? Why would God judge my enemies and at the same time spare me judgment?

Are my enemies God’s enemies?

On the other hand, when the psalmist declares that he has led a blameless life, can I say that about myself? Have I led a blameless life?

A few days ago, I read Psalm 26.

“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life. I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my mind, for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.”

Psalm 26:1–3

Hold it! Not even on my best day would I claim that I lead a blameless life, that my righteousness would satisfy God’s standard of righteousness.

The psalmist’s words point back to the Old Testament where God identifies people who belong to him despite their repeated failures and forward to the New Testament with God’s provision of the Savior who makes men righteous in God’s sight.

Movie Magic Illustrates

What came to mind was a scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Near the end of the movie where Indiana (played by Harrison Ford) and his father (played by Sean Connery) have searched for the Holy Grail––the chalice, the cup that Jesus Christ drank from at the last supper. Finding themselves within reach of that cup inside a cliffside temple, obstacles remain that involve taking risks.

Risks of faith overcoming fear, resolve and fortitude.

When Indie’s father lies mortally wounded, the only thing that can save him is water poured from the cup of Christ.

A clue from the map they have followed states, “Only the penitent man may pass.”

When the severed head of a man who had tried to enter the temple to retrieve the cup rolls past him, Indiana repeats the clue to himself and understands this to mean that a person must kneel to get beyond the trap that beheads trespassers.

Throughout the entire Bible, the message is repeated. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” And also, “God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”

The penitent man acknowledges his need. Humbles himself before God. Kneels to admit he needs God to escape the trials and traps of this life. To survive.

In the psalms, references to my rock, my help, my redeemer emphasize personal connection to a personal God.

“Only the penitent man may pass.”

Post Script: Psalm 119

When a month has 31 days, I read Psalm 119. This psalm has 176 verses across 8 pages in my NIV Bible. Reading Psalm 119 along with 4 other psalms on the date that it otherwise falls feels daunting.

Psalm 119 extols the value and virtue of God’s Word with all but 2 of the 176 verses containing a direct reference to his word, namely the law of the LORD, statutes, his ways, decrees, precepts, commands, your word, laws.

It can be frustrating to read the Bible and “not get anything out of it,” words bland and tasteless as an unsalted cracker.

Yet the very accessibility of God’s Word reveals his desire that we turn to him in times of need and cry out for help.

Yes, the Psalms can speak for us even more than they speak to us.

“Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise hime with the harp and lyre,

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.”

Psalm 150

The book of Psalms ends with the sounds of a symphony and the voices of all peoples under heaven combined to praise the LORD.

Yes, at the end of a good day, or even a bad day, reading the book of Psalms reminds me to Praise the LORD.