Start2Finish Bible Studies #18

Author: Michael Whitworth | 13 lessons, 108 pages

Prayers that shape the heart. Praise that steadies the soul.

The book of Psalms is the songbook of God’s people—a collection of prayers, laments, and praises that give voice to every season of faith. From the heights of joy to the depths of despair, the psalmists teach us how to bring our whole hearts before God, trusting that he hears, heals, and reigns.

Within its 150 poems, Psalms reveals a God who is both transcendent and near, majestic in power yet tender in mercy. It invites believers to worship honestly—to rejoice, to weep, to confess, and to hope. Each psalm reminds us that faith is not about pretending life is easy but about clinging to the One who is faithful in all things.

Psalms from Start2Finish is a 13-lesson journey through selections from Israel’s hymnbook and will help Bible classes or small groups learn to pray, praise, and persevere through every circumstance. In the process, vital truths such as trust, gratitude, repentance, and steadfast love will be affirmed.

1. The Gateway to Worship (Psalm 1–2) — How to read and pray the Psalms; righteous vs. wicked; God’s rule through his king.

2. Lament and Hope (Psalm 3; selected laments) — Structure of lament; faith that protests but trusts.

3. Songs of Trust (Psalm 23; 27; 46) — God as shepherd, fortress, and refuge.)

4. The God Who Saves (Psalm 18; 34) — Remembering and praising God’s rescue.

5. Enter His Courts with Praise (Psalm 100; 103) — Praise for God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

6. The Greatness of God (Psalm 8; 19; 139) — Creation, revelation, and divine omniscience.

7. When God Seems Silent (Psalm 22; 42–43) — Learning to hope when God feels distant.)

8. Confession and Cleansing (Psalm 32; 51) — Sin, mercy, and renewal.

9. The Justice of God (Psalm 37; 73) — The long view of faith and divine justice.

10. The Reigning King (Psalm 2; 72; 110) — God’s anointed as ruler of the nations.)

11. Songs for the Journey (Psalm 120–134, selections) — Faith as a journey toward God’s presence.

12. Give Thanks to the Lord (Psalm 136; 145) — Gratitude as a habit of memory.)

13. Let Everything Praise the Lord (Psalm 146–150) — The call for all creation to glorify God.