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PSALMS
Authorship of the Psalms
In the Titles, 73 Psalms are ascribed to David;
12 to Asaph; 11 to the sons of Korah; 2 to Solomon (72, 127); 1 to Moses (90);
1 to Ethan 89); 50 are Anonymous.
Some of the Anonymous Psalms may, it is
thought, be ascribed to the Author of the Preceding Psalm. David, no doubt, was
Author of some of the Anonymous Psalms.
The
Titles are not a certain indication of Authorship; for "of,"
"to" and "for," are the same preposition in Hebrew. A Psalm
"of'David may have been one that he himself wrote, or that was written
"for" David, or dedicated "to" David.
However the Titles are very Ancient, and
the most natural presumption is that they indicate Authorship. The age-old,
universal and unspoken tradition is that David was the Principal Author of the
PSALMS.
Some modern critics have made a desperate
effort to read David out of the picture. But there is every reason to accept, and
no substantial reason to question, the Book of Psalms as quite largely the work
of David. The New Testament so recognizes it.
So, we speak of the Psalms as the Psalms
of David, because he was the principal writer, or compiler. It is generally
accepted that a few were in existence before David's time, forming the nucleus
of a Hymnal for Worship. This was greatly enlarged by David, added to from
generation to generation, and, it is thought, brought to completion in its
present form by Ezra.
David was a Warrior of unprecedented
Bravery, a Military Genius, and a Brilliant Statesman, who led his Nation to
its Pinnacle of Power.
He was
also a Poet and a Musician, and with all his heart a Lover
of God.
David's creation
of the Psalms was in reality a far grander accomplishment than his creation of
the Kingdom. The Book of Psalms is one of
the Noblest Monuments of the Ages.
In the Psalms
the real character of David is portrayed; and in them God's people generally
see a pretty fair picture of themselves, their struggles, their sins,
their sorrows, their aspirations, their joys, their failures and their victories.
For the
Psalms, to Endless Ages, David will have the Undying Gratitude of millions upon millions of God's
Redeemed People.
Jesus was Very Fond of the Psalms
So thoroughly they became a part of His Mental Nature,
that He uttered
His Dying Agonies on the Cross in quotation from them (22:1; 31:5; Matthew 27:46;
Luke 23:46). He said that many thing in the
Psalms referred to Him (Luke 24:44).
W. E. Gladstone said of the Psalms:
"All the wonders of Greek Civilization heaped
together are less Wonderful
than is this simple Book of the Psalms."
Classification of the Psalms
They are
arranged in Five Books: Psalms 1-41: Psalms 42-72, Psalms
73-89: Psalms 90-106: Psalms 107-150.
From very ancient
times this subdivision has been indicated in both Hebrew and "Septuagint, in imitation, it is thought, of the
Five Books of the Pentateuch.
Within these Five
Books there are further Sub-Groups: Psalms of Sons of Korah, 42-49: Psalms of Asaph, 73-83: Michtam Psalms 56-60:
Songs of Degrees, 120- 134.
As to Structure
and Subject Matter, some are Messianic: some Historical: some, Penitential:
some, Imprecatory: some, Acrostic: some, Theocratic: some, Hallel: some, Hallelujah.
119 is the Longest
Psalm, also Longest Chapter in the Bible. 117 is Shortest Psalm, also Shortest, and Middle, Chapter of Bible. Psalm 118:8
is the Middle Verse of the Bible.
The Psalms were Written to be
Sung
Moses Sang, and taught the People to Sing (Exodus 15; Deuteronomy 32).
Deborah and Barak Sang praise to God (Judges
5).
David Sang with All His Heart (Psalm
104:33).
Hezekiah's Singers Sang the Words of David (II
Chronicles 29:28—30..
Nehemiah's Singers Sang Loud (Nehemiah
Jesus and the Disciples Sang at
the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30). Paul and Silas Sang in Prison (Acts
At the dawn of Creation "The morning stars Sang Together, and all the
Sons of God Shouted for Joy" (Job 38:7).
In Heaven 10,000
times 10,000 Angels Sing, and the Whole Redeemed Creation joins in the Chorus (Revelation
Liturgical
and Musical Titles
The meaning of
some of the Titles is not certain. They are very ancient, being prior to the
Septuagint. Here is an alphabetic list of These Titles, with their possible meanings.
Aije-leth-Shahar (Psalm 22): Time Note? Or, Name of Melody?
Alamoth
(Psalm 46): Chorus of Young Women?
Al-tash-hith (Psalms 57, 58, 59, 75): Destroy Not.
Gittith (Psalms 8, 81, 84): Musical
Instrument, or Melody, of
Hig-gai-on (Psalm
Je-du-thun (Psalms 39, 62, 77): One of
David's Music Leaders. .
