Overview of the Psalms

Psalm 103

Why read the Psalms?

Not a lot of people like poetry…

This is God’s Word - Our Lord spoke often from the Psalms, we ought to follow in his ways and read his word…

During the Reformation, the recovery of the Bible for all the church meant a recovery of the Psalms .

Luther - “The Psalter ought to be a precious and beloved book, if for no other reason than this: it promises Christ’s death and resurrection so clearly—and pictures his kingdom and the condition and nature of all Christendom—that it might well be called a little Bible.”

Calvin called the Psalms, “An Anatomy of the Soul; for there is not an emotion of which anyone 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.”

Calvin set the Psalm to Meter, so they could be sung

The sermon series -

Songs of Faith for the People of God - to explore the book of Psalms, deepen our knowledge of God, and enrich in our devotion and worship.

About the Psalms

Notes given before the Psalm

The Authors -

Dates of the Psalms, ranging from Psalms of Moses (1410 BC) to post-Exile (early 5th cent) - 900 years!

73 attributed to, or of, David. 11 psalms are by “The Sons of Korah.” Another 12 by Asaph.

All are inspired by the H.S. (2 Tim 3:16-17) & received as God’s Word.

Seen especially in Jesus’ use of the Psalms:

Showing his identity: Ps 110, “the Lord said to my lord… if David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”

In His cry from the cross: Ps 22 “My God, My God”

In Lk 24, the Emmaus Road, all the law, prophets, and psalms not only point to him, but he is the answer to their prayers and expectation.

Setting or occasion of the Psalm

Ps 34 - When David pretended to be crazy, was sent out from Abimelech (1 Sam 21:13) “Taste and see…”

Ps 51 - Of David, when Nathan went to David after he had gone to Bathsheba, “Have mercy on me O Lord”

Musical Cues

Psalms - Greek title of the book - for πσαλμος, which means “to pluck an instrument” meant for music; the Hebrew title is תהלים, which means “Praise”

Selah (a musical interlude?); Sheminith “octave” for an 8 stringed instrument, or at an octave lower; Shiggaion, Maskel, Miktam (genres of music).

Organization

150 Psalms, divided into 5 books, perhaps to correspond with the 5 books of the law (Gen through Deuteronomy)

Book 1: 1-41 Man’s Adoration of God - Genesis

Book 2: 41-72 Redemption - Exodus

Book 3: 73-89 Worship - Leviticus

Book 4: 90-106 Wonderings - Numbers

Book 5: 107-150 God’s Word - Deuteronomy

Themed Sections

Hallel Psalms (113-118) psalms related to Passover.

Songs of Ascent (120-134) for pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Literary Devices

Figures of speech - to express emotive, not literal, truth

Metaphor (is) Ps 18:2 The Lord is my Rock and my fortress…

Simile (like, as) Ps 144:4 Man is like a breath

Hyperbole - purposeful overstatement: Ps 6:6 Every night I flood my bed with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping…

Apostrophe addressing a personified object: Ps 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him all you shining stars!

Rhyming, not of words of but ideas, parallelism

(A-B-C-B-A; AABBCC)

Acrostic - Psalm 119

Types of Psalms

Psalms of Praise - our Psalm for Today - praising and extolling the attributes of God

Psalms of Thanksgiving - Ps 106, for God’s deliverance and provision - similar to praise

Royal (Messianic) Psalms - Ps 110:1 deal with the king as God's anointed or chosen one

Psalms of Lament - Ps 22 cries to God in despair, usually turning to praise or hopeful anticipation

Psalms of Imprecation - Ps 10 call for God’s justice and destruction an enemy (break the arm of the evildoer)

Psalms of Wisdom - Ps 1, 119; describing the wise and the foolish, extolling God’s Word

An Exposition of Psalm 103

An Aside Psalm -

Theatre, an aside is spoken by a character, not intended to be heard by others on the stage, working out inner dialogue. This Psalm is not addressed to God, but to the self, remembering and encouraging a life built upon the goodness of God.

The Structure of Psalm 103:

A - Bless the Lord, my soul, for all his benefits (1-5)

B - Because of who God is (6-13) - shown to Moses

C - Because of who we are (14-16)

B - Because of who God is (17-19) - eternal kingdom

A - Bless the Lord, all creation (20-22)

Bless the Lord for His Benefits

The Benefits, Accomplishments, Deeds of God:

He forgives - all iniquities

As far as the east is from the west

He heals all diseases

He redeems from the pit (trap, grave, corruption)

He crowns (encloses, surrounds) you with steadfast love and mercy

God’s Fatherlike love for those who fear him

Even then, he is gracious

He satisfies with good

Renewed like the eagle - long-lived, with strength and speed

This is the voice of someone who knows God, and has benefited from God’s goodness

Who God is and who we are.

Looking at who God is

He is righteous, just, merciful and gracious

These are not NT themes, but the consistent revelation of God to his people

Revealed to Moses (the Law),

God has spoken, that we might know him, his righteousness, justice - not left to imagination

And in acts to the people (deliverance from captivity)

His compassion and patience, he doesn’t deal with us as we deserve (mercy), but gives us what we could never hope for (grace).

Looking at us -

We are dust, like grass, flowers quickly fading

Insignificant and small

We stand in need of forgiveness, healing, and redemption

His Kingdom is Forever - Eschatology

His love is everlasting

His covenant faithfulness

His kingdom rules over all

Reading with Christ in the Psalms

We have the corrected interpretive lens for reading Psalms - through the gospel of Christ

Forgiveness in the Psalms was through the perpetual sacrificial system, which God graciously gave to point to what was to come. The forgiveness in the Gospel is through the perfect atoning work of Christ.

In Jesus is perfect forgiveness, healing, redemption, and satisfaction. His blood shed upon the cross fully atoned for our sins, and his resurrection justifies all who trust in Him.

The law of God (given by Moses) was kept on our behalf perfectly in Christ.

Mt 5:17 - he came not to abolish, but to fulfill the law

The steadfast love of God was seen most clearly in Christ

Ro 5:8 God proves his love in that while we were sinners Christ died for us

vs 14 He knows our frame

Heb 3 The High Priest who can sympathize with us

A call to praise!

Reading the Psalms with Christ in your soul - encourages us to greater praise

Think of all his benefits - and praise Him!

Praise the Lord - all that is in me…

Praise should rise from every fiber of your being