Some Benefits of Familiarity with the Psalms

jaybird0827 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 01:09 PM

An item regarding the Psalms in ancient church history:

Quote:

“The women, the children, and the humblest mechanics, could repeat all the Psalms of David; they chanted them at home and abroad: they made them the exercises of their piety and the refreshment of their minds. Thus they had answers ready to oppose temptation, and were always prepared to pray to God, and to praise him, in any circumstance, in a form of his own inditing.”

-- Apostolic Constitutions

Backwoods Presbyterian · #2 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 01:19 PM

I read a Psalm to my daughter every night when she goes to bed. Good for me and her...

AV1611 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 01:43 PM

I have been working slowly through Sigmund Mowinckel's The Psalms in Israel's Worship which has been a real appreciation. I have come to see them is a new light, one example is Psalm 24:

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

It was fascinating to have the cultic setting of this psalm explained!

VirginiaHuguenot · #4 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 01:51 PM

Jay -- Thank you for this good word, brother. In olden times, people knew the psalms by heart. This may have been a matter of necessity where some lacked Bibles or sufficient access thereto, or not, but it provided the means whereby those imprisoned for their faith, along with martyrs at their execution, could recite or sing psalms without relying on Bibles and Psalters because they carried the words in their hearts.

Ps. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart

I am thinking of (among others):

Jesus on the Cross (Ps. 22)
Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16.25)
Jean Ribault (Ps. 132)
Margaret Wilson (Ps. 25)
John Huss (Ps. 30)
John Rogers (Ps. 51)
Lady Jane Grey (Ps. 51)

stories related to psalms

Sonoftheday · #5 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 01:53 PM

I read the book of Hebrews again this morning, and was amazed at the amount of quotes given from the Psalms. It shows how well the early church was learned in them.

Augusta · #6 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 02:41 PM

We are trying with our family to have a specific tune matched with a specific Psalm so that we will commit much of the Psalter to memory. It is very easy to memorize songs with particular tunes. We already have a few memorized. I want to have them stored up in my memory so that if I am ever without access to the scriptures or the Psalter I will still be able to comfort myself or others with them.