The Book of Psalms is a unique and profound component of the Bible, distinct from what one might liken to doctrinal treatises and sermons, as C. S. Lewis once said.[1] They are, in essence, lyrical poems meant to be sung aloud and most beautifully in public worship. Originally written in Hebrew, the Psalms may not sound as rhythmic in translation, but they still convey deep theological treasures and wisdom, revealing, for example, who God is, who we are, and how we ought to live. This poetic, hymnic, and congregationalist characteristic sets the Psalms apart, offering a rich tapestry of divinely revealed truths nestled within their verses.
The Gateway Psalms and Overview
In order to fully appreciate the Psalms, one must first understand their context: The first two chapters of The Book of Psalms serve as a gateway to the rest of the book. But before one delves into these chapters, a general overview can prove helpful to the reader. The Psalms, known in Hebrew as Sefer Tehillim or “Book of Praises,” are a collection of poems compiled over a thousand years, divided into five books. These poems were used and offered up in public worship, expressing adoration, joy, thanksgiving, cries for help, and lamentation.
The term “Psalm” comes from the Greek word psalmos, which is a translation of the Hebrew mizmor, meaning “song.” This Greek term is often associated with the musical instrument, the harp, and was adopted during New Testament times, as evidenced in Luke 20:42 and Acts 1:20:
42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms (ψαλμός),
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand… (Lk. 20:42).
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms (ψαλμός),
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let another take his office’… (Acts 1:20).
Authorship and Diversity of the Psalms
Contrary to public opinion, which has proven time and again to be a common misconception (and in large part due to biblical illiteracy), King David did not write all of the Psalms. While David did author 73 of the 150 Psalms, other contributors include the sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon, and Moses. Approximately 100 Psalms can be attributed to specific authors, but many remain anonymous. This anonymity does not, however, diminish their value; the Psalms’ rich diversity of human expression includes themes of lament, praise, thanksgiving, celebration of God’s law, confidence, wisdom, royalty, history, and prophecy. Consider the gateway Psalms (1-2), which emphasize the objective of God’s people to embrace God’s inspired Word (Psalm 1), and thus to embrace the One from which the Word comes, that being, from the Lord (Psalm 2).
Despite this diversity of human expression, the Psalms are unified by their theology. They proclaim the monotheistic reality of God, the historical reality of Creation and Fall, and the covenant reality between God and His people, which, contrary to what some might believe, extends to the Christian church today. The God of Israel is our God, and we, as Christians, are His people through the redemptive work of the Son, Jesus Christ. We are, to use the apostle Paul’s illustration, wild branches which have been grafted in to the Lord’s vine (Rom. 11:11-31). This is something that the Psalms had alluded to prophetically, and that the Messiah would restore all things and make all things right again, and this is what the Messiah, the Christ, had come to do, and which He is still doing now, and which He will bring to completion upon His return (Ps. 2; 72; 110).
Contemporary Relevance and Worship
The Psalms, thus, are most relevant for our faith and living, and though we cannot sing them in their original Hebrew form (there are very few who can!), they can nonetheless be sung in our own languages. For instance, my wife and I are teaching our children over these summer months to sing Psalm 98, “O Sing a New Song to the Lord”, which celebrates God’s salvation and calls all the earth to praise Him. Consider the literary, hymnic structure of Psalm 98:
Sing, for God Has Worked Salvation for His People
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Let All the Earth Sing Loudly and Joyfully
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
Let All Nature Join in the Song
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Now consider the musical rendition below by Brian Sauvé, Christian pastor in Ogden, Utah, from his album Sing Psalms, Let Joy Resound (2021):
Over the course of the history of the church, many hymns have been composed based on the Psalms—some are even the Psalms themselves. And this practice has continued today with musicians restoring these ancient hymns to musical form. First, for the glory of God, and second, for the benefit of God’s people as they gather together for public worship.
In conclusion, the Psalms offer a mosaic of symphonies that individually and collectively praise God in myriad ways. From the first Psalm to the last, from the gateway of Psalm 1 to the end piece of Psalm 150, we are provided with a profound and timeless understanding of God’s character, our relationship with Him, and how we should live Coram Deo.
[1] C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1958), 2.