Salvation History Psalms
Salvation History Psalms are are about the history of God's relationship with God's people.
These are similar to Thanksgiving Psalms, thanking God for what God has done, but they take a bigger perspective. Instead of thanking the Lord for one time they were rescued, the psalmists talk about God's dealings with God's people over generations.
The Salvation History Psalms in the Bible are Psalms 44, 68, 77, 78, 81, 87, 89, 99, 105, 106, 114, 122, 126, 129, 135, and 136. Most of them mention the Exodus, which was so important to Israel's identity as a nation and as people of God.
We can write our own Salvation History psalms thinking back on our own history with God - or talking about the history of a group we're part of, maybe our family, our church, or even our nation. This is a chance to step back and take a look at the big picture.
Our own history with God may not seem as dramatic as deliverance from slavery, but our lives are journeys, and it’s always good to look back and see God’s hand on your life and the Lord’s presence on your way.
I find five key concepts woven throughout the Salvation History Psalms:
The point of these Psalms is to keep us from forgetting what God has done.
They refer to stories - stories of God's provision and God's deliverance.
God's people don't always look good in these stories. But God is faithful.
Most of these Psalms do ask God to work, as God did before.
Most of the stories in these Psalms remind us to praise God.
You'll find some examples of Salvation History psalms I've written on my Sonderjourneys blog. This is a nice form for thinking back over your life and your walk with God. Or thinking about where you want to go or where you want your group to go. Try it out, and post your own examples in the comments!