Fourteen verses on worship, unity, those who lead and revival, each shown in full with a short note.
The word church does not appear in the psalms. What they have instead is the assembly, the congregation and the LORD's house, and they speak about all three often. Some of the verses below are glad to be going to worship. Some pray for those who lead it. Others ask God to revive a people who remember better days. The notes say what each verse says and do not assume a denomination.
The page is grouped by need: gathering for worship and unity, praying for pastors and church leaders, and praying for revival. Each verse is shown in full with a short note. Tick the ones you want and print them as one sheet for a prayer meeting or a study group.
Verses about going to the LORD's house, praising among other people, and living together in unity.
I was glad when they said to me,“Let’s go to the LORD’s house!”
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
The gladness comes before arriving. It is the invitation itself, let's go to the LORD's house, that the writer is glad about.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand.I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
The writer would take the lowest post in God's house over comfort anywhere else. The heading attributes Psalm 84 to the sons of Korah.
LORD, I love the habitation of your house,the place where your glory dwells.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
A plain statement of love for the place of worship, tied to the glory of God dwelling there.
Oh come, let’s worship and bow down.Let’s kneel before the LORD, our Maker,
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
A call to a group, not to one person. Worship here is done with the body as well: bowing down and kneeling.
I will declare your name to my brothers.Among the assembly, I will praise you.
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Praise spoken among the assembly, after a long lament. The letter to the Hebrews quotes this verse in 2:12, with congregation in place of assembly.
See how good and how pleasant it isfor brothers to live together in unity!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Unity is called good and pleasant, both at once. The rest of this three verse psalm compares it to oil on Aaron's head and dew on the hills of Zion.
The psalms have no pastors, but they have shepherds, priests and people who speak in the great assembly.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart,and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
David is described as the shepherd of his people, guiding them with integrity of heart and skill of hands. Both are named: character and competence.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness.Let your saints shout for joy!
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
A prayer for those who lead worship. It asks that priests be clothed with righteousness, and that the people shout for joy.
I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly.Behold, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know.
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
The writer has spoken of God's righteousness in the great assembly and will not seal his lips. Verse 10 adds that he has not hidden God's faithfulness.
Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me,until I have declared your strength to the next generation,your might to everyone who is to come.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
An old servant asks not to be forsaken until he has declared God's strength to the next generation. It fits a long ministry and a handover.
Prayers from a people asking to be renewed. Most of them remember a better time and ask for it again.
Won’t you revive us again,that your people may rejoice in you?
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Won't you revive us again. The word again means the psalm remembers a time before, and the aim it gives is joy in God.
Turn us again, LORD God of Armies.Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Turn us again, cause your face to shine. The same request appears in verses 3 and 7, so it is a refrain rather than a single line.
My soul is laid low in the dust.Revive me according to your word!
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Revival at the scale of one person. The soul is laid low in the dust and asks to be revived according to God's word.
Restore our fortunes again, LORD,like the streams in the Negev.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
The psalm asks for fortunes restored like streams in the Negev. The next verse says those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
The psalms speak of shepherds rather than pastors. Psalm 23 and Psalm 80:1 call God the shepherd. Psalm 78:70 to 72 describes David taken from the sheepfolds, from following the ewes with their young, to be the shepherd of his people. The work described is leading, guiding and caring for a flock, and the qualities named are integrity of heart and skilful hands.
No. The psalms speak of the assembly, the congregation and the LORD's house. Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22:22 and uses the word congregation.
Psalm 122 opens with gladness at going to the LORD's house, and Psalm 84 is a whole psalm of longing for God's courts. Psalm 133 is short and speaks of unity.
The psalms have shepherds and priests rather than pastors. Psalm 78:72 describes David leading with integrity of heart and skilful hands, and Psalm 132:9 prays for priests to be clothed with righteousness.
Psalm 85:6 asks directly: won't you revive us again. Psalm 80 repeats the prayer turn us again, cause your face to shine, in verses 3, 7 and 19.
Psalm 133, which is three verses long and opens by saying how good and pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity.
Psalms of Praise and WorshipPsalms about PrayerPsalms of Thanksgiving and ThankfulnessPsalms for Singing: Music in the PsalmsPsalms for the Nation, Government and LeadersPsalms for Baptism