Studying the Psalms Together: A Family Devotional Guide

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Thanksgiving Psalms

Thanksgiving Psalms are psalms that are focused on giving thanks to God. Even when a situation is going poorly, Psalmists still give thanks to God for His presence, care, and love. There is much we can learn from thanksgiving Psalms; they teach us the importance of being thankful in all seasons of life. Whenever things are going well or not so well, we can still give thanks to God.

There is always something to give thanks for. Even if we are unsure of what to give thanks for, we can give thanks for God. He has provided us with salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. We can also thank God for our daily provisions, His protection, and His guidance. Every good gift is from God, and we need to give Him thanks (James 1:17).

Example of Thanksgiving Psalms:

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1-3)

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2)

Challenge Questions:

• How can you give thanks to God today?
• Do any of the psalms above stir you to give thanks to God? Why or why not?
• God has blessed us with eternal life. How can you allow this to help your heart overflow with thanksgiving and joy?

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, please help me to always give you thanks. You are worthy of all of my thankfulness. Even when days are hard, help me to remember that You are always with me and You love me. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”

Related: 18 Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise for a Heart of Gratitude

Praise Psalms

Praise Psalms are connected with thanksgiving Psalms, but they are different. While thanksgiving Psalms focus on giving thanks to God, "praise Psalms" are focused on giving praise to Him. Praise and thanks can be used interchangeably; however, when it comes to the Psalms, they are two distinct categories. Lifting the Lord up in praise means praising His Name and worshiping Him.

In our daily lives, we need to be praising God. God hears each time we praise Him and bring His Name glory. Not one of these occurrences goes unnoticed by God. Allow your heart and your family’s hearts today to go to the Lord in praise. Praise Him for all that He has done and His goodness. As the Psalmists did, you will soon be lifting up His Name in praise every day.

Examples of Praise Psalms:

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1-3).

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:1-4)

Challenge Questions:

• Have you ever praised God? If so, when and why?
• As a family, how can you start praising God together?
• What do praise psalms teach you about our relationship with God?

Prayer: “Dear God, I come before you today with a heart of praise. Help me to follow the example of the psalmists and lift you up in praise each day. Focus my heart on You each day and help me to see You in the darkness. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”

Lament Psalms

Lament Psalms are sad songs. In other words, they are direct laments from the Psalmists. These psalms are often written during a hardship or after a hardship. Lament Psalms end with a praise to the Lord and a heart focused on Him. Through lamenting their concerns to the Lord, He provides them with lasting peace and comfort.

When we look at lament psalms, we can learn much about our own relationship with the Lord. While we might come to Him in a state of being distraught or upset, we can walk away with a peaceful heart. This is because we are giving over all of these hard feelings to the Lord. Rather than holding onto them, we trust them in the hands of the Lord. As believers, we need to continue doing this and bring all our feelings to the foot of the cross.

Examples of Lament Psalms:

“I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.” (Psalm 6:6-8)

“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” (Psalm 31:1-5)

“Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. I am overwhelmed with troubles, and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.” (Psalm 88:1-5)

Challenge Questions:

• Have you related to any of these lament Psalms? Why or why not?
• Praying lament psalms can be very soothing. Do you think you will pray a lament Psalm today?
• As a family, do you feel as though lament Psalms are often thought about in your home? Why or why not?

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, I see the importance of bringing my worries, feelings, and emotions to You. Please help me to be vulnerable and share all of these feelings with You each day. Thank You for allowing me to be honest in my prayers. Amen.”

Related:

What Does it Mean to Lament? Bible Meaning Explained

20 Psalms to Read When Life Is Miserable

Royal Psalms

Royal Psalms are focused on the Kingship of the Lord. Some of these Psalms are prophecies, and others refer to God’s kingly role in the present day. Through the royal Psalms, we learn much about God, who He is, and how He is in control of all things. After understanding them, we can rest in the peace of God. He is in control, and there is nothing we need to fear.

When we reflect on these Psalms as a family, parents need to help their children know that the King being spoken of is Jesus. Jesus will take His rightful seat on the throne once He returns for the Millennial Kingdom. At this time, Jesus will rule as King over the earth. However, even though Jesus is not physically ruling right now, He is still the King of the world.

Examples of Royal Psalms:

“The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.” (Psalm 10:16)

“For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.” (Psalm 47:2-4)

“But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.” (Psalm 74:12)

Challenge Questions:

• Jesus is our forever King. Does this bring you comfort? Why or why not?
• The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God. How do you think this affects their Kingship?
• Being King over a people group is a difficult task, but God never says it is hard. What problems do you think you would run into if you were king or queen over a land? Would you handle things as well as God does?

Prayer: “Dear God, I praise You for being my King. I trust in Your guidance and Your love. Thank You for showing me what royal psalms are and how they attest to You. Ensure my heart always brings You glory as You are my King. Amen.”

Wisdom Psalms

Wisdom Psalms focus on wisdom, discerning right from wrong, and obeying the Law rather than the flesh. We need wisdom in our daily lives because it helps us to make the right decisions. The wisdom from God is the wisdom we need to strive for. Through the wisdom Psalms, we can learn about being wise and how to apply these teachings in our lives.

It can be hard to be wise due to the sinful nature. Sometimes it feels as though it would just be simpler to follow what the flesh tells us rather than the wisdom we have learned from God. In these circumstances, we need to know that wisdom from God is worth more than fancy jewels. Applying this wisdom in our lives will also prove to be a great decision. Rather than following after our own understanding, we need to learn from God’s wisdom, which cannot be done without reflecting on the wisdom Psalms.

Examples of Wisdom Psalms:

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:1-3)

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing.” (Psalm 128:1-4)

Challenge Questions:

• Do you feel you have wisdom from God? If not, how do you think you might gain wisdom?
• As Christians, we know wisdom is found in God. How can we cultivate this knowledge today?
• Wisdom can be hard to apply, but not impossible. How can you turn away from temptation and follow after God’s teachings in the Bible?

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, I am lacking wisdom in my life. Through reading a few wisdom Psalms, I am aware of how much wisdom I need in my life. Please bless me with Your wisdom and help me to live in obedience to You. Amen.”

Related:

5 Ways to Make Bible Study a Family Affair

The Peace of God: A 7-Day Family Bible Study

God's Design for Family: A 7-Day Study in Genesis