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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