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    Exploring The Psalms: Volume 1 - Thoughts on Key Themes
    Exploring The Psalms: Volume 1 - Thoughts on Key Themes
    Exploring The Psalms: Volume 1 - Thoughts on Key Themes
    Ebook83 pages1 hour

    Exploring The Psalms: Volume 1 - Thoughts on Key Themes

    By Hayes Press

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    About this ebook

    The Bible book of Psalms is one of the most wonderful stores of poetry in the world, and millions of Christians have benefitted from reading them.  This book was written to provide an introduction to the Psalms and the key themes that the Psalmists return to again and again: Thanksgiving, Praise, Affliction and Deliverance, Penitence, Imprecations, Human Frailty, Trusting in God, Sound Instruction, God's Choice of Zion, Love for God's House, and Collective Worship.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHayes Press
    Release dateDec 11, 2017
    ISBN9781386922407
    Exploring The Psalms: Volume 1 - Thoughts on Key Themes

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      Exploring The Psalms - Hayes Press

      CHAPTER ONE:  INTRODUCTION (REG DARKE)

      The Scriptures can be likened to a crown of pure gold adorned with 66 precious gems to represent the number of books they contain. Each jewel has colour and beauty all its own. Outstanding amongst them is the Book of the Psalms which has a unique place in our Bibles and world literature. It is the book of the inner life of private devotion. It expresses the doubts and fears, the joys and sorrows, the sufferings and aspirations of the soul at all times. Notwithstanding its tone of sadness, it is a book of praise ... its keynote is worship, and it has been used in the worship of God by Hebrews and Christians alike, down to our day (A.M. Hodgkin, Christ in all the Scriptures).

      According to the Hebrew, a psalm is said to be a poem set to notes and is derived from a word meaning a singing forth of praise, to touch strings. The Greek suggests a sacred ode accompanied with the voice, harp, or other instrument. There are 150 psalms divided into five books, comprising what has been called Israel’s hymnbook, or the songs of Zion. The first psalm begins with happiness, and the last concludes with praise. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1); and Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Hallelujah (Psalm 150:6 RV margin). A variation of blessed is happy, or O the happinesses of the man..., a theme which flows freely through many of the psalms.

      The middle verse of our Bible is said to be Psalm 118:8, which avers, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man; and the longest psalm is 119 with its 176 verses. Renowned statesman and Christian, William Wilberforce, wrote in his diary, Walked from Hyde Park Corner repeating 119th psalm with infinite comfort. This majestic psalm is headed by 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, eight verses being attached to each letter. How rich and choice in poetry and pathos some of these verses are! For example: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things Out of Thy law (v.18); Strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word (v.28); confirm Thy word unto Thy servant (v.38); Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path (v.105); I am Thy servant, give me understanding (v.125); Give me understanding, and I shall live (v.144); I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant (v.176); These deep, emotional desires come from one belonging to a culture different from ours, yet his inspired pen adequately expresses the longings of our redeemed hearts.

      What psalm is best known in all the world? Surely Psalm 23. What a blessing its six verses have been to people of varied dialects and languages. It is a favourite of young and old. It has been the means of bringing many lost lambs and sheep to the Good Shepherd. What a comfort verse 4 has been to the dying, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me ... And what needed encouragement is found in the promise of goodness and mercy enabling us to dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of our days. To some, Psalm 23 reaches the apex in Hebrew poetry, and confirms David’s title, the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1). Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, said David (1 Chronicles 16:9 KJV), with all the zeal of one who penned almost half of these hymns, probably for harp and timbrel. However, the psalms were for speaking as well as singing. Centuries later Paul wrote to Christians in the house of God: Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). The psalms are such a rich source of comfort, help and inspiration that we lose so much when not sharing them by speaking one to another. Our heartstrings need to be plucked oftener, too, so that we can enjoy together psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Do we need instruments when the Lord has given us a heart to make melody? Our lives, worship, and service are spiritual, in contrast to the material temple, offerings, and instrumental music. When ye come together, each one hath a psalm a teaching ... Let all things be done unto edifying (1 Corinthians 14:26).

      Over 70 psalms came from David’s fertile pen. The sweet psalmist of Israel once wrote: The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was upon my tongue (2 Samuel 23:2). Others were written by Moses, Asaph, a Hebrew songwriter, and Korah’s sons. About 50 psalms came from anonymous composers. The expression Selah, generally translated meditate, or pause and consider, occurs 71 times throughout the Book of Psalms. The picturesqueness of the psalms also extends to psalm titles. Examples include the hind of the morning - the dawn (Psalm 22); the lilies, a song of loves, the meaning of Shoshannim (Psalm 45); the dove of the distant terebinth, meaning of Jonath elem rehokim (Psalm 56); the lily of testimony, meaning of Shushan Eduth (Psalm 60); a song for the sabbath day (Psalm 92); David’s cave prayer (Psalm 142). The Songs of Ascents, which express temple service and the worship of God’s people, embrace Psalms 120-134.

      The Book of Psalms provides historical coverage from creation to the millennium, and also reveals the eternity of Deity. Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God (Psalm 90:2). Creation is clearly defined by an unnamed psalmist: By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap ... Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast (Psalm 33:6-9). Though not named, Adam’s origin is seen in these words: "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things

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