Reference: Psalms
Easton
The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is specially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to David. Peter and John (Ac 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole collection have been ascribed to David.
Psalms 39, 62, and 77 are addressed to Jeduthun, to be sung after his manner or in his choir. Psalms 50 and 73-83 are addressed to Asaph, as the master of his choir, to be sung in the worship of God. The "sons of Korah," who formed a leading part of the Kohathite singers (2Ch 20:19), were intrusted with the arranging and singing of PS 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
In Lu 24:44 the word "psalms" means the Hagiographa, i.e., the holy writings, one of the sections into which the Jews divided the Old Testament. (See Bible.)
None of the psalms can be proved to have been of a later date than the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, hence the whole collection extends over a period of about 1,000 years. There are in the New Testament 116 direct quotations from the Psalter.
The Psalter is divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books, each closing with a doxology or benediction:
(1.) The first book comprises the first 41 psalms, all of which are ascribed to David except 1, 2, 10, and 33, which, though anonymous, may also be ascribed to him.
(2.) Book second consists of the next 31 psalms (42-72), 18 of which are ascribed to David and 1 to Solomon (the 72nd). The rest are anonymous.
(3.) The third book contains 17 psalms (73-89), of which the 86th is ascribed to David, the 88th to Heman the Ezrahite, and the 89th to Ethan the Ezrahite.
(4.) The fourth book also contains 17 psalms (90-106), of which the 90th is ascribed to Moses, and the 101st and 103rd to David.
(5.) The fifth book contains the remaining psalms, 44 in number. Of these, 15 are ascribed to David, and the 127th to Solomon.
PS 136 is generally called "the great hallel." But the Talmud includes also PS 120-135. PS 113-118, inclusive, constitute the "hallel" recited at the three great feasts, at the new moon, and on the eight days of the feast of dedication.
It is presumed that these several collections were made at times of high religious life: the first, probably, near the close of David's life; the second in the days of Solomon; the third by the singers of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:19); the fourth by the men of Hezekiah (29, 30, 31); and the fifth in the days of Ezra.
The Mosaic ritual makes no provision for the service of song in the worship of God. David first taught the Church to sing the praises of the Lord. He first introduced into the ritual of the tabernacle music and song.
Divers names are given to the psalms. (1.) Some bear the Hebrew designation shir (Gr. ode, a song). Thirteen have this title. It means the flow of speech, as it were, in a straight line or in a regular strain. This title includes secular as well as sacred song.
(2.) Fifty-eight psalms bear the designation (Heb) mitsmor (Gr. psalmos, a psalm), a lyric ode, or a song set to music; a sacred song accompanied with a musical instrument.
(3.) PS 145, and many others, have the designation (Heb) tehillah (Gr. hymnos, a hymn), meaning a song of praise; a song the prominent thought of which is the praise of God.
(4.) Six psalms (16, 56-60) have the title (Heb) michtam (q.v.).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Levites - of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
And Levites - of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
And he said unto them - These, are my words, which I spake unto you yet being with you: That all the things that are written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms, concerning me, must needs be fulfilled.
Who, by our father, through means of the Holy Spirit, even by the mouth of David thy servant, said - Unto what end did nations rage, and, peoples, busy themselves with empty things?
Fausets
(See DAVID; POETRY.) The Hebrew designation tehillim, "praises" or hymns," occurring only in the title of Psalm 145 and about 30 times in the body of the Psalms, applies only to some not to all the psalms. The glorification of God is the design of them all, even the penitentiary and precatory psalms; but tehilliym applies strictly to praise songs alone, tephillowt to the prayer songs; Psalm 17; Psalm 72 end, closing the second book of Psalms, Psalm 86; 90; 102 title. No one Hebrew title comprehends all.
The Greek Septuagint has given the title "Psalms" (from psalloo "to play an instrument") applied to the whole collection. The Hebrew mizmor designates 65 psalms; in the Syriac version it comprises the whole (from zaamar "to decorate"), psalms of artificial, adorned structure (Hengstenberg). "A rhythmical composition" (Lowth). "Psalms," the designation most applicable to the whole book, means songs accompanied by an instrument, especially the harp (1Ch 16:4-9; 2Ch 5:12-13). Shir, "a joyful thanksgiving song," is prefixed only to some. The various kinds are specified in Eph 5:19; "psalms (accompanied by an instrument), hymns (indirect praise of God), ... spiritual songs (joyous lyric pieces; contrast Am 8:10)."
TITLES. Their genuineness is confirmed by their antiquity (which is proved by their being unintelligible to the Septuagint translators of the Hebrew into Greek), and by their presence in the greatest number of manuscripts, and in fragments of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. Their obscurity and occasional want of connection with the psalm's contents (as title Psalm 34) are incompatible with their origination from forgers. The orientals, moreover, usually prefix titles to poems (Hab 3:1; Isa 38:9); so David (2Sa 23:1). The enigmatical titles, found only in the psalms of David and of David's singers, accord with Eastern taste. They are too "poetical, spirited, and profound for any later collector" (Hengstenberg). So David's "bow song" (2Sa 1:18), his enigmatical designation for "the song on him expert with the bow" (2Sa 1:22).
The historical hints in some titles give a clue to the dates. If the titles were added by later hands, how is it that they are wanting in those psalms where conjecture could most easily have had place, namely, the non-Davidic psalms of the fourth and fifth books, whereas they appear in the most regular and complete form in David's psalms, next in those of his singers? Now these are just the ones where conjecture is given no room for exercise; for the titles do not apparently illustrate these psalms, but are a memorial of the events which most deeply impressed David's own mind. In the last two books the historical occasions do not occur in the titles, because cycles of psalms mainly compose these books, and among such cycles psalms of an individual reference hardly have place.
