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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Author: The brief descriptions that introduce the psalms have David listed as author in 73 instances. David's personality and identity are clearly stamped on many of these psalms. While it is clear...
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Christian Mwila
Supporter
The Book of Psalms is the most loved and the best known part of the Bible. Individual psalms are popular with people who are not regular Bible readers and also with those who wish to praise the God whom they know and love. They have a universal appeal, translating easily into today’s culture, despite being from so long ago. While most of the Old Testament needs to be understood in the light of the New Testament, most of the Psalms can be used directly. There is a timeless quality to the Psalms, and they can easily be applied to the Christian life. It is no surprise that hymn- writers throughout history have drawn their inspiration from them. The Psalms have been valued throughout the history of the Church. Martin Luther said, ‘In the Psalms we look into the heart of every saint.’ John Calvin said that in the Psalms ‘We look into a mirror and see our own heart.’ A modern commentator put it this way: ‘Every psalm seems to have my name and address on it.’ You see, most people read not the entire Bible, but the Psalms only. It is the most human part of the Old Testament, which everyone can readily identify with. I believe that the Psalms are best read aloud. They can’t be analysed in the way one might read one of Paul’s epistles, focusing on each verse. Indeed, over-analysis of the Psalms serves to destroy their beauty. It is far better to read the whole psalm, meditate on it, let it sink in and, if necessary, repeat the process.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
In the Psalms, we have the prayer and praises of God’s people expressed in poetic form. Unlike much Western poetry, Hebrew poetry is not based on rhyme or meter, but on rhythm and parallelism. The poetry of the Bible is marked by rhythm, concentration of meaning, and parallelism (Jenson). This last quality comes out most clearly. Biblical poets stack 2 or 3 phrases that develop the same theme in slightly different ways. The poetic couplets reflect on and illuminate one another.
Leslie Coutinho
Supporter
1 Chronicles 16:7: Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of A’-saph and his brethren. The Book of Psalms features the sweet psalmist of Israel, who has revealed the Word of the Lord and prophesied about the coming future events. The psalmist has expressed thanks and praise to our Lord God, the Father. For it was and it is the Word revealed and spoken to us for all things must be fulfilled, written in the law of Moses, (Deut 18:15,18) the Prophets, (Zec 9:9/Mat 21:5), and “Psalms” (Psalm 22:16-18) of the coming of the Messiah our Lord Jesus. (Luke 24:44) For then to whom the Lord speaks and reveals His Word, is then led to give “Psalms of Praise” to the Lord with thanksgiving. (Psalm 1:1) From the beginning of God’s creation how Adam was told to live his life, the book Psalms reveals unto us from creation, that mankind went through sinful life, doing evil, and the judgment that came and will come, through wars and rumors of war for mankind to bring justice. (Psalm 46:1-11) For those who confess their sins and worship the Lord God, and for His coming Messiah with the psalms of praise to be saved, the ones lost shall be saved. (1 Chro 16:35) The second coming will be for the church's rapture and to bring judgment into this world on the day of His wrath. (Psalm 110:5-6/Rev 6:17) Every child of God the Father has bought with a price shall glorify God in their body and in their spirit, which belongs to God. (1 Cor 6:20) Giving thanks, in praise, and worship with the “Words of Psalm” given to every child to call upon His name and make known His deeds among all the people. (1Chro 16:8) When we live in the Spirit, we need to walk in the Spirit and not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another who stands before us. (Gal 5:25-26) For blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1) For the blessed shall then sing psalms of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord (Psalm 32:7). 1 Chronicles 16:36: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, A’-men, and praised the Lord.
John Appelt
Supporter
The Book of Psalms is the collection of songs, meditations, prayers, praise and poetry, arranged into five books, written mostly by David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” 2 Samuel 23:1, but also by Solomon, Moses, Asaph, sons of Korah, Heman, and Ethan the Ezrahite. The best interpretation of the psalms sees them as personal expressions of the writers’ emotions and experiences, trials and triumphs in their faith, reflecting their whole-hearted devotion to God. Even the “Messianic” psalms that seem to be prophecies and types of Christ were the writers’ own experiences. Although, they resembled things about Jesus, they were not initially intended to be about Him. The proof is that the “quotes” are not exact. Jesus and the New Testament writers did not quote the phrases verbatim but adapted them to their situation. This would have been a natural thing because the psalms, the hymnbook of the Jews, became part of their lives, and its words were a part of their language, just as dialogues in movies are a part of modern conversations. For example, when Jesus was crucified, He in agony, Matthew 27:46, took the words of David, Psalm 22:1, “Why have You forsaken me?” and cried out, “Why have You sacrificed Me?” which resembles what David wrote, thus “fulfilling” the Psalm. While His experience was close to David’s, the words are uniquely different. It is the same way about David’s submission to God in Psalm 40:6-8. In Hebrews 10:5-7, it is not quoted exactly but adapted to speak of Christ. Several times, the New Testament writers refer to Psalm 2. While it is about David the anointed king, the writers “quoted” it to speak about Jesus, the Anointed One. A problematic passage is Acts 2:25-28 which uses Psalm 16:8-11. The psalm definitely describes the personal confidence by David that God would deliver him from death by his enemies. The question is how Peter could use it to prove Jesus was raised from the dead. Although David was a prophet, he did not prophesy Christ’s resurrection or intimate it. Peter (and Paul in Acts 13:34) saw that the words of this psalm lent itself to that truth. In Psalm 110, David mentioned someone as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. The prevailing view is that David was prophesying about Christ, Hebrews 5:5-6, 7:1-3, 11. However, when David wrote this, he referred to Solomon. When David conquered Jerusalem, he became the Melchizedekian king/priest, so that his descendants were also of that order. David’s utterance becomes the basis for Hebrews to expand a truth about Christ, the ultimate High Priest. Psalm 118:22-24 describes David’s rejection and exaltation, but Jesus applied it to Himself, Matthew 21:42-43. The psalms were the experiences of the writers, but the people and the writers of New Testament used the language of the psalms in their lives and literature. The Book of Psalms, a valued part of the Word of God, continues to be of inspiration, enlightenment, and encouragement to God’s people today.
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