Learning to Love the Psalms - Ligonier Resources

Introduction (Part 1): Attractions & Difficulties

W. Robert Godfrey

The Psalms have a Godward direction, being God’s words to us to give back to Him. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey discusses the uniqueness of the Psalms as well as the difficulties that must be overcome if we are to learn to love them.

Introduction (Part 2): Solving Difficulties

W. Robert Godfrey

Learning to love the Psalms requires us to overcome the interpretive difficulties outlined in the previous lecture. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey demonstrates how the difficulties commonly perceived in the Psalms are not that difficult after all.

Psalm 11: The Power of Poetry

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalm 11 exhibits the powerful characteristics of Hebrew poetry typically found throughout the Psalms. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey uses Psalm 11 to provide us with an interpretive grid that we may apply to all the psalms as Hebrew poetry.

Psalms 26 & 39: Peculiar Psalms

W. Robert Godfrey

Certain psalms raise difficult questions that require us to apply a biblical hermeneutic so that we can make appropriate distinctions about them. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey focuses his attention on Psalms 26 and 39 as examples of so called “problematic” psalms.

Psalms 49 & 50: All the World & All the People

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalms 49 and 50 uniquely depart from the great theme of Book Two by focusing beyond the kingdom of God onto the world. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey traces the progression of these psalms and explores what they tell us about the wisdom and worship of God.

Psalm 52: The Psalms & History

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalm 52 refers to a specific historic event in the life of David and serves as an indictment against Doeg the Edomite. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explores the context of Psalm 52 to showcase the importance of history in interpretation.

Psalm 77: Questions in Grief

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalm 77 is characteristic of the psalms of crisis in Book Three of the Psalter, but unlike many of these psalms, it ends in hope. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey employs Psalm 77 as the key to an appropriate response to God in our times of trouble.

Psalm 81: The Word at the Center

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalm 81 can be said to be the most important psalm because of its placement at the center of the Psalter. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey reviews the themes of Psalm 81, pointing out how they ultimately center on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalms 91 & 93: God Is Protector & King

W. Robert Godfrey

From the beginning, God has revealed Himself as trustworthy, the great comfort that drives Book Four of the Psalms. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey studies Psalms 91 and 93, two psalms of comfort that teach us where to go in times of crisis.

Psalm 94: Comfort from the Future

W. Robert Godfrey

God disciplines those He loves, and as His people, God’s discipline should be a joy and a comfort. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey draws our attention to the blessed man of Psalm 94 rejoicing in God’s discipline while praying for judgment against the wicked.

Psalm 127: The Lord’s Beloved

W. Robert Godfrey

Psalm 127 sits at the center of the Psalms of Ascents, and the center of Psalm 127 points to Christ, our King. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey expounds Psalm 127, pointing the way to Jesus—the fulfillment of Israel—as reflected in King Solomon.

Psalm 145: God Is All

W. Robert Godfrey

The final psalms in the Psalter are the culmination of praise to which the entire book has been leading. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey closes his survey through the Psalms by taking a closer look at Psalm 145, the last psalm of Book Five.