Comments on Psalms

* The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into three parts – the Law, Prophets and Writings.  At the end of the Writings were the poems and songs the West calls Psalms.  The Hebrews called them “Tehillim” meaning “Praises.”

* The Psalms are almost certainly the most popular Bible book in history.  It is the book that is most quoted in the New Testament.

* Hebrew poetry is complex and wonderful.  It is marked, like most poetic forms around the world, by attention to rhythm, concise use of language, highly figurative imagery, and an appeal to the reader’s emotions.

* But Hebrew poetry also emphasizes repetition, contrast and, frequently, an equal length of lines.  Many are very carefully structured as the nine psalms which are acrostic, that is, each line (or group of lines) begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

* Psalm 119 is another example of a very carefully constructed form.  Each of the eight verses in a given stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter.

* The above observations about the structure of the psalms are important for several reasons.  1) It reveals how God used a human art form to communicate His authoritative Word.  This is amazing.  It shows us just how incarnational God desires to be.  He communicates the divine message in a human form in a way that foreshadows Jesus’ incarnation and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of the believer.  2) It should increase our respect for the psalms.  Even if we cannot read Hebrew, we can at least recognize how beautifully, carefully crafted they were.  In the same way that Boris Pasternak’s poetry can best be appreciated by Russian speakers, so too the psalms full power can only be understood by someone who understands the original language in which they were written.  But just think – if we love the psalms now when we don’t fully understand their original language, we will really appreciate them when we get to heaven!  And finally, 3) There is no mystery code in the psalms.  There are no hidden messages that are found only by “special people” as has been sometimes claimed by false teachers.  It is simply a matter of following the rules of Hebrew poetry – complex, intricate but truly magnificent.  Thank God for the psalms!

* There are several themes which recur in the psalms.  There are poems/songs of lament, of praise to God, of warning and the pronouncement of judgment, ones which contain Messianic elements, trust in God, wisdom, etc.  But one thing stands out in all of these themes and that is that every psalm concludes with an affirmation of trust in God.  It’s a good thing for us to remember – no matter what our emotions are doing, no matter the trials we’re undergoing, no matter the various circumstances of life, we are on sure ground when we are trusting in God’s mercy, justice, holiness and power.