He Who Dwells...Will Abide (Ps. 91)

[Sung Psalm: 90]

Today we begin to walk through Book 4 of the Psalms.

What we call the “book” of Psalms is actually 5 books of psalms.

And it’s important to read them in that context. After all, God did not give us 150 random songs. He gave us these 150 songs in 5 distinct collections.

Book 1 consists of Psalms 1-41.

Book 2 consists of Psalms 42-72. (And at the end of Book 2, we have the curious note, “the prayers of David, son of Jesse, are ended.” Books 1 and 2, therefore, are songs of the kingdom. While there are all sorts of challenges and struggles the presupposition of books 1 and 2 is that there is a Davidic king on the throne.)

In Book 3 all of that changes. Book 3 consists of Psalms 73-89. And Book 3 is all about the devastation of the Kingdom of David. Book 3 dares to ask the question, is God faithful to his promises? Because Book 3 ends in Psalm 89 with Jerusalem plundered, the temple destroyed, and the Davidic king in exile. The LORD has rejected his covenant with David – he has handed his anointed over to their enemies.

And so Psalm 89 ends with an unanswered question. “Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?” (89:49) Yes, the Psalmist then asks God to remember his servants and his anointed – but book 3 of the Psalter ends with an unanswered question.

Book 4 of the Psalter will begin to answer it.