What are wisdom psalms? They’re psalms that reflect on what wisdom truly is and where we find it. They’re focused on the Word of God and on the contrasting paths taken by the righteous and the wicked.

Wisdom psalms are unique in their very reflective, meditative nature. Some of the key wisdom psalms include, Psalm 1, Psalm 14, Psalm 19, Psalm 37, Psalm 73, Psalm 112, Psalm 119, and Psalm 128.

PSALM 1

Psalm 1 opens with a profound declaration of the blessings that flow to those who delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord. It paints a vivid picture of contrasting destinies—the righteous, likened to a flourishing tree planted by streams of water, and the wicked, compared to chaff blown away by the wind. The psalmist emphasizes how the blessed person avoids the path of the wicked, finding delight in God’s Word and meditating on it day and night. This commitment to God’s Word is not merely a casual interest, but a deep-rooted foundation that sustains spiritual vitality and growth, providing stability and nourishment even in challenging times.

Psalm 1 urges us to carefully choose our spiritual influences—finding delight in God’s Word and surrounding ourselves with those who similarly cherish and honor it. This deliberate choice shapes our character and directs our path toward righteousness, safeguarding us from the destructive ways of the world.

Reflecting on this passage prompts a self-examination…

Discussion Question 1: How can you deepen your commitment to meditating on the Word of God?

Discussion Question 2: Are there influences in your life that align with God’s truth, or do you need to make adjustments to prioritize spiritual growth?

PSALM 19

Imagine a sunrise walk on the beach. The waves are calm. The wind is still. The colors are dark. Suddenly, the first beams of light from the sun peak over the horizon and begin to paint the vast sky and the mirror-like ocean with beautiful pinks, oranges, yellows, and blues. “The heavens declare the glory of God.” And this doesn’t just happen one time. Every morning, without human effort or thought or input, the sun rises and the heavens once again proclaim the glory of God. “Day after day they pour forth speech.”

This is called general revelation. It’s a way that God, our Creator, communicates with the people He’s made. He uses nature and creation to reveal Himself to us, so everyone might know what He’s like. This is indicative that the God of the Universe wants to have a relationship with you. But general revelation isn’t enough to fully understand God and enter into a relationship with Him. That’s why God gave us His Word. The Bible is called special revelation, and it reveals to us the way to salvation. As Psalm 19 says, the law and decrees are the Word of God. It’s the only thing that can refresh our souls, give us wisdom, bring light to our eyes, and bring joy to our hearts. The Word is everlasting, perfect, and righteous. It’s more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.

What’s more, is that the Word of God points us to Jesus. John tells us that the Word, special revelation, is Jesus, who existed in the beginning of creation, general revelation. So, in Jesus, we have general revelation and special revelation, the most perfect and whole demonstration of God’s desire to show His people what He’s like and how to be in relationship with Him.

Discussion Question 3: What are some ways you’ve experienced God through creation?

Discussion Question 4: How has God spoken to you through His Word?

PSALM 119

Did you know Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible? It has 176 verses which are divided into 22 sections. Each of the 22 sections contains eight verses. In addition, Psalm 119 is what we call an acrostic poem with each of the 22 sections beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Not only that, but the psalmist uses eight different words to describe God’s Word: law, word, judgments, testimonies, commandments, statutes, precepts, and promises. Isn’t that amazing?

Now that we know all that, what is Psalm 119 about? Essentially, it’s a hymn about the prayer of someone who loves and lives by the Word of God. Charles Spurgeon said of it, “This wonderful psalm, from its great length, helps us to wonder at the immensity of Scripture.” Translation: It’s a long, beautiful, wonderful love letter to the Bible. And even with its length, beauty, and eloquence, no amount of words could do it justice!

So, what can we learn from the longest chapter in Scripture? First, we learn that how to navigate our emotions in a healthy, godly way. How so? Well, as you read through the 176 verses, you notice that the psalmist takes us through a spectrum of human emotions, from joy to sadness to anger to grief and anxiety. He expresses joy and satisfaction in some moments, but he also expresses confusion and indignation, as well as stress and anguish in other moments.

This psalm gives us permission to be angry and express that to Him, to be disgusted by the state of the world around us, to be saddened by our circumstances, to bring our questions, our doubts, our pain, our hopes, and fears to Him. And it gives us beautiful examples of what we do with those emotions, how to navigate them, reconcile them, make peace with them, and release them to Him.

Not only that, but Psalm 119 also emphasizes the infinite value of the Word of God, declaring that “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Discussion Question 5: How can you embrace the principles of Psalm 119?

Discussion Question 6: How are you hiding His word I your heart?

This Week

Psalm 119 is meant to be read slowly, section by section. Take the time over the next week to slowly consume this glorious love letter.

Memory Verse

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.”—Psalm 119:10–12 (NIV)

Prayer Guide

Father, I thank You for Your beautiful, indescribable Word. Like the psalmist, I want to be known as someone who lives by Your Word. Help me, Lord, to hide Your Word in my heart, to make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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