Day 6

A study of Ezra & Nehemiah reveals the revival in Israel after the arrival of the remnant back from Babylonian captivity. A lot of time was spent reading as a congregation the 5 books of the Torah – law, (Genesis to Deuteronomy). The 5 books that make up the book of Psalms are represented as a mirror or New Torah, which will teach God’s people the lifelong practice of prayer as they strive to obey God’s commands given in the first Torah. The last 5 Psalms that form a conclusion to the book, begin and end with “hallelujah;” Praise to Yahweh. (Yah is the contraction for the divine name Yahweh.) The 5 books of psalms are as follows: Book 1 Ps 3-41, (Genesis) Book 2 Ps.42–72, (Exodus) Book 3 Ps.73 – 86, (Leviticus) Book 4 Ps.90-106, (Deuteronomy) book 5 Ps.107–45 (Numbers). Psalms 1 & 2 form a prologue and psalms 146 – 150 an epilogue. The last psalm in each section has similar endings. This appears to be an editorial addition. 

There are 2 types of Psalms: Lament psalms and Praise psalms. Lament psalms express pain, confusion, and anger about how the world is and the horrible things that are happening to the poet. There are poems that ask God to do something. Lamenting is an appropriate response to the evil that we see in the world. Lamenting is also an appropriate response to our own situations. Praise psalms are poems of joy & celebration. They draw attention to what’s good in the world. They recount stories of what God has done in our lives & thank God. Praise poems come to outnumber lament poems and this culminates in the 5-part hallelujah conclusion. 

Psalms call us to not ignore the pain in our lives (and the world), but at the same time to look forward to the promise of God’s Messianic Kingdom. So, Psalms is all about: Torah & Messiah, Lament and Praise, Faith and hope. 

Augustine said: “If the psalm says pray – you pray. If it laments, you lament. If it exalts, you rejoice. If it hopes, you hope. If it fears, you fear. Everything written here is a mirror for us.”