Recently I was struck by the emotional faith building content of the Psalms, and I realised that they are very unique, not just in the context of the Bible, but in global literature. Where else is there an emotional outpouring of prayer in a dialogue with the Creator of troubles, confidence and faith of such depth and width that it covers every circumstance of life?
The Psalms have a repeating refrain, a cry for help from God and God hearing that cry.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. (Psalm 18:6)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)
There is a myth and lie of the modern world, that by science and technology all things improve. Somehow in the increased physical comfort of a society that has nearly eliminated all forms of physical labour, the idea permeates that all people need to be protected from all labour and adversity. Therefore, when confronted with the inevitable unpleasant reality, many people now struggle. The Psalms are ageless, precisely because no matter how inventions change the physical world, humans and the human condition does not change.
The majority of the Bible is a very economical narrative of history, law and in many places God's rebuke, with a underlying message of hope for the future in prophecy. We might read of Paul being picked up lifeless after being stoned almost to death, or being shipwrecked, and in his letters there may be glimpses of his struggles, yet there is no place Paul really pours out his heart. Even in the Gospels we see Christ from the outside. We are told of what he says but not much of his heart. Then at the point of death our Lord cries out the opening lines of a Psalm.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mat 27:46)
This is the Psalm he quoted, which in full also speaks of many details of the manner of his death.
A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. (Psalm 22:1-5)
Whereas it seems without the context that our Lord's cry is about being forsaken, in context of the Psalm, the cry is a call of utter trust in God's help!
What if this was because all his life the Psalms were a comfort to our Lord, and because of this, that Psalm came from his heart in the moment? So many of the Psalms seems to speak of many aspects of our Lord's life; the challenges of evil rulers, the death, resurrection and hope of glory, that surely he noted that the book was about his life?
One of the key Psalms our Lord refers to is during an argument.
He said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calls him Lord, how is he then his son? (Luke 20:41-44)
Not only did our Lord know very well the Psalm, he know this Psalm was speaking of his own future glory, as a descendent of king David from his mother, and as a greater Lord and king than king David from his Heavenly Father.
The Psalms so completely cover every aspect of his life that our Lord says to his disciples (and us) that he fulfilled all things (that matter) of the Psalms;
He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48)
Our Lord said in summary that 'it behoved Christ (the Messiah) to Suffer', or in other words that it was necessary that Messiah the saviour suffered. As our Lord had recently been crucified, the acute physical suffering was fresh, but Psalm 22 that he cried out is more than about physical suffering, it is about the root cause of the crucifixion, the evil of humans who mock, persecute and kill because they despise, hate and envy. Where might our Lord have a sense of the need to suffer? He says from the Psalms. He says the Psalms are about his necessary suffering.
There is no message in the Psalms that suffering and affliction is meted out by a harsh God, it is all about human weakness and the affliction caused by the many enemies David had, initially due to the envy of Saul, and later due to his own weakness and sin. In the same way there is nothing of God in the suffering of our Lord in his life, rather it is utter hypocritical godlessness that seems to prevail, first in the envy, the arguments, and the desire to kill our lord, and finally in the betrayal and crucifixion. Our Lord called it the hour of the power of Darkness (Luke 22;53), he could call on Angels to help (Matt 26:53) but he knew for that moment he was called by his Father to let the power darkness of the sin of the Jewish leaders prevail (John 19;11).
Interestingly 'Behoved' only occurs two times in the King James translation. The second use is a reference to the first.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)
This comment brings us to why the Psalms are so powerful for all generations; the son of God had special treatment, but he was not preserved from the ordinary suffering of the human condition. Our redemption in Christ gives us also special treatment, but will not preserve us from the afflictions of the human condition including enmity of the envious, and those who hate those who try to live a Godly life.
What if the Psalms are also about every aspect of our life? What if in that extensive book of Psalms is every heartfelt prayer we may ever need to offer? There are 150 Psalms covering every aspect of life. Only a life lived with the Psalms can answer such a question. We have issues of health and plague, but there is nothing new in that, the psalmist offers comfort in hope and faith.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin…
For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (Psalm 38:3,15)
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.(Psalm 33:18-19)
And even sleep is covered.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
But the refrain of the Psalms is prayer for defeat of the bullies, the unjust, the oppressors and our enemies. No matter how advanced a society is, there is always the evil of one person oppressing another. In fact often in advanced educated societies there is more oppression, Germany and Japan being the most advanced nations on earth before the last war, and going way back the most advanced superpower of Egypt readily enslaved others. An example of this is Psalm 62
A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.(Psalm 62:3-4)
This psalm is both a prayer for help and statement of faith and confidence in our Creator
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:5-8)
The promise included in the Psalms is not only help in the evil age, but the hope of rejoicing the ultimate victory of a world ruled by God: the beginning, middle and end.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:7-8)
O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98:1,3,9)
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. (Psalm 149:2-5)
And to conclude, the Psalms are the book of truly happy people, who have put their trust in the Power of the Universe, their creator and sustainer, and have been helped
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 146:5-10)
We have many articles on the Psalms
Love beyond betrayal: Psalm 41
Psalms 46,47,48 Hope in a time of political Trouble
He shall save the children of the needy. Psalm 72:4
Psalm 96 Thine is the Kingdom O Yahweh!
