Memorization Project

Since we learned in Psalm 1 that we are to meditate on the Word of God day and night, I thought a little project might help us to accomplish that goal.  Take a 3x5 card and write down either a verse from the section of Scripture you've been studying, a few main ideas that you're trying to keep in front of your mind. Then make this display board for your refrigerator or anywhere in your house to display your card and remind yourself to meditate. 

First you need some colored cardstock and another piece of patterned scrapbook paper.  You can add embellishments or whatever you'd like.  I didn't use the whole 12x12 green cardstock paper since that would be huge!  I cut my down to the size I wanted on my frig.  Then fit the patterned paper inside of the that.

I added a title with letter stickers that say, "Meditate day and night."

Finally take a 3x5 card and put photo corners on each of the 4 corners.  The photo corners I used were clear.  Then stick that to a coordinating piece of cardstock that is just slightly bigger then your 3x5 card and glue it to your page.  This way you'll be able to change out your verses as you memorize them.

Hang it on your frig or somewhere in your house and start meditating on God's Word today!!

Psalms 1-Lesson 1

 

Two Different Ways of Life

Since the fall of man in Genesis chapter three, the Bible has presented two ways of life. In Psalm 1, you will notice a stark contrast between the righteous and the wicked. Click here to discover these two different ways of life in the first chapter of Psalms. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section of this blog.

Psalms: An Introduction

Before we dive right into the Scriptures, we need to have an understanding 
of the book of Psalms as a whole. “The Psalms constituted Israel's ancient, 
God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) 'hymnbook,' which defined the proper spirit and 
content of worship.” 1 

Psalms is divided into 5 different books: 

Book 1—Ps. 1-41  (Genesis)

Book 2—Ps. 42-72  (Exodus)

Book 3—Ps. 73-89  (Leviticus)

Book 4—Ps. 90-106  (Numbers)

Book 5—Ps. 107-150  (Deuteronomy)

“Each of these books ends with a doxology (Ps. 41:13; 72:18-20; 106:48; 
150:6). Jewish tradition appealed to the number five and alleged that these
divisions echoed the Pentateuch, i.e., the five books of Moses.”2

Who Wrote it?

There are several authors identified in the book of Psalms: 

David--73 psalms

Sons of Korah--11 (Ps. 42; 44-49; 84; 85; 87)

Asaph--12 (Ps. 50; 73-83)

Solomon-2 (Ps. 72; 127)

Moses-1 (Ps. 90)

Heman-1 (Ps. 88)

Ethan-1 (Ps. 89)

Anonymous--49

When Was it Written?

The book of Psalms is an accumulation of poetry that spans almost 1,000 years
of history.  Moses' Psalm 90 is most likely the oldest psalm written near 1410 BC
"sometime near the end of Israel's wilderness wanderings" [CSB The Study Bible
for Women, p. 638]. The latest, Psalm 137, was written during the Babylonian 
captivity 587-586 BC. "Most psalms, however, were written during the reigns of 
David (ca 1010--970 BC) and Solomon (ca 970--930 BC)."  [CSB The Study 
Bible for Women, p. 638]

To Whom Was it Written?

To the people of Israel

Below I have found some great links online that discuss Hebrew poetry in depth.
Feel free to read through them and familiarize yourself with the literary aspects 
of the book of Psalms.

Links:

Hebrew Poetry

Background of the Psalms

1John MacArthur, ed. The MacArthur Study Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2010, p.733.

2McArthur, ed. p. 734