Psalms
Psalms (Greek "psalmos", meaning song), Tehilim in Hebrew, is one of the most popular books in the entire Bible, . Many people read the Psalms in times of trouble and for spiritual consolation and comfort (Deep sense of joy, peace and strength). At 30,000 original words, it comprises nearly 2.5% of the entire Bible,[1] and is quoted 116 times in the New Testament.[2] The Book of Psalms is widely used in prayers, hymns, and popular sayings. The Epistle to the Hebrews -- the cornerstone of the New Testament -- quotes ten Psalms (2, 8, 22, 40, 45, 95, 102, 104, 110, and 118), and attributes at least one of these Psalms (95) to the Holy Spirit: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."[3]
Psalms are soothing and healing to recite and many people memorized them (See: Bible memorization). Psalms consists of 150 songs, poems, and prayers (psalms) written in praise to God by unknown authors, as an example of the best of the public.[4]
Psalms is the source of the phrase "Peace be within you" Psalm 122:8 ,[5] and Psalms is commonly used as the basis for Christian hymns. Psalms also contain important Bible prophecies.
The most popular Psalms, in this order, are Psalm chapters 23, 91, 1, and 139.[6]
The book of Psalms is arranged into five smaller books, similar to the structure of the five books of the Pentateuch (or Written Torah):
| Book One | Psalms 1-41 |
| Book Two | Psalms 42-72 |
| Book Three | Psalms 73-89 |
| Book Four | Psalms 90-106 |
| Book Five | Psalms 107-150 |
Contents
Psalms, Christianity and prophecy
See also: Psalms as Prophecy and Bible prophecy
The Psalms have an important role in biblical prophecy and quotations in the New Testament. When Jesus is on the cross, he quotes Psalm 22. In Christian circles, Psalm 22 is often regarded as a Psalm that foreshadows the future suffering of Jesus.
See: Christians' indicating Psalms as Prophecy and Bible prophecy.
As Music
See also: Singing
The Hebrew “Book of Praises” is the oldest song-book still in use. The term, “psalm” is from the Greek for striking or plucking and came to mean a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. It was translated as such in the 3rd century Septuagint. Psalms have been an important part of Jewish liturgy throughout the world (they crossed the Atlantic to America in colonial times). The destruction of the temple at Jerusalem in AD 70 and the subsequent ban on Jewish instrumental music gave impetus to a tradition of unaccompanied vocal and choral singing in synagogues, especially of psalms, that has lasted with little change to this day.
The psalms have been at the musical center of Christian liturgy since the Church was created, in all the various orthodox rites, and into certain Protestant services. Their course has followed the traditions of western church music (see plainchant, antiphon, polyphony and the like.) Nearly every noted composer up to the 19th century, and many since, have set psalms to music representative of their times, either as “serious” music or popular congregational hymns.
Psalm 23 is well known across religious lines and is often read at funerals. It begins "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want..." Two notable 20th century examples of psalm settings that are familiar in the concert hall are the “Symphony of Psalms of Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms”; the latter commissioned for use in a Christian cathedral from a Jewish composer.
Psalm Headings
Roughly half of the Psalms are attributed to David (e.g., “Of David”) in their headings or superscription, but the precise meaning of that is the subject of scholarly discussion.[7] Other Psalms have superscriptions of “For the choirmaster,” and “According to the lilies.”
Psalms and Isaiah
See also: Book of Isaiah and Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah mirrors Psalms:
- Isaiah 40:26 and Psalm 100:3
- Isaiah 49:7 and Psalm 22:6
- Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22
Trivia
Strictly speaking, as the Psalms are a collection of songs, it doesn't have chapters (which are later divisions for easy reference). However, counting the individual psalms as chapters, the following are true:
- Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible with two verses, and also the middle chapter of the Bible.
- Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. The verses are sub-divided into 22 stanzas of eight verses each (one for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet; some translations will show both the Hebrew letter and the English name for that letter).
See also
External links
- Survey of Psalms, Biblerefs.com
- Book of Psalms, Bible Project website
- Psalms, Biblestudytools.com
Videos:
- Psalms - Video playlist, Video playlist
References
- ↑ It is part of the Old Testament, specifically in the third section of the Jewish Ketuvim.
- ↑ See Psalms in New Testament.
- ↑ Psalms 95:7-8 (ESV).
- ↑ The authorship of Psalms is entirely anonymous, and the Dead Sea Scrolls have indications that Psalms were a work-in-progress. Some view David as the author of half (73) of these psalms. Other authors were the sons of Korah, Asaph, and Solomon, among others. At least 48 Psalms are widely recognized as having completely unknown authorship.
- ↑ ESV.
- ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2010/02/the-top-25-bible-passages-of-2009/
- ↑ https://www.logos.com/grow/bsm-superscriptions-in-psalms/
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