Purpose

To provide a songbook for worship and express the full range of human emotions in relationship with God.

Author

Multiple authors over 1,000 years. David wrote nearly half (73 psalms), often during his years as a shepherd, warrior, and king. Other contributors include worship leaders, musicians, and poets.

Historical Context

Written: 1440-400 BC. Israel's worship songs covering 1,000 years of history from Moses to the exile.

Significance

The Bible's prayer book and hymnal, showing us how to relate to God honestly in every circumstance.

Key Themes

Worship, Prayer, God's Character, Trust, Deliverance

Interesting Facts

• Psalms is the longest book in the Bible with 150 chapters
• Jesus quoted Psalms more than any other Old Testament book
• Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible (2 verses)

Prophecies

• Messianic psalms predicting Christ's suffering and glory (Psalms 22, 69, 110, etc.) Fulfilled: Jesus fulfilled these in His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension (1000 years later)

Psalm 137 is a poignant reflection on the sorrow and longing of the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with the image of the exiles sitting by the rivers of Babylon, overcome with grief as they remember Zion, the beloved city of Jerusalem. This powerful introduction sets the stage for a deep exploration of loss, identity, and the struggle to maintain faith in God amidst despair. The captors demand songs of joy from the exiles, mocking their sorrow and loss, which leads to the rhetorical question of how one can sing the Lord's song in a foreign land. This question encapsulates the torment of the exiles, as they grapple with the pain of separation from their homeland and the sacredness of their worship. The longing for Jerusalem is palpable, as the psalmist expresses a vow to never forget the city, emphasizing that forgetting Jerusalem would mean losing the very essence of their identity and joy. The emotional intensity escalates as the psalmist calls for divine retribution against Babylon and its people, highlighting the anguish and desire for justice. The poem culminates in a shocking and visceral desire for vengeance against their oppressors, which reflects the raw human emotions of anger and sorrow following trauma. Psalm 137 serves not only as a lament but also as a powerful reminder of the need for remembrance and justice, making it a profound piece of poetry that resonates with anyone who has experienced exile or loss.

The first part of the Bible, written before Jesus came to earth, containing 39 books that tell the story of God's relationship with humanity from the very beginning.

Purpose

To reveal God's character, establish His covenant with humanity, and prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

Significance

Shows God's faithfulness to His promises and sets up everything we need to understand about Jesus in the New Testament. Everything in the Old Testament points forward to Jesus - He's the fulfillment of every promise and prophecy!

Books written in Hebrew poetic form that express the full range of human emotion and experience in relationship with God.

Purpose

To teach us how to relate to God honestly, express our deepest feelings, and find comfort and guidance through life's experiences.

Significance

These books show us that God welcomes our honest emotions and experiences. They teach us how to worship, pray, grieve, and find hope in all circumstances of life.