035 Psalms: 150 Psalms and 2461 Verses

Psalms: 150 Psalms and 2461 Verses The title (Acts 1:20) and numbering (Acts 13:33) of this divine collection of heart utterances are fully owned of God. The headings, many of which are untranslated, are of very ancient date, being found in the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament, nearly 300 years B.C. There are 116 Psalms titled or headed, the remaining 34 being strangely enough styled "Orphan Psalms." The name of David occurs in the headings in more than the half of those titled Psalms. Those dedicated to "the Sons of Korah" are evidence that God remembered mercy in that awful scene of judgment recorded in Numbers 16:1-50, for to them were committed the choral services of worshipping Israel. The Psalms historically cover the whole period from Moses (Psalms 90:1-17) till the Judean captivity in Babylon (Psalms 137:1-9), about a 1000 years. The meaning of the word selah, which occurs about 70 times, and three times in the Prophet Habakkuk, Habakkuk 3:1-19, has been the subject of much dispute amongst scholars; but let any sober-minded Christian look up a few of the Psalms where the word is found, and will he not naturally pause and consider as he reads it? Whatever the word may signify critically, we are convinced that the force and value of the word "selah" are to be gathered from moral considerations. The two main subjects of the book of Psalms are, first, a godly remnant as distinguished from the mass of the nation of Israel (Psalms 1:1-6); and second, the Messiah the object of counsel and prophecy (Psalms 2:1-12). Thus the two first Psalms form the ground work of the whole inspired collection. The Hebrews, ancient and modern, divided the 150 Psalms into five books, disregarding historical sequence or chronological order. The spiritual and soundly instructed have owned that the Hebrew arrangement of the book must have been of divine ordering. The First Book containsPsalms 1:1-6;Psalms 2:1-12;Psalms 3:1-8;Psalms 4:1-8;Psalms 5:1-12;Psalms 6:1-10;Psalms 7:1-17;Psalms 8:1-9;Psalms 9:1-20;Psalms 10:1-18;Psalms 11:1-7;Psalms 12:1-8;Psalms 13:1-6;Psalms 14:1-7;Psalms 15:1-5;Psalms 16:1-11;Psalms 17:1-15;Psalms 18:1-50;Psalms 19:1-14;Psalms 20:1-9;Psalms 21:1-13;Psalms 22:1-31;Psalms 23:1-6;Psalms 24:1-10;Psalms 25:1-22;Psalms 26:1-12;Psalms 27:1-14;Psalms 28:1-9;Psalms 29:1-11;Psalms 30:1-12;Psalms 31:1-24;Psalms 32:1-11;Psalms 33:1-22;Psalms 34:1-22;Psalms 35:1-28;Psalms 36:1-12;Psalms 37:1-40;Psalms 38:1-22;Psalms 39:1-13;Psalms 40:1-17;Psalms 41:1-13 We have here a good deal of the personal history of the Messiah, also the covenant name "Jehovah," or LORD, which is written about 270 times, whereas "God," the creation title, does not occur more than 50 times. As a suffering remnant of Israel, or rather Judah, is here recognized in their land, and the Messiah’s identification with them, as in Matthew 3:1-17 - this identification being historically past, and prophetically future - we easily account for so much of the life-history of Christ being given, and for the frequent occurrence of the covenant title Jehovah. The Second Book containsPsalms 42:1-11;Psalms 43:1-5;Psalms 44:1-26;Psalms 45:1-17;Psalms 46:1-11;Psalms 47:1-9;Psalms 48:1-14;Psalms 49:1-20;Psalms 50:1-23;Psalms 51:1-19;Psalms 52:1-9;Psalms 53:1-6;Psalms 54:1-7;Psalms 55:1-23;Psalms 56:1-13;Psalms 57:1-11;Psalms 58:1-11;Psalms 59:1-17;Psalms 60:1-12;Psalms 61:1-8;Psalms 62:1-12;Psalms 63:1-11;Psalms 64:1-10;Psalms 65:1-13;Psalms 66:1-20;Psalms 67:1-7;Psalms 68:1-35;Psalms 69:1-36;Psalms 70:1-5;Psalms 71:1-24;Psalms 72:1-20. The Judah-remnant, which occupies such a large place in the prophetic Scriptures, is here prophetically viewed as driven out from Judea and Jerusalem, and undergoing a baptism of blood, but are cheered and sustained by the presence and promises of their Messiah. God does not publicly own this remnant, whom governmentally He has driven out of the land, and hence Jehovah, the relationship title, not being enjoyed, only occurs about 30 times; whereas God, the creation title, really characterizing the people then, occurs about 200 times. The Third Book containsPsalms 73:1-28;Psalms 74:1-23;Psalms 75:1-10;Psalms 76:1-12;Psalms 77:1-20;Psalms 78:1-72;Psalms 79:1-13;Psalms 80:1-19;Psalms 81:1-16;Psalms 82:1-8;Psalms 83:1-18;Psalms 84:1-12;Psalms 85:1-13;Psalms 86:1-17;Psalms 87:1-7;Psalms 88:1-18;Psalms 89:1-52 The whole history of the nation is here divinely sketched from her rise in Egypt till her settlement in millennial glory and blessing. The names Jehovah and God occur in nearly equal numbers. The Fourth Book containsPsalms 90:1-17;Psalms 91:1-16;Psalms 92:1-15;Psalms 93:1-5;Psalms 94:1-23;Psalms 95:1-11;Psalms 96:1-13;Psalms 97:1-12;Psalms 98:1-9;Psalms 99:1-9;Psalms 100:1-5;Psalms 101:1-8;Psalms 102:1-28;Psalms 103:1-22;Psalms 104:1-35;Psalms 105:1-45;Psalms 106:1-48 The successive announcements of Jehovah’s (Christ’s) coming, and the blessing attending His reign and personal presence, are the grand subject of these joyous Psalms, the Jews being regarded as the center, and Jerusalem the metropolis of all earthly glory. The relationship of Israel to God being restored, Jehovah occurs about 100 times, and God about 20 times. The Fifth Book containsPsalms 107:1-43;Psalms 108:1-13;Psalms 109:1-31;Psalms 110:1-7;Psalms 111:1-10;Psalms 112:1-10;Psalms 113:1-9;Psalms 114:1-8;Psalms 115:1-18;Psalms 116:1-19;Psalms 117:1-2;Psalms 118:1-29;Psalms 119:1-176;Psalms 120:1-7;Psalms 121:1-8;Psalms 122:1-9;Psalms 123:1-4;Psalms 124:1-8;Psalms 125:1-5;Psalms 126:1-6;Psalms 127:1-5;Psalms 128:1-6;Psalms 129:1-8;Psalms 130:1-8;Psalms 131:1-3;Psalms 132:1-18;Psalms 133:1-3;Psalms 134:1-3;Psalms 135:1-21;Psalms 136:1-26;Psalms 137:1-9;Psalms 138:1-8;Psalms 139:1-24;Psalms 140:1-13;Psalms 141:1-10;Psalms 142:1-7;Psalms 143:1-12;Psalms 144:1-15;Psalms 145:1-21;Psalms 146:1-10;Psalms 147:1-20;Psalms 148:1-14;Psalms 149:1-9;Psalms 150:1-6 This division is not so prophetic in character as the others, but is more distinctly moral. Jehovah’s character and doings are grandly celebrated in songs unrivaled for sublimity and poetic sweetness and fervor. The songs of degrees, 15 in number, (Psalms 120:1-7; Psalms 121:1-8; Psalms 122:1-9; Psalms 123:1-4; Psalms 124:1-8; Psalms 125:1-5; Psalms 126:1-6; Psalms 127:1-5; Psalms 128:1-6; Psalms 129:1-8; Psalms 130:1-8; Psalms 131:1-3; Psalms 132:1-18; Psalms 133:1-3; Psalms 134:1-3), while historically applying to the return from Babylon to Jerusalem, look forward to the various stages of Israel’s moral return to Jehovah, the name of whom occurs 230 times and more, while God is only written about 30 times. The direct application of the Psalms is to the Messiah and Israel, not to Christ and the Church - to a people under the moral government and disciplinary dealings of God. Judah will be restored to her land by Gentile intervention on her behalf, undertaken for political motives merely (Isaiah 18:1-7), and will then be disciplined and scourged under the governmental anger of Jehovah; for have they not as a nation persistently rejected the Holy Ghost, persecuted the prophets, betrayed and murdered the Just One, and broken the Law which they faithfully promised to keep (Acts 7:51-53)? These solemn counts in Israel’s indictment will be pressed upon the conscience of the guilty nation, and will be fully owned by the God-fearing part of Judah, whose experience, prayers, trials, and confessions, are the subject-matter of many of these Psalms. The dispensational character of the book, as a whole, has been greatly overlooked; and Christian standing, experience, and hopes have been imported into the book, when they are really not to be found. There is, of course, much truth common to the saints of all ages, and a certain experience of God’s goodness, which all may enjoy. But it is a fatal mistake in the apprehension of this book to read it as recording true, full Christian experience. The following blessings characteristic of Christianity, will not be found in the book of Psalms:

