Psalms is one of my favorite books. Using different genres and invoking an array of emotions, Psalms is a book for the whole person. Psalms are for the intellect, will, and emotions. Each week a new Psalm will be added for reflection and contemplation. As you read the Psalms, pray it will deepen your affections for God and help you express your feelings to God.
Psalms are made up of different genres. Each genre highlights different emotions. Lament, Thanksgiving, Royal, Wisdom, Messianic, Remembrance—just to name a few.
Enter into emotion. The Psalms call readers to acknowledge and name emotion, encouraging us to empathize with the author. They express joy, sadness, love, anger, and thanksgiving, reminding us we are not alone in how we feel.
Pray through the Psalm. Learning to pray through Scripture calls us to slow down and see God’s heart, truth, and posture towards us in the midst of our experiences and feelings.
Reflect on the Psalm. Take time to review the Psalm for the week. Answer the reflection questions. I am praying for you as you reflect in the Psalms each week! Go slowly. Don’t rush. Your purpose is not to accomplish something, but spend time with someone (Jesus).
Take your time. This is not a race! Intentionally make space each day to read and reflect on the Psalm. We are going to spend about a week on each Psalm. The goal is to learn how to linger and enjoy a relationship with God through the reading of His Word.
Day 1: Read the Psalm. Just read it. Maybe read it twice.
Day 2: Answer the Reflection Questions.
Day 3: Personally Reflect on the Psalm. Write some reflections and questions about the Psalm. What is your favorite verse, why?
Day 4: Write a Prayer for yourself based on the Psalm
Day 5: Slowly Reread the Psalm.
Psalm 15 - Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
Reflection Questions
1. Why does God only walk with the one who is blameless and speak truths in his heart?
2. How does Christ's propitiation to reconcile us to Christ help see this passage in a new light?
3. What are the examples of sin does David site here? Do any of them surprise you?
4. Reflect on the passage.
a) Is there anything you need to ask God's forgiveness for?
b) Take a moment & thank Jesus for His love and death on the cross for us!
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”