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Psalms
Introduction to Psalms
“Most Christians for most of the
Christian centuries have learned to pray by praying
the Psalms. The Hebrews, with several centuries of a
head start on us in matters of prayer and worship,
provided us with this prayer book that gives us a
language adequate for responding to the God who
speaks to us…We tend to think that prayer is what
good people do when they are doing their best. It is
not. Inexperienced, we supposed that there
must be an “insider” language that must be acquired
before God takes us seriously in our prayer. There
is not…it [prayer] is the means by which our
language becomes honest, true, and personal in
response to God. It is the means by which we get
everything in our lives out in the open before God.
”
Psalms: “Range of human response to
God and his world”
Type: Poetry
Author: Principally David; also many
others
Date: 10th century BC and later
Content: This favorite book of today
was also a favorite in antiquity. In it may be seen
the many different ways in which believers over
several centuries related to God. Every human mood
and feeling may be brought to God for him to bless.
There are sorrow and joy, anger and calm, doubt and
faith, repentance and praise. There are
recollections of the past, the struggles of present
existence, and visions of a glorious future. In
numerous places God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, is
portrayed in his suffering and in his glory. The
book of Psalms was used in much the same way as a
hymnbook is used today, for public and private
worship.
Theme: The book of Psalms teaches
principally that God has a personal concern for his
people and that he wants us to come to him just as
we are. We need not solve our problems before we go
to him; we go to him for the solutions. Wherever we
are, however we feel, whatever we have done-if we
offer ourselves to God he is willing to help and
give us the strength to live again. God’s power and
control of all things is also seen. Because God is
in control of everything, he can help us when we
turn to him for deliverance.
Additional Books from Time Period: 2
Samuel, 1 Chronicles |
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Proverbs
Introduction to Proverbs
“Many people think that what’s
written in the Bible has mostly to do with getting
people into heaven–getting right with God, saving
their eternal souls. It does have to do with that,
of course, but not mostly. It is equally concerned
with living on this earth–living well, living in
robust sanity…”Wisdom” is the biblical term for
on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven everyday living. Wisdom
is the art of living skillfully in whatever actual
conditions we find ourselves.”
Proverbs: “Moral wisdom and uncommon
sense for right
living”
Type: Poetry
Author: Principally Solomon; also many
others
Date: 10th century BC and later
Content: The book of Proverbs contains
practical instructions for successful living, given
by God to supplement the teaching of the prophets,
which was to call men to repentance, and the work of
the priests, which was to direct the worship of the
people. The book of Proverbs teaches
that there is a divine wisdom given to man by God,
but there is also a divinely given human wisdom, or
common sense, and both must play a part in daily
life. Practical sayings from many
centuries are collected together in this book; it
deals with such diverse matters as the discipline of
children, social justice, foolish talk, and money.
It ends significantly with a
description of a truly good wife.
Theme: The theme of Proverbs is stated
in 1:7–The first step to wisdom is to trust and
reverence the Lord. This is to say that only when a
man trusts in God will he be truly wise. Human
wisdom is fine and necessary but no matter how
skilled we might be, without humility in the
presence of
God and a willingness to learn from him, we will
inevitably go astray. The book also teaches the
sanctity of human life. Everything that pertains to
successful living is a concern to God and he has
made provision for it.
Additional Books from Time Period: 1
Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ecclesiates, Song of Solomon |
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