Introduction to Psalms

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2022

Psalm 1:1-6

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tonight, I will begin preaching through the Jewish Hymnbook, the Book of Psalms.  I want to give a generalized and short introduction to the Book of Psalms.

 

B.  The Hebrew name for the Book of Psalms means praises upon instruments accompanied by voice.  Today, we call our "psalms" hymns.  Hymns are an important part of our worship just as these Psalms were to Israel.

 

C.  A psalm is an ode (an epic or story normally based upon personal experience).  "It Is Well" is a hymn that we are familiar with that shows the personal faith of H. G. Spafford in a time of tragedy and great loss when his four daughters died on a transatlantic voyage.  Psalms were normally accompanied by a harp, flute, or other musical instrument and were meant to be sung in worship by the Jews.  Paul alluded to these in three types in Ephesians 5:19. 

 

Ephesians 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

 

D.  Of the 150 Psalms, over one hundred have a pre-fixed inscription containing the particulars of the Psalm along with direction to the musician as to the style of the accompanying instrument.  Our hymns are also set to music, either by the writer of the song or by a musician who wrote the music to which it is sung. 

 

E.  “The Chief Musician” (55x) was a reference to the superintendent of the music or the overseer of the Psalms.  Habakkuk possibly refers him as “the chief singer.”

 

Habakkuk 3:19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

F.  Psalms is also called “The Psalms of David" as he wrote almost half of them.  There are 150 psalms and David is known for 73 of them and possibly more that do not bear his name.

 

G.  David used his musical talents to create instruments and to beautify the worship of the Sanctuary and is referred to as "The Sweet Psalmist of Israel."

 

2 Samuel 23:1  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

 

H.  The Book of Psalms contains 150 Psalms that are independent of each other making it impossible to give an overall analysis of the Book.  The Jewish people divided the Book of Psalms in this way:

 

1.  Psalms 1-41 – Genesis

 

2.  Psalms 43-72 – Exodus

 

3.  Psalms 73-89 – Leviticus

 

4.  Psalms 90-106 – Numbers

 

5.  Psalms 1-7-150 - Deuteronomy

 

J.  Though different and independent, as a whole, they convey a consistent system of moral truth.

 

1.  They are Poetical.  Hebrew poetry.  Most of our songs are also poetical as they rhyme.

 

2.  They are Lyrical.  They are written to music and adapted to musical instruments.

 

3.  They are Devotional.  They are:

 

a)  Didactic—moralistic, portraying both good and bad.  Good and bad people, God’s Law, the vanity of human life, and the duty of rulers.

 

b)  Praise—for the goodness of God to Israel, to good men, mercies to individuals, and for God’s attributes.

 

c)  Devotional—Penitence, trust in trouble, sorrow in hope, peach in distress, desire for help, intercession

 

4.  Historical.  They are a historical record of the lives and deeds of the Jewish people.

 

5.  Prophetical.  Many of ours are also prophetical as they speak of the return of Christ and the beauty of heaven.

 

K.  Found in this devotional nature of the Psalms, we find theological doctrines, the nature—attributes—perfections—providence—grace—mercies—and works of God.

 

L.  The Book of Psalms is instructive in its purpose as they address how we are to praise and trust in the Lord at all times, both good times and bad times.

 

"Although thousands of years old, virtually all the psalms, in one way or another, mirror our own struggles and our joys today. Whatever a particular psalm’s subject may be, each gives voice to the emotions we feel as we grapple with life’s issues. Some psalms capture our delight in God as we experience the divine presence with us through a tough situation that has had a good ending. Others express raw emotions of anger or grief in a struggle to understand why God has not acted as we thought he would when “the wicked triumph.” In some, God speaks. In others God is silent."  (Theology of Work Project, Inc)

 

M.  As we go through the Book of Psalms, we will find that they involve every aspect of our human existence, from birth to death and will therefore be an encouragement and help "in time of trouble." 

 

1.  Psalms of Deliverance - Psalms 126:1-3 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.

2.  Psalms of Encouragement - Psalms 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

3.  Psalms of Comfort - Psalms 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

4.  Psalms of Rejoicing - Psalms 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

5.  Psalms of Redemption – Psalms 40:13  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

6.  Psalms of Thanksgiving - Psalms 69:30  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

7.  Psalms of Faith - Acts 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God (probably from the Psalms): and the prisoners heard them.

8.  Psalms of Endurance- Psalms 119:54  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.