WHY SHOULD WE READ AND DISCUSS THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE THAT ARE COLLECTIONS OF SONG LYRICS? We all know how to say the polite, respectable things about God. But how do we put into words our questions and doubts about God, our frustrations and disappointments with him? Is it proper to give a voice to our darkest spiritual experiences of suffering, depression, and despair? And if, on other occasions, we feel as if we’re experiencing a little bit of heaven right here on earth, how can we describe the glories we’re tasting? Where do we find the words, when words aren’t enough to begin with? Throughout the ages people have turned to song to express what the spoken word can barely convey. This has always been true of God’s people in particular. The songwriters of ancient Israel have left us a rich legacy. They created powerful expressions of the heights and depths of their experiences with God. Over the centuries people used those songs again and again to put their own experiences into words. Eventually many of these songs were gathered into the biblical books of Psalms, Lamentations, and Song of Songs. While their tunes have now been lost, their lyric poetry still speaks eloquently and evocatively today. In these compositions we encounter an incredibly broad and deep range of spiritual experiences, from people in the depths of despair barely hanging on to their faith to others basking in the glories of heaven on earth. We hear thoughts and feelings expressed that we may have had ourselves, but weren’t sure we could or should put into words. If you want to broaden your own spiritual experiences, if you want to know how to speak about them more meaningfully, and if you want to find inspiration in the struggles and triumphs of people of faith who’ve gone before you, get together with some friends and use this guide to read and discuss the biblical books that are collections of song lyrics: Psalms, Lamentations, and Song of Songs. UNDERSTANDING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE PSALMS LAMENTATIONS SONG OF SONGS Also available in the UNDERSTANDING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE Understanding the Books of the Bible series: John PSALMS Genesis Wisdom: Proverbs/Ecclesiastes/James LAMENTATIONS Biblical Apocalypses: Daniel/Revelation Paul’s Journey Letters: Thessalonians/Corinthians/ Galatians/Romans SONG OF SONGS Luke–Acts Job—November 2011 Paul’s Prison Letters: Colossians/Ephesians/Philemon/ Christopher R. Smith Philippians/Timothy/Titus—November 2011 Future releases: Exodus/Leviticus/Numbers New Covenants: Deuteronomy/Hebrews Samuel–Kings Isaiah Amos/Hosea/Micah/Zephaniah/Nahum/Habakkuk Jeremiah Ezekiel Obadiah/Haggai/Zechariah/Jonah/Joel/Malachi Chronicles/Ezra/Nehemiah/Esther Matthew Mark Peter/Jude/John CONTENTS How These Study Guides Are Different 1 Biblica provides God’s Word to people through translation, publishing and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and North America. Through its SESSION 1 worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God’s Word so that their lives are transformed Psalms Are the Words to Songs 9 through a relationship with Jesus Christ. SESSION 2 Psalms of Supplication: The Basic Form 17 SESSION 3 Biblica Publishing Psalms of Thanksgiving: The Basic Form 25 We welcome your questions and comments. SESSION 4 Psalms of Praise: The Basic Form 31 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 USA SESSION 5 www.Biblica.com Psalms That Combine the Basic Forms 37 SESSION 6 Psalms That Expand One Element Within a Form 41 Understanding the Books of the Bible: Psalms/Lamentations/Song of Songs ISBN-13: 978-1-60657-061-6 SESSION 7 Psalms of Supplication with an Expanded Statement of Trust Copyright © 2011 by Christopher R. Smith (Psalms of Trust) 45 13 12 11 / 6 5 4 3 2 1 SESSION 8 Psalms of Supplication for Healing of Sickness 49 Published in 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ SESSION 9 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews. Psalms of Supplication for Deliverance from Enemies 55 SESSION 10 Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.