the book
of
psalms
1.PSALMS
is the longest, and perhaps the most-loved Book in the OT.
A.It is the Second Poetical Book (good
to study them often, and in any order).
1.Poetry can have greater impact than
literal stating of facts.
2.Hebrew Poetry (Parallelism) balances
ideas rather than sound.
B.This Book is the middle of the
printed text (118:8 is the middle verse of the KJV); 119
is the longest “chapter” in the Bible; 117 is the shortest.
2.AUTHORS,
according to the superscriptions:
A.Almost half (73 of them) are
directly attributed to King David; 12 to Asaph;
10 to Korah; 2 to Solomon; 1 (the 90th) to Moses; 1 to Heman; 1 to Ethan; 50
are anonymous (perhaps 2 of the anonymous ones are by David).
B.David is the principal writer; So, “Psalms of David” - cf 2Sa 23:1.
3.DATE:
The PSALMS were collected over a
period of about 1,000 years, from Moses to the Post-Exilic time of Ezra and
Nehemiah (1410 BC - 430 BC).
4.This is the only Book not divided
into “chapters” -- Technically, these are numbered SONGS (Not “23rd Chapter of Psalms,” or “Psalms, Chapter 23,” etc.;
But “Psalm 23,” or “23rd Psalm”).
5.This was Israel’s Song Book
for private life and public worship; Whereas most of the Bible is God’s voice
calling to His creatures, the PSALMS are mankind’s voice raised to
The Creator in song and devotion.
6.NOTE:
God created singers:
A.At the dawn of creation there was
singing - Job 38:7.
B.Moses sang, and taught the people to
sing - Ex 15; Deu 32.
C.Israel sang on their journey to the
Promised Land - Num 21:17.
D.Deborah and Barak sang - Jdg 5.
E.David sang with all his heart - Psa
7:17 (“PSALMS” equals “SONGS”).
F.Hezekiah’s singers sang the words of
David - 2Ch 29:30.
G.Nehemiah’s singers sang at
dedication of the wall - Neh 12:42b-43.
H.The Lord sang with the apostles,
after institution of the Supper - Mt 26:30.
I.Paul and Silas sang in prison - Ac 16:25.
J.Christians sing: When together - Eph
5:19; And privately - Jas 5:13.
K.In Heaven 10,000 times 10,000 angels
sing, and the whole redeemed creation joins in the chorus - Rev 5:11-13.
7.NOTE:
Concerning instrumental music in worship:
A.In the OT, Psalms sometimes were accompanied with mechanical
instruments of music - Psa 71:22; cf 2Ch 29:25.
B.By the NT era and the beginning of the church, the Greek words used
in reference to music in worship had come to mean simply SING and SONG; The NT
references show that Christians SANG
- cf 2Jn 9.
8.Several kinds of PSALMS express different feelings and /
or circumstances.
A.Together, they cover the full range
of human emotions; Therefore they are relevant to every reader.
B.Though this Book is sadly neglected
by many people, it is one of the world’s finest pieces of literature (here are
beautiful expressions of the deepest devotion of the human heart).
C.“In
this Book of Psalms the tempted and tested gain fortitude from pilgrims of
yesterday, whose feet have bled along the same thorny pathway. Here the suffering and sorrowing find a
fellowship of sympathy which takes the bitterness out of their tears. Here the persecuted and the forsaken find
reassurance in their time of need. Here
the weeping penitent finds that which suits the broken and the contrite
heart. Yea, here the Christian discerns
the figure of his Lord, moving among the Psalms of David as truly as among the seven
golden candlestands of the Apocalypse.
To all the godly these Psalms are an unmatched treasury of devotion, of
comfort, of sympathy, and of gladdening reassurance. They are the sighings and singings of ‘men of
like passions’ with ourselves.” -- J. SIDLOW BAXTER.
D.Not history, or story -- Cannot
analyze / summarize as can most Books.
9.PSALMS is “Five Song Books In One”:
This division is thought by most Bible students to correspond to the 5 Books of
the Pentateuch.
BOOK 1 BOOK 2 BOOK 3 BOOK
4 BOOK 5
1-41 (41) 42-72 (31) 73-89 (17) 90-106
(17)
107-150 (44)
GENERAL ADORING WONDERING CEASELESS SUBMISSIVE PERFECTED
THEMES
WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP .
LIKENESS GEN: Cre- EXO: Deliv- LEV: Wor- NUM:
Wild-
DEU: Scrip-
TO PENT- ation; Man erance; Re- ship; Sanc- erness And ture
And
ATEUCH And Woman. demption. tification. Wandering. Praise. .
