Pleasant Valley Church Of Christ - 17

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17 - April 25

(Reading Apr 19-Apr 24)

17. Psalms of the Troubled Soul

Key Point:
These psalms reflect the fears of one whose enemies surround him. They speak to anyone who feels persecuted, betrayed, or alone in a hostile world.

Key Verse:
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD
    the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1, DB page 518)

Overview:
Hebrew Poetry
The poetry of Psalms is based not on rhyme, but on various patterns of expressing thought. The basic unit of the psalms is the verse. Usually a pair of verses will express the same thought in different words. For example:
    I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
    and upholds the cause of the needy (Ps. 140:12)
Basic Outline of the “Psalms of Lament”
A. A cry to God for help
B. The lament
C. A confession of trust in God
D. The petition
E. A declaration or vow of praise
Purpose of Psalms
Many of the psalms were put to music and used in the temple worship. Because of this, the Psalms have been called “the songbook of the Old Testament.” They are primarily designed to praise and worship God. The psalms still serve as an outstanding model of both individual and community worship.


Thought Questions:

1.    The “imprecatory psalms” call for a curse or divine judgment on the writer’s enemies. In your opinion, do these show a lack of compassion?

2.    What emotions do you find in these psalms?

3.    What qualities of God are described in these psalms?

4.    It has been said that while most of the Bible is God speaking to humans, the psalms are humans speaking to God. How do you react to that?

5.    Which emotions do you usually bring to worship?

6.    How might these psalms be used in our personal and congregational worship today?