Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's sermons on the Book of Psalms were delivered at Westminster Chapel in London throughout his ministry there from 1939-1968. These masterful expositions reveal the timeless truths of Scripture through careful examination of …
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's sermons on the Book of Psalms were delivered at Westminster Chapel in London throughout his ministry there from 1939-1968. These masterful expositions reveal the timeless truths of Scripture through careful examination of key psalms that speak to the human condition and our relationship with God.
The series includes an extended exposition of Psalm 1, where Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores humanity's search for true happiness and the stark contrast between the godly and ungodly person. Through vivid biblical imagery of the flourishing tree versus worthless chaff, he demonstrates how genuine satisfaction can only be found in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Moving through various psalms, Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses fundamental questions of human existence: "What is man?" (Psalm 8), "Why do the nations rage?" (Psalm 2), and the fool's denial of God (Psalm 14). His exposition of Psalm 27 ("The Lord is My Light") and Psalm 42 provides profound insight into dealing with spiritual depression and finding strength in God during dark times.
The series also includes Dr Lloyd-Jones's timeless treatment of Psalm 107's portrayal of God's steadfast love and deliverance, along with searches of the heart in Psalms 73 and 84. Throughout these sermons, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates how the Psalms speak to every human condition while pointing to Christ.
His careful handling of these inspired verses reveals their lasting relevance for modern believers, showing how they address both the depths of human despair and heights of spiritual joy. Dr. Lloyd-Jones's hope for this series was that listeners would not only understand these inspired texts more clearly, but would be drawn into deeper communion with God through their truth.
These sermons combine careful exposition with practical application, theological depth with pastoral wisdom, making them valuable resources for both personal devotion and ministry preparation. They represent some of Dr. Lloyd-Jones's most accessible yet profound teaching on living the Christian life in all its fullness.
“All the redeemed of the Lord will join in one great anthem.” In this sermon on Psalm 107:1–3 titled “Religion that is True,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this unity despite four different types of experiences people one can encounter. Those wandering in the wilderness in need of habitation, those bound in affliction needing relief, those suffering in ill health and starvation, or those on the sea in great waters and terrible storms—all can experience deliverance. The first characteristic of a true Christian is their gratitude to God. A non-believer may have no thought or care for God, but the Christian will be concerned about God. Christianity is holistic in its combination of the will, intellect, and emotion. It is impossible to be a Christian without emotions involved; Christianity without emotion is just moralism. Great danger comes in the self-righteous person: “The self-righteous is infinitely a greater sinner than the drunkard or prostitute.” A Christian is desperate about themselves and their sin that they don’t know what to do but can come to God.
What is sin? In this sermon on sin from Psalm 107:4–9 titled “The Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses sin and its power but rejoices that hope exists. Sin manifests itself in almost an endless variety of ways, and because sinners fail to recognize this, they often fail to recognize sin when it is right in front of them. Does the Christian recognize sin when it manifests itself in rags but not in an evening dress? This disease has endless symptoms. Sin causes people to lose their way and miss the mark. There is a constant search for the philosophy of life and a need for an outlook that will finally satisfy the question of existence. The city of intellectual satisfaction is immense as is the search for truth and rules for living. Humanity desires security, and in such, provokes law. Listen to the views of modern and classical humanists and discover that there is no hope for the intellect alone. The listener is encouraged to read the autobiographies and biographies of Christians and be convinced that there is no hope of satisfaction apart from Christ. God’s way is simple and humble and it makes all things new.
God and God alone is to be praised. Salvation is found only in God. In this sermon on Psalm 107:10–16 titled “Prisoners of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the God who delivers every type of person, a God worthy of all the praise of humanity. This psalm is a great picture of both sin and salvation. Sin can take many forms, but is still sin. This is the common root to all the varied problems and ills of humanity. Learn that while there are many symptoms, there is just one essential disease. Be warned of the devil’s subtlety in working, along with the ignorance and arrogance of sin. A common idea is that religion is what makes people slaves, and to become a humanist is to liberate yourself, but this is far from the truth. Sin is what binds. This picture of a prison is a message of sin and its consequences. Sin is rebellion against God and against God’s words—sinners are the rebels. “The life of sin is a hard life.” Complications arise in the life of sin, not a freedom unto sin. First, one chooses sin, then in their persistence, they become victim to it. Be delivered from this power of sin today.
