Our Help Is Here: a Meditation on Psalm 46

by Doug Smith (The following was originally published as three articles at SharperIron.org - part 1 - part 2 - part 3. The audio sermon is available here.)

Psalm 46:1-11 (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

¹ God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; ³ Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.

⁴ There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. ⁵ God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. ⁶ The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

When you are in trouble, it is a blessing to know that help is available. It is a great blessing to know that it is on the way. And it is an even greater blessing to know that your help is here.

The blessing of help in time of need is magnified even more when others are involved. If you have had vehicle trouble with a van full of small children, you know what I mean. And if you have not experienced such a thing, you can surely imagine it or relate a similar circumstance where help is needed, not just for an individual, but for a group.

In our spiritual lives, as individuals and as groups—particularly local churches—we experience crises. The world, the flesh, and the devil are set against our having joy in Christ and glorifying God in all circumstances. Persecution and temptation—external opposition, internal strife, and disappointments—threaten to shake our faith. We need help, and help is available. But God’s Word has better news for us than that help is on the way. When we turn to Psalm 46, we see the good news that our help is here. In unstable and uncertain times, we can have stability and certainty because God is our help, and He is here.

The book of Psalms functioned as a songbook and prayer book for Israel. The psalms reflect much about the experience of God’s people—joy and thanksgiving as well as repentance, complaints, and cries for help. Some psalms clearly indicate the event that is addressed in the psalm. For example, Psalm 51 describes David’s repentance after being confronted about his sin of adultery. Others, such as Psalm 46, do not tell us the exact occasion for which they were written. However, Psalm 46 is one of the eleven psalms with the inscription “Of the Sons of Korah.” It is especially appropriate that we take a brief look at the background of the sons of Korah as we consider this corporate psalm of God’s help for His people in troubled times.

Numbers 16 is the record of Korah’s organized rebellion against Moses. After the congregation of Israel separated from the rebels, God caused the ground to swallow up Korah and his followers alive to show His judgment against them. But according to Numbers 26:9-11, there were sons of Korah who did not die. Though not part of the Aaronic priesthood, the Korahites (also descendants of Levi) served in the temple. According to 1 Chronicles 9:19, they were still in existence after the Babylonian exile. Their background in being spared while their rebellious ancestor perished should have made them thankful to sing praises to God for His present help in trouble.

As we look at Psalm 46, let those of us who are believers be grateful for God’s salvation and look to Him to see that our help is here. We will notice three different emphases in this psalm. It teaches us about the people of God, the person of God, and the presence of God.

Our Help Is Here: Help for the People of God

The corporate nature of this psalm is evident throughout its eleven verses. Notice the references that indicate this nature:

v. 1 God is our refuge and strength.

v. 2 Therefore we will not fear.

v. 4 the city of God

vv. 7, 11 The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Many psalms are worded in the first person singular with “I” and “my” and “me,” but this is one of the corporate psalms, worded with we and our and us (6 instances). The corporate nature of this psalm reminds us that our relationship with God is not merely an individual relationship that has no relevance to our relationships with others. Rather, it changes the dynamics of our relationships to others. When we become God’s children, we find that we have brothers and sisters. I am not an only child to God, and neither are you. All God’s people are part of a larger group.

But before we discuss the importance of the group, let me ask you this: Do you have a right relationship with God? Have you been forgiven of your disobedience and reconciled to Him? God created this world, including you and me, for His glory to display His character. Yet Adam and Eve—and you and I—have rebelled against God. Our sin has rightly been called cosmic treason; disobeying God is equivalent to seeking to dethrone Him and enthrone ourselves as the king of our lives. This treason deserves eternal punishment. Yet in His great mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who was born of the virgin Mary, lived the perfect life that God requires and that we could never live, and died on the cross in the place of sinners, bearing their punishment. He rose from the dead and lives forever. He promises to pardon and rescue rebels like you and me if we will turn from our sin and trust Him for our salvation. If you do not have assurance that you are part of the people of God through faith in Christ, I beg you—trust in Him today.

If you have turned from your sin and trusted in Him, then you have the certain hope and assurance of salvation in Christ. But He has not saved you for yourself; you are part of a larger body, the church.

If you are trusting in Christ, part of following Jesus means to identify with His people. We do this identification through baptism or the immersion into water as an ordinance of the church in order to testify to the world that we are dead to sin and raised to walk in newness of life in Jesus Christ. To identify with God’s people, we should also join ourselves to a local congregation, becoming members of a local church, where we can participate in the decisions of the congregation and also be subject to its discipline. We take gathering with the church seriously. We attend so we may grow from the preaching of the Word and partake of the Lord’s Supper. We also fellowship and encourage and warn one another, being involved in the lives of others.

If you know Christ but have not been baptized or joined a local church, let me urge you to obey God in these areas. Do not be afraid or ashamed to be publicly united to other believers. In our individualistic society, many do not value commitment. But to please God, we must value commitment to one another and love Christ and one another enough to identify ourselves as His people.

As God’s people, we understand that our Lord’s concerns extend not just to our individual problems, but to the problems we face corporately, particularly in local churches. Whether with your local assembly or with persecuted believers gathering in Saudi Arabia or Sudan, God, our Help, is there. He is a very present help in trouble.

Our Help Is Here: Help from the Person of God

God is clearly the subject of this psalm. Twenty-five different references to Him appear throughout these eleven verses. We see a divine name or title eleven times (God, the Most High, the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob, the LORD), a metaphorical description five times (refuge, strength, help), and deity pronouns nine times (I, He).

This God who is our Help is the God who made heaven and earth. As the Most High, there is no God or power above Him. This God is the LORD. Notice in verses 7, 8, and 11 that the word “LORD” is in all uppercase letters. This use designates that the original Hebrew has the word for the most sacred name of God—Jehovah or Yahweh. It is probably derived from the same name that God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, when He revealed Himself as I AM WHO I AM. This God has the power of self-existence, needing nothing outside Himself to exist. He has all the resources of life in Himself, whereas we need food, water, oxygen and other external circumstances to live.

