12/10/2011 10:44:44 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus:
Introduction to the Book of Psalms
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: Various Psalms
Message of the verses: Today’s SD will be a bit different that the
normal SD’s that I do. The reason is
that today we begin a long journey through the book of Psalms and I believe
that it is important to take the time to make an introduction to this important
section of God’s Word because there are many different types of Psalms and also
different types of Hebrew poetry that is seen in the book of Psalms which must
be understood when reading the different Psalms. Therefore it will be important to turn back
at times to this introduction in order to understand the different types and
different types of Hebrew poetry that a particular Psalm is written in.
I truly
look forward to going through the book of Psalms, and for one reason Psalms has
always been the book one reaches for when different types of emotions are felt,
for there are Psalms that encourage a believer, that show us how we are truly
to confess our sins, Psalms that look forward to the first and second coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ. There are Psalms
of judgment, and there are Psalms that tells us about the Word of God, there
are Psalms that speak of creation, and Psalms that speak of the wilderness walk
of the children of Israel. Many of the
Psalms were put to music and played with musical interments.
There are
different writers of the Psalms including David, Solomon, Moses, The sons of
Korah, and Ethan who wrote one Psalm.
The Book of
Psalms is organized into five books and some think the reason for this is to go
along with the five books of Moses. Book
one 1-41, book two 42-72, book three 73-89, book for 90-106, and book five
107-150. Dr. Wiersbe writes that each of
the first three books end with a double “amen,” and the forth ends with and
‘amen’ and a ‘hallelujah,’ and the last book closes the entire collection with
a ‘hallelujah.’ The book of Psalms grew
over the years as the Holy Spirit directed different writers and directors to
compose and compile these songs and poems.”
Now we will
look at what Dr. Wiersbe writes about Hebrew poetry and I will try to give an
example of each from the Psalms.
“Hebrew
poetry is based on ‘thought lines’ and not rhymes. If the second line repeats the first line in
different words, as in Psalm 24:1-3 (“The earth is the LORD’S, and all it
contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it upon
the seas And established it upon the rivers.3 Who may ascend into the hill of
the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?”) If the second line contrasts with the first,
as in Psalm 1:6 (“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of
the wicked will perish.”) and also Psalm 37:9, it is antithetic parallelism.
Psalm 19:7-9 (“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The
testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple 8 The
precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the
LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous
altogether.”) But when the second line completes the first, it is climatic parallelism (Psalm 29:1 “Ascribe
to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.”). With iterative
parallelism, the second line repeats the thought of the first as seen in
Psalm 93, and in alternate parallelism, the
lines carry the same thought as in (Psalm 103:8-13 “8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow
to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to
our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far
has He removed our transgressions from us. 13
Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion
on those who fear Him.”). You don’t
bring these technical terms into the pulpit, but knowing what they mean can
give you great help when you study. To
interpret Psalm 103:3 “3 Who pardons all
your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;” as God’s promise to heal every
sickness is to ignore the synonymous parallelism of the verse: the forgiveness of sins is like the healing
of disease (see Psalm 41:4). “4 As for
me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned
against You.’”
Dr. Wiersbe
then points out this very important fact that will help us understand the great
importance of the book of Psalms, and that is “there are over four hundred
quotations or allusions to the Psalms in the New Testament. Jesus quoted form the book of Psalms (Matt.
5:5/Ps. 37:11; 5:36/Ps.48:3; 6:26/ Ps. 147:9; 7:23/Ps. 6:8; 27:46/Ps. 22:1;
John 15:25/Ps. 69:4). The Lord gave
guidance from the book of Psalms when the church in Jerusalem chose a new
apostle (Acts 1:5ff; Pss. 69:25; 109:8).
At this
time I want to make one last point that goes along with when the OT is quoted
or allotted to in the NT. There are
times when the NT writer directly quotes the OT quote, and there are times when
he changes it a bit, and then there are times when he will interpret the OT
quote in the NT. With this said we have
to remember that it is the same Holy Spirit who moved the people to write the
OT as He does the NT and so there should be no problem with anyone when they
look at this.
With all of
this said as far as the introduction to the book of Psalms it is my continued
prayer God will be glorified through our study from the book of Psalms, may He
use these SD’s to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and my He
encourage some to began a systematic study of God’s Word.
12/10/2011 11:37:07 AM
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