PSALMS Quoted over 400 times in the New Testament Composed over an 800 year period Authors: David;...

PSALMS

• Quoted over 400 times in the New Testament

• Composed over an 800 year period

• Authors: David; Moses; Solomon; Asaph, others

PSALMS

• Psalmos a translation of mizmor

• A composition/song performed to musical accompaniment of the harp

• “Book of Praises” (although filled with many aspects other than praise as well)

PSALMS

• Originally used primarily in public worship in the tabernacle/temple

• 1 Chronicles 15:16, 16:7 ff

• In time of exile and later Roman occupation and dispersion of Jews they came to be used more in private worship (Ps. 137)

PSALMS

• Early church used them in worship (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19)

• The poems are poetry

• THE PSALMS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY RECORD WORDS SPOKEN TO AND ABOUT GOD as compared to words from God to us

PSALMS

• Thus the Psalms are often prayers; that does not negate them also being God’s Word and His message to us

• The Psalms are put together in five books–1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150

Let’s Open Our HymnalsTo. . .

Psalm 1

Psalm 1

• Placed at the beginning to introduce the book and to challenge us to live by its teaching

• A “threshold” Psalm

• Contrasts the wise/foolish; godly/ungodly; way of life/way of death

Stanza #1: The World Can Bea Dangerous Place to Live

• The promise of “blessing”

• Then he turns to negations—what the godly does not do

• Like the 10 commandments, stated in terms of the negative

Stanza #1: The World Can Bea Dangerous Place to Live

• The godly must make discriminating choices in a world that is hostile to the Lord and His ways

• Counsel of the “wicked”• Path of “sinners”• Seat of “mockers”

• Seemingly small decisions and steps can lead to destructive destinations

Stanza #1: The World Can Bea Dangerous Place to Live

• “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33)

• Romans 12:1-2; Eph. 5:15

• We are not to avoid interaction with the ungodly altogether (1 Cor. 5:9), but we must be wise in our interaction

Stanza #2: Our Greatest ExposureShould Be To God’s True Word

• v. 2—Delight in the law of the Lord

• “let your conscience be your guide” is not wise counsel

• “Law of the Lord” encompasses now the whole counsel of God.

Stanza #2: Our Greatest ExposureShould Be To God’s True Word

• John 6:68

• The Word points to Him, and His Words are “life”

Stanza #3: The Blessing Comes in Fruitful and Eternal Living

• v. 3

• Growth and vitality come over time with right commitment

• Discrimination that keeps at bay ungodly influence; feeding upon the right food.

Stanza #3: The Blessing Comes in Fruitful and Eternal Living

• The two choices will be revealed in the tests of life and of eternity

• Matthew 7:13-14; 24-29

• C.S. Lewis– The Great Divorce