The Psalms: Israel’s Prayers

and OursCh. 11

Ch.11 Psalms

• Psalms are words spoken to or about God

• Written in poetry form–Uses figurative language, not

literal• Uses our emotions to connect to

evoke our thoughts to God–To consider his ways–To express ourselves

Authors of PsalmsDavid, Solomon, MosesMusicians, Sons of Asaph and

Korah

The Psalms

• Hebrews were well-acquainted with the psalms and their styles

• Different structures and patterns

• Specific uses in Hebrew life–Personal and corporate

• Each psalm should be taken as a whole literary unit–Don’t decontextualarize

Types of Psalms

• Laments• Thanksgiving• Praise• Salvation-History• Celebration & Affirmation• Wisdom• Trust

Psalm 3: Lament• 1 • O Lord, how many are my foes!    How many

rise up against me!• 2 • Many are saying of me,    “God will not

deliver him.(B)” Selah[a]• 3 • But you are a shield(C) around me, O Lord;

    you bestow glory on me and lift[b] up my head.(D)

• 4 • To the Lord I cry aloud,(E)    and he answers

me from his holy hill.(F) Selah• 5 • I lie down and sleep;(G)    I wake again,(H)

because the Lord sustains me.• 6 • I will not fear(I) the tens of thousands

    drawn up against me on every side.(J)• 7 • Arise,(K) O Lord!    Deliver me,(L) O my

God!Strike(M) all my enemies on the jaw;    break the teeth(N) of the wicked.

• 8 • From the Lord comes deliverance.(O)    May

your blessing(P) be on your people. Selah

• Address: vv. 1, 7• Complaint: v. 2• Trust: vv. 3-6• Deliverance: v. 7a• Assurance: v. 7b• Praise: v. 8

Imprecatory psalms

• Allows us to express our anger correctly in prayer to God

• Ps 139:22 “I have nothing but hatred for them.”

Psalms

• Psalms does not guarantee a life without trouble, always in green pastures

• Psalms were written and expressed in sorrowful times

• David’s life was full of trials and hardships but he wrote psalms to direct his heart to God