Page 52 - The Poetic Books - Student Text
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Revival also occurred during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah after the exile of the nation of Judah to
Babylon and the homecoming of many people to the land. The leaders deliberately returned to the
instructions of David for worship (Neh. 12:24, 27-30, 36, 45-46, 47). This came after a new reading of
God’s law and deep repentance. Nehemiah instructed the people, ‘’’This day is holy to the LORD your
God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the
law. (Neh. 8:9b).” Book V (107-150) also lists few authors. David has fifteen (108-110, 22, 124, 131, 133,
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138-45) and Solomon one (127). One psalm in this collection clearly refers to the exile. “By the rivers
of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion (137:1).” Perhaps Nehemiah or Ezra or some of
the song leaders of their day after returning to Jerusalem collected and even wrote at least some of the
psalms in Book V.
Overview of Psalms
5.4 Let’s Practice….
1. When was the entire book of Psalms collected?
2. Approximately how many verses are in Psalms?
3. How have scholars like Gunkel approached the Psalms?
85Bullock, An Introduction, 136-7.
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