The Book
of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. It features 150 ancient Hebrew
poems, songs, and prayers. It covers deep human emotions from sorrow to joyful
worship across five distinct sections.
The Psalms
are split into five separate books:
1.
Book
One (Psalms 1-41):
Mostly poems by David focusing on personal trials, trust and lament.
2.
Book
Two (Psalms
42-72): Focuses on deliverance, longing for God, and kingship.
3.
Book
Three (Psalms
73-89): Grapples with crisis, national pain, and the Babylonian exile.
4.
Book
Four (Psalms
90-106): Shifts focus to God’s eternal reign and comfort during hard times.
5.
Book
Five (Psalms
107-150): Celebrates restoration, features the Songs of Ascent, and ends in
massive praise.
BOOK ONE: There was not a king who loved the
God of Israel more than King David. When he conquered Jerusalem he brought the
ark of the covenant into the city ‘with gladness’ and led a procession of
Israelites playing instruments, shouting, singing and dancing ‘before the Lord
with all his might’ in praise of the God he worshipped (2 Samuel 6:12-15). No
king of Israel was more free from idolatrous inclinations or practices than
David. Because of this, he became the standard of excellence that all
subsequent kings came to be measured by.
David’s
valour and his accomplishments as a king were outstanding. His reign is known in the annals of
history as ‘the golden age of Israel’. His love for the God of
Israel can leave you breathless through the psalms he wrote about Him.
King David
is traditionally celebrated as the ancient world’s premier lyricist and the
“sweet psalmist of Israel”. He started as a young shepherd in Bethlehem, using
quiet hours outdoors to play stringed instruments and craft early melodies. His
skill on the harp or lyre earned him a spot playing for King Saul to soothe the
king’s troubled moods. That was the beginning of his stint as the second king
of Israel.
Biblical
accounts note that he designed and built new musical instruments for worship
settings. As king, he organized the musical worship of Israel. He appointed
Levites to be musicians and singers in the service of the tabernacle (1
Chronicles 15:16). His talents included composition and performance of music.
He is credited with inventing musical instruments for four thousand porters who
praised the Lord with them (1 Chronicles 23:5).
I was going
to list David’s many accolades praising the God of Israel but just one tells everything
about his love for Him and his trust in His salvation:
“The Lord
is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my
cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (Psalm 23)
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
No comments:
Post a Comment