Lesson 3: Psalms, part one: POSITIVE Power and Passion
The entire range of human emotion may be found in the book of Psalms, but this section will focus only on the GOOD STUFF--happiness, prayer, and praise. Feel good about the fact that you're a Christian and have a connection to God!
Intro to the Book of Psalms
Cross Examinations: "The Conversion"
PSALMS, the book you can find in the middle of your Bible, has five sections that match closely with the five sections of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible that Moses wrote):
Book I of Psalms has themes that match up with many of those in Genesis (including creation). God is just and fair , and in this book he is praised for being such a wise judge. The psalmists understand God’s compassion, so they lift their problems to Him and ask him to deliver them from the troubles their enemies have cast upon them. God, the caring shepherd, is seen as the one who leads them away from danger.
Book II is like Exodus. It is the tale of a nation (Israel) that is destroyed and rebuilt. It begins with Psalm 42, which carries the message that when we are in times of need, we must call on the Lord; we must pray for rescue. Though we may stray away from time to time, we must come back, realizing that God knows the path we should take. This section begins with psalms (42-49) written by the sons of Korah, and, although Korah led a rebellion against Moses and was killed, his sons remain faithful to God.
Book III is similar to Leviticus. It begins with psalm 73, which reveals the temporary prosperity of some of the wicked, but the everlasting rewards of ALL of the righteous. Those with a short-term focus may be rewarded in the short term; those with a long-term focus will gain eternal rewards. We need to learn God’s guidebook for our lives (the Bible) so that we may belong to the latter group. Many of these psalms focus on the temple and God's reign. They are largely psalms of praise for His guidance in our lives.
Book IV is like Numbers. It clearly speaks of the difference of God's kingdom compared to man's on Earth, and shows how to focus on the eternal reward while still being caught up in this human world of ours. It is a bold statement against Carpe Diem—“live for the day!” This book begins with Psalm 90, which states that, because our time on earth is limited, we must make the best use of it, not by being caught up in what pleases us today, but on what will be pleasing to God, so that when we face God in that final judgment, our life will be reflective of His ways.
Book V is similar to Deuteronomy. These two books both focus on God's word, and many of these psalms of praise have inspired music throughout the ages--even today! The section begins with Psalm 107, which is a reminder that thanksgiving should always be on our lips for the grace of God and for all that he has blessed us with.
Because Psalms is such a massive part of the Bible, the author has decided to split the lessons up differently--positive and negative. This allows us to examine a good chunk of the full spectrum of emotions contained here, without being constrained by chapter or verse.
If you are ready to begin, click on section two, and let's get going!
