Introduction To The Psalms
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Having finishing our series of lessons on the book of Proverbs we are now going to turn our attention to it’s neighboring book, the book of Psalms.
I hope through these lessons we can…
Become more familiar with Old Testament poetry.
Glean a clearer picture of God’s character.
Learn more of about Christ through the prophecies.
Consider examples of fulfilled prophecies.
Though an Old Testament book it has a lot of New Testament value.
So with this in mind let’s examine our lesson for today.
Why Study The Psalms
Why Study The Psalms
The Old Testament Has Great Value.
The Old Testament Has Great Value.
The reality is for us, as New Testament Christians, there’s a ton of worth in the Old Testament.
This is why God tells us to not forsake the Old Testament within the New Testament.
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
This truth is especially true in the Proverbs as we have seen over the last few months and the Psalms.
So, “Why Study The Psalms?”
Well, because…
We Are Commanded To Utilize The Psalms.
We Are Commanded To Utilize The Psalms.
The psalms should play a vital role in our worship and praising of God.
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Jesus used the psalms to confirm he was the Messiah.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Peter even used certain psalms play a role in teaching and confirming that Jesus is the Christ.
25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Summary
Summary
Within the 150 psalms lies a treasure trove of information on prayer, singing, emotions, apologetics, prophecies, and much much more.
It is important for a Christian to study the Psalms because of the wealth of knowledge especially on how to worship our God.
This is why it has been called…
The Christian’s “hymnal.”
The Christian’s “prayer book.”
The Christian’s “book of evidences.”
The Christian’s “training guide.”
However, before we get into all that, in the following weeks, I want us to understand a few more things about this great collection of psalms.
First, let’s look at how the psalms are…
Hebrew Poetry
Hebrew Poetry
Thought Rhythm.
Thought Rhythm.
Our poetry of today, for the most part, relies not on “thought rhythm” but on “word rhythm.”
By that I mean, we typically think of poetry that has “words that rhyme” such as…
“Roses are red and violets are blue, the honey is sweet and so are you.”
Hebrew poetry doesn’t focus on “word rhythm” but rather “thought rhythm” also known as “parallelism.”
Synonymous Parallelism: The first line is repeated in the second line, for the sake of emphasis, but is said with different words.
Psalm 24:2 (ESV)
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Antithetical Parallelism: The truth presented in one line is strengthened by a contrasting statement in the next line.
Psalm 1:6 (ESV)
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Synthetic Parallelism: The first and second lines bear a definite relation such as “cause & effect” or “proposition & conclusion.”
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart, (cause)
that I might not sin against you (effect).
Progressive Parallelism: There are several different types of these but each of them build on the previous line.
Stair-Like Progress
Psalm 1:1 (ESV)
Blessed is the man…
(1) who walks not in the counsel of the wicked
(2) nor stands in the way of sinners
(3) nor sits in the seat of scoffers
Climatic Progress
Psalm 29:1 (NKJV)
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, (Give What?)
Give unto the Lord glory and strength. (Answer)
Introverted Parallelism: The first and fourth lines are closely related as are the second and third lines.
Psalm 91:14 (ESV)
(1) Because he holds fast to me in love
(2) I will deliver him
(3) I will protect him
(4) because he knows my name.
Though Hebrew Poetry is different in rhythm than what we are used to, it is beautiful and complex so many other ways.
That brings us to the…
Lack Of Poetic Rhythm.
Lack Of Poetic Rhythm.
By this I mean much of our modern poetry has an identifiable rhythm to it.
Mary Had A Little Lamb…
With Hebrew poetry there was not as much concern with poetic rhythm as much as there was a focus thoughts.
This isn’t to say there is no rhythm, as each psalm was to be sung, originally with a stringed instrument.
I say all that to say this, don’t expect to find, especially in our English translations, poetic rhythm.
That brings me to something else important to know about the Psalms and Hebrew poetry, there is a lot of…
Figurative Expression.
