Book 5

This week we will be reading Psalm 107, and once again we run across a title. This time it reads, “Book 5.” If you will remember, we have talked about the fact that traditionally the Book of Psalms has been divided into five parts. Each part seems to correspond to the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch). Psalms 1-41 were written mainly by David (though there are other authors there) and deal with man’s fall into sin and our need to seek righteousness and a relationship with God. Book 2 (Psalms 42-72) parallels Exodus and the power of God to free us from sin. Book 3 (Psalms 73-89) corresponds to Leviticus as it calls us to worship and holiness. Book 4 (Psalms 90-106) relates to Numbers, teaching us how God’s people learn to follow and obey. Book 5 gives us a picture of Deuteronomy. Written as the people of Israel leave the wanderings in the wilderness and prepare for a new beginning in the Promised Land, Deuteronomy points to the way that God delivers His people. Psalms 107-150 remind us of that same deliverance. Steadfast love, redemption, forgiveness, and cleansing all take center stage as the psalmists describe the transformation that comes into the lives of people who surrender to God. We are reminded that we stand as a people who no longer are identified by the world and sin, but are God’s people, forgiven and shaped by Jesus.