DIVISIONS. Davidic basis of the whole. The Psalms form one "book"; so the Lord refers to them (Lu 20:42), so His apostles (Ac 1:20). The fathers, Ambrose (on Psalm 40) and Jerome to Cyprian (2:695), describe the Psalms as five books in one volume. Based on and corresponding to the historical Pentateuch, they form a poetical "Pentateuch" (Epiphanius, de Mens., c. 5), extending from Moses to the times of Malachi "the Hebrew history set to music an oratorio in five parts, with Messiah for its subject" (Wordsworth). The Psalms, like the Pentateuch, being used in divine worship, are the people's answer to God's address to them in the law, i.e. the expression of their pious feelings called forth by the word of God. The close of each of the five books is marked by a doxology. The "blessed be the Lord God of Israel" is taken up by Zacharias, as fulfilled in Christ (Le 1:17; Ps 106:48). Book I includes Psalm 1-41; Book II, Psalm 42-72; Book III, Psalm 73-89; Book IV, Psalm 90-106; Book V, Psalm 107-150.
Book I is according to the titles Davidic; accordingly there is no trace of any author hut David. The objection from the "temple" (Ps 5:7) being mentioned is groundless, for in 1Sa 1:9; 3:3, it is similarly used for the tabernacle long before Solomon's temple was built. The argument for a post-Babylonian date from the phrase "bring back the captivity" (Ps 14:7) is invalid; it is a Hebraism for reversing one's misfortunes (Job 42:10). Nor does the acrosticism in Psalm 25 prove a late date, for acrosticism appears in psalms acknowledged to be David's (Psalm 9). In Books II and III David's singers have borrowed from David (excepting "a song of the beloved" Psalm 45, and Psalm 46, "upon Alamoth") everything peculiar in his superscriptions; see Psalm 42; 43; 44; 84; 86. "Selah" is restricted to David and his singers; but "hallelujah" is never found in his or their psalms.
So also "to the chief musician," (committing the psalm to the music conductor to prepare for musical performance in the public service: 1Ch 15:21 Hebrew and margin, compare 1Ch 15:22,) is limited to David's and their psalms. The writer of 2 Samuel 22 evidently turned into prose David's poetical superscription (Psalm 18); so the writer of 1Sa 19:11; 21:13-14; 23:19, had before him the titles of Psalm 34; 54; 59. Hezekiah's "writing" (miktab) alludes probably to David's miktam (a "secret," or "song of deep import"), Psalm 56; 57 titles, for it was he who restored David's psalms to their liturgical use in the temple (2Ch 29:30). This imitation of David's title, and still more the correspondence of his prayer to David's psalms (Ps 102:24; 27:13; 49:1; 6:5; 30:9), is a presumption for the authenticity of David's and his singers' psalms and their titles.
Habakkuk similarly leans upon David's superscriptions, as also upon his psalms. Hab 3:1, "Shiggaion," compare title Ps 7:1, "Son of David"; Hab 3:19, "to the chief musician on my stringed instruments" is derived from the titles Psalm 4; 6. So the "Selah" (Ps 6:9-10) which occurs only in the psalms of David and his singers. The absence of the authors' names from most of the psalms in the fourth and fifth books implies that none of them have an individual and personal character, as the Davidic psalms have. In all such the psalmist represents the community. The later groups of psalms rest on the Davidic, and echo the poetry of David. Even in the psalms of David's singers, the authors, except Asaph (Psalm 1; 74) who was immediately associated with David, do not give their individual names.
PRINCIPLE OF SELECTION. Not all Israel's lyric poetry but only.
(1) such as is directly religious is included in the psalter, therefore not David's dirge over Saul and Jonathan (2Sa 1:17-27). Also
(2) only the psalms applicable to the whole church and therefore suited to the public services of the sanctuary. The individual psalmist represents the religious community whose mouthpiece he is. 2Sa 23:1; David sings in his typical and representative character; no other psalmist in the book has personal references. Hence Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 38) and Jonah's thanksgiving are excluded as too personal.
(3) Only such as were composed trader the Holy Spirit's inspiration. The very musicians who founded the sacred music were inspired (1Ch 25:1, "prophesy with harps"), much more the psalmists themselves. Asaph, the writer of some psalms, was a "seer" (2Ch 29:30).
David spoke "in the Spirit." Christ testifies (Mt 22:41-46), He classes" the Psalms," the chief book of the chetubim or hagiographa, with "the law and the prophets" (Lu 24:44). The Messianic prophetic element in David leans on Nathan's prophecy (2 Samuel 7). Subsequent prophets develop David's Messianic predictions. The Psalms draw out of the typical ceremonial of the law its tuner spirit, adapting it to the various requirements of the individual and the congregation. By their help the Israelite could enter into the living spirit of the law, and realizing his need of the promised Saviour look for Him of whom the Psalms testify. They are a treasury from which we can draw the inner experiences of Old Testament saints and express our corresponding feelings, under like circumstances, in their divinely sanctioned language of praise and prayer.
CLASSIFICATION.
(1) Psalms of joy and gratitude, shir, lethodah "for confession" or as
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and he shall cleave it in its wings - he shall not divide it asunder, so shall the priest make a perfume therewith, at the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire, - an ascending-sacrifice, it is, an altar-flame of a satisfying odour, unto Yahweh.
And Hannah rose up, after she had eaten in Shiloh, and after she had drunk, - and, Eli the priest, was sitting upon his chair, by the door-post of the temple of Yahweh;
though, the lamp of God, was not yet to be put out, and, Samuel, was lying down in the temple of Yahweh, where was the ark of God,
And Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to put him to death, in the morning! And Michal his wife told David, saying, If thou do not deliver thyself to-night, to-morrow, art thou to be put to death.
So he feigned himself mad, in their sight, and raged in their hand, - and struck against the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, - Lo! ye can see, a madman playing his pranks, wherefore should ye bring him in, unto me?
Then came up the Ziphites unto Saul in Gibeah, saying, - Is not David hiding himself with us, in the strongholds in the thicket, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right of Jeshimon?
And David was in sore distress, for the people had spoken of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were embittered, every man for his own sons and for his own daughters, - but David emboldened himself in Yahweh his God.
