PSALMS---PRAISE AND PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

1.    Certainly one of the most loved books of the Bible is the book of Psalms. This book has been a comfort to the saints since the time it was written.

A.   This book as no other gives the expression of the heart of the saint to his God.

B.   No matter what the experience of the believer is at the time, there is a psalm or a part of one that will say just what is needed.

2.    The book of Psalms was the Hebrew hymnbook.

A.   They were sung in the temple worship.

B.   They are still used today in the synagogues.

C.   The title means “book of praises”.

3.    The value of the Psalms:

A.   Many of the psalms were composed for private and public worship.

B.   Others were born out of the deep experiences of the soul, much like many of our traditional church hymns.

C.   They include meditations, historical recitals, formal instructions.

D.   In the Psalms, man’s soul is bared.

DIVISION OF THE PSALMS

1.    Actually, there are five books of Psalms. There is some evidence that there existed in an earlier period more numerous, smaller collections which were gradually gathered together to form the present Psalter.

2.    Each division ends with a doxology. The divisions are as follows:

       (see 41:13; 72:18,19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6)

A.    Psalms 1-41 deal with man’s state of blessedness, fall and recovery.

B.   Psalms 42-72 deal with Israel’s ruin, Redeemer, redemption.

C.   Psalms 73-89 deal with God in the sanctuary.

D.   Psalms 90-106 deal principally with the need of God’s blessing upon the earth.

E.   Psalms 107-150 deal with the Word of God.

3.    It is fairly well substantiated that the five divisions of the Psalms correspond with the five sections of the Pentateuch.

A.   Psalms 1-41 to Genesis where man is seen in a state of blessedness, then fallen, and finally blessed by the gracious work of the Lord Jesus.

B.   Psalms 42-72 to Exodus. It opens with the cry from the depth of ruin and oppression as Exodus does; and ends with the King reigning over the redeemed nation, brought again for the second time from the four corners of the earth, as it was brought the first time out of Egypt.

C.   Psalms 73-89 to Leviticus. “In this the counsels of God are seen in relation to the sanctuary, which is mentioned in nearly every Psalm of this third book. The sanctuary is seen from its ruin to its establishment in the fullness of blessing.”

D.   Psalms 90-106 to Numbers. As Numbers is the “book of the wilderness” or earth, so in this fourth section the earth is its central thought. Blessings for the earth are needed (90-94), anticipated (95-100), and enjoyed (101-106). Its first Psalm (90) was written by Moses during the wanderings in the wilderness.

E.   Psalms 107-150 to Deuteronomy. All the teaching of this fifth section is grouped around the Word of God. Psalm 119 is the great Psalm of this section.

AUTHORSHIP

1.    The Psalms were written by various persons. About 39 of them are anonymous.

2.    The rest were written by the following:

A.   Moses-1 (90)

B.   David-73

C.   Sons of Korah-11

D.   Asaph-12

E.   Heman-1 (88)

F.    Ethan-1 (89)

G.   Hezekiah-10

H.   Solomon-2

3.    Many of the Psalms have roots deep in Hebrew history, and one good way to study them is to observe the circumstances which gave them birth:

A.   Psalm 3---2 Samuel 15-18

B.   Psalm 30---2 Samuel 5:11,12

C.   Psalm 34---I Samuel 21:10-22:1

D.   Psalm 51---2 Samuel 11-12

E.   Psalm 52---I Samuel 21-22

F.    Psalm 54---I Samuel 23:19; 26:1

G.   Psalm 56---I Samuel 21:10; 27:4; 29:2-11

H.   Psalm 57---I Samuel 22

I.     Psalm 59---I Samuel 19

J.    Psalm 60---2 Samuel 8:13,14

K.   Psalm 63---I Samuel 22:5; 23:14-16

L.    Psalm 142---I Samuel 22:1 or 24:3

CLASSIFICATIONS

Many of the Psalms lend themselves to classification under various titles, relating to their general subject matter: Messianic (ch. 2), penitential (ch. 51), natural (ch. 8), historical (ch. 78), experiential (ch. 3), didactic (ch. 1), devotional (ch. 16), prophetic (ch. 22), imprecatory (ch. 35), Hallelujah (ch. 150).

MESSAGES

1.    Concerning man’s attitude in worship

A.   He must be submissive.

B.   He must trust God.

C.   He must be joyful

2.    Concerning the persons in worship (they are two)

A.   God, who calls man to worship. God is true and faithful and deals in love.

B.   Man, who approaches God, lays bare his soul, receives God’s gifts and offers praise.

A TESTIMONY...The testimony of Charles Spurgeon, written upon the completion of his great commentary of the Psalms, “The Treasury of David”, which took him twenty years to compile: “A tinge of sadness is on my spirit as I quit ‘The Treasury of David’, never to find on this earth a richer storehouse, though the whole palace of revelation is open to me. Blessed have been the days spent in meditating, mourning, hoping, believing, and exulting with David. Can I hope to spend hours more joyous on this side of the Golden Gate? The Book of Psalms instructs us in the use of wings as well as words: it sets us both mounting and singing.”