God’s sacred name not only refers to His self-existence but also speaks of His covenant relationship with His people. This God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and—as focused on in Psalm 46—Jacob—is the same God for the Korahites, for the Israelites, for the first-century believers in Christ, and for you and me. The God who showed mercy and faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has not changed—His people can still count on Him. Notice that this sacred name is paired with “of hosts” in verses 7 and 11. This reminds us that God is omnipotent and commands all the powers of the universe. This self-existent, faithful, promise-keeping, all-powerful, exalted creator God is our Help!

The metaphors in Psalm 46 indicate our dependence on God. He is our refuge, the One we run to for shelter. We trust in Him to protect us. He is our strength. Apart from Him, we are weak and faint. We have reason to fear if He is not our refuge and strength in trouble. He is also our help, providing the aid we need in our distress. This God is our fortress who protects us in troubled and unstable times—our stronghold and safe place. He is our defense. We do not need to fear trouble. We can trust God.

God’s names, titles, and descriptions remind us of His character, but we also learn about Him through His works. This God dwells with His people and helps them “at the break of dawn” (v. 5)—not a second too late. He opens His mouth and unleashes His omnipotent decree: “he uttered his voice, the earth melted” (v. 6). When He thus speaks, compliance is the only option. None can withstand His judgment. Regardless of your view on global warning, we haven’t seen anything yet! God will one day speak, and the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and “the elements will melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:12 NKJV). The psalm mentions the desolations God has brought on the earth. We can see astonishing things today that show the power of God. The Grand Canyon shows evidence of the catastrophic effects of the power of God. Hurricanes, tornados, and volcanic eruptions are just glimpses of the infinite strength of the Almighty. This God has power to stop wars, break the bow, shatter the spear, and burn the shields with fire.

God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (v. 10). Calm down. Quiet your troubled soul. Make certain that you truly know that God is God and that He will be exalted in the earth. Consider the greatness of God, Who is the permanent, powerful, preeminent protector of His people. We should not fear trouble if we know Him. We should not fear to take the gospel to those near and far away, even if they react with hostility. God is our refuge and strength, and He will be exalted in the earth. Our Help is here.

Our Help Is Here: Help in the Presence of God

Notice how Psalm 46 emphasizes the presence of God: “God is…a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). He is “in the midst of” the city of God (v. 5). He is “with us” (vv. 7, 11).

It is not unusual to experience a period of waiting for help to arrive after we call for it. We may know that it is available, and we may know that it is on the way; but it is another thing altogether to know that it is here. It could be available but not come to us. It could be on the way but encounter a roadblock.

God is not just potential Help or Help who might arrive—He is already on the scene. The child of God never has trouble in which the Lord is not present, ready to help. He dwells among His people in their midst. He is with us even now.

God has always desired to be among His people. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden before they sinned. He manifested Himself to Abraham. He dwelled with His people in the tabernacle and later the temple. Jesus Christ Himself is the fulfillment of the temporary dwelling places God made use of. John 1:14 tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled or pitched His tent] among us.”

Knowledge of God’s presence should encourage us. His river makes the city of God glad. He was with Joseph in the midst of all his trials (Gen. 39:2-3, 21, 23). God’s promise of His presence encouraged Moses and Joshua and the returned exiles who rebuilt the temple (Ex. 3:12, Josh. 1:5, Hag. 1:13; 2:4). God has also promised to be with believers today. Jesus Christ, when charging His disciples with the Great Commission, told us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The unchanging one, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, has promised never to leave us so we can say with boldness and confidence, “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6).

This God dwells with you if you are a believer. He dwells in a special way in the midst of His called-out ones, His church. If you are trusting in Him today, you can be encouraged that God is with you, a very present Help in trouble. Our Help is here.

Conclusion

It is a great encouragement when needed help arrives. But the help of God is far greater and more necessary than any human help we may need. We all need God’s help every day in the troubles of this life. We are tempted to fear and worry when the circumstances we face seem like the earth shaking and mountains falling into the sea. When things threaten to change life as we know it, we need the help of God to survive the storm. It may come. Things may change. But God, the only source of stability in unstable times, is unchangeable.

The sixteenth-century Reformer and German pastor Martin Luther wrote a famous hymn based on this psalm. We know it as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Luther faced many trials from the world and the devil as well as his own flesh. It is written of Luther that,

In the darkest times he used to say, “Come, let us sing the 46^th Psalm, and let them do their worst. He says, “We sing this Psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us, and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word, against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin. ¹

God’s help is promised to His people forever. But there are those who will not survive storms and calamity and judgment. Friend, if you are not looking to Christ today, you are in trouble and great danger. You do not know when you will draw your last breath. God will judge all people with His perfect justice. He requires perfect obedience to His commands, but we have all failed in this regard. The penalty for such an offense against the infinitely high dignity of God is eternal, conscious torment in hell. Yet because of His great love, God sent His Son Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the requirements of His holy law to take our punishment if we trust Him. If you forsake your sin and efforts to make yourself acceptable to God and simply trust in the One who has done the work for you, you will find a very present help in trouble.

Are you facing fear and anxiety? “God is our refuge and strength, avery present help in trouble” (v. 1). Our Help is here. Are you discouraged? Our Help is here. Are you tempted? Our Help is here.

Uncertain, unstable times should serve as a reminder to look to the certain, stable, faithful God. “Be still, and know that [He is] God” (Ps. 46:10). He can be trusted. He is our refuge and strength. Encourage one another with this truth from Psalm 46—our Help is here.

Notes:

^{1. William S. Plumer, Psalms: a Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks – Geneva Series Commentary (Carlisle, PA: the Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 522-523.}

Psalm 46 sermon: Our Help Is Here

September 21, 2008 - Crossway Community Church, Methuen, MA (church website) - sermon on Psalm 46 (audio) (manuscript)

How to Complain to God: a Meditation on Psalms 42 and 43

by Doug Smith This article originally appeared on SharperIron.

Have you ever seen a grievance form or policy? Many institutions offer a means through which a dissatisfied individual may file a complaint in a proper manner. Most places have enough sense to know that everything they do and everyone they hire will not consistently meet the highest standards of perfection at all times. Therefore, they offer a means to complain properly because there is a right way and a wrong way to complain.

God created the world for His glory. The original creation was perfectly ordered and supplied, and no one could have filed a legitimate grievance in it. But when sin entered the world, things changed. In a fallen world, much is not right. When Adam and Eve rebelled, they altered the relationships of humans to God and to one another. The earth itself was cursed, death became a reality, and work became difficult and futile. The woman began to know sorrow in childbirth; the man began to know sorrow in work. God knows we live in a world that is now imperfect. He understands that we face difficulties. He realizes that we will have complaints, but we have a right way and a wrong way to complain.

