Psalms, The Book of

[He. Sefer Tehillim “Book of Praise”

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Psalms

Background: Sacred songs, poems, and prayers which originated in originated in Israel’s worship and her experience of God. Traditionally associated with David but reflect centuries of individual and corporate responses to God. Human emotions of anger, despair, sadness, guilt, doubt, joy, praise and adoration are expressed. Theme included the Law, Jerusalem and its temple, Israel’s history , the natural world, human suffering and God’s justice. 150chs

Author:
*David,73(some authority 74) and 2(Ac4:25,26He4:7) are credited
*Either Asaph, a Levite in charge of worship music in the tabernacle (1Ch15:16, 17) or 1 of his descendants authored at least 12 (50,73-83)
*Korah (Nu16), authored 12 psalms. Psalm88 list Heman the Ezrahite (1Ch6:333) as an authored along with them
*Solomon, wrote Ps72,127, some authority 12
*Moses, authored the oldest Psalm,90
*some scholar, King Hezekiah as author of the unattributed “song of ascents” (120-134)
*Ethan the Ezrahite wrote at least one,Ps89
*32 or less of the psalms are unattributed

Date: Written over a period of about 900yrs, from the time of Moses (90, about 1405) to the time of Israel’s return from Babylon exile (125, 147-150), written c500BC

Purpose:
^Showing characteristic of God
^Taught Israel about God’s work in their history
^Showing Messianic prophecies
^Showing prayers of personal confession and repentance (51)
^Calling on God to punish the wicked(7,35,55,109)over violation of God’s laws than seeking their own vengeance (Dt32:35) Ro12:19
^For the victims of sins by hatred for sinners (10:8,9)
^Praying for their enemies as well
^Even NT pronounced curses on people under circumstances, Ga1:8,9; 2P2:12

Unique Features:
^Most personal, as it focuses on the relationship between God and the believer
^Secondly quoted in the NT, most Messianic OT book. Jesus quoted from it at the beginning and the end of his earthly ministry (69:9-Jn2:17; 31:5-Lk23:46)

Most Notable
^Most beloved and widely quoted (23)
^Longest (119) and shortest (117)
.Most personal confession and repentance (51)
^Ps136 was explain as an allegorical way of stating that human passions could be mortified and stifled by recourse to the rock of Christ

Comparison:
1Sam
*Recount key events in David’s life

Isa
*Christ suffering on the cross (22:6-18; 69:20,21 Is52:13-53:12)
*Restoration of God’s people through the Messiah (14:7; 53:6; Is49:6)
*Christ Eternal reign (18:50; 45:6; 102:26 Is51:6-8; 60:20)
*Christ judging the nations (2:8, 9; 72; 96:13;110:6;Is2:4; 11:4;42:1,4)

Abbreviations: Psa./ Ps(s)

MV: 1Ti4:13

Bib1Yr: Mt19, 20The Test and Other Parables