Studying the Psalms: Wisdom

Wisdom is our fourth type of Psalm to consider this year. We began looking at psalms of lament in July and have since studied thanksgiving and praise. The Psalms are not easily divided into separate categories and a number of them overlap or fit into more than one category. If that wasn’t enough, scholars don’t even agree on the types of psalms, let alone which belongs to each type.

With that in mind, we come to the wisdom psalms. The books of wisdom in the Bible are those that address the big questions of life, for example good vs. evil, or the righteous vs. the foolish, and so on. They also exhort us to follow the law of the Lord. The style of the wisdom is not instructional, but more reflective and meditational.

Reflection on big questions of life

The juxtaposition of the righteous and the wicked starts off the psalms, beginning with a blessing on the one who delights in the law of the Lord, Psalm 1. These psalms tend to be rather direct, jumping right in to describe the good or the bad of the world and the punishment or blessing that comes to each. Some of these psalms go back and forth between the two, but most end on the note that the Lord God will bring justice or blessing on his people.

An Example

Psalm 37 begins with a call not to worry or be envious of those who have short term gains or are evil, because they will soon fade like the grasses. Actually it uses stronger language to describe what will happen – they will wither or soon die away (verse 2). Verses 3-6 then tell the reader to trust and hope in the Lord and his face will shine upon you. Verses 7 to 22 then present in couplets of the good and the bad, their deeds and the results of them; the good are blessed and the evil are consumed. From 23 to 38, the verses focus more on the righteous and the wat that God supports and sustains them, but occasionally references the wicked in contrast. The final two verses lift up the virtues of the Lord, his salvation and deliverance. The final focus seems to offer that ultimate reminder to keep our attention on God and not allow the wicked to distract us.

A pattern for meditation

The wisdom psalms offer an opportunity to be reminded that God and his law will ultimately reign, and not the wicked or evil of the world. They also direct us to his law that governs our lives as the way to keep our way righteous.

To study more of God’s wisdom, read Psalms 1, 14, 37, 73, 91, 112, 119, 128.