Then chanted David this dirge, - over Saul and over Jonathan his son; and he thought to teach the sons of Judah the song of the Bow, - lo! it is written in the Book of the Upright: -
and he thought to teach the sons of Judah the song of the Bow, - lo! it is written in the Book of the Upright: - The beauty of Israel! on thy high plumes - slain! How have fallen - the mighty! read more. Do not tell it in Gath, Do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, - lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the Uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains in Gilboa! Be there neither dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of offerings, - for, there, were cast away, the shields of the mighty, The shield of Saul, unanointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan ne'er drew back, - and, the sword of Saul, ne'er returned, empty.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan ne'er drew back, - and, the sword of Saul, ne'er returned, empty. Saul and Jonathan, delightfully loving in their lives, even, in their death, were not divided, - Beyond eagles, were they swift, beyond lions, were they strong! read more. Ye daughters of Israel! For Saul, weep ye, - who clothed you in crimson, decked with lovely things, who hung ornaments of gold on your apparel! How have fallen the mighty, in the midst of the battle! Jonathan, on thy high places, slain! I am distressed for thee, my brother, Jonathan! Delightful to me, exceedingly, - Wonderful, was thy love to me, passing the love of women. How have fallen the mighty, and perished the weapons of war!
And David made a name, when he returned from his smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, - eighteen thousand.
Now, these, are the last words of David, - The oracle of David, son of Jesse, Yea the oracle of The man raised up on high, The Anointed of the God of Jacob, the Delight of the Songs of Israel:
Now, these, are the last words of David, - The oracle of David, son of Jesse, Yea the oracle of The man raised up on high, The Anointed of the God of Jacob, the Delight of the Songs of Israel:
and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel and Azaziah, - with lyres over the bass, to take the lead. And, Chenaniah the leader of the Levites, in the service, used to give instructions in the service, because skilful was he.
And he placed before the ark of Yahweh certain of the Levites, as attendants, - and to celebrate, and to give thanks and render praise, unto Yahweh, God of Israel; Asaph the chief, and, second to him, Zechariah, - Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with instruments of harps, and with lyres, and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud: read more. and Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, - with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God. On that day, then, David gave these songs in chief, to give thanks unto Yahweh, - through Asaph, and his brethren: - Give ye thanks to Yahweh, Call upon his name, Make known among the peoples, his doings; Sing ye to him, Make music unto him, Speak ye of all his wonders.
And David and the captains of the host set apart for service, unto the sons of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, such as should prophesy, with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals, - and, the number of the workers, for their service, was:
Then said David, unto Solomon his son, Be strong and bold, and act, thou mayest not fear nor be dismayed, - for, Yahweh, God, my God, will be with thee, he will not let thee go, neither will he forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh.
Then said David the king unto all the convocation, Solomon my son, the one, of whom God hath made choice, is young and tender, - and, the work, is great, seeing that, not for man, is the palace, but for Yahweh Elohim.
And Levites - of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
And, on the fourth day, they assembled themselves in the vale of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh, - on this account, was the name of that place called The Vale of Beracah - unto this day. Then turned every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with, Jehoshaphat, at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, - for Yahweh had caused them to rejoice over their enemies. read more. So they came to Jerusalem, with harps and with lyres, and with trumpets, - unto the house of Yahweh. And it came to pass that, the dread of God, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries,-when they heard, that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.
And Hezekiah the king and the rulers gave word to the Levites, to offer praise unto Yahweh, in the words of David, and of Asaph the seer, - so they offered praise right joyfully, and bent their heads and bowed themselves in prostration.
And Hezekiah the king and the rulers gave word to the Levites, to offer praise unto Yahweh, in the words of David, and of Asaph the seer, - so they offered praise right joyfully, and bent their heads and bowed themselves in prostration.
After all this - when Josiah had prepared the house, Neco king of Egypt came up,-to fight against Carchemish, by Euphrates, and Josiah went forth against him. But he sent unto him messengers, saying - What have I to do with thee, O king of Judah? not against thee, have I come this day, but against the house wherewith I have war, and, God, hath given word to speed me, - cease thou from provoking God who is with me, lest he destroy thee. read more. Howbeit Josiah turned not his face from him, for, to fight against him, he had disguised himself, and he hearkened not unto the words of Neco, from the mouth of God, - so he came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at King Josiah, - and the king said unto his servants, Take me away, for I am sore wounded. So his servants took him away out of the war-chariot, and conveyed him in a second chariot which he had, and carried him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers, - and, all Judah and Jerusalem, were mourning over Josiah. And Jeremiah chanted a dirge over Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women in their dirges have spoken concerning Josiah, until this day, and they appointed them by statute for Israel, - and, there they are, written among the dirges.
And the people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, - and made him king instead of his father, in Jerusalem. Twenty-three years old, was Joahaz when he began to reign, - and, three months, reigned he in Jerusalem. read more. And the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem, - and condemned the land, in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, - but Neco took, Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
this Ezra, came up out of Babylon, he, being a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh God of Israel had given, - and the king gave him, according to the hand of Yahweh his God upon him, all his request.
Then Nehemiah - he, was the governor - and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who were causing the people to understand, said unto all the people, To-day, is, holy, unto Yahweh your God, do not mourn, nor weep, - for, weeping, were all the people, when they heard the words of the law.
Instead of wheat, let there come forth bramble, and, instead of barley, a bad-smelling weed! Ended are the words of Job.
And, Yahweh himself, turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed in behalf of his friends, - and Yahweh increased all that Job had possessed, unto twice as much.
But, in the law of Yahweh, is his delight, - and, in his law, doth he talk with himself day and night.
Wherefore have nations assembled in tumult? Or should, peoples, mutter an empty thing?
But, I, in the abounding of thy lovingkindness, will enter thy house, I will bow down towards thy holy temple, in reverence of thee:
For, in death, is no remembrance of thee, - In hades, who shall give thanks unto thee?
Yahweh, hath heard my supplication, Yahweh, will receive, my prayer. Let all my foes, turn pale and be greatly dismayed, Again let them turn pale in a moment.
O Yahweh my God, in thee, have I sought refuge, - Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me:
Oh that, out of Zion, were granted the salvation of Israel! When Yahweh bringeth back the captives of his people, Jacob, shall exult, Israel, be glad.
For who is a GOD, save Yahweh? And who is a Rock, save our God?