DOXOLOGY 41:13
72:18-19 89:52 106:48 150:1-6 .
NOTE: Each Book ends with a Doxology (a song of praise); Psalm
150
seems to be a concluding Doxology for the entire collection.
10.Some of the ideas that are
emphasized in the PSALMS: Prayer;
Trust;
Assurance; Persecution; Instruction; Thanksgiving; Praise; Worship;
History; Nature; God’s Glory; God’s Majesty; Joy In The Lord; The Messiah.
A.These sentiments, repeated over and
over, build faith that has confidence in God’s power regardless of the
circumstances of life.
B.The common theme is WORSHIP: God is worthy of praise because
of Who He is, what He does, what He will do -- Trust Him, pour out our hearts.
1.His RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE
are emphasized - cf Psa 5:
a.Mankind needs the Lord - Verses 1-3.
b.God hates evil - Verses 4-6.
c.God blesses the righteous - Verses 7-12.
2.Some PSALMS show God to be a loving SHEPHERD - cf Psa 23:
a.His people can depend on His care
through life - Verses 1-4.
b.His people will dwell with Him
forever - Verses 5-6.
3.God’s FORGIVENESS toward the
penitent is magnified - cf Psa 51:
a.David repents and pleads for pardon
- Veerses 1-9.
b.David seeks spiritual renewal - Verses 10-14.
c.David expresses joy for certainty of
forgiveness - Verses 15-17.
4.The GOODNESS of God is held
forth - cf Psa 103:
a.Individuals know His mercies - Verses 1-5.
b.His chosen people (Israel) know His
love - Verses 6-19.
c.All creation rejoices in Him - Verses 20-22.
5.His INFINITY is highlighted
and magnified - cf Psa 139:
a.The Infinity of His
Knowledge - Verses 1-6. The OMNISCIENT One knows our hearts
(Verse 1), our thoughts (Verse 2), our actions (Verse 3), and
our words (Verse 4).
b.The Infinity of His
Presence - Verses 7-12. The OMNIPRESENT One is in the extremes of
height (Verse 8a), depth
(Verse 8b), East -- West (Verses 9-10), darkness (Verses 11-12b), light (Verse 12c).
c.The Infinity of His
Power - Verses 13-18. The OMNIPOTENT One has provided the
marvels of birth and life (note Verses 17-18).
d.The Infinity of His
Righteousness - Verses 19-24. The INFINITELY HOLY One cannot allow
evil to go free; The Psalmist bows in reverence, and prays for help (so should
we) - Verses 23-24.
C.All the various elements of the PSALMS seem designed to call attention
to LIFE’S TWO WAYS
- cf Psa 1:
1.The Blessed Person is one who turns
from evil - Verse 1.
2.And finds delight in the Will and
the Ways of God - Verses 2-3.
3.The Wicked Person knows only
frustration in life - Verse 4.
4.And cannot stand before the Great
Judge - Verse 5.
5.The path of life is open to all who
choose to walk in it - Verse 6.
11.Infidels allege a “moral problem”
with the IMPRECATORY PSALMS (imprecatory -- “to call down a
curse or calamity”); e.g., see 55:15;
58:6,10; 79:6.
A.When we see this harshness on evildoers in general, and enemies of God and the Nation specifically, let us remember:
1.These are poetic statements;
Many figures of speech; Not all literal.
2.These expressions are calls for DIVINE
justice, not HUMAN vengeance - Lev 19:17-18; cf Hab 1:13a; Rom 12:19;
So it is not revenge.
a.The first imprecation (5:10) is not against men as such, but
against those who rebel against God -- EVIL-DOERS.
b.David was a Theocratic King (he
ruled for God): Any opposition against him was against Jehovah,
and it must meet Divine wrath.
c.David’s kindness had been abused by
his persecutors -- See 35:12; 69:4;
109:5 -- Forgiveness of a wrong
act is proper, but continued forgiveness can degenerate into condoning a wrong attitude
which should be condemned.
3.The sum of all this teaching is that
“EVERYONE WILL REAP AS HE HAS SOWN” -
137:8; cf Gal 6:7-8.
B.There is no moral problem if we see
the message of the Bible expressed in the vivid language of poetry: GOD
HATES SIN, LOVES THE SINNER AND OFFERS MERCY; IF THE OFFER IS REJECTED THERE IS
NO ALTERNATIVE BUT FOR THE SIN TO BE PUNISHED (THAT IS, IF
THERE IS JUSTICE) - Psa
5:4; Mt 13:49-50; Jn 12:48; 2Th 1:8-9; Rev 20:15; 21:8.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS TO THE BIBLE:
1.PSALMS
is quoted more times in the NT than any other OT Book (of 283 quotations from
the OT, 116 are from PSALMS -- almost
half of the quotations).