Many think Psalms 42 and 43 are one unit. They certainly share the common refrain (notice vv. 5 and 11 in Psalm 42 and v. 5 in Psalm 43).

Psalm 42 (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

¹ As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

⁴ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation ⁶ and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

⁷ Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

⁸ By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

¹⁰ As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 43 (ESV)

¹ Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!

² For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

The inscription of Psalm 42 presents itself as a Maskil of the sons of Korah. The ancestor of these sons led a number of men to complain from a heart of jealousy and vain ambition. They were swallowed up by the earth in judgment (see Num. 16). God clearly showed us that their kind of grumbling and griping was not the right way to complain.

The book of Psalms demonstrates to us the right way to complain. We often think of Psalms as a book of praise (which it certainly is), but laments and grievances to the Lord make up more than 60 of the 150 psalms. We are not sure who wrote Psalms 42 and 43 (some speculate David when running from Absalom or perhaps earlier in his life when running from King Saul). Nevertheless, these psalms present a lament that demonstrates how we should complain to God. Thankfully, the sons of Korah learned the lesson that we should make our complaints with honesty, trust, and hope.

An Honest Complaint

The psalmist bares his soul. He is not fabricating a complaint, but describes his desperate situation as he pours out his soul (42:4). He has an intense need for God, like the body needs water—he thirsts for Him like the deer for the flowing streams (42:1-2). He weeps at his enemies’ taunts (42:3), which wound him (42:10). He is separated from God’s people and misses corporate worship (42:4). He feels overwhelmed, rejected, and forgotten (42:7, 9; 43:2). He is cast down and troubled (42:5, 11; 43:5).

Have you ever felt as the psalmist did? God made us for Himself and in such a way that, in addition to private worship, we need to worship with others.

We need to be honest with God. Would the psalmist’s words describe you if you were in a similar situation? If you are a believer in Christ, are you part of a local church? If you are, do you thank God for it? Do you faithfully attend church and encourage your fellow believers? Perhaps you are thankful and blessed in regularly being with the people of God, but you can cry out on behalf of those persecuted for the cause of Christ, for the sick, for shut-ins, and for casualties of church closings and apostasies—those who lament the same kind of situation the psalmist faced.

Are you facing persecution or injustice? Do you feel God has rejected and forsaken you? Then tell Him so. Pour out your complaint to Him with honesty.

A Trusting Complaint

In addition to honesty, a proper complaint is characterized by trust. The very fact that the psalmist is praying is a good sign. He addresses God (42:1, 6, 9; 43:1-4), recognizes his need of God (42:1-2, 6), and prays when others say, “Where is your God?” (42:3, 10). He remembers God in a faraway land (42:4, 6) and demonstrates his faith in Him by speaking of His steadfast love and the song and prayer that are with him (42:8). He prays for vindication and deliverance, trusting God for these things (43:1). He calls for God to send out His light and truth and to guide him to His dwelling place (43:3).

The psalmist’s descriptions of God also give evidence of his trust. He calls Him his rock (42:9). He takes refuge in God (43:2), calls Him his help and his God (42:11), and finds his joy of joys in God (43:5).

Do you feel the same way about God? Is He the One you trust in? Do you pray to Him and believe He can do for you what you need? Can you complain to Him in a way that indicates you are trusting Him, or does your grievance amount to an unbelieving gripe?

A Hopeful Complaint

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God ” (Ps. 43:5; cf. Ps. 42:5, 11). Along with honesty and trust, the psalmist also displays hope in his complaint. He speaks to himself with the reminder to hope in God. He has an expectation of renewed praise, that he would yet praise God again. He believes God will deliver him. He has hope that God will lead him to His dwelling place and that he will go and praise God on the harp.

The psalmist clearly looks toward a brighter future from a dark place. Can you say the same thing? When you are hurting, do you remember the hope you have in God? Is your hope in Him or in your circumstances and earthly comfort?

Christ and Our Complaints

The psalmist wasn’t the only one to have this threefold aspect to his complaint. Ultimately, Jesus Christ exemplified this method.

Just before His passion, Jesus told the Father with bare honesty that He dreaded the hour to come (Matt. 26:36-42, 46; 27:45-46). He asked the Father to let the cup pass from Him, but prayed that, nevertheless, the Father’s will be done (Matt. 26:39ff.). God’s waves and billows truly went over our Lord Jesus as the Father punished Christ for our sins. Jesus not only felt forsaken but also was forsaken so those who trust Him would not have the same experience. Matthew 27:45-46 records that He cried out the words of Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Christ trusted the Father. He may well have had the whole of Psalm 22 in mind, knowing that He would be giving thanks to God after complaining (Ps. 22:22-31). He certainly had a song in the night, singing a hymn with His disciples on His way to be crucified after the supper with them. He showed trust in God by committing His spirit to Him in death (cf. Ps. 31:5).

Our hope is in this Man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief (Is. 53:3-4). We find no hope elsewhere. Though we are certain to have tribulation, the risen Christ has overcome the world, and that fact should encourage us (John 16:33). We can have the confidence of Romans 8:37-39—that we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us and that nothing (including all the sorrows and disappointments and persecution we may face) can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Conclusion

We see in Psalms 42 and 43 and in our Lord Jesus Christ that we have a proper way to complain to God. So what do you do when you are depressed and disappointed? Do you pray? Are you honest with God? Do you complain from a heart of faith? Do you, as the psalmist did, remind yourself of the hope you have in God?

Get familiar with the Psalms. Pray the Psalms. Look at what the Psalms teach us about our faithful God, about ourselves, and about our trials. They show us how to approach God and talk to ourselves in troubled times. Examine yourself in light of the Psalms. Preach the gospel to yourself and rejoice that one day God will wipe away every tear in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:4). But as long as we are in a fallen world, let us be sure that our complaints are the right kind: those that are honest, trusting, and hopeful.

