Songs of Longing (Psalms 73–89)

Book Three of the Psalms expresses lament for the setbacks and sufferings of God’s people. Both personal distress and natural disaster seem to signal an end to the hope of Books One and Two. But, through it all, the psalmists hold on to the hope of a true and good God. 

In Songs of Longing, Matthew Olliffe covers in 7 studies all 17 psalms collected as Book Three (Psalms 73–89), a book where we see the psalmists weeping over the exile of Israel and yearning for God to rescue his people.

This is volume 3 of a five-part series on the Psalms. Unlike most other studies on the Psalms, this series reads each psalm not as an isolated unit but in the context of the whole book. As we see the full sweep of the Psalms, we will see that even in times of extreme hardship, God’s people can entrust their future to their Messiah.

1. Disappointment and disaster [Psalms 73–74]
2. God's still king [Psalms 75–77]
3. From Exodus to Zion [Psalm 78]
4. Praise amidst destruction [Psalms 79–82]
5. Longing for Jerusalem [Psalms 83–85]
6. Hope in the darkness [Psalms 86–88]
7. Longing for the Messiah [Psalm 89]

Matt Olliffe studied at Moore College in Sydney, and is an Anglican minister and an Anglicare chaplain in residential aged care in western Sydney. He is the author of numerous studies in the Interactive Bible study series, including Introducing Jesus (John 1–4), Challenging Jesus (John 5–12), Revealing Jesus (John 13-17), Glorifying Jesus (John 18–21), Salvation Revealed (Genesis 12–50) and Songs of God's King (Psalms 1–41).

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Halfway between a sermon and a set of study questions, these studies, written by gifted Bible teachers, provide excellent biblical input and direction while leaving you to do much of the exploration.