The Book of Psalms

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The Book of Psalms

• By Allison Smith

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Fun Facts about the Psalms

• Psalms is the most read book of the Bible today.
• There are 150 chapters, and each chapter is a
  lyric poem. A lyric poem directly expresses the
  individual emotions of the poet.
• Composed by many Moses, David, Solomon, Heman,
  and Ethan are some authors.
• 1/3 of the Psalms have unknown authors
• Of the known authors, David wrote the most Psalms
  (73 of them!)

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Hebrew Poetry

• Parallelism-a rhythmic arrangement of thought
  patterns
• 2 types
• Synonymous
• Antithetic

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Synonymous Parallelism

• A thought is presented, then expressed again in
  different terms.
• O Lord, in thee do I put my trust save me from
  all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
  (Psalm 71)
• For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in
  wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee.
  (Psalm 54)

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Antithetic Parallelism

• The second line contrasts the first one.
• For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous
  but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm
  16)

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• A
• B
• C

• Some Psalms are arranged acrostically--each
  section of the 8 verses of Psalm 119 begins with
  a sequential letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

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Psalm classification

• Psalms of Praise
• The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the
  soul the testimony of the Lord is sure, making
  wise the simple. (Psalm 197)
• Historical Psalms
• He hath remembered his covenant forever, the
  word which he commanded to a thousand
  generations. Which covenant he made with
  Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac.. (Psalm
  1058-9)

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• Ethical Psalms-stress moral responsibility and
  ultimate accountability
• What is man that thou art mindful of him?
  (Psalm 84)
• Psalms of Pentinence-reflect on the sinfulness of
  man.
• There is no soundness in my flesh because of
  thine anger neither is there any rest in my
  bones because of my sin. (Psalm 383)

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• Imprecatory Psalms-prayer for the defeat and
  destruction of enemies
• Let their table become a snare before them, and
  that which should have been for their welfare,
  let it become a trap. (Psalm 6922)
• Celebratory Psalms-designed to accommodate
  elements of Jewish worship
• Most are psalms of praise, some formatted for the
  Sabbath, some for dedication of temples.

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Messianic Psalms

• Revealed truths about the Messiah
• He would be
• Divine
• Human
• Betrayed
• Risen
• Ascended

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Hymns based on Psalms

• The Lords my Shepherd, Ill not Want (Psalm
  23)
• A Mighty Fortress (Psalm 46)
• Joy to the World (Psalm 98)

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Jackson, Wayne. The Book of Psalms-A Study. 18
May 2000. Christian Courier. 31 October 2003.
www.christiancourier.com/archives/psalmStudy.htm