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Psalm 1

Psalm 1

The name “Psalms” means “songs to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument.”


The Psalms were composed over a period of approximately 900 years.


The earliest was written by Moses (Ps. 90) and the latest was written by various authors after the Babylonian Captivity. (Ps. 126; 147).


The Psalms are primarily associated with David because he wrote most of them as the following breakdown indicates:

Authors
David - 73 (3–9; 11–32; 34–41; 41–65; 68–70; 86; 101; 103; 108–110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138–145)
Asaph - 12 (50; 73–83)
Descendants of Korah - 10 (42; 44–49; 84–85; 87)
Solomon - 2 (72; 127)  
Ethan - 1 (89)
Heman - 1 (88)
Moses - 1 (90)
Anonymous - 50 (Many of these may also have been written by David. For example, Acts 4:25 attributes Psalm 2 to David.)

The Psalms fall into five “books”:
Book I - 1–41 
Book II - 42–72 
Book III - 73–89 
Book IV - 90–106 
Book V - 107–150 
Each of these “books” ends with an emphatic and triumphant burst of praise (41:13; 72:18–19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6).


It is suggested that each book corresponds thematically to the first five books of the Bible, the books of Moses. 


The general thought
Book I: emphasizes the themes of creation, sin and salvation, it supposedly corresponds to Genesis which prominently displays those same themes. 


Book II: is weighted with the theme of redemption. It is said to correspond to the Book of Exodus.


Book III: corresponds to Leviticus because of their common emphasis on the sanctuary 


Book IV: corresponds to Numbers because of the prominence in each of Moses and Israel’s wandering in the wilderness 


Book V: corresponds to Deuteronomy because of the emphasis in each on the Word of God.


Many Hebrews scholars saw the divisions as a response to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. 


A modern writer, accepting this view, observes, “The Psalter is also a Pentateuch, the echo of the Mosaic Pentateuch from the heart of Israel; it is the fivefold book of the congregation to Jehovah, as the Law is the fivefold book of Jehovah to the congregation.”


The divisions may be there simply because of the times the various Psalms were compiled


The main reason to read and know the Psalms. The Psalms will pour hope into your spirits


In times of trouble I know of nothing better than the Psalms.
In times of doubt, fear, hurt, mourning, and attack, read the Psalms.


Now let's look at a specific book. 

Book I

Psalm 1 is Wisdom Psalm.


We find in this chapter, one of the first corrective claims of the Bible, that the man who finds true joy finds it in the truth of God’s will for our lives. 

Vs. 1 - The wicked: those who have chosen to ignore or reject the Word of God as a standard for living, actively pursuing another way. The Godly man does not follow them. 

Vs. 2 - The happy person will ultimately be the one who delights in the Word of God. The Psalms are the pathway to happiness. 

Vs. 3 - A tree planted by water always has nourishment. If you stay tapped in, your fruit will grow. You won’t dry up but you will stay full of life. You will prosper

Now for those who go with the wicked…

Vs. 4 - There is no true sweetness to life in the way of the wicked.

Vs. 5 - When our lives are judged, they will be seen for what they are, foolish, failures, and depraved.

Vs. 6 - This is the path before us in the Psalms. The Psalms breathe life into the heart of the righteous, giving each one strength to walk in this sin scourged life with the grace and power of God.


Read and Study the Psalms




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