13. The Psalms of Israel

"Hebrew Worship Songs"

     The Hebrew name is "tehillim" (praises) and the LXX used "Psalmoi."  The Greek words are rooted in "psallo" which means to pluck/twang, in reference to a musical instrument.  The closest parallel in Hebrew is "mizmor" (a song sung to musical accompaniment).

     As for authorship, the Psalms are actually a collection of materials from a number of authors, as is indicated by the headings of psalms which indicate authorship: David (73 times), Sons of Korah (11 times; 42-49,84,85,87-89), of Asaph (12 times; 50,73-83), Solomon (72,127); Heman the Ezrahite (88), Ethan the Ezrahite (89), of Moses (90), and Jeduthun (39,62,77).  At the time of Christ, the Psalms were grouped in five units: 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150.  Writing is tied to the various authors between 1000-700 B.C., while several periods of editing came later (ca. 450-100 B.C.).

     Also known by some as "The Psalter," it is a devotion book, consisting of prayers and praises to YHWH, the God of Israel, interspersed with personal and national reminiscences intended to promote the spirit of worship.  Some of the Psalms contain a note that identifies the historical setting^[1] in which they were written, which aids us in understanding them.  Psalms were used in Israel's worship, especially in connection with Temple music.  The musical origin of the Psalms has not received much attention.  The art of sweeping the strings, psallein, practiced by David (1Sam. 16:16,18,23), led to the poetic products that we call "psalms" (psalmoi).  The Psalms are lyric poetry, which is seen in that they appear in measured lines and are intrinsically fitted for song.  "Lyric" (from the Greek lyra, a lyre) is the name given to poetry originally accompanied by the lyre.  We see this specifically mentioned before Psalm 6, 12, 54, 55, 61, 67, 76, etc.  In fact, the headlines of the Psalms cover four elements:

            1) a description of the following composition as psalm, song, miktham, or maskil

            2) a personal name, apparently of the author, as "by David", "Asaph", and others

            3) a statement of the occasion when a psalm was written, as "when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone into Bathsheba" (Ps.51)

            4) what appears to be a musical or liturgical instruction, as, "To the Chief Musician" (Ps. 4 & 5)

Points to Note:

     1:1-2/ Blessed is the person who delights in God’s Word, rather than walking/ standing/sitting under the influence of the wicked, sinners, or scoffers.  So, be careful of your associates and social influences, because those we associate with DO affect us (1Corinthians 15:33-34).

     2/ A messianic psalm that speaks of a conspiracy against the Lord and His Anointed One (see Acts 4:24-28 for the fulfillment), although God will install the Anointed One as king anyway and the world is then warned to worship the Son before He comes again in judgment.

     10:1,16/ Why does God seem to stand so far off/hide during times of troubles?  Even so, God has always been King over His creation.

     11:3-4/ If the foundations of society crumble, what can the righteous do?  Remember that God is enthroned in His Heavenly Temple and sees what is going on, justice will be enforced eventually.  Isaiah 6 shows the same concept, when an Israelite king died Isaiah was reminded that the Lord is forever enthroned behind the earthly scene.

     13:1-2/ How long will God forget me and hide His face from me?  How long will we will struggle with sorrow inside and our enemies seem victorious over us?  Our hope must be in God’s eventual justice.

     14:1-3/ The fool has said in his heart “there is no God” - most of the people in society do evil and ignore God

     15:1-5/ A description of those who may dwell in God's presence and find spiritual life (cf. 24:1-6; 34:12-14).  “Speaks truth in his heart” means that truth and what we say/do begins in our inner disposition (Matthew 15:18-19).  “Swears to his own hurt” - keeps His covenants/promises even when it costs you more than expected.

     16:8-10/ Setting the Lord before oneself constantly, as a reference/focal point and a source of hope and joy, followed by a prediction of God not allowing the "Holy One" to undergo decay (cf. Acts 2:25-27).  We don't completely control what ideas may "pop into" our minds, but we certainly get to choose our worldview, central focus, and what ideas we “dwell” on!

     17:15/ An inference of David's belief in eternal life

     19/ The two “revelations” of God: nature (vv. 1-6) and the Scriptures (vv. 7-13), followed by a benediction (v. 14)

     22/ A Messianic psalm that describes the crucifixion, followed by international praise

     23/ David had been a shepherd, so “The Lord is my shepherd” has a lot more specific meaning to unlock by understanding how each line is based on elements of shepherding sheep.

     24/ The earth is the Lords (vv. 1-2), Who may stand in God’s presence (vv. 3-6)?

     25-26/ David understood humility before God’s grace and forgiveness, integrity needed (25:2,16-17; 26:11)

     29:10/ The Lord was king at the flood and forever

     31:19-20/ God blesses those who fear Him by protecting them from evil conspiracies and evil speech (not all troubles, but from some of them and certainly from being suckered into willingly trying this mode of life).

     32:1,2/ How blessed is the person who’s sin is forgiven and whose spirit is honest.  Trying to live with nagging guilt will cost you!

     34/ The qualities of those who desire long life (vv. 12-14); The Lord is near the broken (v. 18), thus God may be the closest when we feel He is the farthest away!

     37:4/ Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (God will give us what we want, when we want the right things).  God laughs at the evil who plot against the righteous, because God sees where the evil will wind up (vv. 12-13).  Depart from evil and do good (repentance), for God will preserve the righteous and they will inherit the land (vv. 27-29; Matthew 5:5).

     39:4-6/ A call to recognize our mortality

     40:6-8/ cited in Hebrews 10:5-7

     41:9/ my friend lifted his heel against me (55:13)

     44:4/ God is my king (74:12)

     45:6/ God’s throne is established forever

     50:16-20/ the ways of the wicked

     51/ “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (v. 12); the sacrifices God desires (vv. 16-17)

     73/ A man is almost tempted to envy the wicked, then realizes the truth from God’s perspective

     78/ Israel did not prepare their heart for obedience (v. 8), forgot God’s past deeds (v. 11), put God to the test in their hearts (v. 18), deceived God with their mouths (v. 36), grieved and pained God (vv. 40-41).

     88/ There are times when God seems far away from the righteous

     95:3/ YHWH is the top God and the great king over all gods

     100/ Recognize God as Creator and our spiritual shepherd (Psalm 23 & John 10); worship God with thanksgiving for His goodness and faithfulness

     102:25-28/ God created the heavens and earth, but they will perish and be discarded like a garment.  However, God will exist forever and His people will continue.

     110/ A Messianic psalm which looks ahead and speaks of the apparent paradox of the Lord as David’s God and descendant, a kingdom “in the midst” of God’s enemies (Matthew 12:22-29; Luke 17:20-21), voluntary followers, and a Melchizedek priesthood

     118:22-23/ The rejected stone became God’s cornerstone

     119/ the way to keep your life pure (vv. 9-11), don't dwell on vanity (v. 37), how to be wiser than your enemies (v. 98), and how to see your way/find the path in a spiritually dark world (v. 105), sadness that others do not obey God (v. 136)

     127/ Only when God builds a house will it stand (vv. 1-2), children are a blessing from God (vv. 3-5)

     137/ the sadness of Jews exiled to Babylon

     150/ Worship God in the sanctuary and out in nature, with all sorts of musical instruments, and everyone should worship God

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Charles E. McCoy

9/24/2006