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PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

An Overview of the bible - Study 15 – Wisdom Literature and study of Psalms.

We begin a new journey through our survey of the bible with a look at the Wisdom books of the Old Testament beginning with Psalms. The books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. There are a number of features that distinguish wisdom books from the law and the history books studied thus far.

1. These books belong to the historical period from David to the end of the Old Testament history, but no discernable historical setting is certain for the books or the situations they refer to.
2. Wisdom books approach life with God from human experience and express more the human side of the relationship between God and his people. The law, history and promises are presumed as life in all its blessings and problems are explored in depth from a practical perspective.
3. There is much in common in wisdom books with the surrounding nations as common themes relating to all people are explored.
4. Much of wisdom books consist of Poems and comprise of many short sayings.
5. Job and Ecclesiastes in particular offer a critique of traditional wisdom and the covenants blessings of the Old Testament about prosperity and health by exploring the problems of life like suffering, injustice, vanity and death.

From this brief description we can see the wisdom books complement and challenge the Law, Prophets and the history of the Old Testament. They are not new revelation, but an attempt to preserve the teachings received as they related to practical matters of life. Their authority lies more in experience than a direct word from God. The one theme that overrides these books is:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
Psalms.

The word Psalm means a song or hymn. Psalms is a collection of songs the community of faith developed for use in their worship primarily at the Temple in Jerusalem. They served the same purpose as a hymn book serves in our church today. Each song or Psalm relates to a particular circumstance in their history and worship, both personal and communal in nature. They cover just about every experience in life over the 150 Psalms that are found. It is evident that the books of Psalms had a history in being put together and some Psalms are dated as early as David and as late as the exile.

You can discern a structure though somewhat loose in the book of Psalms. There is no doubt that Psalm 1 and 2 are placed in this prominent place at the beginning to highlight the importance of the Law and the role of the King in their religious life. Psalms end on the theme of praise with a number of Psalms to this effect that directs our attention to God. Within the book of Psalm there are 5 smaller books; Psalms 1 to 41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150.

The psalms can be grouped together like a hymn book under the following themes:

1. The individual who seeks deliverance by God from his enemies, Psalms 3-7 70.
2. Psalms relating to worship, the temple and Jerusalem, Psalm 11, 15, 24, 84.
3. Psalms of praise to God for who he is and what he had done, Psalm 30, 66, 96, 100, 146-150.
4. Sin and how it spoils our relationship with God, 14, 32, 51, 103, 130.
5. Psalms to do with creation, Psalm 8, 19, 98, 93, 100, 104.
6. The importance of the law, Psalm 1,19,119.
7. Royal Psalms where God is King, Psalm 93, 95,145.
8. Recalling of history, especially the exodus and the desert and the covenant. Psalms 136, 106,78, 105,
9. Psalms relating to David and God’s promise to him, Psalm 2, 132, 72, 45, 18 .
10. The pain of the exile, Psalm 44, 79, 102,137.
11. Psalms of warfare to do with victory and defeat, Psalm 79, 74, 44, 124.
12. Psalms about God as provider, protector, shepherd, judge, Psalm 23, 75, 115, 121.
13. Psalms of despair and lament Psalm 22, 142, 102, 88, 39, 38.
14. Psalms that stand on their own such and are well known such as Ps 139 (God’s complete knowledge), 133 (Unity), 127 (children) Psalm 23 (Shepherd).

The way to appreciate the psalms is to seek to identify with the author and the mood of the Psalm. Most of the contents can be appreciated in our time and experience and help us to cope with the many similar experiences we face in life. They tell what their worship was like and how it affected their life.

There have been some concerns about calls for vengeance and destruction of enemies and children in the Psalms. While these sound gruesome, they can be understood in the historical setting of the Old Testament and the way of life in all cultures at the time. We note that Jesus and the New Testament uses the Psalms extensively in establishing the new covenant. This demonstrates the validity of experience in our relationship with God as we are called to love him with all our heart soul mind and strength.

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