Teaching the Word

Focusing on the Hebrew Bible, Book 1 reminds readers to remain faithful to God's covenant and look forward to the Messiah's first – and second – coming.

Hope and a Future

Book 2 continues the momentum of prophecy and prayer, encouraging the Jews to look ahead towards a future King and New Jerusalem for all believers.

Remembering the Promise

Book 3 harkens back to Israel's Exile, teaching readers the dangers of rebellion and benefits of obedience. God's judgment and mercy are also key themes.

Origins and Praise

Book 4 recaps Israel's history with Moses and presents a picture of creation worshipping God as King. These bookends reveal our past and future.

The Messiah's Victory

Salvation and triumph resound in Book 5, disclosing the Messiah's victory over evil, praise from God's people, and the Torah's key role in Psalm 119.

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

OT/NT: Old Testament

SECTION: Poetry (2 of 5)

TRADITIONAL AUTHOR: Multiple

KEY PEOPLE:  Asaph, David, sons of Korah, Moses, Solomon and many of God's Faithful.

SUMMARY:  Canonically, Psalms is the nineteenth book of the Holy Bible (1), the nineteenth book of the Old Testament (2), and the second of the five Poetry Books (3).

Written to join the Hebrew Torah, or the first five books (4) of the Old Testament, the Book of Psalms is a remarkable collection of 150 poems from David (73 of them), Moses, and other Jewish writers. Psalms (ch 1) is offered somewhat as a "new" Torah (teaching) to instruct God's people on the lifelong practice of prayer (5) as they strive to obey God's commands given in the original Torah.

But one look at Psalms makes it clear that it is much more than enlightening literature: it, too, is God's Word (6) with equal importance like the Torah. The Psalms also carry an excellent order throughout its chapters and is separated into five separate sections:
 

• BOOK I, chapters 3-41
• BOOK II, chapters 42-72
• BOOK III, chapters 73-89
• BOOK IV, chapters 90-106
• BOOK V, chapters 107-150

Each book carries a specific theme complete with its own introduction, key points, and end notes.

Through the Psalms, we learn about the importance of prayer and the acknowledgment of pain, as well as the power of praise and fulfillment of prophecy. Note how the Psalms correspond particularly well with Isaiah (7), Zechariah (8), and God's covenant with David in Chapter 7 of 2 Samuel (9).

For a printer friendly version of this narrative (and more!), please explore the PDF documents offered above.

COMING UP: Next up is the Book of Proverbs (10).  Click HERE to explore!

FOOTNOTES:

  (1) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-good-news

  (2) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/old-testament

  (3) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/poetry-books

  (4) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-law

  (5) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/prayer

  (6) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-word-of-god

  (7) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/isaiah

  (8) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/zechariah

  (9) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/2-samuel

(10) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/proverbs

SOURCES:

(a) The Bible Project https://thebibleproject.com/explore/psalms/