The book of Psalms is sometimes called the “Hebrew Song Book.” With its 150 chapters, it is the longest single body of literature in the Old Testament. Unlike other books of the Bible, each chapter of the Psalms is an independent literary unit and the whole is a compilation of Poetry that spans a thousands years. Though most of the poems were written by Israel’s greatest king, David, other poems were written by Moses, Solomon, Asaph (who was in charge of the music of the tabernacle in David’s day), the sons of Korah (guardians of the temple gates) and some rather obscure fellows like Jeduthun and Heman.

The book of Psalms is divided into five “books,” each one ending with praise to God:

1) Book 1 - Psalm 1-41, ending with “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

2) Book 2 - Psalms 42-72, ending with “Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

3) Book 3 - Psalms 73 - 89, ending with “Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.”

4) Book 4 - Psalms 90 - 106, ending with “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord.

5) Book 5 - Psalms 107 - 150, ending with an entire Psalm of praise.

116 of the Psalms have headings. We do not know if these headings were on the original manuscripts, but the headings appear in all the manuscripts we have. The headings tell who wrote the psalm, sometimes its occasion, and sometimes the tune it was to be sung to. Unfortunately, the tunes are now lost to us.

In the book of Psalms there is some repetition. Psalm 14 is repeated in Psalm 53. Psalm 57 is repeated in Psalm 108. Psalm 40 is repeated in Psalm 70. Why the repetition? I do not know. We know that these were not the only pieces of poetry written by Old Testament people. Solomon himself wrote a thousand and five songs. David likely wrote many more than those catalogued in the book of Psalms. It may well be that the five books of psalms we have represent five collections of psalms. Just as today, different editions of hymn books contain different collections, and some repetitions, so that may be equally true with the Psalms.

In the 16th century, John Calvin wrote: “I have been wont to call this book, not inappropriately, an anatomy of all parts of the soul; for there is not an emotion of which anyone can be conscious that is not here represented in a mirror.”

Can it possibly be that it has been five months since I added to this blog? Where did the time go? I will try to do better. On we go with our look at the books of the Bible.

If not the oldest book in the Bible, Job certainly reaches back to the earliest of times - to the days of Abraham or before. The book tells the story of man named “Job” whose fortunes went from great to abysmal virtually overnight simply because of a conflict between Satan and God. The story of Job is set at a time when a family’s patriarch offered sacrifices on behalf of his children. Job is not listed in any of the genealogies of Abraham’s descendants and therefore he is not a part of Israel. He is from the land of “Uz,” a place whose geographical location is unknown.

Despite not being a Jew and of unknown origin, the story of Job’s faith is a treasure of Jewish literature. He is considered in the Old Testament to be one of three most righteous people (Daniel and Noah being the other two - cf. Ezekiel 14:14,20).

Chapters 1-3 set the stage for the story and introduce us to all the players but one. Job is a righteous man, well-blessed by God with everything a man can desire: wealth, respect in the community, family, and a close relationship with God. He is “the greatest man among all the people of the East.” God brags to Satan: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
It sounds more like a taunt to Satan. Satan replies: ‘Sure he’s good. Why shouldn’t he be? You’ve bought his goodness with all your blessings. Take them away, and he will curse you to your face.’

And so the conflict begins. God allows Satan to strip Job of everything - including his dignity. Job doesn’t know that he’s become a pawn in a holy war. He’s just confused that such awful things have happened. Despite then however, and despite encouragement from his wife to turn from God. Job remains true. He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to provide support, and the condition they find him in leaves them speechless - at least at first. For Job’s part, he wishes he had never been born.

Chapters 4-31 contain three rounds of speeches where each of Job’s friends speak, trying to put things into perspective. Job replies to each of them. Eliaphaz urges him to put his trust in God, but Job replies that God is the reason he is in this mess. Bildad and Zophar both reply that it’s not God’s fault, but Job’s. All three of the friends subscribe to the world view that if something bad happens to you, it must be your fault. Job believes the same thing, but he does not see where this is his fault. He concludes that God must have attacked him.

In Chapters 32-37 a new much younger character, Elihu appears. He is upset the others have not convinced Job all this is not God’s fault. He maintains that sometimes bad things happen so that God can speak to our lives. Job does not reply to Elihu.

Then God Himself takes the stage. In two speeches (Chapters 38-41), He says first, that there are some things humans cannot know. Second, because their knowledge is limited, they should be slow to blame God for everything that happens.

The book ends (chapter 42) with God restoring everything Job lost.

Job’s friends never prayed for Job. They never encouraged him. They never comforted him. Job felt badly toward God, but he never turned from Him. Even if, for some unknown reason, God was attacking him, Job’s only hope was still in God. To turn from the only one who could deliver him would have been foolish.

Will a person serve God for nothing? The book of Job says the righteous man will do exactly that. When you are going through a difficult time, there is something more important than why all that is happening to you. It is more important to entrust your life to the one who knows everything and who has assured us, one way or another, he will deliver us. That's what Jesus did. “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7).