A Walk through the Psalms

Why Should we Read the Psalms:

The book of Psalms is a book that if read correctly with all of the readers heart, it does something to Spirit . My focus tonight will be my favorite Psalm, which is Psalm 23.

Objective :

My objective tonight is to give you an understanding and an overview of the Psalms. In addition, I will also break down Psalms 23. My prayer is after this lesson that you will begin to read the Psalms, with more vigor.

Overview:

The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 books, but biblical historians claim that they are much more. Now if we were to relay on Jewish traditions, the book of Psalms span over 1,000 years of praise and crying out to God. It is said the Psalms was composed by the First Man Adam. However, I don’t know if that insight is concrete. However, from what i see in the bible, is that there are several authors of the Psalms, in which David is the primary author. Also you have Moses, the sons of Korah, and Asaph just to name a few. However, about one third of the book is anonymous . So many of the psalms, which are actually poems and prayers, where used at first to be song in the temple. The singing of the Psalms was intentional, in which it would allow the people to remember the words. However, it really is not a hymn book after the exile of Israel those poems and prayers were turned into the book of Psalms. Some of the important things to remember is that :

1. The book of Psalms are divided into 5 Parts, and each part has an overall message. The reason for the division, is because the 5 parts of the psalms reflect the 5 parts of the torah, or better known as the Pentateuch or the 5 books of Moses. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deut. Whereas the Torah was designed to teach the Law, the Psalms is arranged to teach a man or women how to mediate and pray about God’s Law. For example, Psalms 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

2. Psalms 1 and 2 the author’s are anonymous. However, the lay down the foundation of how the Psalms will flow. So where as Psalms 1 wants us to reflect on God’s Law throughout the reading. Psalms two wants us to focus on Jesus throughout the your reading. Being that Jesus is the savior, the Psalms points to his deliverance of his people.

3. The first book Psalms 1-41 reflects on how God is beside us. The 2nd book 42-72 reflects on how God goes before us . The 3rd book looks at how God is all around us. The fourth book 90-116 reflects on how God is above us. Finally book 5 reflects on how God is among us.

4. The book of Psalms is written in 7 different genre: Lament 59, Praise 41, Hymnal, 17, Royal or Messianic 10, Wisdom 9, Thanksgiving 8 and Trust 6 .

The Most important thing about the Psalms are that they are prophetic, and Jesus himself said I came to fulfill the Psalms.

If we open our bibles to Luke 24:44, Jesus declare that the Psalms must be fulfilled, because if you read them correctly, you will see that Psalms point to our Lord. Also it makes more sense when a person reads Acts 2:30, that shows David also as prophet. One of the most prophetic Psalms just happens to be one of my favorites, Psalms 22 is a beautiful illustration of Christ and his suffering work on the cross.