AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PSALMS
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The book of Psalms is considered by many to be the most loved portion of Scripture.
The full range of human emotions is captured in these Psalms … from soul-stirring heights of praise to the heart-rending depths of despair.
Though the Psalms were written some 3,000 years ago in the days of ancient Israel, they remain just as vibrant and fresh today as when they were first written. Each is able to lead the hearts of all believers to praise God.
In order for the Psalms to be rightly understood, a basic orientation to each Psalm's historical background, literary style, and figures of speech is necessary.
I. Unique Features of the Psalms
The Psalms is the most unusual Book in the Bible and has many interesting features that cause it to stand as a truly one-of-a-kind Book.
1. Psalms is the longest Book in the Bible, containing 150 Psalms. The Book of Isaiah is a distant second with 66 chapters. 2. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, containing only two verses. Psalm 117 is also the middle chapter of the Bible which has 1,189 chapters found in Genesis through Revelation. 3. Psalms is written by more authors than any other Book in the Bible. a. David - The second King of Israel and the “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), and is the chief author of the Psalms. - He is credited with writing 75 of the 150 Psalms, exactly half the Psalms (3-9; 11-32; 34-41; 51-65; 68-70; 86; 101; 103; 108-110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138-145; also Psalms 2 (Acts 4:5) and Psalms 95 (Hebrews 4:7). b. Asaph He was a priest who served as the worship leader of ancient Israel, and wrote 12 Psalms 50; 73-83). c. The sons of Korah These were a guild of singers and composers of music, credited with writing 10 Psalms (42; 44-49; 84-85; 87). d. Solomon King David's son the the third King of Israel. He wrote 2 Psalms (72, 127). e. Moses This prophet of Israel and mighty leader of the exodus, wrote one Psalm ((90). f. Heman A wise man, musician, an Ezrahite, a son of Korah, and founder of the Korahite choir (2 Chronicles 5:12; 35:15), wrote one Psalm (88). g. Ethan A wise man and Ezrahite, probably a Levitical singer (1 Chronicles 6:42; 15:17,19) wrote one Psalm (89). h. Anonymous authors account for the remaining 48 Psalms. Ezra, the scribe and priest of Israel, is thought to be author of some of the anonymous Psalms.
4. Psalms was a long term project that was approximately 900 to 1,000 years in the making. - The time of their writing reaches from approximately 1410 B.C., when the first Psalm was written, to around 500 B.C. to 430 B.C., when the last Psalm was written, depending upon the identity of the author of Psalm 126. - The first Psalm written, Psalm 90, was composed by Moses during Israel's 40 years of wilderness wanderings, perhaps around 1410 B.C. - The vast majority of the Psalms were written during the kingly reigns of David and Solomon, around 1,000 B.C. - The last Psalm composed, Psalm 126, is thought to have been recorded after the time of Israel's Babylonian exile, during their return to the land of Judah about 430 B.C.
5. Psalms is the most quoted Old Testament Book in the New Testament. Of the 360 Old Testament quotations or allusions in the New Testament, 112 are from the Psalms.
6. Psalms contains more messianic prophecies than any other Old Testament Book, other than possibly Isaiah. - They reveal the Messiah as the Son of God (Psalms 2) and Son of Man (Psalms 8) in His obedience (Psalms 40:6-8), betrayal (Psalms 41:9), crucifixion (Psalms 22), resurrection (Psalms 16), ascension (Psalms 68:18), and enthronement (Psalms 110).
Book Title
The word “psalms” comes from a Greek word which means “the plucking of strings; a song to be sung to the accompaniment of a plucked or stringed instrument such as a harp or lyre. • The Psalms is a collection of worship songs sung to God by the people of Israel with musical accompaniment. They served as the first hymnbook for God's people, written and compiled to assist them in their worship of God. • At first, this praise book was unnamed, but eventually the ancient Hebrews called it “The Book of Praises,” or simply “Praises.” This title reflects its main purpose – to assist believers in the proper worship of God.
III. The Intended Purpose of Psalms
No matter where a person is in the Christian life, whether up or down, soaring or struggling, there is a psalm that speaks directly to the Spiritual state of his heart.
The primary purpose of the Book of Psalms is found in its intensely God-centered focus to direct our hearts toward him in every experience of life.
Book Divisions
The entire collection of 150 Psalms is often call the Psalter. The ancient compilers originally collected the Psalms into series of five smaller books. • These five books are easily recognizable because each section concludes with a climactic doxology (Psalms 41:13; 72:18-20; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6). • Each of the first three books ends with a double “Amen”, the fourth ends with an “Amen” and a “Praise the Lord,” and the fifth book closes the entire collection with a “Praise the Lord.”
Some interpreters have maintained that these five books of the Psalms correspond to the first five books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy.
Book I : Psalms 1-41 • The first 41 Psalms were probably gathered together by either David or Solomon. • Because Psalms 1-41 highlights God's power in creation (Psalms 8; 19) and is dominated by the theme of sin and redemption, it is easily correlated with the Book of Genesis.
Book II : Psalms 42-72 These Psalms, collected about 300 years after Book I, was compiled during the reign of Hezekiah – Proverbs 25:1; 2 Chronicles 29:30.
Book III : Psalms 73-89 These 17 Psalms were compiled during the same era by the men of Hezekiah and begins with 11 consecutive Psalms written by Asaph, a Levite who lead one of the temple choirs and centered primarily upon the holiness of Israel's sanctuary.
Book IV : Psalms 90-106 • These 17 Psalms were collected about 200-300 years later, probably during the post-exilic days when Israel returned to her land under Ezra and Nehemiah. • These Psalms contain the recurring theme of God's sovereign kingdom which dominates the kingdoms of the nations.
Book V : Psalms 107-150 • These last 44 Psalms were probably collected during the post-exilic days of Ezra, almost 600 years after Book I was collected. • The fifth Book focuses upon the sufficiency of God's Word and the universal praise due to the Lord's name.
V. Superscriptions and Notations of Psalms
More than three-fourths of the Psalms, 116 to be exact, have a superscription added to the Psalm at the beginning that provides an editorial notation identifying its author, historical context, and how it should be sung. All but 34 of the Psalms have such titles. These were added to assist the worship leader and congregation in understanding and singing these praise songs.
These provide: 1. Historical Information Background information about the authorship, historical occasion, which helps to interpret and apply the Psalm.
2. Musical Instructions These musical inscriptions accompany 55 Psalms, possibly to aid the worship leader in their use on special occasions.
3. Important Pauses The word “selah” had been added 71 times to the Psalms, not only to signal a brief interlude with stringed instruments, but as a call to pause and reflect upon the truth just stated.
VI. Literary Types of Psalms
The basic types of Psalms are:
1. Wisdom Psalms These instructive Psalms provide practical guidelines for godly living and give pointed direction for righteous living in the pursuit of God's well.
2. Royal Psalms
These describe the coming messianic rule of Christ and portray Him as the undisputed sovereign King over heaven and earth.
3. Lament Psalms These are highly emotionally charged Psalms that record the writer's heart cry to God for divine deliverance from the psalmist's trouble and pain.
4. Imprecatory Psalms These invoke God's wrath and judgment upon the psalmist's adversaries who are God's enemies. He calls upon God to punish the wicked and defend him so he may carry out God's work.
5. Thanksgiving Psalms These express a profound awareness of and deep gratitude for God's abundant blessings.
6. Pilgrimage Psalms These promote a mood of praise for God as His people travel to Jerusalem for their annual feasts.
7. Enthronement Psalms These describe the majesty of God's sovereign rule over all His creation as He cares for, sustains, and controls all He has made.
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