AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PSALMS
The book of Psalms has been a delight and blessing to God’s people for a very long time.
In more ways than one, it is at the very heart of the Bible. The central chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117, which is also the shortest chapter in the Bible. The next chapter contains the central verse of the Bible, Psalm 118:8, which affirms very appropriately that: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Then the next chapter, Psalm 119, is the longest and most amazing chapter in the Bible.
But more importantly, the book of Psalms is the heart of the Bible in that it speaks to our own hearts more fervently than does any other book. Being a book of praise and worship, singing – but also a book of comfort and even at times a book of anger and also of anguish. A book of prayer and of testimony, speaking of joy in the midst of sorrow and hope in the midst of despair.
Even with a mind of them being songs, especially is it important to note the theme of conflict in them of good and evil, expressing the great conflict of all ages, the struggle between truth and deception, between sin and righteousness, between the godly and the ungodly, between God and Satan.
As noted, it is a book that actually consists of five “books” composed as follows:
Book 1 – Psalms 1 to 41 = 41 psalms
Book 2 – Psalms 42 to 72 = 31 psalms
Book 3 – Psalms 73 to 89 = 17 psalms
Book 4 – Psalms 90 to 106 = 17 psalms
Book 5 – Psalms 107 to 145 = 39 psalms
Epilogue – Psalms 146 to 150 = 5 psalms
The reason for the original compilation as listed is unknown, and it isn’t that each book had a specific writer, as David who actually has 73 psalms attributed to his authorship has 37 in book 1, 18 in book 2, 1 in book 3, 2 in book 4 and 15 in book 5. Other authors include Asaph 12, the Sons of Korah 10, Moses 1, Solomon 2, Heman 1, Ethan 1, as well as 50 psalms written by anonymous writers.
In all the Holy Spirit being the one that inspired them, draws us to have to bear in mind II Tim. 3:16-17……