Psalms Introduction
It needs to be said that this book is like all other scripture, "It is
inspired of God, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for
training in righteousness." II Tim. 3:16.
The original Hebrew title was "Tehillim" meaning, "Phrase Songs". The
Greeks called it "Psalmoi" meaning, "Songs to the accompaniment of a stringed
or plucked instrument".
The authors of the Psalms are:
- David, who wrote 73 of them.
- Asaph, David's choir leader in Jerusalem, who wrote 12 of them.
- The Sons of Korah, a group of singers and composers who wrote 10 of
them.
- Solomon, who wrote 2 of them.
- Moses, who wrote 1 of them.
- Heman, a wise man, who wrote 1 of them.
- Ethan, a wise man, who wrote 1 of them.
- Fifty of them are without authors; some have been attributed to Ezra
and some to David.
The central message of the book is PHRASE YE THE LORD.
The 150 Psalms have been divided into 5 parts sense the time of Ezra. Each
ends with a doxology. Moses gave us the 5 books of the Law and as a
counterpart, David and others gave us the 5 books of the Psalms. The Law was
Jehovah's word to the congregation. The Psalms were the congregation's word to
Jehovah.
These are the 5 books of the Psalms.
| BOOK 1 | BOOK 2 | BOOK 3 | BOOK 4 | BOOK 5 |
|---|
| Psalms 1-41 | Psalms 42-72 | Psalms 73-89 | Psalms 90-106 | Psalms 107-150 |
| BASIC EMPHASIS |
|---|
| Adoring Worship | Wondrous Worship | Ceaseless Worship | Submissive Worship | Perfected Worship |
| PARALLELS THE EMPHASIS OF THE LAW |
|---|
| Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteromy |
| Man | Deliverance | Sanctuary | Wilderness | Law & Land |
The book covers a wide span of time. The earliest, Psalm 90, was written by
Moses in 1,400 BC. The last was written about 430 BC. during the post-exile
period of Ezra and Nehemiah. Because the Psalms were written over a 1,000-year
period, it is necessary to remember that they were written to a wide range of
audiences under many different conditions.
The Psalms should be interpreted with following guidelines:
- When the "historic event" is given, the Psalm should be interpreted
in that light. When it is not given, an event should not be assumed.
- Some Psalms are associated with certain aspects of Israel's worship.
When this can be identified, it will help in understanding them.
- Many of the Psalms foretell of the Messiah, but care must be taken
not to try and out guess the author by seeking a parallel that was
not intended.
However, sense the thrust of our study of the Old Testament is to identify
the prophesies of Christ where they occur, we will try to point them out when
they occur in the 5 books.
In the Psalms, God is called by two names. In books 1, 2 and 5, He is
called Yahweh. In books 3 and 4, He is called Elohim.
We need to keep in mind that the Psalms were songs that were sung, some by
clergy with congregational responses like "Hallelujah" and "Amen" and some by
the people while on pilgrimages i.e. Psalms 84, 121 to 134. Some were sung by
the congregation as it entered the Sanctuary like Psalms 15, 24 and 100, and
some by the congregation to express phrase and thanksgiving like Psalms
113,115,135 and 136. The book of Psalms served the same purpose as our hymnal.
The headings of many of the Psalms provided directions to the chief musician
concerning their accompaniment:
- "Set to the Gittith." The name of a particular tune. (Psalms 8,81
and 84)
- "On Neginoth" (Neginah) On stringed instruments. (Psalms
4,6,54,61,67, and 76)
- "Maschil (Maskil) A liturgy or sermon, perhaps chanted. (Psalms
32,42,44,45,52,53,54,55,74, 78,88,89 and 142)
- "Michtam" (Miktam) A song for private meditation. (Psalms 16,56 thru
60)
- "Selah" used 71 times in the Psalms, meant pause, a musical
interlude or a crescendo.
- "Jeduthun" after the manner of Jeduthun, a mode distinctive to that
musician. (Psalms 39,62 and 77)
- "Shoshannim" well known tunes known as "Lilies". (Psalms 45 and 69)
"Shoshannim-eduth" the Lilies of testimony (Psalms 60 and 80)
sometimes referred to as "Shoshan-Eduth".