I believe that I shall see - The goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living,
What profit in my blood? in my going down into the pit? Can dust praise thee? Can it declare thy faithfulness?
He chooseth for us our inheritance, The excellence of Jacob, which he hath loved. Selah. God hath ascended with a shout, Yahweh, with the sound of a horn.
God hath ascended with a shout, Yahweh, with the sound of a horn.
God, hath become king, over the nations, God, hath taken his seat upon his holy throne. The willing-hearted of the peoples, have gathered themselves together, The people of the God of Abraham; For, to God, belong the shields of the earth, Greatly is he exalted.
The willing-hearted of the peoples, have gathered themselves together, The people of the God of Abraham; For, to God, belong the shields of the earth, Greatly is he exalted.
With an east wind, wilt thou shatter the ships of Tarshish.
Hear ye, this all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of this passing world;
Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel, - Who doeth wondrous things by himself alone;
They have said in their heart, Let us suppress them altogether, They have burned up all the meeting-places of GOD in the land.
O God, nations, Have entered thine inheritance, Have profaned thy holy temple, - Have laid Jerusalem in heaps:
Pour out thy wrath, Upon the nations that have not known thee - and, Upon the kingdoms that, on thy Name, have not called.
Yea thou hast turned the edge of his sword, Neither hast thou caused him to stand in the battle;
Thou hast shortened the days of his youths, - Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
I said, O my GOD, do not remove me in the midst of my days, Throughout the generation of generations, are thy years;
Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, from one age even unto another, And all the people, shall say, Amen! Praise ye Yah!
Rescue me, O Yahweh, from the men of mischief, From the men of violence, wilt thou preserve me:
the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and then recovered from his sickness:
For, not in haste, shall ye come forth, Nor, by flight, shall ye journey, - For, your van-guard, is Yahweh, And, your rear-guard, the God of Israel. Lo! my Servant, prospereth, - He riseth, and is lifted up, and becometh very high:
Lo! my Servant, prospereth, - He riseth, and is lifted up, and becometh very high: The more that Many, were amazed at thee, So marred, beyond any man's, was his appearance, - And his form, beyond the sons of men,
The more that Many, were amazed at thee, So marred, beyond any man's, was his appearance, - And his form, beyond the sons of men, The more doth he startle Many nations, Before him, have kings closed their mouth, - For, that which had not been related to them, have they seen, And that which they had not heard, haw they diligently considered.
The more doth he startle Many nations, Before him, have kings closed their mouth, - For, that which had not been related to them, have they seen, And that which they had not heard, haw they diligently considered.
Who believed what we have heard? And, the arm of Yahweh, to whom was it revealed? When he came up as a sapling before him. And as a root-sprout out of dry ground, He had neither beauty nor majesty, - When we beheld him, there was nothing to behold, that we should desire him; read more. Despised was he, and forsaken of men, Man of pains and familiar with sickness, - Yea, like one from whom the face is hidden, Despised, and we esteemed him not. Yet surely, our sicknesses, he, carried, And, as for our pains, he bare the burden of them, - But, we, accounted him stricken. Smitten of God and humbled, Yet, he, was pierced for transgressions that were ours, was crushed for iniquities that were ours, - the chastisement for our well-being, was upon him, And by his stripes, there is healing for us. We all, like sheep, had gone astray, Every man - to his way, had we burned, - And Yahweh! caused to light upon him The guilt of, us all! Hard pressed - yet, he, humbled himself Nor opened his mouth - As, a lamb, to the slaughter, is led, And, as a sheep, before her shearers, is dumb - Nor opened his mouth. By constraint and by sentence, was he taken away, And of his age, who considered That he was cut off out of the land of the living, For my peoples transgression, did the stroke fall on him? And, appointed with lawless men, was his grave, And with the wicked, his tomb, - Though no violence, had he done, Nor was guile in his mouth. Yet, Yahweh, purposed to bruise him, He laid on him sickness: - If his soul become an offering for guilt, He shall see a seed, He shall prolong his days, - And the purpose of Yahweh, in his hand, shall prosper: Of the travail of his soul, shall he see He shall be satisfied with his knowledge, A setting right when set right himself, shall my Servant win for the Many, Since of their iniquities, he, taketh the burden. Therefore, will I give him a portion in the great, And the strong, shall he apportion as spoil, Because he poured out, to death his own soul, And with transgressors, let himself be numbered, - Yea, he, the sin of Many, bare, And for transgressors, interposeth.
Pour out thy wrath - Upon the nations that know thee not, and Upon the families that, upon thy Name, have not called, - For they have devoured Jacob Yea they have devoured him and consumed him, And, his habitation, have they made desolate.
and he burned the house of Yahweh and the house of the king, - yea all the houses of Jerusalem even every great man's house, burned he with fire;
And the pillars of bronze that pertained to the house of Yahweh and the stands and the sea of bronze which was in the house of Yahweh, did the Chaldeans, break in pieces, - and they carried away all the bronze of them to Babylon;
So will I turn your festivals into mourning, and all your songs into a dirge, and I will bring up - on all loins - sackcloth, and upon every head - baldness, - and I will make it like the mourning for an only one, even the afterpart thereof, as a day of bitterness.
A prayer by Habakkuk the prophet, - in the manner of an Ode.
A prayer by Habakkuk the prophet, - in the manner of an Ode.
Yahweh, My Lord, is my strength, therefore hath he made my feet like hinds, and, upon my high places, will he cause me to march along. To the chief musician, on my double harp.
Happy, the destitute, in spirit; for, theirs, is the kingdom of the heavens;
Now, the Pharisees having come together, Jesus questioned them, saying - How, to you, doth it seem, concerning the Christ? Whose son, is he? They say unto him - David's. read more. He saith unto them - How then doth, David, in spirit, call him, Lord, saying - The Lord, hath said unto, my Lord, - Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool? If then, David, calleth him, Lord, How, is he, his son? And, no one, was able to answer him a word, neither durst anyone, from that day, question him, any more.
For, David himself, saith, in the book of Psalms: Said the Lord, unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
And, he, said unto them - O thoughtless ones! and slow in heart to rest your faith upon all things which the prophets have spoken: -
And, beginning from Moses, and from all the prophets, he thoroughly explained to them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself.
