INTRODUCING..... PSALMS The Pilgrim’s Guide to the Bible No. 32

It is the longest book in the Bible. It contains some of the best-known verses in the Bible (e.g. the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want). It is perhaps the best-used book in the Old Testament, and it covers the whole range of human emotions. If we consider each psalm as being a biblical chapter, it has the longest (Psalm 119), as well as the shortest chapter (Psalm 117) in the whole Bible.

The Book of Psalms is the hymnbook of the Bible. The Psalms have been used extensively in both the Jewish and the Christian tradition and have been drawn on for inspiration by hymn and songwriters of every generation. They have been set to every type of music imaginable – from Hebrew chants to Gregorian chants, to traditional hymnody (All people that on earth do dwell), to contemporary worship songs and popular music. Who can read Psalm 137 without breaking into Boney M, “By the rivers of Babylon”?

Many of the psalms are credited to David. Seventy-three psalms bear his name. But others can perhaps be dated from as early as the time of Moses, whilst some may be as late as the Babylonian exile (e.g. Psalm 137), and may be contemporary with Ezra, and the return from exile. Others are credited to the ‘Sons of Korah’ – a priestly family, descended from Korah who led a rebellion against Moses in Numbers 16. Asaph is named as the author of twelve psalms and was probably a musician working in the Temple.

Like all good poetry, the Psalms are timeless. Poetry does not always translate well into other languages, but they have translated into English remarkably well, and continue to be used in worship.

It is not easy to classify the Psalms – they are grouped into five books in the Bible, but even these groupings do not really suggest any clear themes. Of all the books of the Bible, this is one for reading, and especially for using in worship, rather than writing about.

Psalms are used for worship

This is perhaps to state the obvious - but it needs to be said. They were written to be used in worship, and like all poetry should not be subjected to the rigours of literary criticism in the way that is often done with prose. Many of David’s psalms were written in response to current events. Psalms were (and still are) used on different occasions. Perhaps most notably, the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120 - 134) were sung by the pilgrims as they literally “ascended” the road, from the depths of the Dead Sea to Jerusalem - a climb of several thousand metres. That steep walk must have helped the pilgrims to appreciate the force of:

‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ (121:1-2)

We read of the disciples singing psalms after the Passover celebration. This is a songbook that the Jews would have learned by heart.

Psalms is a book of emotions.

We note the joy that comes from praising God, especially in the last five psalms:

‘Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!’ (150:6)

We plummet the depths of grief:

‘My slanderers pursue me all day long, many are attacking me in their pride’ (56:2).

Yet we note that God keeps a record of our sorrows:

‘Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record? (or in His wineskin).’ (56:8)

But when we read these psalms of lament, it is important to stick with them until the end, because invariably they will conclude by asserting the importance of praising God with a promise of His faithfulness. Psalm 79 is a typical example. Having lamented the way that the surrounding nations have violated the land, and the abject state of the God’s people, the psalm ends by saying:

‘Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you for ever.’ (79:13)

We read of anger, frustration, jealousy, despair, fear and envy. The Psalms bring out every human emotion in the writers’ relationship with God. They address the oldest question – why do good people suffer whilst evil people seem to prosper? (Psalm 73). But they also pick out the more positive emotions: joy, excitement, hope and peace. Psalm 100 is an excellent example of a psalm of thanksgiving and praise.

‘Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs’ (100:1)

Psalms is a book that teaches about God.

We meet with God who is King over all that there is.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.’ (Psalm 96:4)

The kingship of God is an important theme throughout the psalms.

Psalms 22 – 24 form a trilogy which speaks of the character of God. Psalm 22, which begins with the quote that Jesus cried from the cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’, speaks of God our Saviour. We see his work of salvation fulfilled in the cross of Jesus. Psalm 23 speaks of the Lord our shepherd – the one who is there to care for us, whilst Psalm 24 focuses upon the Lord, the King of glory:

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty, he is the King of glory. (24:10)

Psalms is a book that teaches history.

The Psalms reflect upon how God has been involved in the history of His people. Note especially Psalms 105 and 106 which tell the story of God’s relationship with His people throughout history. A later psalm, 137, writes of history as it is being made, as the nation endured exile:

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.’ (137:1)

Psalms is a book that expresses gratitude to God.

Many psalms begin with a statement of praise, and an assertion of something for which we give our thanks to God, followed by a testimony of what God has done. Psalm 119 is an extended song of thanksgiving for the Word of God, and        includes the well-known verse:

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.’ (119:105)

 Thanksgiving is a continuing theme of the book.

‘Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures     forever.’  (118:1)

Psalms is a personal book.

We note many psalms that refer to specific moments from the life of David. Psalm 3, was written when David was obliged to flee during the rebellion of his son, Absalom:

‘Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! For you have struck all my enemies on the jaw.’ (3:7)

Psalm 51 is David’s great lament, after he had committed   adultery with Bathsheba:

‘Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow......

‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ (51:7,10)

Psalms is a Messianic book.

We see many prophecies in the Book of Psalms that find their fulfilment in the life of Jesus. No fewer than twenty psalms are quoted in the New Testament. The word ‘Messiah’ (the Anointed One) appears in Psalm 2.  The psalm goes on to say:

‘You are my son, today I have become your Father. Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.’ (2:7-8)

We have already seen how Psalm 22 gives a perfect picture of what will happen to Christ at the crucifixion.

David, and the later kings of Judah, offer a sign of the coming King. In the Psalms we see how the Messiah will come to fulfil God’s purposes.

But what about the bad bits?

No account of the psalms would be complete if we simply ignored the sections that make us uncomfortable. Psalm 139 is a perfect example. The first 18 verses offer a beautiful picture of the relationship that we can enjoy with God.:

‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths you are there;’ (139:7-8)

But suddenly we come to verse 19:

If only you would slay the wicked, O God...

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.’(139:19,22)

How do we understand such sentiments? In what way can we use them? The following thoughts may help:

· The Old Testament does not have the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that we find in the New Testament. It lacks the sense of grace and forgiveness that comes through the redemption of Jesus Christ, so we must not consider these sentiments to be the ‘last word’ in our understanding of God.

· Such psalms are honest. They don’t seek to hide our inner feelings from God. We cannot hide from God.

· These sections serve as a reminder that enemies to God’s sovereign rule are real, and do exist. The OT portrays these enemies in physical terms. The NT        spiritualises the conflict, but it is still there. Paul reminds us that we fight against spiritual powers: ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ (Ephesians 6:12). The psalm writers lacked the knowledge of the Day of Judgement and of heaven and hell, and did not have a full understanding of God’s saving grace which has come with the redemptive work of Christ upon the cross. Theirs was a cry for justice in this life. We must interpret that cry through our understanding of Jesus Christ who teaches the values of the Kingdom of God.

· Even in the psalms we note a cry for God to bring justice – never is it left to humans to take revenge. Ultimately, we must read such verses as a cry for God to vindicate Himself and to bring justice to human affairs.

How should we use the Psalms today?

In the Book of Psalms, we have an endless resource book to feed us in our worship and in our personal prayer lives. It is a book to be used, regularly.

· Read the psalms on a regular basis. (And remember – they were written to be read aloud!)

· Try to summarise the meaning of individual psalms.

· Dwell upon words of praise and comfort that you find.

· Use them as a template to write your own psalms – this can be a great resource to use in personal prayer.

The Book of Psalms is a book to be read and used, not written about, so enough commentary – open your Bible and take a psalm to read every day!

As a starter - here is the shortest chapter in the Bible!

         Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.                                    

For great is his love toward us,            

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever

Praise the LORD

        (Psalm 117)