Pre-understandings
- A collection of free-standing Psalms, each with it’s own unity and completeness
- Collection of poetry-calls for a different set of questions than prose
- A number of different settings, ap0plications, and purposes
- Directionally speaking, Psalms are mostly flowing from people of God
- Think “Hymn Book”
Main Characters: God and Me
- Questions such as date, author, and situation may be helpful-but are not the key interpretive issues
- Key questions:
How was God using this text in the life of His people (Why was it included)?
How does God want to use this text in my life, how will it help shape my life in Christ?
“US and WE” or “ME and MINE”?
- Some are very personal and private (23, 51)
- Others are corporate (90,95)
“PRESCRIPTIVE” or “DESCRIPTIVE”?
- Prescribes what I ought to think, feel, say or sing (105, 106, 107)
- Describes what I am thinking and feeling, but I am afraid to say (3,4,5,109,138)
“HAPPY” or “SAD”?
- Incredible joy and jubilation (121-126, 136, 144-150)
- Incredible hurt, misunderstanding and need (3,5,6,17,39,42,137)
Psalms 145:8
The Lord is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in love.
The good news: (Ps. 139) God knows us-all about us, and still loves us!
Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139: 23-24
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