And he said unto them - These, are my words, which I spake unto you yet being with you: That all the things that are written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms, concerning me, must needs be fulfilled. Then, opened he their mind, to understand the Scriptures; read more. and said unto them - Thus, it is written, That the Christ, should suffer, and arise from among the dead on the third day;
For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein! And - his overseership, let a different man take!
For, David, saith concerning him - I foresaw the Lord before me continually, because he is, on my right hand, that I may not be shaken; For this reason, was my heart made glad and my tongue exulted, - ye further, even my flesh, shall encamp on hope: read more. Because thou wilt not abandon my soul unto hades, neither wilt thou give thy man of lovingkindness to see corruption;
And, when they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles - What are we to do, brethren?
Speaking to yourselves, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing, and striking the strings, with your heart unto the Lord;
Concerning which salvation, prophets - who concerning the favour for you, did prophesy - sought out and searched out, Searching into what particular, or what manner, of season the Spirit of Christ which was in them was pointing to, when witnessing beforehand as to - The sufferings, for Christ, and the glories, after these, - read more. Unto whom it was revealed - that, Not unto themselves, but unto us, they were ministering them, which things have, now, been announced unto you through them who have told you the good tidings with Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven: into which things messengers are coveting to obtain a nearer view.
Hastings
PSALMS
1. Title and place in Canon.
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Ye shall not make aught beside me, - neither gods of silver, nor gods of gold, shall ye make to yourselves.
and the priest shall take a handful from the meal-offering, a remembrancer thereof, and make a perfume at the altar, - and afterwards, shall cause the woman to drink the water.
Then prayed Hannah, and said, My heart hath leaped for joy in Yahweh, My horn is exalted in Yahweh, My mouth is opened wide, o'er my foes, Because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy like Yahweh, Nay! there, is none, except Thee, Nor, is, there a rock, like our God. read more. Do not multiply words, so loftily - loftily, Nor let arrogance proceed from your mouth, - For, a GOD of knowledge, is Yahweh, And, for himself, are great doings made firm. The bow of the mighty, is dismayed, - While, the fainting, are girded with strength; The sated, have, for bread, taken hire, But, the famished, have left off their toil, - So that, the barren, hath given birth unto seven, While, she that hath many sons, languisheth: Yahweh, doth kill, and make alive, - Taketh down to hades, and bringeth up: Yahweh, maketh poor, and enricheth, - Layeth low, yea exalteth; Raiseth, from the dust, the poor, From the dunghill, uplifteth the needy, To give them a dwelling with nobles, And, a throne of glory, to make them inherit. For, to Yahweh, belong the pillars of the earth, And he setteth thereon the habitable world. The feet of his loving ones, he doth guard, But, the lawless, in darkness shall be silent, - For, by strength, shall no man prevail. As for Yahweh, - they shall be shattered who contend with him, Over him, in the heavens will he thunder, Yahweh, will judge the ends of the earth, - That he may give strength to his King, And exalt the horn of his Anointed One.
And, the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan, with cymbals of bronze, were to sound aloud; and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah and Benaiah, - with harps, over the trebles; read more. and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel and Azaziah, - with lyres over the bass, to take the lead.
And Levites - of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three;
For, on the first of the first month, was a beginning made of coming up from Babylon, - and, on the first of the fifth month, entered he into Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Yahweh! how have mine adversaries multiplied, Multitudes, are rising against me;
To be known is Yahweh, by the sentence he hath executed, By the doing of his own hands, is he about to strike down the lawless one. Refunding music. Selah.
To be known is Yahweh, by the sentence he hath executed, By the doing of his own hands, is he about to strike down the lawless one. Refunding music. Selah.
The heavens, are telling the glory of GOD, And, the work of his hands, the expanse is declaring; Day, unto day, doth pour forth speech, and, night, unto night, doth breathe out knowledge. read more. There is no speech, and there are no words, - Unheard is their voice! Yet through all the earth, hath gone forth their voice, - and, to the end of the world, their sayings, - For the sun, hath he set up a tent therein; And, he, is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, he rejoiceth as a hero to run a race: From one end of the heavens, is his going forth, and, his circuit, to the other end thereof - and, nothing, is hid from his glowing heat. The, law of Yahweh, is complete, Bringing back the soul, The, testimony of Yahweh, is confirmed, Making wise the simple; The precepts of Yahweh, are right, Rejoicing the heart, The, commandment of Yahweh, is pure, Enlightening the eyes; The, reverence of Yahweh, is clean, Enduring evermore, - The, decisions of Yahweh, are faithful, They are righteous, altogether: More desirable, than gold, yea than much fine gold, Sweeter, also than honey, or than droppings from the comb. Even thine own servant, taketh warning by them, In the keeping of them, great is the reward. Mistakes, who perceiveth? From things that are hidden, acquit me: Even from the presumptuous, keep back thy servant, May they not have dominion over me, Then, shall I be blameless, and shall be acquitted from great transgression: The words of my mouth, and the soft utterance of my heart, shall come with acceptance, before thee, O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer!
The words of my mouth, and the soft utterance of my heart, shall come with acceptance, before thee, O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer!
To Yahweh, belongeth, The earth and the fulness thereof, The world, and they who dwell therein; For, he, upon the seas, hath founded it, and upon the currents, doth make it firm. read more. Who shall ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who shall stand in his holy place? The clean of hands, and pure of heart, - who hath not uplifted, to falsehood, his soul, nor sworn deceitfully, Shall bear away a blessing from Yahweh, and righteousness, from his delivering God. This, is the generation of them who inquire of him, who seek thy face, O God of Jacob. Selah. Lift up, O ye gates, your heads, and lift yourselves up, ye age-abiding doors, That the king of glory may come in. Who is the king of glory? Yahweh, strong and mighty, Yahweh, mighty in war. Lift up, O ye gates, your heads, yea lift them up, ye age-abiding doors, That the king of glory may come in. Who then is the king of glory? Yahweh of hosts, He, is the king of glory. Selah.
