The document provides an overview of the Book of Psalms in the Bible. It notes that Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, containing 150 individual psalms covering topics like God, worship, wisdom, sin, justice and the coming of the Messiah. Many different authors across 1000 years of Israel's history wrote the psalms, which were compiled after the Babylonian captivity. Key prophetic psalms point to the coming Messiah and his death, resurrection and eternal reign. The psalms provide a songbook for prayer, praise and bringing concerns to God.

1. The Bible – Book of Psalms – 24th
January 2017
"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart."(Psalm 119:1-2).
The Book of Psalmsisthe longestbookinthe Bible,with150 individual psalms.Itisalsoone of the most
diverse,since the psalmsdealwithsuchsubjectsasGodand His creation,war,worship,wisdom, sinand
evil,judgment,justice,andthe comingof the Messiah. The Bookof Psalmsisa collectionof prayers,
poems,andhymnsthat focusthe worshiper'sthoughtsonGodin praise andadoration.Partsof this
bookwere usedas a hymnal inthe worshipservicesof ancientIsrael.The musical heritageof the psalms
isdemonstratedbyitstitle.Itcomesfroma Greekword whichmeans"asong sungto the
accompanimentof a musical instrument."
The brief descriptionsthatintroduce the psalmshave Davidlistedasauthorin73 instances.David's
personalityandidentityare clearlystampedonmanyof these psalms.While itisclearthatDavidwrote
manyof the individualpsalms,he isdefinitelynotthe authorof the entire collection.Twoof the psalms
(72) and (127) are attributedtoSolomon,David'ssonandsuccessor. Psalm90 isa prayer assignedto
Moses.Anothergroupof 12 psalms(50) and (73—83) is ascribedto the familyof Asaph.The sonsof
Korah wrote 11 psalms (42, 44-49, 84-85,87-88). Psalm88 is attributedtoHeman,while (89) isassigned
to Ethan the Ezrahite.Withthe exceptionof SolomonandMoses,all these additional authorswere
priestsorLeviteswhowere responsible forprovidingmusicforsanctuaryworshipduringDavid'sreign.
Fiftyof the psalmsdesignate nospecificpersonasauthor.
A careful examinationof the authorshipquestion,aswell asthe subjectmattercoveredbythe psalms
themselves,revealsthatthey spana periodof manycenturies.The oldestpsalminthe collectionis
probablythe prayerof Moses (Psalm90), a reflectiononthe frailtyof manas comparedto the eternity
of God.The latestpsalmisprobably (Psalm137), a songof lamentclearlywrittenduringthe dayswhen
the Hebrewswere beingheldcaptive bythe Babylonians,fromabout586 to 538 B.C. It isclear thatthe
150 individual psalmswere writtenbymanydifferentpeopleacrossa periodof a thousandyearsin
Israel'shistory.Theymust have beencompiledandputtogetherintheirpresentformbysome unknown
editorshortlyafterthe captivityendedabout537 B.C.
God’sprovisionof a SaviorforHis people isarecurringtheme inthe Psalms.Propheticpicturesof the
Messiahare seenin numerouspsalms. Psalm2:1-12portrays the Messiah’striumphandkingdom.
Psalm16:8-11 foreshadowsHisdeathandresurrection. Psalm22showsus the sufferingSavioronthe
cross and presentsdetailedpropheciesof the crucifixion,all of whichwere fulfilledperfectly.The glories
of the MessiahandHis bride are on exhibitin Psalm45:6-7, while Psalms72:6-17, 89:3-37, 110:1-7 and
132:12-18 presentthe gloryanduniversalityof Hisreign.
One of the resultsof beingfilledwiththe Spiritorthe wordof Christissinging.The psalmsare the
“songbook”of the earlychurch that reflectedthe new truthinChrist.Godisthe same Lordin all the
psalms.Butwe respondto Himin differentways,accordingtothe specificcircumstancesof ourlives.
What a marvelousGodwe worship,the psalmistdeclares,One whoishighandliftedupbeyondour
humanexperiencesbutalsoone whoisclose enoughtotouchand whowalksbeside usalonglife'sway.
We can bringall our feelingstoGod—nomatterhow negative orcomplainingtheymaybe—andwe can

2. restassuredthat He will hearandunderstand.The psalmistteachesusthatthe most profoundprayerof
all is a cry for helpaswe findourselvesoverwhelmedbythe problemsof life.
Key Verses:
Psalm19:1 “The heavensdeclare the gloryof God;the skies proclaimthe work of his hands.”
Psalm22:16-19, "Dogs havesurrounded me; a bandof evil men hasencircled me, they have pierced
my handsand my feet. I can count all my bones; peoplestare and gloatover me. They dividemy
garments amongthem andcast lots for my clothing."
Psalm23:1, "TheLORD is my shepherd,I shall notbe inwant."
Psalm29:1-2, "Ascribe to the LORD, O mightyones, ascribeto the LORD gloryand strength.Ascribe to
the LORD the glorydue hisname; worshipthe LORD inthe splendorofhis holiness."
Psalm51:10, "Create inme a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfastspirit withinme."
Psalm119:1-2, "Blessedare they whose waysare blameless,whowalk accordingto the law ofthe
LORD. Blessed are they who keep hisstatutes andseek himwith all their heart."