Prayer, Praise, and Piety in the Psalms

I would like to thank my friend Jason Button for his hard work in providing an excellent intro to the Psalms this month as a guest blogger. He has provided some very helpful resources. Here are links to all his posts in that series:

• Prayer, Praise, and Piety: An Introduction to the Psalter
• Tuesday Miscellanies: Studying the Psalter
• Piety in the Psalter
• Prayer in the Psalter
• Praise in the Psalter

Praise in the Psalter

What is the chief end of the Psalter? We have considered the blessed life and have traveled a bit through the depths of lament, crying out to God for help, and have now reached the heights of gratitude and praise to God. As Arthur Jenks worded it, we have come from Beatitude to Allelujah!

In answering this question, lets consider the first catechism question "What is the chief end of man?" The Westminster Catechism answers, The chief end of man is to glorify and enjoy God for ever.

This is what the Psalter teaches us! In the end our lives is to be a reflection of God’s glory. He has revealed himself to us in word and in deed—he has proclaimed who and what he is beginning with his name, YHWH, the eternal, self-existing One. From this we have seen his words to Moses.

Exodus 34:6-7 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Throughout the rest of Scripture we see the outworking of this creed along with his many mighty and gracious deeds. Just as the psalmists base their prayers on this creed and his various deeds, they also are moved to express praise and thanksgiving to God on the same basis.

You will notice this clearly in the concluding five psalms of the Psalter. Psalms 148-150 are a subset within this final set of Hallelujah Psalms. These are called Praise Ye Him psalms. This is the case because of the frequent repetition of this phrase.

What I would like to consider, as we conclude this short series on the Psalter, is the following question: What do the Psalms teach us about praise?

Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

2 Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars!

4 Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created.

6 And he established them forever and ever;

he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all deeps,

8 fire and hail, snow and mist,

stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

10 Beasts and all livestock,

creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 Young men and maidens together,

old men and children!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his majesty is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his saints,

for the people of Israel who are near to him.

Praise the Lord! (ESV)

Drawing from the final three psalms we can conclude the following:

1. We are commanded to praise.
2. We are commanded to praise the LORD (Him, His name).
• The active verb occurs 75 times in the Psalms and its object is always God.
3. The command to praise is universal.
• From highest heaven to lowest earth.
• From inanimate objects to animate objects
• From highest ranking humans to the lowest classes of men
• From the oldest to the youngest
• See also Revelation 5:13 and 7:9f for more descriptions of universal worship.
4. Praise is essentially vocal.
• Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 cautions against hastiness in speaking before God. However, praise is unrestrained here in the Psalter.
• Notice the synonymous terms for praise in Psalm 149:
• Praise (1)
• Sing (1)
• Be glad (2)
• Rejoice (2)
• Praise...with dancing (3)
• Make melody (3)
• Let the high praises...be in their throats (6)

Psalm 149

1 Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the godly!

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

3 Let them praise his name with dancing,

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;

he adorns the humble with salvation.

5 Let the godly exult in glory;

let them sing for joy on their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats

and two-edged swords in their hands,

7 to execute vengeance on the nations

and punishments on the peoples,

8 to bind their kings with chains

and their nobles with fetters of iron,

9 to execute on them the judgment written!

This is honor for all his godly ones.

Praise the Lord! (ESV)

Psalm 150 is the Grand Finale of the Psalter. As a magnificent fireworks display concludes with an abundance of lights, colors, and sounds determined to overwhelm the senses with awe, so this final psalm unfolds. You get a sense of this from the rapid repetition of praise in each line; Praise the LORD...Praise God...praise him...Praise him...praise him...Praise him...praise him...Praise him...praise him...Praise him...praise him...praise the LORD...Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! (ESV)

Who? You! (1) & everything that has breath (6)

What should you do? Praise the LORD! (1)

Where should you praise him?

• In the sanctuary (1)
• In the mighty heavens (1)

Why should you praise him? Because of who he is and what he does. (2)

How should you praise him? (3-6)

• With various instruments
• Loudly (not timidly)
• As though you want the whole world to hear you!

Let us be about the business of living the blessed life, praying and praising our God and Savior deliberately and without restraint! May the LORD help us!

Prayer in the Psalter

"Lord, teach us to pray..." (Luke 11:1)

In answer to this request Jesus gave a model and then a philosophy of prayer (11:4-13). I find it interesting that many commentators insist that the disciple was not asking how to pray, but when they get into expositing the prayer they show that it does, in fact, teach us how to pray. Really, I think that there is a bit of both aspects involved here. Prayer was not a foreign practice to the disciples, but who can boast of understanding all of the

mystery bound up in prayer? Even the most seasoned prayer-warrior senses his inadequacy for the task. Along with that, it is true that the greatest trouble is more often motivation than it is know-how. Whatever it was exactly that this disciple had in mind when he made the request to Jesus, I find it fascinating that Jesus decided to answer his request by providing a short, model prayer.

I was taught this prayer as a child and it proved helpful to me as I learned how to speak with God. I remember being taught that it was merely a model and that I should learn to construct my prayers in a similar fashion. In the end, I was taught to pray using my own words. In the tradition in which I was reared we never used a prayer book or any other source of prescribed prayers. When men in the church prayed, their prayers were always impromptu, and often very simple and repetitive.

I've since had the privilege of visiting other churches and participating in worship services with a more obvious and intentional liturgy. I remember sitting in a conference at a Presbyterian seminary and wondering in amazement at the majesty and grandeur of the prayers prayed by the ministers. They were more deliberate, premeditated, and Scripture-saturated than I had ever heard before. I recently became aware of The Valley of Vision: a collection of puritan prayers and found this little book to be very helpful not only in my own prayer life, but also as I began to look into the Psalter to consider the model prayers it supplies. I've come to realize how beneficial a model prayer can be, and that impromptu praying can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. All in all, I believe that Jesus' answer to this disciple began by showing him that prayer ought to be deliberate, not haphazard and sloppy. Prayer is a great privilege and addressed to the God of the universe, the Savior of our souls. Our God is ready and willing to listen to our cry at any time, in any situation, and by means of a very liberal range of words, but as you will see as you look into the prayers contained in the Psalter, even the most immediate and hasty prayers where based upon a very deliberate structure.

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the major genres of psalms is that of lament. A lament is a form of speech that is full of mourning, grief, and sorrow. It is the speech of one who is in trouble or great distress. As the psalmists found themselves in great distress they presented their situations to God, asked for relief, and stated their confidence that he was able to do for them what they could not do for themselves. This is a form of prayer, but this is not the only form of prayer. There are also prayers of intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.

