Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Psalm 150:1-2 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise
Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise
Him according to His excellent greatness!
LESSONS FROM THE PSALMS
The Book of Psalms is the hymnbook of the Old Testament, but a
hymn-book which was given through the inspiration of God. They were
poems sung to musical accompaniment, and with the theme of worship to
God.
Christ fills the Book of Psalms in the many Messianic Psalms found
there. Up to this point in the history of the people of Israel, this
was the clearest picture of what the Savior would do for His people.
From the Psalms we learn that the Savior of the world would come to
suffer for our sins (Psalms 22, 69); He would be rejected by the
leaders of Israel (118:22); mocked during His suffering (22:8);
betrayed by a friend (41:9); His hands and His feet would be pierced
(22:16); He would be given vinegar to drink (69:21); His clothing
would be divided up by lot (22:18); but not one of His bones would be
broken (34:20); He would rise from the dead (16:10); and He would
reign forever as priest and King (110).
The Book of Psalms is also a rich source of Bible doctrine as it
teaches us about sin, repentance and forgiveness (51), the attributes
of God (139), God's work of creation (104), God's providence in the
history of His people (78), and praising the LORD for all He has done
(103).
The Book of Psalms expresses the whole range of emotions which God's
children face while we are here on this earth. The Book of Psalms is
a book for every occasion, for every time in our life. It is full of
personal Psalms about betrayal (55), depression (43), distress (39);
and prayers to God for guidance (25), help (28), deliverance (86),
mercy (102), and much more.
Along with the Psalmist let us pray: "My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You
answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of
Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul
melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove
from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously" (Psalm
119:25-29).
