PSALMS, BOOK OF

Psalms is a collection of 150 songs of praise, authored by a variety of writers (seventy-three are attributed to David). They celebrate the Lord's power of creation and his sovereignty over nature. The Psalms reflect an awareness of Israel's redemptive role in the history of mankind. A number of the songs in thiswonderful book are Messianic in their thrust (see Psalm 2 and Psalm 22). This collection of poetic literature presents a portrait of man's doubts, fears, and aspirations. The Psalms forcefully direct our attention to the need of praising the Creator for his manifold works, and particularly his loving interest in humanity.