The book of Psalms is a collection of songs (poetry) of the Hebrew people. It boasts a multitude of authors over many centuries, some unidentified, though many are attributed to King David.
There are three basic styles of Psalms: hymns of praise, laments, and songs of thanksgiving.
Some Psalms mention not only the author but also the time or circumstances under which they were written. Others even include musical notations and names of tunes, both of which have little significance at this time.
Many people adore the Psalms, while others remain unaffected. In English translations, the wording often tends to be smooth and flowing, while in Hebrew they come out as more worldly and rough.
Some readers feel The Message version of the Bible best captures the original intensity of Psalms.
Interesting trivia: Psalms has more chapters than any other book of the Bible (150 chapters) and the most verses. It also contains the longest chapter (Psalm 119), as well as the shortest (Psalm 117).
The oldest psalm is attributed to Moses (Psalm 90). Psalms is frequently quoted in the New Testament (the other most quoted books are Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and Genesis).
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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