Figurative Expression.
The psalms are filled with figurative expressions and as such there are two things to keep in mind.
First, the figurative language must be accepted and dealt with as a figure of speech not a literal statement.
Psalm 18:31 (ESV)
31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
God is not a literal rock but a spiritual being.
Psalm 51:4 (ESV)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Here David says he “only sinned against God” for which we know isn’t true because he sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, and those he employed to help him sin in these matters.
David was speaking figuratively to try and express his deep shame and grief against God.
Secondly, the figurative language must be interpreted in light of its meaning and setting i.e., its proper context.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
We have all no doubt heard this passage used of those that have passed on from this life during their funeral.
However, the passage here is talking about a valley that is shaded so dark that it hides the dangerous missteps that could lead a sheep to fall to their death.
Thus, God the shepherd is there lead his sheep through those dark steps of life and get us through to the other side.
Summary
Summary
We have only scratched the surface of the magnificence of Hebrew poetry.
Hopefully, I will be able to provide more insight in the weeks to come through our studies of the Psalms.
Lastly, I want us to consider some…
Historical Information
Historical Information
The History Of The Psalms
The History Of The Psalms
The oldest of the psalms within the pages of the Bible originate from the time of Moses (1400 BC).
We have three known psalms penned by Moses.
Exodus 15:1-15 (After the Israelites pass through the Red Sea)
Deuteronomy 32-33 (The last words of Moses before the Israelites headed to the Promised Land).
Psalm 90 (A song of meditation, reflection, and prayer.
After Moses we see peaks and valleys are far has “psalm writing” is concerned.
It peaked after Moses during David’s reign but seems to have taken a back seat to Proverbs during Solomon’s.
Only twice after Solomon’s reign do we find the rise in psalm writings.
During Jehoshaphat’s reign (875 BC).
During Hezekiah’s reign (725 BC).
What about…
The Authors Of The Psalms.
The Authors Of The Psalms.
Most people believe David wrote most of the Psalms and would be shocked to find out that is not the case.
David did write a lot of them, some 73 psalms, but that isn’t even half of them.
Asaph, the music director during the reign of David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 16:1-7) wrote 12 psalms.
The Sons of Korah, who were Levites that served the Temple (1 Chronicles 26:1-19) wrote 12 psalms as well.
Solomon has at least two psalms attributed to him (Psalm 72 and Psalm 127) and we know he wrote many more (1 Kings 4:29-32).
Moses, as we noted earlier wrote one psalm that is in the book of Psalms, Psalm 90.
Heman, a contemporary with David and Asaph, and is known as “the singer” (1 Chronicles 6:33) wrote Psalm 88.
Ethan, a contemporary with Asaph and Heman in the Temple worship (1 Chronicles 15:19) wrote (Psalm 89).
And 48 psalms were anonymously written.
What about…
The Styles Of The Psalms.
The Styles Of The Psalms.
The styles of the psalms breaks down into five basic ideas.
Didactic: A psalm that teaches a lesson (Psalm 1).
Liturgical: (Li-Tur-Ji-Cal) A psalm meant to invoke a response during special services.
Meditation: A psalm that focuses on the mental aspect of doctrine.
Praise and Devotion: A psalm meant to joyfully praise God.
Praise and Petition: A psalm meant to focus on a prayerful attitude.
Lastly, let us look at…
The Outline Of The Psalms.
The Outline Of The Psalms.
This is interesting as the Hebrew people broke it up into books.
Book One (Psalm 1-41)
Book Two (Psalm 42-72)
Book Three (Psalm 73-89)
Book Four (Psalm 90-106)
Book Five (Psalm 107-150)
The idea is that the material in each book is similar in nature.
Summary
Summary
v
Conclusion
Conclusion
Hopefully this background information will be of benefit as we start to look at the inspired word of God found in the book of Psalms.
I pray you will take time this week to look over the psalms and especially Psalm 1 as we will be studying it next week.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.