Episode 1810: Books of the Bible - Psalms

Psalms
The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 poetic and hymn-like songs or psalms that are found in the Old Testament of the Bible.
This is why the Holy Rosary was originally called the Psaltry of Mary and there were 150 count of Hail Mary’s.
Psalms is one of the books in the wisdom literature genre, and it is often attributed to King David, who is traditionally believed to have authored many of the psalms. However, some psalms are attributed to other individuals, such as Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Solomon.

The Psalms cover a wide range of themes, emotions, and experiences. They include expressions of praise, thanksgiving, lament, repentance, trust, and wisdom. The psalms are written in various poetic forms, such as acrostic, parallelism, and chiasmus, and they are meant to be used in worship, both in communal and individual settings.

The content of the psalms reflects the deep spiritual life of the Israelites, addressing God in many ways and exploring the complexities of the human relationship with the divine. Many of the psalms are deeply personal, reflecting the experiences, struggles, and joys of the psalmist. Others are communal, expressing the collective identity and faith of the Israelite community.

The Book of Psalms is divided into five main sections, each ending with a doxology:

Book 1 (Psalms 1-41)
Book 2 (Psalms 42-72)
Book 3 (Psalms 73-89)
Book 4 (Psalms 90-106)
Book 5 (Psalms 107-150)

Many of the psalms are attributed to specific historical events, and they were likely used in the context of worship in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Book of Psalms has been a central part of Jewish and Christian worship throughout history and continues to be widely read and studied for its spiritual and poetic depth.

When deciding how to present this book I decided to provide what was the theme of each of the 150 psalms. As always what I want to do on CR is provide an overview compelling enough to get you interested in opening the book but also provide you with those points necessary to understand the book.
Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Contrasts the paths of the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the importance of delighting in God's law.
Book 1 (Psalms 1-41):
Psalms 1-2: Introduces the themes of the righteous and the wicked and celebrates the reign of God's anointed.
Psalms 3-7: Include various psalms of lament, trust, and deliverance.
Psalms 8-10: Reflect on the majesty of God, the dignity of humanity, and prayers for justice.
Psalms 11-15: Express confidence in God as a refuge and explore themes of integrity and righteousness.
Psalms 16-17: Contain expressions of trust in God's protection and prayers for justice.
Psalms 18-19: A lengthy psalm of praise attributed to David and a reflection on God's creation.
Psalms 20-23: Include prayers for victory, reflections on God as a shepherd, and celebrations of God's kingship.
Psalms 24-28: Contain declarations of God's ownership of the earth and prayers for justice and protection.
Psalms 29-33: Praise the power and majesty of God, emphasizing the importance of trust and worship.
Psalms 34-37: Include psalms of praise, trust, and wisdom regarding the righteous and the wicked.
Psalms 38-41: Express laments, confessions, and petitions for healing and deliverance.
Book 2 (Psalms 42-72):
Psalms 42-43: Express a deep longing for God, often associated with spiritual thirst.
Psalms 44-49: Include laments, pleas for deliverance, and reflections on God's sovereignty.
Psalm 50-51: Address themes of true worship, sacrifice, and penitence.
Psalms 52-59: Contain laments and pleas for deliverance from enemies.
Psalms 60-68: Reflect on God's kingship, deliverance, and sovereignty.
Psalms 69-71: Express laments, pleas for refuge, and acknowledgments of God's faithfulness.
Psalm 72: A royal psalm attributed to Solomon, praying for righteous kingship and justice.
Book 3 (Psalms 73-89):
Psalms 73-74: Explore the challenge of understanding the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.
Psalm 77: Reflects on God's faithfulness amid personal distress.
Psalm 78: A historical psalm recounting Israel's history and God's faithfulness.
Psalm 79: A communal lament in the context of national devastation.
Psalm 80: A plea for God's restoration for the nation of Israel.
Psalms 81-83: Calls to worship and reminders of God's justice.
Psalm 84-85: Expresses a longing for God's presence and prayers for restoration.
Psalm 86: A prayer for God's mercy and guidance.
Psalm 87: Celebrates the glory of Zion.
Psalm 88: A psalm of deep lament and despair.
Psalm 89: Reflects on God's covenant with David, expressing praise and a plea for restoration.
Book 4 (Psalms 90-106):
Psalm 90: A prayer of Moses, reflecting on God's eternal nature and human mortality.
Psalm 91-93: Express trust in God's protection and sovereignty.
Psalms 94-100: Include laments, calls for justice, and declarations of God's kingship.
Psalm 101-103: Reflect on personal and communal righteousness, forgiveness, and God's compassion.
Psalms 104-106: Praise God as creator, reflect on Israel's history, and acknowledge God's mercy and faithfulness.
Book 5 (Psalms 107-150):
Psalms 107-118: Include thanksgiving psalms, expressions of God's deliverance, and calls to praise.
Psalms 119: The longest psalm, an acrostic praising the value of God's Word.
Psalms 120-134: The Songs of Ascent, pilgrim songs likely sung during the journey to Jerusalem.
Psalms 135-136: Celebrate God's sovereignty and the enduring love of God.
Psalms 137-144: Include laments, reflections on exile, and praise for God's goodness.
Psalm 145-150: A series of praise psalms exalting God's greatness, mercy, and faithfulness.