Introduction To The Psalms Series

INTRODUCTION TO THE PSALMS

We have been through a long winter and spring is finally in the air. During the winter it is common for discouragement and depression to set in. The February blahs. Like a dreaded disease, it gnaws away at us from the inside. We are all subject to the currents of discouragement that can sweep us into dangerous places. Even the most positive person can get discouraged from time to time.

Years ago, there was a heavy-weight boxer named James Tillis. He was a cowboy from Oklahoma who fought out of Chicago in the early 1980’s. He still remembers his first day in the Windy City after his arrival from Tulsa. “I got off the bus with two suitcases under by arms in downtown Chicago and stopped in front of the Sears Tower. I put my suitcases down, and I looked up at the Tower and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to conquer Chicago.’ When I looked down, the suitcases were gone.”

We all get discouraged from time to time. There are unfortunate things that can happen to us. We all need to sometimes be reminded of truth, to have our sights lifted beyond the immediate. The Psalms remind us of God’s love and faithfulness, they provide fresh hope and a renewed perspective.

Martin Luther prefaced his 1528 translation of Psalms with these words: “A human heart is like a ship on a wild sea, driven by storm force winds from the four corners of the world. Here it is stuck with fear and worry about impending disaster; there comes grief and sadness because of present evil. But then here breathes a breeze of hope and of anticipated happiness; there blows security and joy in present blessings. These storm winds teach us to speak with earnestness, to open the heart and pour out what lies at the bottom of it.” That is the book of Psalms. They fill us with new hope and perspective.

One of the things we do when we are feeling discouraged is listen to music. Music is powerful. Have you ever noticed how much music is a part of your life? It is your birthday, so what does everyone around you do? They sing. When you are in love with a person sometimes you will sing to them and serenade them. When you are happy in the shower you sing. There is a reason that movies spend millions of dollars on soundtracks. They are powerful. Music is powerful.

Music influences mood. It brings back memories. Have you ever heard a song and you are taken back to the moment and place you first heard it? Music makes us remember the lyrics. God created us to be like this, He created us to love music. It should not surprise us then that there is a book in the bible that is all about music. It is the book of Psalms.

The book of Psalms was like the nation of Israel’s iTunes. It was a collection of songs celebrating the highs and lows of Israel’s history. The book of Psalms is the largest in the bible and contains 150 chapters divided into 5 different collections. It was written over a thousand-year period, beginning with the Exodus in about 1410 BC and concluding with the return of the exiles from Babylon in about 430 BC. It was written by people from all walks of life, from kings and priests to farmers and peasants. King David wrote half almost of them (73). A priest named Asaph wrote 12. A group of temple singers named the Sons of Korah wrote 10. King Solomon wrote 2. A number of others wrote the remaining including Moses who wrote Psalm 90.

Just like there are different types of songs in our day, from rock, to hip-hop to country, there are also different types of psalms. Some of them are songs of praise. Some of them are songs of lament (like the blues). Some were to be used in the coronation of a King. Others are words of wisdom. Some speak about the coming Messiah. Others were songs of ascent – kind of like songs that you sing on a long car trip to keep your mind off the journey. There are psalms for every occasion and every emotion you may be feeling.

Today we are beginning a new series looking at the psalms. Let’s start at the beginning by looking at the first few verses of the first Psalm;

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.