Yahweh, is my light and my salvation, Of whom shall I be afraid? Yahweh, is the refuge of my life, Of whom shall I be in dread? When there drew near against me evil-doers to devour my flesh, mine adversaries, and mine enemies - mine! - they, stumbled and fell! read more. Though there pitch against me - a camp, my heart shall not fear, - Though there come up against me - a battle, still, am I confident. One thing, have I asked of Yahweh, That, will I seek to secure, - That I may dwell in the house of Yahweh, all the days of my life, To view the delightfulness of Yahweh, And to contemplate in his temple. For he will hide me in his pavilion, in the day of calamity, - He will conceal me, in the secrecy of his tent, Within a rock, will he set me on high. Now, therefore, shall my head be raised high above my foes round about me, and I will sacrifice in his tent the sacrifices of triumphant joy, I will sing and touch the strings, to Yahweh. Hear, O Yahweh, With my voice, do I cry, Oh then show me favour and answer me. To thee, said my heart - When thou saidst Seek ye my face - Thy face, O Yahweh, will I seek! Do not hide thy face from me, Do not repulse, in thine anger, thine own servant, - My help, thou hast been, Do not send me away nor forsake me, O my saving God! When, my own father and mother, had forsaken me, Then, Yahweh, took me up! Point out to me, O Yahweh, thy way, - And guide me in a level path, because of mine adversaries. Do not give me up unto the desire of mine adversaries, for there have risen up against me witnesses that are false, and he that fanneth up violence. I believe that I shall see - The goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living, Wait thou for Yahweh, - Be strong, and let thy heart be bold, Wait, then, for Yahweh!
Declareth the transgression of the lawless one, within my heart, There is, no dread of God, before his eyes; For he flattereth himself too much in his own eyes, to find his iniquity - to hate it . read more. The words of his mouth, are iniquity and deceit, he hath left off to show discretion by doing well: Iniquity, deviseth he upon his bed, - he taketh his stand in a way, not good, Wrong, doth he not abhor! O Yahweh! in the heavens, is thy lovingkindness, Thy faithfulness, as far as the fleecy clouds: Thy righteousness, is like mighty mountains, and, thy just decrees, are a great resounding deep, - Man and beast, thou savest, O Yahweh! How precious thy lovingkindness, O God, - Therefore, the sons of men, under the shadow of thy wings, seek refuge: They abundantly relish the fatness of thy house, - And out of the full stream of thine own pleasures, thou givest them to drink. For, with thee, is the fountain of life, In thy light, we see light. Prolong thy lovingkindness unto them who know thee, - and thy righteousness, to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride reach me, nor, the hand of the lawless, scare me away. There did the workers of iniquity fall, - thrust down and not able to rise!
Be pleased, O Yahweh, to rescue me, O Yahweh! to help me, make haste! Let them turn pale and then at once blush, who are seeking my life to snatch it away, - Let them draw back, and be confounded, who are taking pleasure in my calamity; read more. Let them be astonished on account of their own shame, who are saying of me, Aha! Aha! Let all them be glad and rejoice in thee, who are seekers of thee. Let them say continually - Yahweh be magnified! who are lovers of thy salvation. But, I, being oppressed and needy, May My Lord devise for me, - My help and my deliverer, thou art! O my God, do not tarry!
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, From the age that is past, even unto the age yet to come: Amen and Amen!
Why shouldst thou be cast down, O my soul? And why shouldst thou moan over me? Wait thou for God, for yet shall I praise him, As the triumph of my presence.
Why shouldst thou be sat down, O my soul? And why shouldst thou moan over me? Wait thou for God, for yet shall I praise him, As the triumph of my presence and my God.
Why shouldst thou be cast down, O my soul? And why shouldst thou moan over me, Wait thou for God, for yet shall I praise him, As the triumph of my presence, and my God.
Do good, in thy good-pleasure, unto Zion, Wilt thou build the walls of Jerusalem!
Fixed is my heart, O God, Fixed is my heart, I will sing, and touch the strings.
Fixed is my heart, O God, Fixed is my heart, I will sing, and touch the strings. Awake, mine honour, Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn;
Awake, mine honour, Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn; I will thank thee, among the peoples, O My Lord, I will praise thee in song, among the races of men.
I will thank thee, among the peoples, O My Lord, I will praise thee in song, among the races of men. For, great, unto the heavens, is thy lovingkindness, And, unto the skies, thy faithfulness.
For, great, unto the heavens, is thy lovingkindness, And, unto the skies, thy faithfulness.
That thy beloved ones may be delivered, Save thou with thine own right hand - and answer us.
That thy beloved ones may be delivered, Save thou with thine own right hand - and answer us. God, hath spoken in his holiness - I will exult! I will apportion Shechem, And, the Vale of Succoth, will I measure out;
God, hath spoken in his holiness - I will exult! I will apportion Shechem, And, the Vale of Succoth, will I measure out; Mine, is Gilead - and mine, Manasseh, But, Ephraim, is the defence, of my head, Judah, is my commander's staff;
Mine, is Gilead - and mine, Manasseh, But, Ephraim, is the defence, of my head, Judah, is my commander's staff; Moab, is my wash-bowl, Upon Edom, will I throw my shoe, Over Philistia! raise shout of triumph.
Moab, is my wash-bowl, Upon Edom, will I throw my shoe, Over Philistia! raise shout of triumph. Who will conduct me to fortified city? Who will lead me as far as Edom!
Who will conduct me to fortified city? Who will lead me as far as Edom! Is it not, thou, O God? - thou hast rejected us! And wilt thou not go forth, O God, with our hosts?
Is it not, thou, O God? - thou hast rejected us! And wilt thou not go forth, O God, with our hosts? Grant us help out of distress, For, vain, is the deliverance of man:
Grant us help out of distress, For, vain, is the deliverance of man: In God, we shall do valiantly, He himself, therefore, will tread down our adversaries.
In God, we shall do valiantly, He himself, therefore, will tread down our adversaries.
Blessed be Yahweh God, the God of Israel, - Who doeth wondrous things by himself alone; And blessed be his glorious Name, unto times ago-abiding, - And filled with his glory be all the earth, Amen and Amen!
