Bible Discussion Thread

An overview of Psalms and David's prayers (and those of others).

In a chronological overview of David's life; I have briefly touched His life in the first stage from when he was a young shephard boy until he was crowned king and all the struggles he had dealing with Saul. The next stage of his life could be listed as early kingship and would involve the initial debacle with Bathsheba and then further military campaigns. It would then focus on the struggle with Absalom and Amnon; his other major infraction taking the census; and finally his later years when he focused attention on preparations to build the Temple and transition power to Solomon.

Looking at the Psalms; it not only is out of sequence with 1 and 2 Samuel; for instance and the other O.T. books describing this series of events in order; but also makes many prayers unclear as to what they specifically were referring to as to a particular struggle David was having. Psalm 3; for instance refers to the struggles David was having with Absolom; specifically when he had to flee when his son was attempting to usurp the throne.

I am not a scholar; so perhaps some insight and discussion is in order as to what exactly denotes a prayer. Psalm 1 as an example is a very general sort of wisdom as to those who are deeply rooted and as with much of scripture; contrasts the righteous with the wicked. Such a general statement is more like Proverbs than a prayer; but it raises the question just how general a scope of prayer should be. I think it behooves us to be just as cautious with a general prayer as with a specific one. There are differences as to the reasons for this; as I would say that a general prayer can be said that contradicts scripture perhaps more clearly than a specific one. In either case; of course reverence toward the Lord is required if indeed He is to intercede and answer in heavenly places. Let me continue this thought in the next post.