Category Archives: Faith

The Songs of David

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Icon of King David holding a scroll with the words of Psalm 51 written on it.

The Psalms of the Bible are songs, poems, and praises to God written from the author’s perspective. Many times these Psalms are personalized and are written to God in the context of a certain individual’s unique situation and struggles. Despite this, God is still able to make his sanctions and laws known throughout the book. 

The Psalms were written over a long period of time, believed to be around 900 years. The most prominent author is David, King of Israel and at times a sinful man. This is reflected in the themes of Psalms: God is merciful, God is trustworthy, God is supreme, God’s law is perfect, and God brings his judgment in history. 

The Psalms begin with the verse, “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the council of the ungodly.” God will protect those who obey him, those who disobey, He will not. There is no good reason why someone should not obey God, for his laws are perfect. “Why doth the heathen rage?” in Psalm 2 is a genuine question. Why do people fight against God when he is perfectly good? This sentiment is continued in Psalm 3, discussing those who rebel against God. This is when we first see the word “Selah” mentioned. It’s not known exactly what this word means, however, it’s speculated that it was inserted at the end of verses for rhyming purposes.

 In Psalm 4, God calls out men for their vanity and for turning God’s glory into shame. David announces that God will destroy the liars, bloody and deceitful men. In Psalm 5 it states, “their throat is an open sepulcher.” Nothing true comes from their mouth, so it has become the equivalent of a dead man’s grave. David describes his condition in Psalm 6 by saying that his “bones are vexed,” and his “soul is sore,” his body is quickly wearing out. 

The Psalms are a unique book of the Bible. It’s a collection of personal poems and songs written to God, unlike many other books, which are accounts written about specific events. It’s quite intriguing to read through David’s personal prayers to God and see the ways He lets his laws and sanctions be known through David’s songs. 

Themes of Proverbs and Biblical Literature

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God’s Sanctions Can Come As a Punishment.

Starting in Proverbs chapter 8, King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, emphasizes wisdom regularly. Known as “Solomon the Wise,” he says that wisdom is the basis of civil rulership and everybody who hates wisdom loves death. 

Similar to earlier chapters in Proverbs, chapter 10 focuses more on God’s sanctions. The text states that God’s rewards and punishments will be predictable, but if you do not follow God’s rules, you will lose your inheritance, while the righteous will still gain their inheritance. 

Between Proverbs chapter 10 and 31, the verses about sanctions and wisdom are again reinforced in chapter 30 with King Solomon talking about how God’s word will always be pure, but He will give you negative sanctions in life if you disobey Him. The next chapter instructs Kings to avoid alcohol and only marry virtuous women. 

The two main themes of Proverbs are wisdom and sanctions. Virtuous men love wisdom and will strife to attain it, but some hate wisdom and will see the wrath of God. If you keep God’s commandments and do the right thing in all situations, then you will get a seat in heaven next to the Lord. Another theme stated multiple times is the importance of working for God, with Solomon explaining that you need to labor like an ant and do good works to please God. 

Inheritance of God’s kingdom will be taken away from those who disobey his word and  break away from God. Much of biblical literature is a warning of what will happen if you do not follow God, and a reward for what will happen if you obey God’s judgment. 

Introduction to Proverbs

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King Solomon Writing the Book of Proverbs.

In the opening verses of Proverbs, the writer King Solomon, son of King David, provides an overall view of his goal, making Proverbs the only book of the Bible with a formal introduction. He also gives counsel to his son, saying: “A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” Solomon states that in order to have knowledge, you must fear the Lord and the wicked are foolish because they do not trust in God. In chapter one verses 8-19, Solomon gives his son more advice, telling him to not walk in the counsel of the wicked and do not consent to their enticing. 

The material in the Proverbs is similar to that of the Psalms, except the Psalms is written in the form of a song. Just like the Psalms stated many times, verses two and three of Proverbs are about the positive and negative sanctions God can give us. Because it is good for your soul, verse two advises the reader to stay away from the wicked and have wisdom. Chapter three starts with Solomon commanding his son to always keep the law and let his heart keep God’s commandments. 

The first section of the book of Proverbs is mainly focused on wisdom. Referencing it again in chapter five, Solomon says that wisdom is ethical and parents must teach it to their children. Wisdom also brings honor, grace, and life. Chapters six and seven tell the reader to be motivated and labor like an ant for the Lord, and hold up the lamp of law and let it shine bright. 

Themes of the first chapters of the Proverbs are mainly wisdom and sanctions, similar to Psalms. The writer King Solomon, also known as “Solomon the Wise,” focuses much more on wisdom than his father King David did in the previous book.