In the Psalter all of these types of prayers can be found, and there is a basic structure that underlies them all. Granted, the structure is flexible in that the elements may not always appear in the same order, and sometimes elements may not appear in a prayer at all. Some psalms combine aspects of laments and praise which make it difficult to label the psalm as one or the other. Most commentators just call them mixed psalms.

Beyond these characteristics, the reader ought to recognize when a prayer is given as that of an individual or of the community. Prayers of the individual employ the first person singular (I, me, my) style of direct address to God. Prayers of the community (I call them corporate prayers) employ the first person plural (we, us, our) style of address to God.

Basic Elements of Prayer Psalms -

So, what are the basic elements of Prayer Psalms? The following is a simplified list.

1. Invocation – Prayer psalms frequently open with the vocative “O Lord”.
2. Description of Trouble – Trouble in terms of a relation to God, to others, or to self.
3. Petition – The basic component of prayer psalms is a request to be heard and/or helped.
4. Motivation – Here the psalmist offers reasons why the petition should be heard. You will notice that the psalmists appeal to the character of God, the petitioners relation to God, and the dimensions and implications of the petitioner’s predicament.
5. Statement of Confidence (Assurance) – The psalmists frequently confess their complete trust in the LORD.
6. Vow to Praise - If the psalmist doesn't conclude with words of praise, he often concludes with a vow to praise. This often refers to the psalmists desire to tell others of what God has done, either in the sanctuary or among the nations.

(NOTE: I would highly recommend the ESV Literary Study Bible to you for many reasons and here specifically. Before each psalm is an introductory paragraph in which the editors identify the genre of the psalm and outline the basic elements that appear in it. This is and INVALUABLE resource which is especially helpful when studying the Book of Psalms!)

Prayer Psalms -

The following is a list of the Prayer psalms.

• Individual Lament – 3-7, 13, 17, 22, 25, 26, 28, 35, 38, 43, 51, 52, 54-57, 59, 61, 62, 64, 69, 70, 71, 77, 86, 88, 89, 102, 109, 120:2, 123, 126, 130, 139-144
• Individual or Communal Lament – 10, 12
• Communal Lament – 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90
• Penitential Psalms – 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 (see also 39)
• Simple Prayer - 131
• Prayer of Praise – 16, 21, 63, 67, 89
• Prayer Psalms that feature extensive confidence – 4, 16, 23, 27, 56, 62
• Intercessory Prayers – 20, 61, 72, 84:8-9
• Significant mix of Lament and Praise – 25, 31, 36, 40, 71, 77, 89, 126
• Imprecatory Psalms – 35, 58, 69, 104:35, 109, 137, 139:19-22

Problems of Interpretation -

Noting the pronouns is crucial to identifying whether or not the psalm is constructed from the vantage point of the individual or the community. That's obvious. But it is also important to note the pronouns in order to properly understand how to interpret the various elements (listed above).

• Who is the "I" in the psalms?
• The psalmists do not identify themselves. However, the superscriptions and the descriptions of trouble provide clues to the psalmists identity.
• We don't normally pray in third person, so we shouldn't expect a name to be stated.
• The anonymity of the speakers allow these prayers to be more accessible adaptable to successive generations of worshipers.
• While you not the first person singular "I", notice also the corresponding pronouns, me, my, and mine.
• Notice also the nouns and adjectives used to describe the "I", such as your servant.
• Notice also the groups with which the "I" identifies, such as the righteous, the faithful, the lowly, and the poor and needy.
• Who is the "You" in the psalms?
• This is the One to whom the psalmists cry.
• This is the One in whom they take refuge.
• This is the One whom they long to see.
• This is the One whom they love.
• This is Yahweh, the self-existent, eternal God, full of mercy, grace, longsuffering, loyal love, faithfulness, and forgiveness.
• Who is the "They" in the psalms?
• Similarly to the "I", the "they" is normally described, but unnamed.
• "They" are the adversaries of the LORD and his servants.
• "They" are the ones who oppress the poor and lowly, who mock the righteous, who slander the truthful, who plot against the faithful, who seek to destroy the godly.
• Although the identity of the adversary remains ambiguous, the identity of our Helper is clearly proclaimed. The LORD is able to deliver his saints from every form of evil.

In summary, the identity of the psalmist is assumed by the one who prays the prayer, the source of trouble is a common foe come in various forms, and the Deliverer remains to same yesterday, today, and forever!

The Language of the Petitions -

One final issue that must be considered is the language of the petitions. The psalmists form their petitions and the statements of motivation in light of The LORD's self-revelation. How has the LORD revealed himself to mankind. In many ways, but propositionally in the Law, and then in a very intimate way to his servant Moses. To Moses the LORD proclaimed who he is and what he delights to do and this is recorded for us in Exodus 34:6-7.

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (ESV)

If you will keep this self-revelation, this primitive creed, in mind as you read and study the prayer psalms you will notice that the petitions and motivations for God to hear and act are based explicitly upon this proclamation. Jesus gave to his disciples a fresh model of prayer fashioned according to the who God is and what he delights in. This is exactly what the psalmists provide for us; prayers constructed and offered up according to the character and desires of the one to whom they are addressed. (See an excellent example in the short Psalm 117.)

In closing, let's look at a couple of psalm and identify some of their basic elements. First, consider Psalm 13. This psalm contains all of the basic elements.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? [VOCATIVE & PETITION TO HEAR]

How long will you hide your face from me? [DESCRIPTION OF TROUBLE]

2 How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; [PETITION TO ACT]

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” [STATEMENT OF MOTIVATION]

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; [STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE (Notice the reference to the character of God.)]

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord, [VOW TO PRAISE]

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Finally, consider Psalm 61. This is a petitionary psalm which includes intercession for the king.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God, [VOCATIVE & PETITION TO HEAR]

listen to my prayer;

2 from the end of the earth I call to you [DESCRIPTION OF TROUBLE]

when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock [PETITION TO ACT]

that is higher than I,

3 for you have been my refuge, [MOTIVATION/STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE]

a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! [PETITION TO ACT]

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah [PETITION]

5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; [MOTIVATION]

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Prolong the life of the king; [INTERCESSION]

may his years endure to all generations!

