“Make a joyful noise unto Yahweh, all ye lands. Serve Yahweh with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that Yahweh he is Elohim…Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psa. 100:1-4).
Here the Psalmist calls for all people to “cheer” for their king; listen to the noise — we do not hear it now, but some day, soon, we will.
The Psalms contain insights into the character of God, the mind of His Son, His past activities and His future intentions. They begin with the contrast between the righteous and the wicked and end with a call to all living things to give praise to Yahweh.
The Title
The title, “Psalms,” is taken from the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) where the collection is called PSALMOI, songs sung to a musical accompaniment. In other Greek writings, they are referred to by the stringed instrument with which they would have been accompanied — PS ALTERION or psaltery. This gives rise to the term “psalter.” In the New Testament, the book is referred to as BIBLOS PS ALMON — “the book of Psalms” (Luke 20:42).
The Hebrew title is TEHILLIM — “praises, songs of praise.” While only one psalm is actually called by
this name (Psa. 145), the title represents a good summary of the contents of the book.
Divisions
The Psalms can be divided into five sections:
Book 1—Psalms 1-41; Book 2 —42- 72; Book 3 — 73-89; Book 4 — 90- 106; Book 5— 107-150.
A Jewish commentary on Psalm 1:1 notes: “Moses gave to the Israelite the Five Books of the Law, and corresponding to these, David gave them the Book of Psalms, which consists of five books” (from the Midrash). The five books of the law cover the beginnings (Genesis), the redemption from Egypt (Exodus), the statutes for worship (Leviticus), the travels to the promised land (Numbers), and the summary exhortation regarding faith and obedience (Deuteronomy).
One writer said: “The Psalter is also a Pentateuch, the echo of the Mosaic Pentateuch from the heart of Israel; it is the five-fold book of the congregation to Yahweh as the Law is the five-fold book of Yahweh to the congregation.”
Each book ends with a doxology (a hymn or phrase expressing praise to God):
Book 1 Psa. 41:13 — “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”
Book 2 Psa. 72:18-19 — “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”
Book 3 Psa. 89:52 — “Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.”
Book 4 Psa. 106:48 — “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.”
Book 5 Psa. 150:1-6 — “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Authors
There were several individuals used by the Spirit as contributors to this collection. Seventy three Psalms were penned by David, 12 by the sons of Asaph, 9, 10 or 12 by the sons of Korah, 2 by Solomon, 1 by Heman the Ezrahite, 1 by Ethan the Ezrahite, 1 by Moses and probably 10 by Hezekiah. The other Psalms are known by the term “orphans” as there is no claim of authorship.
The inscriptions at the head and foot of each Psalm are probably authentic, having been placed there by the writer or the compiler rather than by a later scribe. If the inscriptions were made-up, why leave any of them as orphans?
The Names of God
While the significance may be debatable, there is clearly a difference between the five books of Psalms in the usage of the names and titles of Deity. In Books 1 and 5, Yahweh is dominant by a ratio of four to one and six to one, respectively, over Elohim and the associated El and Eloah. In Books 2 and 3, the situation is reversed with Elohim dominating by factors of seven to one and two to one. In Book 4, the usage is balanced.
These numbers are striking for Books 1,2 and 5. We have no explanation ourselves and would appreciate input from any reader who may have an idea.
Music as Worship
Words coupled with music stir the heart as well as the mind, thereby arousing the emotions. There is a discipline to music which captivates the participant as well as the listener. We will not know the joys of the music of the Psalms until the Kingdom; but the Israelite knew the sound which, combined with the words, stirred right emotions of praise and devotion in the heart of the faithful.
The instruments used to accompany the Psalms included harps, psalteries, comets, trumpets, cymbals and organs (I Chr. 15:28; II Chr. 5: 12-14; Psa. 150:4).
There is an interesting suggestion arising from the phrasing of II Chr. 5:13 that singing only the melody rather than in harmony is a more useful form of music as worship: “It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD…that then the house was filled with a cloud.” It is certainly true that words are more easily distinguished when only the melody is sung.
Lord willing, we will spend the next several issues looking at this wonderful collection of songs and prayers which are both public and personal expressions of need, trust, dependence, praise, hope and worship.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One