Psalms/Lamentations/Song of Songs

by Smith, Christopher R.

• ISBN13: 9780830858088
• ISBN10: 0830858083
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-07-20
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Summary

Several books in the Bible are actually collections of the words to songs: Psalms, Lamentations, and Song of Songs. This study guide will help individuals and groups understand these books by explaining the different kinds of songs that were written in ancient times and how many of them have become part of the Bible. It will help readers appreciate how these songs capture the deepest human emotions and most vivid experiences of people like us who walked with God long ago.TheUnderstanding the Books of the Bibleseries helps readers understand the biblical story by not only talking about what the authors wrote, but also how they wrote. Quite often, recognizing whether a passage is poetry, proverb, or history and discerning how the author built his book will unlock its meaning for today's reader. Instead of following artificial chapter and verse divisions, these Bible study guides lead groups through whole books following their natural outlines, and pose engaging questions for discussion and personal application all along the way.

Author Biography

The Rev. Dr. Christopher R. Smith is a writer and biblical scholar who lives in East Lansing, Michigan. He served local churches for nearly twenty years land is now a volunteer staff member with Graduate intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Michigan State University. He was a consulting editor to the International Bible Society (now Biblica) for The Books of the Bible, an edition of the Scriptures that presents the biblical books according to their natural literary outlines, without chapters and verses. He is the author of After Chapters and Verses; Reading the Bible Smarter, Not Harder; and the other volumes in the Understanding the Books of the Bible series. He has a B.A. in literature from Harvard, a master's degree in theological studies from Gordon-Conwell, and a Ph.D. in historical theology and Bible from Boston College.

Table of Contents

How These Study Guides Axe Different	p. 1
Psalms Are the Words to Songs	p. 9
Psalms of Supplication: The Basic Form	p. 17
Psalms of Thanksgiving: The Basic Form	p. 25
Psalms of Praise: The Basic Form	p. 31
Psalms That Combine the Basic Forms	p. 37
Psalms That Expand One Element Within a Form	p. 41
Psalms of Supplication with an Expanded Statement of Trust (Psalms of Trust)	p. 45
Psalms of Supplication for Healing of Sickness	p. 49
Psalms of Supplication for Deliverance from Enemies	p. 55
Psalms of Supplication That Call for the Destruction of the Wicked (Imprecatory Psalms)	p. 59
Psalms of Supplication for the Forgiveness of Sin (Penitential Psalms)	p. 65
Psalms of Praise That Celebrate God's Reign (Divine Enthronement Psalms) Songs of Zion	p. 71
Psalms of Praise that Celebrate God's Care for Creation	p. 75
Psalms of Praise that Celebrate Gods Compassion	p. 79
Psalms of Praise That Celebrate God's Justice	p. 83
Wisdom Psalms	p. 87
Psalms of the Law	p. 93
Salvation History Psalms	p. 97
The Book of Lamentations	p. 101
Psalms for Special Occasions: Coronation	p. 105
Psalms for Special Occasions: Marriage The Song of Songs	p. 111
Psalms for Special Occasions: Pilgrimage Songs of Ascents	p. 117
Psalms for Special Occasions: Covenant Renewal	p. 123
Experiencing the Book of Psalms as a Whole	p. 127
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