7 May he be enthroned forever before God;

appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! [Notice the attributes of God. The same is desired or the king.]

8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, [VOW TO PRAISE]

as I perform my vows day after day.

Piety in the Psalter

“The Psalter begins with a Beatitude and ends with an Alleluia.”

(Arthur W. Jenks, Notes for Meditation on the Beatitudes of the Psalter, 1914)

Arthur Jenk's short work has been the only printed study on the beatitudes of the Psalter that I have been able to find, so far. He wrote from a distinctly Anglican perspective which limits some of the usefulness of his applications. Nevertheless, I found it to be interesting as I prepared to teach through this material in our adult Sunday School class.

Two other commentaries that provided a bit of help were James L. Mays' Psalms in the Interpretation series and Gerald Wilson's Psalms: Volume 1 in the NIV Application Commentary series. It was reading May's comments on the first two Psalms that caused me to take note of the various beatitudes scattered throughout the Psalter. In fact, I learned from Mays that Psalm 1 is integrally linked with Psalm 2 by the use of beatitudes (1:1 & 2:12). Together these two psalms form an introduction to the Psalter and the beatitudes used in them express the fruit of piety: Blessed is the man...[whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night* (1:1, 2) & Blessed are all who take refuge in him (2:12).

What Does "Blessed" Mean?

Blessed is the traditional translation of the saying’s formulaic word; contemporary translations prefer ‘happy’ in order to distinguish these sayings from pronouncements of blessing that invoke the beneficent work of God on persons and groups. In blessings, the formulaic Hebrew term is baruk; in beatitudes, ’ashre. The primary difference is that the blessing invokes God’s beneficent support of life, while the beatitude points to and commands the conduct and character that enjoy it.

(James L. Mays, Psalms, Interpretation, p. 41)

James Murphy in his classic commentary on the Psalms translates ashre/makarios as "happy". He defines it this way: “Happiness is here not an occasional outward condition, but an inward perpetuity of bliss, involving peace with my God, my neighbor, and myself.”

Peter Craigie clarifies that “their happy estate is not something given automatically by God, but is a direct result of their activity.” (Psalms 1-50, volume 1, WBC. p. 60)

Psalms 1, 32, 41, 92, and 128 all begin with this epithet (similar to the Sermon on the Mount).

'ashre occurs 26 times in the Psalter. Gerald Wilson has listed all of the occurences of ’ashre both outside and within the Psalms.

• Outside the Psalms: Deut. 33:29; 1 Kings 10:8; 2 Chron. 9:7; Job 5:17; Prov. 3:13; 8:32, 34; 14:21; 16:20; 20:7; 28:14; 29:18; Eccl. 10:17; Isa. 30:18; 32:20; 56:2; Dan. 12:12.
• Within the Psalms: Pss. 1:1; 2:12; 32:1, 2; 33:12; 34:8; 40:4; 41:1; 65:4; 84:4, 5, 16; 89:15; 94:12; 106:3; 112:1; 119:1, 2; 127:5; 128:1, 2; 137:8, 9; 144:15; 146:5.

So, according to the Psalter, what makes for a happy man? With the space remaining I will outline for you some of the categories used to describe the truly happy man.

1. The Happiness of Delighting in the Law of the LORD

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

• What he does not do (v. 1)
• What he does do (v. 2)

Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law,

• "But here it is the pupil speaking, not the teacher, and the words are a triumph of faith: a positive reaction to present trouble (1-7), and a personal reception of a general truth which would be easier to apply to 'the nations' than to oneself." (Kidner, vol 2, p. 342)

Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

• "...this person is a man of character, not merely of property...his godliness shows itself as an enthusiasm rather than a burden."
• "To this man God's word is as fascinating as are His works to the naturalist..."
• "What grips him is God's will and call." (Kidner, vol 2, p. 399)

Psalm 119:1-2 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

Psalm 128:1-2 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

• The ingredients of happiness:
• Reverence - a right relationship with God
• Obedience - the habits learned from Him.

2. The Happiness of Trusting in God

Psalm 2:12 Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

• Four interchangeable terms: trust, confidence, hope, and refuge
• See also: confide, seek shelter

• “What fear and pride interpret as bondage (3) is in fact security and bliss. And there is no refuge from him; only in him." (Kidner, vol 1, p. 53)

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

• The Hebrew word for "man" here is different from the one used in Psalm 1. Here, the gloss indicates a young man full of strength. Psalm 1 used the more common term for man which speaks of his status.
• Heb. 6:5 & 1 Peter 2:3 quote this text as the first venture into faith.
• “Tasting should be more than casual sampling.” (Kidner, vol 1, p. 140)
• The exhortation continues with “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” (v.9).
• Then, v. 11, "Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” See vv. 12-22.
• Verse 22 ends with “none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” I hope that you see the Messianic reference in v. 20. What is the greatest display of God’s trustworthiness?
• His Son trusted in Him and was not left desolate. See Psalm 16:8-11.

Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

• Essential to trust, hope and confidence is recognizing the source of our strength. When exiled from the place of routine happiness, there is still strength and happiness to be found in God. Our happiness is not bound to certain places, as wonderful as some places are. The source of our happiness is found in God.

Psalm 84:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

• Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (Jn 20:29)

Psalm 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. See the context…deliverance from strange children (v. 7)

Psalm 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

• We worked on memorizing this Psalm and found it to be a wonderful summary of many of the major themes we found in the Psalter.

3. The Happiness of Forgiveness

In Psalm 32 we find not only another Beatitude, but we find, as Calvin commented, “the gate of eternal salvation.”

Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

• “[This psalm] was a favorite with St Augustine, who ‘often read this Psalm with weeping heart and eyes, and before his death had it written upon the wall which was over against his sick-bed, that he might be exercised and comforted by it in his sickness.’ His words ‘intelligentia prima est ut te noris peccatorem’—the beginning of knowledge is to know thyself to be a sinner—might be prefixed to it as a motto.” (Kirkpatrick, Psalms, pp. 161-162).
• This is the second of the seven, so called, Penitential Prayers (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).
• In the NT, we find that Paul quotes this text in order to verify his argument that righteousness comes not by works but by faith in God (Romans 4:6-8).

Here is the full definition of the righteousness of faith: transgressions forgiven, sins covered, iniquity not imputed. The full dimension of human evil.

