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.