The titles "Psalms" and "Psalter" came from the Septuagint, which was the pre-Christian Greek translation of the Old Testament. This originally referred to stringed instruments, i.e., harp, lyre, and lute, but then referred to songs sung to the accompaniment of those instruments. The traditional Hebrew title was tehillim meaning "praises", even though many of the psalms are tephilloth meaning "prayers". This collection of collections of praise and prayers spanned centuries. The word selah is found 39 times in the Psalms. It is believed by many that selah calls for a brief musical interlude or response by the congregation.
So why is the book of Psalms so important to us? It is a book of praise and prayer for the most part. Faith speaks about God in praise, and to God in prayer. There are also some that are instructional. It certainly is a place we need to spend time - reading them, praying them, and meditating on them in order to enhance our faith and walk with the Lord which will instruct and enhance our worship of the Lord.
Major Themes that are found in the Psalms:
1. The center of life with right human understanding, trust, and hope is God, Yahweh, great King over all.
2. By right of creation and absolute sovereignty God will not tolerate any worldly power that opposes, denies, or ignores Him.
3. He stands against any who rely on their own resources or contrived gods to work out their own destiny.
4. He is the ultimate authority of justice among humans, with avenging oneself being an act of the proud.
5. He has chosen the Israelites to be His servant people and inheritance among the nations.
6. His chosen royal representative was David.
7. As Israel's covenant Lord, God chose David and his dynasty to be His royal representatives, Jerusalem (City of David) as His own royal city, the earthly seat of His throne. Therefore Jerusalem (Zion) became the earthly capital (and symbol) of the kingdom of God.
In speaking of God's covenant people, the city of God and of the temple in which God dwells, the Psalms ultimately speak of Christ's church. The Psalter is not only the praise and prayer book of the second temple; it is also the enduring praise and prayer book of the people of God. We now use it gloriously in the light of the new era of redemption that dawned with the first coming of the Messiah, which will come to full fruition and be consummated when He comes again. Hallelujah!
Spend time in the book of Praise and Prayer as the redeemed and see how He changes your worship! mjm
A Melody from Michael J. . . . a Personal and Worship Blog