Thou hast brought to an end his splendour, And, his throne - to the ground, hast thou hurled; Thou hast shortened the days of his youths, - Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. read more. How long, O Yahweh, Wilt thou hide thyself utterly? Shall thine indignation, burn like fire? Remember how short-lived, I, am, Wherefore, in vain, hast thou created all the sons of Adam? Who is the man that shall live, and not see death? That can deliver his soul from the hand of hades. Selah. Where are thy former lovingkindnesses, O My Lord? Thou didst swear unto David, in thy faithfulness! Remember, O My Lord, the reproach of thy servants, I have carried in my bosom the insult of the peoples: In that thy foes have reproached, O Yahweh, In that they have reproached the footsteps of thine Anointed One! Blessed be Yahweh to times age-abiding, Amen, and Amen!
Blessed be Yahweh to times age-abiding, Amen, and Amen!
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon a harp, With resounding music on the lyre.
Thou, wilt arise, wilt have compassion upon Zion, Surely it is time to favour her, Surely the time appointed, hath come;
When Yahweh, hath built up, Zion, Hath appeared in his glory;
Save us, O Yahweh our God, and gather us from among the nations, That we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, That we may triumph aloud in thy praise. Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, from one age even unto another, And all the people, shall say, Amen! Praise ye Yah!
And, out of the lands, hath gathered them - From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
When Yahweh brought back the captives of Zion, we were like them who dream:
By the rivers of Babylon, there, we sat down, yea we wept - when we remembered Zion:
Yahweh, is building Jerusalem, The outcasts of Israel, will he gather together.
the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and then recovered from his sickness:
the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and then recovered from his sickness: I, said - In the noontide of my days, I must enter the gates of hades, - I am deprived of the residue of ray years! read more. I said - I shall not see Yah, Yah, in the land of the living, I shall discern the son of earth no longer, with the dwellers in the quiet land. My dwelling, hath been broken up. And is stripped from me, like a shepherds tent, - I have roiled up - as a weaver - my life From the loom, doth he cut me off, From day until night, I said - Thou wilt finish me. I cried out, until morning, like a lion, Thus, will he break all my bones! From day until night, Thou wilt finish me! As a twittering swallow, so, do I chatter, I coo as a dove, - Mine eyes languish through looking on high, O My Lord! distress is upon me - my Surety! What can I say? Since he hath promised for me, Himself, will perform. I will go softly, all my years. Because of the bitterness of my soul, O My Lord! on those things do men live, - And, altogether in them, is the life of my spirit, When thou hast strengthened me and made me live. Lo! for well-being, I had bitterness - bitterness, - But, thou, cleaving unto my soul, hast raised me from the pit of corruption, For thou hast cast, behind thy back all my sins. For, hades, cannot praise thee Nor, death, celebrate thee, - They who go down to the pit cannot wait for thy faithfulness. The living, the living, he, can praise thee, As I do this day, - A father, to his children, can make known thy faithfulness. Yahweh, was willing to save me, - Therefore, on my stringed instruments, will we play - All the days of our life By the house of Yahweh.
Thus, saith Yahweh - As, new wine, is found, in the cluster, And one saith, Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it, So, will I do for the sake of ray servants, That I may not destroy the whole nation ;
A prayer by Habakkuk the prophet, - in the manner of an Ode.
Yahweh, My Lord, is my strength, therefore hath he made my feet like hinds, and, upon my high places, will he cause me to march along. To the chief musician, on my double harp.
And Mary said - My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour; read more. Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy. Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name; And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him; He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart; He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly; The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away; He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies: According as he spake unto our fathers, - To Abraham, and to his seed, - Unto times age-abiding.
Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant: read more. According as he hath spoken by mouth of his holy ancient prophets, - Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us: To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, - The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us, without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him, in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days. And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called, - for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways, Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins. Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high, - To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.
For, David himself, saith, in the book of Psalms: Said the Lord, unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
And he said unto them - These, are my words, which I spake unto you yet being with you: That all the things that are written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms, concerning me, must needs be fulfilled.
The feast of dedication took place at that time, in Jerusalem: it was, winter,
For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein! And - his overseership, let a different man take!
Morish
This word occurs in the O.T. only in connection with the Psalms of David and those in the Book of Psalms. David is called "the sweet psalmist of Israel." 2Sa 23:1. There can be no doubt that in connection with the 'singers,' and the praising God with instruments, the Psalms were used. We read "sing psalms unto him," "Make a joyful noise unto him with psalms," etc. In N.T. days, for a time at least, the Psalms of David may have been sung by believers, but there were also hymns and spiritual songs, and it is to be remarked that in the singing at the institution of the Lord's supper a hymn (?????) is spoken of, not a psalm (??????). See PASSOVER. The latter Greek word (besides the occurrences which refer to the Book of Psalms) is found in 1Co 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16.
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Now, these, are the last words of David, - The oracle of David, son of Jesse, Yea the oracle of The man raised up on high, The Anointed of the God of Jacob, the Delight of the Songs of Israel:
What, then, is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together, each one, hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation: - let, all things, be done, unto building up.