God is to be praised with one’s whole life because He is God. Sin is the singular cause of all troubles in this world, manifested in various ways. In this sermon on Psalm 107:17–22 titled “The Lie of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the third representation of sin—sin as disease. This is the illness of the soul, of humanity, of life. Sin is not only rebellion, but it is also transgression–a deliberate and continual going against God’s indicated will, thus taking the health of one’s soul. People are architects of their own troubles. The extraordinary paradox is that everyone is chasing happiness, but the result is unhappiness because it is not being sought in the right way. People search for the best, but find the worst. Sin always robs people of innocence, refinement, delicacy, judgement, and energy. The craving for evil exponentially continues to increase. Christ came to kill the poison of this disease through His death so that all could be reconciled to God.
It is not hard to see that humanity is in a state of suffering and evil. Everyone experiences death, sickness, and suffering in their lives, but why is this? Many do not consider this question because they claim that humanity will inevitably progress until all evils have been extinguished and that man is the master of his own destiny. But the Bible presents a very different picture of the world than the triumphalist. In this sermon on Psalm 107:23-32, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture teaches that humanity is fundamentally sick and weak, and in dire need of salvation. No one is master of their own destiny, but all are subject to what happens in the world. When the gospel comes, it does not make humanity the center of the world, but it restores them to their rightful place as creatures of God. The gospel brings true and lasting peace for all that believe. This sermon calls each and every person to flee from sin and to come to God in repentance and humility to be saved. This sermon brings the vital message that all need salvation and that Jesus is the Savior.
The most important thing about life is not what one does, but who they know. In this sermon on Psalm 107:32–43 titled “The God of the Bible,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches about the psalmist confessing that God has the power to both save and to judge. The glorious truth of the gospel is that God has sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save it. Vile sinners are called to flee sin and come to Jesus so that they might be children of God, perfect and holy in Christ Jesus. Knowing Jesus is what saves His people, not their works or deeds. The most important question is whether one knows Jesus. To reject Jesus is to be damned before God in the final day of judgment. Dr. Lloyd-Jones pleads with sinners to forsake their sin and to come to the merciful arms of Jesus. Flee from hatred and strife and come to God who is loving and long suffering, not desiring that any should perish. It is only by believing in Jesus Christ that anyone can be saved and made holy before God.
What does it mean that salvation is all of grace? Despite the centrality of grace to the Bible, many Christians do not have a good understanding of what it means that God is gracious. In this sermon on Psalm 107:33–43 titled “A Gift of Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches that God gives grace freely so that sinners can be saved. Salvation is a gift of grace; a free gift of God apart from any human merit or works. The work of salvation is a unique act of God wherein God sends His Son into the world to die for sinners. Salvation is accomplished in Christ and given as a free gift to all who repent and believe in Jesus. This sermon shows first and foremost that it is the message that one’s merit and works can never make one right with God. All human striving for salvation is wholly done away with on the cross of Calvary when Jesus died for sinners. This sermon calls all to forsake sin and to believe in God.
What is unique about the Bible’s teaching on salvation? Many religions and philosophies present ways that people can be saved from death and enjoy everlasting peace. In this sermon on Psalm 107:35–38 titled “The Great Christian Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Christian’s faith stands apart from all these other worldly teachings because in the holy Scriptures is found a salvation that is wholly miraculous. Becoming a Christian is a miracle of God in that He transforms what is dead and lifeless into a living and breathing new spiritual being. This new birth is impossible according to nature, but with God all things are possible. This message of salvation as an act of God means that it is only by grace that anyone can be saved. Salvation is wholly of God, and therefore it is wholly of His grace. Christians are not called to understand the miraculous nature of God’s acts, but are called to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has come and died for sinners. They are called to believe so that they may be saved. This is the most important message that anyone can hear because it is the only true message of salvation.
In this sermon, “Give Thanks Unto the Lord” from Psalm 107:1–31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones defines the Christian as the one who sees their sin and brokenness. They see their weakness and flee to Christ, abandoning all efforts of saving themselves. Regardless of one’s background and upbringing, what unifies all of humankind is their fallen nature and their need for redemption in Christ. All are born in Adam and are children of wrath. It is from this mess of fallen humankind that Christians are saved through the work of Christ. It is Christ that delivers people from sin and gives them new life in the midst of their distress. All Christians are saved through the same blood, Savior, and God. This common salvation applies to all people regardless of their personality. It saves all people regardless of their ethnic background and cultural background. The peace that Christ brings applies to everyone in all times and in all places. This is because Jesus Christ fulfills the deepest need of everyone. He delivers all who cry out and believe from their sin and brokenness by leading them into the heavenly Jerusalem, making them a new people by the power of His blood. Jesus delivers from all brokenness and sin by the power of His gospel.