2.In these sweet songs we can see
ourselves in the deepest emotions of life (Human Struggles /
Sorrows / Sins
/ Penitence /
Forgiveness / Joys
/ Victories /
Worship).
3.The 23rd PSALM is probably
the best-known and most-memorized six verses of the Bible (in days gone by
virtually everyone could quote it).
CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS:
1.He said that many things in the PSALMS were written about Him
- Lk 24:44.
2.PSALMS
is similar to the Four Gospel Accounts in its view of the Person and Work of
the Son of God:
A.As the KING (This
portrait is emphasized in MATTHEW):
2: Christ rejected as King 24:
Christ is King of Glory.
by the nations. 47: Christ rules in His
18: He is Protector, Deliverer. kingdom.
20: Christ provides salvation. 110:
Christ is King-Priest.
21: He is given glory by God. 132:
He is enthroned.
B.As the SERVANT (This
portrait is emphasized in MARK):
17:
Christ is Intercessor. 41: Christ is betrayed by
22: He is the dying Savior. a close friend.
23: Christ is the Shepherd. 109:
Christ loves those who
40: He is obedient unto death. reject Him.
C.As the SON OF MAN
(This portrait is emphasized in LUKE):
8:
Christ is made a little 40: The resurrection of
lower than the angels.
Christ is realized.
16: His resurrection promised.
D.As the SON OF GOD
(This portrait is emphasized in JOHN):
19: Christ is Creator. 118:
Christ is the Chief
102: He is Eternal. Cornerstone.
3.Here are a few of the many Messianic
Prophecies in the PSALMS:
2:7 --- God will declare Him to be
His Son ------------ Matt 3:17
8:6 --- All things will be put
under His feet --------- Heb 2:8
16:10 -- He will be resurrected from
the dead ---------- Mark 16:6-7
22:1 --- God will forsake Him in
His hour of need ------ Matt 27:46
22:7-8 - He will be scorned and
mocked ----------------- Luke 23:35
22:16 -- His Hands and Feet will be
pierced ------------ John 20:25,27
22:18 -- Others will gamble for His
clothes ------------ Matt 27:35-36
34:20 -- Not one of His Bones will
be broken ----------- John 19:32-36
35:11 -- He will be accused by false
witnesses --------- Mark 14:57
35:19 -- He will be hated without a
cause -------------- John 15:25
40:7-8 - He will come to do God’s
Will ----------------- Heb 10:7
41:9 --- He will be betrayed by a
friend --------------- Luke 22:47
45:6 --- His Throne will be forever
-------------------- Heb 1:8
68:18 -- He will ascend to God’s
Right Hand ------------ Mark 16:19
69:9 --- Zeal for God’s house will
consume Him --------- John 2:17
69:21 -- He will be given vinegar and
gall to drink ---- Matt 27:34
109:4 --- He will pray for His
enemies ------------------ Luke 23:34
109:8 --- His betrayer’s office
filled by another ------- Acts 1:20
110:1 --- His enemies will be made
subject to Him ------- Matt 22:44
110:4 --- He will be a Priest like
Melchizedek ---------- Heb 5:6
118:22 -- He will be the Chief
Cornerstone -------------- Matt 21:42
118:26 -- He will come in the Name of
the Lord ---------- Matt 21:9
4.The Savior frequently used PSALMS:
He quoted from the PSALMS in
the Sermon On The Mount; In teaching the multitudes; In answering the Jewish
leaders; In cleansing the Temple; During the Last Supper; On The Cross.
5.PSALMS
were so thoroughly a part of His Mind / Life that His dying words were
quotations - Mt 27:46 (Psa 22:1); Lk
23:46 (Psa 31:5).
THE BOOK OF PSALMS IN THREE WORDS: ISRAEL’S SONG BOOK.
CONCLUSION:
1.These Sweet Songs touch hearts and
mold lives of spiritual
Israel also.
2.Good advice concerning PSALMS: “Read them; Drink deep; Meditate; Memorize; Contemplate; Sing them;
Pray them; Be blessed by them.”
3.If Christ is not YOUR Shepherd, take good advice
and be enfolded now into the safety that He offers - Ac 2:38; Col 1:13; Mt
11:28.