Speaking to yourselves, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing, and striking the strings, with your heart unto the Lord;
Let, the word of the Christ, dwell within you richly, - in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude, raising song with your hearts unto God:
Watsons
PSALMS. The book of Psalms is a collection of hymns, or sacred songs, in praise of God, and consists of poems of various kinds. They are the productions of different persons, but are generally called the Psalms of David, because a great part of them was composed by him, and David himself is distinguished by the name of the Psalmist. We cannot now ascertain all the Psalms written by David, but their number probably exceeds seventy; and much less are we able to discover the authors of the other Psalms, or the occasions upon which they were composed. A few of them were written after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The titles prefixed to them are of very questionable authority; and in many cases they are not intended to denote the writer but refer only to the person who was appointed to set them to music. David first introduced the practice of singing sacred hymns in the public service of God; and it was restored by Ezra. The authority of the Psalms is established not only by their rank among the sacred writings, and by the unvaried testimony of ages, but likewise by many intrinsic proofs of inspiration. Not only do they breathe through every part a divine spirit of eloquence, but they contain numberless illustrious prophecies that were remarkably accomplished, and are frequently appealed to by the evangelical writers. The sacred character of the whole book is established by the testimony of our Saviour and his Apostles, who, in various parts of the New Testament, appropriate the predictions of the Psalms as obviously apposite to the circumstances of their lives, and as intentionally composed to describe them. The veneration for the Psalms has in all ages of the church been considerable. The fathers assure us, that in the earlier times the whole book of Psalms was generally learned by heart; and that the ministers of every gradation were expected to be able to repeat them from memory. These invaluable Scriptures are daily repeated without weariness, though their beauties are often overlooked in familiar and habitual perusal. As hymns immediately addressed to the Deity, they reduce righteousness to practice; and while we acquire the sentiments, we perform the offices of piety; while we supplicate for blessings, we celebrate the memorial of former mercies; and while in the exercise of devotion, faith is enlivened by the display of prophecy. Josephus asserts, and most of the ancient writers maintain, that the Psalms were composed in metre. They have undoubtedly a peculiar conformation of sentences, and a measured distribution of parts. Many of them are elegiac, and most of David's are of the lyric kind. There is no sufficient reason however to believe, as some writers have imagined, that they were written in rhyme, or in any of the Grecian measures. Some of them are acrostic; and though the regulations of the Hebrew measure are now lost, there can be no doubt, from their harmonious modulation, that they were written with some kind of metrical order; and they must have been composed in accommodation to the measure to which they were set. (See Poetry of the Hebrews.) The Hebrew copies and the Septuagint version of this book contain the same number of Psalms; only the Septuagint translators have, for some reason which does not appear, thrown the ninth and tenth into one, as also the one hundred and fourteenth and one hundred and fifteenth, and have divided the one hundred and sixteenth and one hundred and forty-seventh each into two.
It is very justly observed by Dr. Allix, that, "although the sense of near fifty Psalms be fixed and settled by divine authors, yet Christ and his Apostles did not undertake to quote all the Psalms they could, but only to give a key to their hearers, by which they might apply to the same subjects the Psalms of the same composure and expression." With regard to the Jews, Bishop Chandler very pertinently remarks, that "they must have understood David, their prince, to have been a figure of Messiah. They would not otherwise have made his Psalms part of their daily worship; nor would David have delivered them to the church to be so employed, were it not to instruct and support them in the knowledge and belief of this fundamental article. Were the Messiah not concerned in the Psalms, it would have been absurd to celebrate twice a day, in their public devotions, the events of one man's life, who was deceased so long ago, as to have no relation now to the Jews and the circumstances of their affairs; or to transcribe whole passages from them into their prayers for the coming of the Messiah." Upon the same principle it is easily seen that the objections, which may seem to lie against the use of Jewish services in Christian congregations, may cease at once. Thus it may be said, Are we concerned with the affairs of David and of Israel? Have we any thing to do with the ark and the temple? They are no more. Are we to go up to Jerusalem, and to worship on Sion? They are desolated, and trodden under foot by the Turks. Are we to sacrifice young bullocks according to the law? The law is abolished, never to be observed again. Do we pray for victory over Moab, Edom, and Philistia; or for deliverance from Babylon? There are no such nations, no such places in the world. What then do we mean, when, taking such expressions into our mouths, we utter them in our own persons, as parts of our devotions, before God? Assuredly we must mean a spiritual Jerusalem and Sion; a spiritual ark and temple; a spiritual law; spiritual sacrifices; and spiritual victories over spiritual enemies; all described under the old names, which are still retained, though "old things are passed away, and all things are become new," 2Co 5:17. By substituting Messiah for David, the Gospel for the law, the church Christian for that of Israel, and the enemies of the one for those of the other, the Psalms are made our own. Nay, they are with more fulness and propriety applied now to the substance, than they were of old to the "shadow of good things then to come," Heb 10:1. For let it not pass unobserved, that when, upon the first publication of the Gospel, the Apostles had occasion to utter their transports of joy, on their being counted worthy to suffer for the name of their Lord and Master, which was then opposed by Jew and Gentile, they brake forth into an application of the second Psalm to the transactions then before their eyes, Ac 4:25. The Psalms, thus applied, have advantages which no fresh compositions, however finely executed, can possibly have; since, beside their incomparable fitness to express our sentiments, they are at the same time memorials of, and appeals to, former mercies and deliverances; they are acknowledgments of prophecies accomplished; they point out the connection between the old and new dispensations, thereby teaching us to admire and adore the wisdom of God displayed in both, and furnishing while we read or sing them, an inexhaustible variety of the noblest matter that can engage the contemplations of man.
Very few of the Psalms, comparatively, appear to be simply prophetical, and to belong only to Messiah, without the intervention of any other person. Most of them, it is apprehended, have a double sense, which stands upon this ground and foundation, that the ancient patriarchs, prophets, priests, and kings, were typical characters, in their several offices, and in the more remarkable passages of their lives, their extraordinary depressions and miraculous exaltations foreshowing him who was to arise as the head of the holy family, the great prophet, the true priest, the everlasting king. The Israelitish polity, and the law of Moses, were purposely framed after the example and shadow of things spiritual and heavenly; and the events which happened to the ancient people of God were designed to shadow out parallel occurrences, which should afterward take place in the accomplishment of man's redemption, and the rise and progress of the Christian church, (See Prophecy.) For this reason, the Psalms composed for the use of Israel, and by them accordingly used at the time, do admit of an application to us, who are now "the Israel of God," Ga 6:16, and to our Redeemer
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Who, by our father, through means of the Holy Spirit, even by the mouth of David thy servant, said - Unto what end did nations rage, and, peoples, busy themselves with empty things?
On the contrary, now, no longer, are we gaining it. So that, if any one is in Christ, there is a new creation! the old things, have passed away, - Lo! they have become new!
And, as many as, by this rule, shall walk, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
For the law, having in a shadow of the destined good things, not the very image of the things, they can never, with the same sacrifices which year by year they offer evermore, make them who approach, perfect;