• Transgression – acts reflecting rebellion against God
• Sin – (the most general term) an offense, or turning away from the true path
• Iniquity – indicating distortion, criminality, or the absence of respect for the divine will

NOTE: These terms are used in the midst of synonymous parallelism and should not be dissected too much. The completeness of the Divine deliverance.

• Forgiven – the lifting, or removing of a burden
• Covered – concealed from sight, so that the foulness of sin no longer meets the eye of the judge and calls for punishment (Kirkpatrick)
• Counts no – the canceling of a debt, which is no longer reckoned against the offender

Altogether we see the JOY OF PARDON.

THE MISERY OF CONVICTION. (vv 3-4)

THE RELIEF BROUGHT BY CONFESSION. (v 5)

COMMENDATION OF REPENTANCE TO ALL. (vv 6-7)

DIVINE INSTRUCTION. (vv 7-11)

4. The Happiness of Being Chosen by the LORD

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

1. The Key to national success: that nation whose God is the LORD
1. not its own policies and plans (human aspirations)
2. but lives according to the sovereign plan of the LORD
1. This was not a role Israel chose
2. This was a role inherited via their election by God (VOCATION)

Psalm 144:15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

God is not only the God of nations, but also of individual.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

• Derek Kidner sees a gospel connection between verses 3 and 4 with Romans 5:1-2.
• See also 2 Corinthians 9:8.
• It on the basis of your election that you can approach Him (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Just as ancient Israel realized her vocation in the LORD, so you are made to realize your own vocation according to His policies and plans (His aspirations).

Psalm 4:3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

1 Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Ephes. 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Elect of God, what history are you writing? Is it according to your own policies and plans, or are you submitted to His sovereign plan?

5. The Happiness of Considering those Less Fortunate

Psalm 41:1-2 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; The Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

• "Blessed are the merciful." (Matt. 5:7)
• Questions for consideration:
• Who are the poor and needy?
• How am I to consider them?
• How must I deal with them?
• Carefully work through Psalms 9 and 10 and note the following:
• Note the two different groups by making a list of words and phrases used to describe each
• Note how each group acts toward God
• Note how each group acts toward the other
• Note all of the references to God's posture toward the wicked
• Note all of the references to God's posture toward the poor
• Now, go back and reconsider the "questions for consideration"

6. The Happiness of Abiding in the Presence of the LORD

Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!

Psalm 89:15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Who may dwell in the presence of the LORD?

• Psalm 15 speaks of the moral requirements of worshipers

Should there be a difference between the expression of your faith in private and in public?

Is there a place where the LORD uniquely dwells?

I'll leave those questions for you to consider. Also, consider this. True worship is the engagement of the whole person "all that I am to all that God is" (Grogan, Prayer, Praise, and Prophecy)

Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 43:3-4, Psalm 122:1-4, Psalm 137:5-6

Conclusion

There are a few other categories which would require more space for an adequate presentation. However, I trust that this will suffice to give you, at least, a glimpse at the portrait painted by the psalmists of the truly happy man.

____________________

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prayer, Praise, and Piety: An Introduction to the Psalter

Introduction
The Book of Psalms (the Psalter) is the favorite book of the Bible for many Christians. It is a book toward which I find myself frequently gravitating. Why is this the case? A few answers might be as follows:

• Many of our hymns are based upon portions or phrases from the Book of Psalms.


• O Everlasting Light by Horatius Bonar – Psalm 19
• He Leadeth Me by Joseph Gilmore – Psalm 23
• The King of Love My Shepherd Is by Henry Baker – Psalm 23
• Be Still My Soul by Katherine von Schlegel – Psalm 46:10
• The Broken Heart by Thomas Dennis – Psalm 69:20
• Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken by John Newton – Psalm 87
• Joy to the World by Isaac Watts – Psalm 98
• Praise My Soul the King of Heaven by Henry Lyte – Psalm 103
• Unto the Hills by J. D. S. Campbell – Psalm 121
• I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord by Timothy Dwight – Psalm 137:5-6 (esp. stanza 3)
• All Creatures of Our God and King by Francis of Assisi – Psalm 148
• And many others could be mentioned.

• We have probably memorized more verses from the Psalms than from any other book.
• The Book of Psalms is the most frequently quoted book in the New Testament.
• It is frequently quoted in the OT, too. (There are many parallels in the historical books and direct quotations in the prophets.)

Throughout the centuries commentators have written about the way the Psalter probes, exposes, and instructs the hearts of the saints. I offer here a sampling of some of my favorite quotes on the Psalter.The Psalter is also the most translated book of the Bible. Jerome began his Latin translation with the Book of Psalms and was not satisfied until he had retranslated it for the third time. NT Bibles are often published with the book of Psalms at the end. The Psalter served as the worship manual of Israel and has continued to serve the church in a similar fashion. It is a guide to both corporate and personal worship. While it contains some historical material, it is not a historical book. Although it contains some prophetic material, it is not a prophetical book either. It is a book written and shaped over a period of 1,500 years by a number of different people. It is a book that gives us a glimpse into the life of prayer, praise, and piety. It is a collection of God-inspired songs, hymns, and prayers that serve as models for both individual and corporate worship.
We need to learn how to pray. We need to learn how to praise. We need to learn to live with God-honoring piety. The Psalter guides us in each of these areas. It invites us to eavesdrop on the prayers of saints from long ago, to lift up our hands with them in universal and everlasting praise to Yahweh, and to be instructed in the way of true happiness.
What the Commentators Have Said
In his Letter to Marcellinus, Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, argued that,

[I]n the Psalter...you learn about yourself. You find depicted in it all the movements of your soul, all its changes, its ups and downs, its failures and recoveries. Moreover, whatever your particular need or trouble, from this same book you can select a form of words to fit it, so that you do not merely hear and then pass on, but learn the way to remedy your ill. ...For I think that in the words of this book all human life is covered, with all its states and thoughts, and that nothing further can be found in man. For no matter what you seek, whether it be repentance and confession, or help in trouble and temptation or under persecution, whether you have been set free from plots and snares or, on the contrary, are sad for any reason, or whether, seeing yourself progressing and your enemy cast down, you want to praise and thank and bless the Lord, each of these things the Divine Psalms shows you how to do, and in every case the words you want are written down for you, and you can say them as your own.

