Introduction

Psalm 1

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.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Psalms a Public Seminar

Outline

Ø What are Psalms?

Ø Who wrote them?

Ø When?

Ø Why?

Ø Content = ?

Ø Are they relevant in 2003?

Ø Questions/Comments

Refreshments & Discussion

What are the Psalms?

Hebrew = Tehillim = “Songs of Praise”

Greek = Psalms = “Music on String Instruments”

“The Hymnal of Israel”

I. Structure

Table 1. Division into Five Booklets

Booklet	Starting Psalm
I	1
II	42
III	73
I	90
IV	107

· End of each division is marked/concluded by a special, emphatic proclamation of the goodness of God, and His worthiness of praise.

II. Format

Poetic – Repitition of of idea and thought a “rhyme of concept” rather than a rhyme of words. For mediatation on meaning and for praise rather than pure entertainment (see Psalm 137, which we will.)

Concluding Thoughts of the Five Psalm Booklets

“Blessed be the LORD (YHWH) God (Elohim) of Israel,

from everlasting, and to everlasting,

Amen and Amen”

Psalm 41:13

“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,

who only doeth wondrous things,

and blessed be his glorious name forever:

and let the whole earth be filled with His glory!

Amen and Amen

Psalm 71:18,19

Blessed be the LORD for evermore.

Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 89:52

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel

from everlasting to everlasting:

and let all the people say, Amen.

Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 106:48

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.

Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150:6

(Note rhyme of concept)
Digression -Who is the LORD (YHWH)?

One aspect - The creator of heaven and earth!

Psalm 8

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

What Are the Psalms? II

In the present day the Psalms are foundational hymns/songs/meditations for both Jews and Christians, both acknowledge their inspiration and precision of thought provided.

Paul (a Jewish Christian)

Ephesians 5: 18-21

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Who Wrote the Psalms and When?

Table 2. Total Psalms by Author as Indicated in Text

Author	Number	Psalms
David	73	Ps 1-32,34-41, other
Asaph	12	Ps 50,73-83
Sons of Korah	11	Ps 42,44-49,84,85,87,88
Solomon	2	Ps 72 & 127
Heman	1	Ps 88
Ethan	1	Ps 89
Moses	1	Ps 90
Anonymous	49	The rest
Total	150

Authorship Summary:

· Some as early as Moses.

· King David main author writing at least half (1000 BC).

· David known as “the Sweet Psalmist of Israel” (II Samuel 23:1)

· Compilation we hold probably completed around 400 BC, that is “post-exilic” or after the return from Bablylon. They parallel the OT itself, as the OT is a compilation of books written by Moses through Malachi so the Psalms contain the hymns written throughout this period.

Examples of Post-Exilic Psalms

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, L when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy…

(Note: Psalms for worship and praise not pure mirth, they can be joyful, see next, but priority is to substance of YHWH’s praise.)
Examples of Post-Exilic Psalms

Psalm 126

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen,

“The LORD hath done great things for them.”

The LORD hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. J

Digression on Headers

Headers themselves in the original text, When they appear the provide background to authorship.

For example:

Header to Psalm 51

1 David prayeth for remission of sins, whereof he maketh a deep confession. 6 He prayeth for sanctification.

These first introductions are inserted by the translators and are not part of the original text (may be right may be wrong, but not part of the text).

To the chief musician, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him after he had gone in unto Bathsheba.

These second introductions are in the original Hebrew text. In fact in Hebrew versions these texts are actually the first verses of the Psalm when they appear.

If you were to go through all the Psalms and check which ones have headers then reorganize and list them in historically/chronology you would end up with a list like…

Table 3. Possible Chronological Order of the Psalms from Hebrew Introduction

Hebrew Introduction	Psalm	Corresponding Reference	Notes
Foundation
Psalm of Moses	90	-	God eternal/Man finite
Necessity of Gods Redemption
David in House with Michal	59	I Sam 19:11-17
David when he fled Saul	57	I Sam 20:35
David Before Abimelech (Achish?)	34	I Sam 21:10-15
David in Gath	56	“
David Concerning Doeg	51	I Sam 22:17-20
David concerning the Ziphims	54	I Sam 23:14, 19-23,26
David blessing in wilderness of Judah	63
David in cave	142
Gods Deliverance
David’s deliverance from enemies & Saul	18	II Sam 22:2-51	vs 35 iron/bronze bow
Thanksgiving
David’s song of Thanksgiving bringing up Ark	105	I Chron 16:7-34, II Sam6:12-16
David song of Dedication	30
Psalms of Heman,	89
Psalms of Asaph,
Psalms of Ethan,	90
Psalms of Sons of Korah
Psalms of Degrees	120-134
Loss of Vision?
David after victory over Edom in Valley of Salt	60	II Sam 8:13
Sin & Repentance
David Repentance for Bathsheba	51	II Sam 12:13-14
Consequences
David fleeing Absolom	3	II Sam. 15:13-15
Prayer of Afflicted	102	“
David to bring (God) to remembrance	38	“	vs 4 references iniquities
“	70	“
David Concerning Cush the Benjamite	7	II Sam. 18:19-22, 29-33	Cushi? Concerning words of Cushi not Cushi Himself?
Forgiveness & Deliverance Through Promised seed – The Lord Jesus Christ - Undeterred
Psalms of Solomon	72,127
Song of Loves	45
Conclusion
Psalm of Praise	100		Temple? courts mentioned
Psalm of Sabbath	92		Temple? courts mentioned
Praise be to God	150

Why were the Psalms prepared?

For what purpose?

Answer: To provide us the way to think.

Example:

We get a manual, go to drivers education and learn how to drive. There are precise rules, statutes, ordinances and principles we must follow to have a purposeful and peaceful ride, if we fail to follow we will crash!

· Now how about how to think?

We have been given our lives, our physical body, and our identity (conscious thought) but how should we pattern our thoughts? Is there a correct way?

Are there statues, ordinances, and “Yield signs” that must be followed for the ride will be filled with joy, peace and praise?

The Psalms say YES and provide the manual!

Why were the Psalms prepared?

Psalm 1

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.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Needing Peace?

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Sad?

Psalm 42

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance…

Repentant?

Psalm 51:1-5,7

To the chief musician, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him after he had gone in unto Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest...

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Needing Assurance?

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded…

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns…For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Joyful?

Psalm 126

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen,

“The LORD hath done great things for them.”

The LORD hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. J

Conclusion

Psalm 150

Praise ye the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.

Praise ye the LORD.

The Psalms a Public Seminar

Outline

þ What are Psalms?

þ Who wrote them?

þ When?

þ Why?

þ Content = ?

Ø Are they relevant in 2003?

Ø Questions/Comments

Refreshments & Discussion