Bible Study

*Just for your thoughts.*

Psalms
Bible Lesson – 1

*An introduction to the book of Psalms*

The book known in English as Psalms and in Tamil as Sangeethangal was not written at one particular time. It is a collection of 150 songs, prayers, and meditations written over various periods.
These psalms are believed to have been written over a period of approximately 900 to 1,000 years, from the time of Moses to the period after the Babylonian exile. This may be understood as the period from 1406 B.C. to 538 B.C.
The oldest psalm in this collection is considered to be Psalm 90, written by Moses. Its title itself identifies it as “A prayer of Moses, the man of God.”
Of these 150 psalms, 73 are associated with David’s name. The names of Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon; Moses; Ethan; Heman; and others are also found in the titles of the psalms.
The Five Divisions of the Book of Psalms
Psalms 1–41
Psalms 42–72
Psalms 73–89
Psalms 90–106
Psalms 107–150
At the end of each of these five divisions, there is a conclusion or doxology praising God.
In this collection, 34 psalms have no title (superscription). Therefore, their human authors cannot be identified with certainty.
Psalm 23 is one of the most famous and beloved psalms.
Psalm 119, with its 176 verses, is the longest psalm in the Book of Psalms.
Psalm 117, with only two verses, is the shortest psalm.
Psalm 51 is an important psalm that expresses David’s confession of sin and repentance. Therefore, it is regarded as a personal prayer of confession and repentance.
Psalms Written After the Babylonian Exile
Psalms were also written after the seventy-year Babylonian exile. For example, Psalm 126 reflects the experience of returning from exile, while Psalm 137 reflects the experience of the Babylonian exile. Psalm 107 also contains a reference to those who returned from exile. Therefore, it is not correct to say that “no psalms were written after the exile.”
Who Compiled the Psalms?
There are various views regarding how the Book of Psalms came to have its present form. Several smaller collections may have been combined over time. Some scholars and commentaries suggest that Ezra may have compiled the Book of Psalms in its final form. However, this cannot be stated as an established historical fact.
The Name Psalms
The English name Psalms comes from the Greek word Psalmoi. It conveys the idea of songs sung with musical instruments. In the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms are called Tehillim, meaning “praises.”
The Psalms were written against the background of the life, culture, worship, suffering, struggles, hope, and relationship with God of the people of ancient Israel. Therefore, it is essential to understand each psalm in its historical and literary context.
At the same time, we should not assume that the Psalms were written only for the Jews and have no relevance to the Church. The Psalms hold a very important place in the New Testament. Jesus Christ Himself said in Luke 24:44 that the things written about Him in “the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms” had to be fulfilled.
How Should We Use the Psalms?
We should not apply every word in the Psalms directly to our own lives without understanding its context. In particular, psalms that involve cursing enemies or asking for judgment upon them must be understood carefully in the light of the New Testament.
Rather than taking them as commands for our personal revenge, we should understand them as prayers that entrust God’s justice and judgment into His hands.
However, through the Psalms we can learn many spiritual lessons, including comfort, instruction, conviction, correction, godliness, prayer, praise, and worship.
The Book of Psalms is one of the important Old Testament books most frequently quoted in the New Testament. In particular, the New Testament epistles contain numerous quotations and references from the Psalms.

The Book of Psalms can be regarded as a special book for life that deepens our spiritual lives and guides us to pray to God, praise Him, trust Him in times of suffering, meditate on His Word, and grow into a life of worship that is pleasing to God.
In God’s service,