(Athanasius. The Life Of Antony And The Letter To Marcellinus, translated by Robert C. Gregg, Paulist Press, New York; 1980, pp. 101-129.)

Along the same line, Martin Luther wrote,

In the Psalms we looked into the heart of all the saints, and we seem to gaze into fair pleasure gardens--into heaven itself, indeed--where blooms in sweet, refreshing, gladdening flowers of holy and happy thoughts about God and all his benefits.

(Martin Luther. Luther’s Works, vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1960, 255-56.)

In the preface to his commentary on the Psalter, John Calvin remarked,

I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, “An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul;” for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated….It is by perusing these inspired compositions, that men will be most effectually awakened to a sense of their maladies, and, at the same time, instructed in seeking remedies for their cure. In a word, whatever may serve to encourage us when we are about to pray to God, is taught us in this book.

(John Calvin in "The Author's Preface" to Calvin's Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1, p. xxxvii.)

Fast-forwarding to the twentieth century Tremper Longman has written that,

The Psalms are a kind of literary sanctuary in the Scripture. The place where God meets his people in a special way, where his people may address him with their praise and lament.

(Tremper Longman. How to Read the Psalms, p. 12.)

And Derek Kidner has added that,

[T]he Psalter, taken on its own terms, is not so much a literary library, storing up standard literature for cultic requirements, as a hospitable house, well lived in, where most things can be found and borrowed after some searching, and whose first occupants have left on it everywhere the imprint of their experiences and the stamp of their characters.

(Derek Kidner. Psalms 1-72: An Introduction & Commentary, p. 18.)

With these thoughts in mind I would like to briefly consider the themes of Prayer, Praise, and Piety in the Psalms. As we do so, I must confess that I had a little bit of help with this title. Geoffrey Grogan has written a very helpful theology of the Psalms entitled Prayer, Praise, and Prophecy (Ross-shire, UK: Mentor, 2001). I have greatly benefited from his work and highly recommend it to you. His title highlights three major themes in the Psalter. Truly, the first two are more prominent in that they are the two basic kinds of psalms, namely prayer and praise. Some commentators use the term lament for prayer. There are other genres, or types, of psalms but these two work well for general categories. One of the great treasures of the Psalter is the wealth of messianic references. Grogan develops the prophetic theme very nicely, but, for my current study, I chose to deal with the theme of piety. My initial interest has been to discover the psalmists' collective portrait of the individual worshiper; how he prays, how he expresses praise to God, and how he lives before God and others.
A Bit of the Structure
As you look at the structure of the Psalter you will see a progression of sorts from a high concentration of laments to a crescendo of praise. Sprinkled throughout are glimpses into the life of piety. Here is a basic outline of the major divisions in the Psalter:

• Book I - Psalms 1-41
• Book II - Psalms 42-72
• Book III - Psalms 73-89
• Book IV - Psalms 90-106
• Book V - Psalms 107-150

These divisions are indicated by the appearance of doxological statements at the conclusion of each.

• Doxology—41:13 “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”
• Doxology—72:18-19 “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”
• Doxology—89:52 “Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.”
• Doxology—Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the entire Psalter, as well as for the final book.

The first two books are predominantly psalms of David.

• David—Pss. 3-9, 11-32, 34-41 (Ps. 2 is ascribed to David in Acts 4-25; Pss. 9 and10 were more than likely united at first; likewise with Pss. 32 and 33), 51-66, 68-70
• The sons of Korah—Pss. 42-49
• Asaph—Ps. 50
• Unknown—Pss. 67, 71
• Solomon—Ps. 72

Book 3 is dominated by Levitical authors.

• Asaph—Pss. 73-83
• The sons of Korah—Pss. 84-85, 87
• David—Ps. 86
• Heman—Ps. 88
• Ethan—Ps. 89

Books 4 and 5 are full of late compositions and are predominantly anonymous (regarding human authorship).

• Moses—Ps. 90
• Unassigned—Pss. 91-100, 102, 104-106, 107, 111-121,123, 125-126, 128-130, 132, 134-137, 146-150
• David—Pss. 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 139-145
• Solomon—Ps. 127

Here is a summary of authorship according to the superscriptions—

• David wrote 73
• Solomon wrote 2
• Moses wrote 1
• The sons of Korah wrote 11
• Asaph wrote 12
• Ethan wrote 1
• Heman wrote 1
• 48 are anonymous

Having considered the authors you can begin to think back to some of their circumstances and understand the types of psalms they would have penned. Many of David's psalms were penned during times of distress. Most of the lament psalms are from the pen of David. (The psalms of David are shown in red.)

• Individual Lament – Book 1: 3-7, 13, 17, 22, 25, 26, 28, 35, 38 Book 2: 43, 51, 52, 54-57, 59, 61, 62, 64, 69, 70, 71 Book 3: 77, 86, 88, 89 Book 4: 102 Book 5: 109, 120:2, 123, 126,130, 139-144
• Individual or Communal Lament – Book 1: 10, 12
• Communal Lament – Book 2: 44, 60 Book 3: 74, 79, 80, 83, 85 Book 4: 90

Thus the first two books are dominated by psalms of lament. There is a bit of a mixture in the books 3-5, however the dominance of praise in the final book, and especially the final five psalms, is unmistakable.

• Prayers of Praise – Book 1: 16, 21 Book 2: 63, 67 Book 3: 89
• Significant mix of Lament and Praise – Book 1: 25, 31, 36, 40 Book 2: 71, 77 Book 3: 89 Book 5: 126
• Psalms of Praise


• Nature psalms Book 1: 8, 19, 29 Book 3: 104 Book 5: 148
• Special Hallelujah psalms Book 4: 103-106 Book 5: 107 (Notice the phrases "Bless the LORD," "Praise the LORD" (hallelujah), and "Oh give thanks to the LORD.")
• Great Hallelujah psalms Book 5: 111-118
• Small Hallelujah psalms Book 5: 134-139
• Final Hallelujah psalms Book 5: 145-150

Transition
In my next post, Tuesday the 5th, I will share links to a number of sources I've collected that have been helpful to me in studying the Psalms. On Wednesday and Friday I intend to conclude this Introduction by drawing out the highlights of the three themes introduced above. 'Til then!