Key word: Praise
As we travel across America in our automobile, especially on the older highway systems such as Route 66, there often is only short distances between towns and cities. But if you are driving across states like Kansas, Nebraska, Montana or the Dakotas, you can travel great distances with no towns, or even gas stations, Psalms is kind of like that. It is by far, the largest book in the Bible with 150 chapters varying from two verses to 176. It is a collection of songs and prayers, gathered from the time of Moses to Solomon and beyond – covering several centuries. David wrote approximately half the Psalms but there are numerous other contributors. Unlike driving across desolate places in America, the Psalms, while extremely long, is a virtual oasis of heart-felt prayers, cries to God for help, thanksgiving and songs of praise. The Psalms, somewhere, touches on every circumstance and emotion we experience, so, no wonder it is so loved by God’s people. In the end, it is a book about praising and worshipping God, thus our key word is praise.
Because of its length, Psalms is divided into five books, each ending in a doxology of praise. And so, unlike our previous stops along the biblical Route 66, we will spend five days observing these five books within the book.
Book 5 – Psalm 107-150 emphasizes the word of God. The Messiah is pictured both in his sufferings and in his glorious return. Psalm 110 has the distinction of being the most frequently cited Psalm, more, the most frequently cited Old Testament passage in the New Testament.
Psalm 110 verses are quoted or alluded to a full 17 times in New Testament Scriptures, and verse 4 which contains the only Old Testament reference to Melchizedek outside of Genesis 14, is quoted 3 times in Hebrews and serves as the basis of the whole argument given in Hebrews 7 – that Christ is our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. Therefore, Christ’s role as both King and Priest is declared in this one short, amazing Psalm.
This book contains some impressive content. Psalms 113-118 are known as the Hallel Psalms, or hymns of praise, and were sung at feasts and Psalms 120-134 are called the Pilgrim Psalms and were sung by Jewish people as they traveled to Jerusalem for the three most important feasts. Then the book ends with God’s hallelujah chorus (Psalms 146-150), each Psalm beginning and ending with “praise the Lord,” with Psalm 150 sounding the high note.
Key verse: Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.