- "Mahalath Leannoth" this term is unknown but probably specified a
certain tune or instrument or perhaps indicated a "depressed" mode
sense Mahalath literly means "sickness". (Psalms 53 and 88)
- "Sheminith" used in connection with harps. (Psalms 6 and 12)
- "Nehiloth" wind instruments, probably flutes. (Psalm 5)
- "Shiggaion" meaning not known. (Psalm 7) (Habakkuk Ch. 3:1)
- "Muthlabben" a familiar melody, probably dealing with death. (Psalm
9)
- "Aijeleth Shajar" (Aijeleth hash-shahar) a melody called "Hind of
the Dawn". (Psalm 22)
- "Alamoth" use of maiden voices or a particular musical instrument.
(Psalm 46)
- "Jonath-elem-rechokim" a tune called "The Dove on Far Off
Terebinths" (Psalm 56)
- "Al-taschith" a melody called "Do Not Destroy". (Psalm 75)
Psalms listed by the way they were used:
- Personal Thanksgiving. Psalms 23,30,31,32,34, 66,92,107,116,
138,139, and 146.
- Security and Justice. Psalms 7,11,26,42,43,52, 54,56,64,70,120,140
and 142.
- Mental Unrest. Psalms 3,4,5,17,57,59 and 143.
- Physical Affliction. Psalms 13,22,28,31,35,38,41, 69,71,86,102 and
109.
- Prayers for the Sick. Psalms 6,39,62 and 83.
- Prayers of Penitence. Psalms 51, by David and 130 by unknown author.
- Trust in God. Psalms 16,91 and 131.
- The Awareness of God's Spirit. Psalms 8,19,29,
78,104,105,106,114,119,147 and 148.
Many "facets" of life in the Middle East are described in the Psalms.
- Shepherds customs. Psalms 23 and 78.
- Hunting practices. Psalms 22,35,69 and 91.
- Bird habits. Psalms 84,102 and 104.
- Night scavengers. Psalms 14 and 59.
- Night patrols. Psalms 127 and 130.
- Architecture. Psalms 128 and 129.
- Thunderstorms. Psalm 29.
- Forest fires. Psalm 83.
- Vengeance. Psalms 58,59,69,109,137 and 149.
Many "prophesies" concerning the Messiah are found in the Psalms.
- Psalm 1 verse 7 "You are my son, today I have begotten you." (Matt.
3:17)
- Psalm 8 verse 6 "Thou hast given Him dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under His feet." (Heb. 2:8 - 1st.
Cor. 15:27)
- Psalm 16 verse 10 "For thou dost not give me up to Sheol (grave),
or let thy godly one see the Pit (corruption)." (Acts 2:27 - 13:35)
(Mark 16:6)
- Psalm 22 verse 1 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
(Matt. 27:46)
- Psalm 22 verse 16 "they have pierced my hands and feet -" (John
20:27)
- Psalm 22 verse 18 "they divided my garments among them, and for my
raiment they cast lots." (Matt. 27:35)
- Psalm 34 verse 20 "He keeps all his bones; not one of them is
broken." (John 19:36)
- Psalm 35 verse 11 "Malicious witnesses rise up;" (Mark 14:57)
- Psalm 35 verse 19 "let not those wink the eye who hate me without
cause." (John 15:25)
- Psalm 40 verse 7-8 "Then I said, Lo, I come; in the roll of the
book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy
law is within my heart." (Luke 24:44 & John 5:39)
- Psalm 45 verse 6 "Your divine throne endures for ever and ever."
(Heb. 1:8)
- Psalm 68 verse 18 "Thou didst ascend the high mount, leading
captives in thy train." (Mark 16:19 & Eph 4:8)
- Psalm 69 verse 9 "For zeal for thy house has consumed me." (John
2:17)
- Psalm 69 verse 21 "They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink." (Matt. 27:34 & John 19:28)
- Psalm 109 verse 4 "In return for my love they accuse me, even as I
make prayer for them." (Luke 23:34)
- Psalm 109 verse 8 "May his (Judas) days be few, and may another
seize his goods." (Acts 1:20)
- Psalm 110 verse 1 The Lord says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool." (Matt. 22:44 & 26:64)
- Psalm 110 verse 4 "You are a Priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek." (Gen. 14:18 & Heb. 5:6-10)
- Psalm 118 verse 22 "The stone which the builders rejected." (Matt.
21:42)
- Psalm 118 verse 26 "Blessed be he who enters in the name of the
Lord." (Matt. 21:9)
With this introduction, let us look briefly at each of the 150 Psalms.
Study of the Book of Psalms
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