Know Your Bible Welcome to Week 5 The

Know Your Bible Welcome to Week 5 The Psalms and other poetry

“I need a language that is large enough to maintain continuities, supple enough to express nuances across a lifetime, that brackets child and adult experiences, and courageous enough to explore all the countries of sin and salvation, mercy and grace, creation and covenant, anxiety and trust, unbelief and faith that comprise the continental human condition… Where will we acquire a language that is adequate for these intensities? Where else but in the Psalms? ” Eugene Peterson

“The psalms are poems, and poems intended to be sung: not doctrinal treatises, nor even sermons… They must be read as poems if they are to be understood… Otherwise we shall miss what is in them and think we see what is not. ” CS Lewis

Conventions of Hebrew poetry • Reiteration • Parallelism • Acrostics • …but not Rhyme.

Different moods of the psalmist • • • happy (33, 47); (secure 23) complaining (10, 13) in need of God’s protection (17) celebrating God with exuberant praise (150) marvelling at God’s glory (24) Some focus on God’s word (119), some look to the future Messiah (22)

Scenes from David’s life • • • hiding in cave 57, 142; escape from palace 59; facing his own sin after adultery 51; Absalom’s rebellion 3; defeat of the Edomites 60. Groupings of Psalms include: Exodus collection 90 -106; Songs of Ascents 120 -134; final Hallel 146 -150.

Psalm 103 What does this psalm tell us: • about God’s benefits? • about God’s character? • about our response to Him?

Jesus’ quoting from the Psalms • Matt 13: 15 – Ps. 119: 70 Hearts dull of hearing • Matt 21: 16 – Ps. 8: 2 Out of the lips of infants…. • Matt 21: 42 – Ps. 118: 22 The stone which the builders rejected • Matt 22: 44 – Ps. 110: 1 The Lord said to my Lord…. • Matt 27: 46 - Ps 22: 1 Why have You forsaken me? • John 13: 18 – Ps. 41: 9 A false friend who eats my bread

Other poetry/wisdom books Proverbs • Written by David’s son, King Solomon. • Practical wisdom for everyday situations. • ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9: 10) Ecclesiastes • Writer unknown. • Deals with the essential meaning of life. • ‘God has set eternity in the human heart’ (Ecclesiastes 3: 11)

Other poetry/wisdom books • Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) – a romantic drama that symbolises God’s love for His chosen people and Christ’s love for the church. • Job – the story of one man’s trials and sufferings facing the question, ‘Why do the innocent suffer? ’

Memory verse: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do no lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3: 5, 6)

Next session …… on 4/11/12 Prophecy