Back: [[How to read the Bible for all its worth notes]] The Pslams are unique as they are written to and about God. They are still God's word as they reveal about him. Some are easy to understand (Psalm 23) but there are some more difficult passages to interpret due to their unique nature. ## The unique character is the psalms The psalms are a collection of different types, with a certain nature, form, and function. These aspects affect how we should read them. (I.e. it's like your post. They are all letters but they have different functions and forms (a bill vs a postcard from a friend) ### They are poetry There are some unique aspects to jewish poetry such as it's use of repetition. Poetic language can be imaginative or over the top. It may not intended as a literal statement. ### the psalms are literature - there are different types, with distinct characteristics I.e. Thanksgiving and lament. - they have a certain form with stanzas etc. Knowing the form can help us understand when the subject changes, what the focus is, etc, - they served certain functions for israel. I.e. a royal psalm wasn't for a wedding. This helps us understand the context. - they have different patterns. These include the layout, combination of sounds and word plays as well as if they are an acrostic psalm. - Each psalm is a literary unit. We shouldn't break them down into individual verses like proverbs but read them as a whole. ## how the ancient Israelites used the psalms Some psalms served specific purposes. In fact, most may have had a specific purpose but we can't know them all. These purpose can be helpful to know, but they were also used outside of their original purpose. Many were for temple sacrifices but they became common songs to sing. They were grouped into five books probably with subcategories we have now lost. In the second temple era, they were grouped together and Psalm 1 and 150 were added as bookends. [[The book of the psalms]] ## 7 types of psalms ### lament The largest group with over sixty! Include individual and corporate. [[Structure of psalms of lament]] ### thanksgiving Psalms thanking god for what he has done. Includes individual and corporate. - 65 - 67 - 75 - 07 - 124 - 136 - 18 - 30 - 32 - 34 - 40 - 66 - 92 - 116 - 118 - 138 [[The structure of a thanksgiving psalm]] ### hymns of praise About gods character rather than his acts. - 8 - 19 - 104 - 148 - 66 - 100 - 111 - 114 - 149 - 33 - 103 - 113 - 117 - 145-147 ### Salvation history These remember gods acts in salvation history (coming out of Egypt) and point to israel's role in brining the messiah. - 78 - 105 - 106 - 135 - 136 ### Pslams of celebration and affirmation This group includes the royal Pslams and the covenant renewal Pslams. ### Wisdom Pslams These (along with proverbs 8 which is a psalm) include wisdom. - 36 - 37 - 49 - 73 - 112 - 127 - 128 - 133 ### songs of trust Psalms praising god even in the difficult times, trusting things will turn out well. - 11 - 16 - 23 - 27 - 62 - 63 - 91 - 121 - 125 - 131 ## How to use the psalms These allow us to speak to god using the words he relegated intge past Can be used as a guide to workship. These are carefully crafted liturgy They help us see how we can be honest with god They demonstrate the importance of reflection on gods works and words.