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Psalms 106

1 - Praise The LORD!Give thanks to The LORD, for he is good,for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 - Who can utter the mighty acts of The LORD,or fully declare all his praise?
3 - Blessed are those who keep justice.Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.
4 - Remember me, The LORD, with the favor that you show to your people.Visit me with your salvation,
5 - that I may see the prosperity of your chosen,that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,that I may glory with your inheritance.
6 - We have sinned with our fathers.We have committed iniquity.We have done wickedly.
7 - Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt.They didn't remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses,but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
8 - Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake,that he might make his mighty power known.
9 - He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up;so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.
10 - He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 - The waters covered their adversaries.There was not one of them left.
12 - Then they believed his words.They sang his praise.
13 - They soon forgot his works.They didn't wait for his counsel,
14 - but gave in to craving in the desert,and tested God in the wasteland.
15 - He gave them their request,but sent leanness into their soul.
16 - They envied Moses also in the camp,and Aaron, The LORD's saint.
17 - The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,and covered the company of Abiram.
18 - A fire was kindled in their company.The flame burned up the wicked.
19 - They made a calf in Horeb,and worshiped a molten image.
20 - Thus they exchanged their gloryfor an image of a bull that eats grass.
21 - They forgot God, their Savior,who had done great things in Egypt,
22 - Wondrous works in the land of Ham,and awesome things by the Red Sea.
23 - Therefore he said that he would destroy them,had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach,to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn't destroy them.
24 - Yes, they despised the pleasant land.They didn't believe his word,
25 - but murmured in their tents,and didn't listen to The LORD's voice.
26 - Therefore he swore to themthat he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
27 - that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations,and scatter them in the lands.
28 - They joined themselves also to Baal Peor,and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29 - Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.The plague broke in on them.
30 - Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment,so the plague was stopped.
31 - That was credited to him for righteousness,for all generations to come.
32 - They angered him also at the waters of Meribah,so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;
33 - because they were rebellious against his spirit,he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 - They didn't destroy the peoples,as the LORD commanded them,
35 - but mixed themselves with the nations,and learned their works.
36 - They served their idols,which became a snare to them.
37 - Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38 - They shed innocent blood,even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.The land was polluted with blood.
39 - Thus were they defiled with their works,and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
40 - Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people.He abhorred his inheritance.
41 - He gave them into the hand of the nations.Those who hated them ruled over them.
42 - Their enemies also oppressed them.They were brought into subjection under their hand.
43 - He rescued them many times,but they were rebellious in their counsel,and were brought low in their iniquity.
44 - Nevertheless he regarded their distress,when he heard their cry.
45 - He remembered for them his covenant,and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
46 - He made them also to be pitiedby all those who carried them captive.
47 - Save us, The LORD, our God,gather us from among the nations,to give thanks to your holy name,to triumph in your praise!
48 - Blessed be The LORD, the God of Israel,from everlasting even to everlasting!Let all the people say, "Amen."Praise Yah!

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Psalms Images and Notes

The Book of Psalms

Psalm 2:7-9 - I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Psalm 8:3-4 - When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 53:1-3 - The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.

The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Bible Survey - Psalms
Hebrew Name - Tehillim "praises"
Greek Name - Psalmoi (Greek form of the Hebrew mizmor, meaning instrument songs)
Author - David (According to Tradition)
Date - 1056 BC Approximately
Theme - Give praise to the Lord
Types and Shadows - In Psalms Jesus is the One worthy of all praise

The Tomb of King David in Jerusalem
Painted Sketch of the Tomb of King David in Second Temple Jerusalem

Summary of The Book of Psalms

The title of the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew is sepher tehillim, meaning "book of praises", and indeed it is a fitting title. Every chapter is devoted to praise and thanksgiving from the author to Yahweh. This book clearly provides hope and confidence in the Lord as the maker of all things, the ultimate ruler of everything including the universe. He sees everything, knows everything, he has no limits, his presence is everywhere even in darkness there is no hiding and he is to be praised.

The Psalms are full of religious poetry and this was not uncommon in the ancient Near Eastern nations and peoples, and it was not surprising for the Hebrews to have produced such a powerful work. David was the recognized writer of the Psalms and they are many times referred to as the Psalms of David, although some of the chapters are not attributed to him in the notes.