™ Psalms of Supplication That Call for the Destruction of the Wicked All rights reserved worldwide. (Imprecatory Psalms) 59 SESSION 11 A catalog record for this book is available through the Library of Congress. Psalms of Supplication for the Forgiveness of Sin (Penitential Psalms) 65 SESSION 12 Printed in the United States of America Psalms of Praise That Celebrate God’s Reign (Divine Enthronement Psalms) Songs of Zion 71 SESSION 13 Psalms of Praise that Celebrate God’s Care for Creation 75 SESSION 14 Psalms of Praise that Celebrate God’s Compassion 79 SESSION 15 Psalms of Praise That Celebrate God’s Justice 83 SESSION 16 Wisdom Psalms 87 SESSION 17 Psalms of the Law 93 SESSION 18 Salvation History Psalms 97 SESSION 19 The Book of Lamentations 101 SESSION 20 HOW THESE STUDY GUIDES ARE DIFFERENT Psalms for Special Occasions: Coronation 105 SESSION 21 Psalms for Special Occasions: Marriage 111 The Song of Songs SESSION 22 Psalms for Special Occasions: Pilgrimage Songs of Ascents 117 Did you know you could read and study the Bible without using any SESSION 23 chapters or verses? The chapter divisions used in most modern Bibles were Psalms for Special Occasions: Covenant Renewal 123 SESSION 24 added more than a thousand years after the biblical books were written. The Experiencing the Book of Psalms as a Whole 127 verse numbers were added more than three centuries after that. If you grew up with the chapter-and-verse system, it may feel like part of the inspired Word of God. But it’s not. Those little numbers aren’t holy, and when you read and study the Bible without them, you’ll hear its message more clearly than ever before. The books of the Bible are real “books.” They’re meant to be experienced the same way other books are: as exciting, interesting works that keep you turning pages right to the end and then make you want to go back and savor each part. The Understanding the Books of the Bible series of study guides will help you do that with the Bible. While you can use these guides with any version or translation, they’re especially designed to be used with The Books of the Bible, an edition of the Scriptures from Biblica that takes out the chapter and verse numbers and presents the biblical books in their natural form. Here’s what people are say- ing about reading the Bible this way: I love it. I find myself understanding Scripture in a new way, with a fresh lens, and I feel spiritually refreshed as a result. I learn much 1 more through stories being told, and with this new format, I feel the Books of the Bible series doesn’t do that. Instead, these study guides focus truth of the story come alive for me. on understanding the message and meaning of one book at a time. So you won’t read a few verses from the Psalms, Song of Songs, or Lamentations and Reading Scripture this way flows beautifully. I don’t miss the chapter then jump to another place in the Bible. Instead, you’ll come to understand and verse numbers. I like them gone. They got in the way. each of these books as a whole, so you can then recognize more clearly how what they say relates to other parts of the Bible. I’ve been a reader of the Bible all of my life. But after reading just a In the case of the book of Psalms, before you try to read through the few pages without chapters and verses, I was amazed at what I’d been entire book, it’s important to understand each of the individual psalms first, missing all these years. since they’re all independent compositions. You may have used reading plans in the past that were designed to take you through the Bible in a year and For more information about The Books of the Bible or to obtain a copy so assigned you to read 8 or 10 psalms right in a row each day. When read of this specially designed edition, visit http://www.Biblica.com/TheBooks. like this, these psalms probably seemed to say the same thing over and over Watch this site for a four-volume set comprising the entire Bible in this again, pretty much in the same way. If you really want to appreciate the great format, coming soon. breadth and depth of spiritual experience that’s expressed in the psalms and For people who are used to chapters and verses, reading and studying the the creative variety of the many different forms they take, you can’t just plow Bible without them may take a little getting used to. It’s like when you get a through the book. This guide will lead you to consider the psalms one at a new smart phone or move from using a laptop to a tablet. You have to unlearn time, a few in each session, so you can hear the unique and authentic voice some old ways of doing things and learn some new ways. But it’s not too long of each one. Only in the final session will you then experience the book as a until you catch on to how the new system works and you find you can do a whole.