Overview of the Book of Psalms

Moore's Corner Church

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:07

So the overview of the week for this Sunday is the book of Psalms. What is a psalm?

00:13

A psalm basically is a song or a poem written to be set to music.

00:21

So the book of Psalms has been called Israel's hymn book. The book of Psalms has 150 chapters, more than any other book of the

00:32

Bible. David, we could say, is the primary author in that he wrote at least 73 of the

00:39

Psalms. But really it's a compilation of writings spanning about 900 years from the time of Moses to the

00:47

Babylonian captivity. The purpose of the book is to inspire and bring about the proper praise and worship of God.

00:58

It's also called the Psalter or the book of praise. And along with the praise of the

01:04

Lord, it also includes expressions of human suffering and triumph.

01:10

The most well known of all the Psalms, of course, is Psalm 23, which begins, The Lord is my shepherd,

01:17

I shall not want. No Old Testament book, this is interesting, no

01:23

Old Testament book is more frequently quoted in the New Testament than Psalms.

01:28

And perhaps most important are the Messianic Psalms, which speak of the coming

01:35

Christ, even prophesying his crucifixion in detail hundreds of years before it happened.

01:44

And to that point, we'll end by reading a few lines from Psalm 22.

01:50

David writes, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

01:55

Who else said that? Jesus said that on the cross. My God, my

02:01

God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me? And from the words of my groaning, oh my

02:08

God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not hear. That's how David felt at this moment and in the night seasons and not silent.

02:17

But you are wholly enthroned in the praises of Israel. And there's a sense where David is writing this, speaking of himself, but he's also pointing ahead speaking about Christ.

02:33

How do we know that? David writes, they pierced my hands and my feet.

02:39

I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them and for my clothing, they cast lots.

02:50

But you have answered me and I will declare your name to my brethren. In the midst of the assembly,

02:57

I will praise you. So whether you're going through times of trouble or triumph, whether you're feeling down or need to be lifted up, lift up the name of the