The Psalms of David included Psalms 2-41 (except Psalms 33), Psalms 51-72, Psalms 108-110, and Psalms 138-145. David was no doubt a very skillful musician, the Bible mentions that he played the lyre for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23), and the prophet Amos mentions that David invented instruments of music for worship of the Lord (Amos 6:5). There is also mention in the book of Samuel about David lamenting over Saul and Jonathan in a poetic fashion revealing his natural ability.

David went to many experiences in his life that he wrote about, especially when he was hunted down by King Saul from place to place like a "Partridge" in the wilderness. David was a young shepherd, he knew what it was like to tend his flock and to guard them from predators, this gave him a beautiful imagery for the Lord the great Shepherd. David was also a musician, a man of war, a king, a father, a husband, a friend, and many more. He repented over his sin in Psalm 51, acknowledging himself to be a sinner before God and God alone. God called David "a man after my own heart" and these experiences allowed him to share with the reader, a man who knew the heart of God. David was a master at finding different ways to praise God in life experiences and the book of Psalms is a wonder book for those who want to know how to please God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13). There is no doubt the David wrote most of the Psalms, and the ones that he did not write are in his style as well.

Among the Psalms are two collections of Levitical Psalms, one is ascribed to the "sons of Korah" (Psalms 42-49), the other is ascribed to Asaph (Psalms 73-83 and Psalms 50). These exalt the tribes of Joseph. There are Psalms mentioning Moses, Haman, Ethan, and Solomon, some are anonymous (Psalm 33, 84-89). Some of the Psalms reveal a strong liturgical emphasis which might've been used in worship services, or on special days and do not mention the author (Psalms 91-100).

It is impossible to determine exactly how the Psalms were compiled and collected, and dating them is also difficult for most of the Psalms. Some of the Psalms are commemorating victories, while others are historical, remembering the Lord and God's people in past events. Other Psalms are prophetic and look to the future and the coming of the Messiah, as well as the heavenly kingdom. There are Psalms of affliction, lamentation and remorse over sin, as well as songs of Thanksgiving and trusting the Lord.

Some of the songs were chosen to be good for reciting on certain Jewish holy days, like the Sabbath, or Passover, the feast of Tabernacles, etc. There are titles on about 100 of the Psalms, the titles are so old that they cannot be understood even in the second century BC. Some of the titles point to the source of the Psalm, while others point to a certain purpose, or a certain melody, or something related to music.

Outline of the Book of Psalms

Psalms is divided into five books : Psalms 1-41, which witness to David's life and faith; Psalms 42-72, a group of historical writings; Psalms 73-99, ritual psalms; Psalms 90-106, reflecting pre-captivity sentiment and history; and Psalms 107-150, dealing with the captivity and return to Jerusalem. These five books are often regarded as the devotional counterpart to the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

ARCHAEOLOGY

House of David Inscription - Tel Dan Stele

Tel Dan Stele - House of David Inscription
1 Kings 2:11 - And the days that David reigned over Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

An inscription containing the words "house of David" was found on a black basalt stone slab called the Tel Dan Stele, from Tel Dan, Israel, 9th Century B.C.

 Interesting facts about the Psalms: The book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. The 119th Psalm is a longest chapter in the whole Bible. The 117th Psalm is the shortest chapter in the Bible and located in the middle. When the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament by someone, over one third of all the quotes are from the Psalms.

Quick Reference Map
Map of the Empires of David and Solomon
Map of the Empires of David and Solomon (Click to Enlarge)

Quick Reference Maps - Psalms

Hebron

Mahanaim

Zion and the City of David

The Kidron Valley and David's City

The Empire of David and Solomon

The Kingdom of David

Shiloh

Kirjath Jearim

Jabesh Gilead

Michmash

Judah in the Time of David

The City of Nob and David's Flight

The First Day. Light.

Psalms Resources

Samuel the Prophet
Saul, Israel's First King
King David
King Solomon

More About the Book of Psalms
Psalms in the Picture Study Bible
Timeline of the Ancient World
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