THE WISDOM TRILOGY #3: WORSHIP: SONGS AND PRAYERS (BOOK OF PSALMS)
INTRO TO TOPIC: ASK QUESTION: WHO IS DAVID? (King of Israel; killed Goliath).
• “God raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22, NKJV).
• He was a passionate worshipper who wrote over half of the book of Psalms.
• “Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15, NKJV).
I. WHAT IS THE BOOK OF PSALMS?
• The Psalms is one of the 5 wisdom books of the Old Testament.
• “Psalms, a collection of inspired Hebrew prayers and hymns, is probably for most Christians the best-known and most-loved portion of the Old Testament.” (Fee & Stuart).
THE BIG IDEA: The Book of Psalms is a great way for us to express our hearts to God in worship and prayer.
II. WHO WROTE THE PSALMS?
Psalms names more contributors than any other book of the Bible, more than seven authors, including five individuals and two families (who wrote psalms over the centuries).
• David: the God-anointed king of Israel. He wrote about half of the Psalms
• Asaph (family): Asaph and sons were ordained by David to lead the people in worship.
• The sons of Korah (family): In Numbers, Korah rebelled against Moses and Aaron. His sons survived, though (Nu 26:11), and continued to serve the Lord.
• Heman: A wise man who co-authored Psalm 88 with Korah.
• Solomon: Known for his work in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
• Moses: Wrote more of the Bible than any other human author. The Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Moses also wrote one psalm.
• Ethan the Ezrahite: Heman’s brother, he was a famous wise man.
III. WHAT PSALMS DID THEY WRITE?
• David wrote: Psalms 3–9; 11–41; 51–65; 68–70; 86; 101;
103; 108–110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138–145
• The family of Asaph wrote 12 psalms: Psalm 50; Psalms 73–83
• The sons of Korah wrote 11 psalms: Psalm 42; 44–49; 84–85; 87-88
• Heman the Ezrahite coauthored with Korah: Psalm 88
• Solomon wrote two psalms: Psalm 72 & Psalm 127
• Moses wrote 1 Psalm: Psalm 90
• Ethan the Ezrahite wrote 1 Psalm: Psalm 89
- Fifty of the psalms designate no specific person as author.
IV. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PSALMS?
1) Lament: Express struggles, suffering and disappointment to God
Example: “A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily.” (Psalm 102:1-2).
• When you are sad or overwhelmed, there is a psalm to express your heart to God.
• A reminder that we can be honest with God with our hurts and even our anger.
• I’m so thankful that Jesus understands our weaknesses and failures:
• “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16).
A. Penitential: Confession of sins
Example: “A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.” (Psalm 51:1).
• Describe story behind this Psalm – David’s sin and restoration.
• When we sin, we can cry out to God forgiveness, knowing He will give it!
• God’s Promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
B. Imprecatory: Asking God for justice over your enemies
Example: “Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them” (Psalm 69:24).
2) Thanksgiving: Express joy to the Lord for His goodness in our lives
Example: “A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” (Psalm 103:1-3).
3) Hymns: Praising God for who He is
A. Liturgical: Songs of celebration (Covenant, Royal, Zion, Messianic/about Jesus)
Example: “A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Ps. 110:1).
B. Community: Wisdom and Law Poems
Example: “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2).
V. SOME OF MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE PSALMS:
• “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.” (42:1).
• “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).
• Of course Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 (a prayer for protection).
VI. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE PSALMS? (Fee and Stuart).
• The Psalms are a guide to worship. (Challenge: Read them!)
• The Psalms demonstrate to us how we can relate honestly to God.
• The Psalms demonstrate the importance of reflection upon things God has done for us.
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
“1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1-6).
• Every living creature is commanded to praise the Lord!
• We praise Him because He is good and He is great.
• He praise Him with instruments, with our voices, and in the dance (celebration)!
• If you’re alive: Let’s praise the Lord!
Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