Jonath-elem-rechokim (Psalm 56): Name
of a Melody?
Ma-ha-lath (Psalm 53): A Melancholy Tune;
Ma-ha-lath-Lean-nosh (Psalm 88): A Song for Sickness.
Mas-chil (Psalm 32), and other Psalms: Didactic or
Reflective.
Mich-tam (Psalms 16, 56-60): A Jewel, or Golden Poem?
Muth-lab-ben (Psalm 9): Probably the Name of a Melody?
Negi-noth (Psalms 4, 6, 61): A Stringed Instrument.
Ne-hil-oth (Psalm 5): Probably a
Flute?
Selah (Psalm 3:2): 71 times: Probably an Interlude?
Shem-in-ith (Psalms 6, 12): Probably a Male Choir?
Shig-gai-on (Psalm 7): Wild and Mournful Melody?
Sho-shan-nim (Psalms 45, 69,
80): Lilies: Bridal-Song?
Shu-shan-eduth (Psalms 60, 80):
Lily of Testimony:
A Melody?
For the Chief Musician: Heading of 55 Psalms.
Musical Instruments
They had Stringed Instruments, mainly the Harp and
Psaltery: and Wind Instruments, Flute, Pipe, Horn, Trumpet: and Instruments to be Beaten, Timbrel and Cvmbal. David had an
Orchestra of 4,000, for which he made the Instruments (I Chronicles 23:5).
Leading Ideas in the Psalms
"Trust"
is the foremost idea in all the book, repeated over and over. Whatever the occasion, joyous or terrifying, it
drove David straight to God. Whatever his weaknesses, David literally
LIVED IN GOD
"Praise" was always on his lips.
David was always Asking God for something,
and always Thanking Him with his whole soul for the answers to his
Prayers.
"Rejoice"
is another favorite word. David's unceasing trouble could never dim his Joy in God.
Over and over he cries, "Sing" "Shout for Joy." Psalms is a
book of Devotion to God.
"Mercy"
occurs hundreds of times. David often spoke of the Justice, Righteousness and Wrath of God. But God's Mercy
was thing in which he Gloried.
Messianic Psalms
Many Psalms, written a thousand years before Christ,
contain references
to Christ, that are wholly inapplicable to Any Other Person in history. Some references to
David seem to point forward to the Coming
King in David's Family. Besides passages that are clearly Messianic, there are
many expressions which seem to be veiled Fore-shadowings of the Messiah.
Psalms most obviously Messianic are:
Psalm 2: Deity and Universal Reign of the
Messiah.
Psalm 8: Man through
Messiah to become Lord of Creation.
Psalm 16: His Resurrection from the Dead.
Psalm
22: His Suffering: Psalm 69: His
Suffering.
Psalm 45: His Royal Bride, and Eternal Throne.
Psalm
72: Glory and Eternity of His Reign.
Psalm 89: God's Oath
for Endlessness of Messiah's
Throne.
Psalm 110: Eternal King and Priest.
Psalm 118: To be
Rejected by His Nation's Leaders.
Psalm 132: Eternal Inheritor of David's Throne.
Messianic
Passages
Here are statements in the Psalms which
the New Testament explicitly declares refer to Christ.
"They
pierced my hands and feet" (
John 20:25).
"Zeal
for Thy House hath eaten Me up" (69:9;
John 2:17).
"Lo,
I am come to do Thy will, 0 God" (40:7, 8;
Hebrews 10:7)
"Thy
Throne, 0 God, is Forever and Ever" (45:6;
Hebrews 1:8)
"He
trusted in God; let God deliver Him" (22:8; Matthew 27:43)
"Thou
hast put all things under His feet" (8:6; Hebrews 2:6-10)
"His
office (the Betrayer) let another take" (109:8;
Acts
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken
Me?" (22:1; Matthew 16)
"Thou art My Son: this day
have I begotten Thee" (2:7; Acts
"Blessed is He that comes in
the Name of the Lord" (118:26; Matthew 21:9).
"They gave Me gall, and in My
Thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (69:21; Matthew 27:34, 48
"My own familiar friend, who
did eat My bread, lifted up his heel against Me" (41:9; John
"They part My garments among them;
and upon My vesture did they lots" (
"God has sworn, Thou art a Priest
Forever after the order of ,Melchizedek" (110:4; Hebrews
"The stone which the builders
rejected is become the head of the corner," (118:22; Matthew
"The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit on
My right hand till I make these enemies Thy footstool" (110:1; Matthew
"Thou wilt not leave My soul in
Hades; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy One to see corruption" (