1.-The knowledge of eternal life (John 5:24).

2.-Sins forgiven and the conscience purged (Hebrews 10:1-39.).

3.-Union to Christ in the heavens (Ephesians 1:1-23).

4.-Immediate access to God, because the veil is rent (Hebrews 10:1-39).

5.-The consciousness of relationship-"Father" (Romans 8:1-39). The book of Psalms primarily regards a people under law and as the immediate objects of the earthly government of God. vGENERAL DIVISIONS.

I.-Christ associating Himself with the Jewish remnant of the latter clays. Psalms 1:1-6; Psalms 2:1-12; Psalms 3:1-8; Psalms 4:1-8; Psalms 5:1-12; Psalms 6:1-10; Psalms 7:1-17; Psalms 8:1-9; Psalms 9:1-20; Psalms 10:1-18; Psalms 11:1-7; Psalms 12:1-8; Psalms 13:1-6; Psalms 14:1-7; Psalms 15:1-5; Psalms 16:1-11; Psalms 17:1-15; Psalms 18:1-50; Psalms 19:1-14; Psalms 20:1-9; Psalms 21:1-13; Psalms 22:1-31; Psalms 23:1-6; Psalms 24:1-10; Psalms 25:1-22; Psalms 26:1-12; Psalms 27:1-14; Psalms 28:1-9; Psalms 29:1-11; Psalms 30:1-12; Psalms 31:1-24; Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 33:1-22; Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 35:1-28; Psalms 36:1-12; Psalms 37:1-40; Psalms 38:1-22; Psalms 39:1-13; Psalms 40:1-17; Psalms 41:1-13

2.-Messiah identifying Himself with the godly out of the land in the last days. Psalms 42:1-11; Psalms 43:1-5; Psalms 44:1-26; Psalms 45:1-17; Psalms 46:1-11; Psalms 47:1-9; Psalms 48:1-14; Psalms 49:1-20; Psalms 50:1-23; Psalms 51:1-19; Psalms 52:1-9; Psalms 53:1-6; Psalms 54:1-7; Psalms 55:1-23; Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12; Psalms 61:1-8; Psalms 62:1-12; Psalms 63:1-11; Psalms 64:1-10; Psalms 65:1-13; Psalms 66:1-20; Psalms 67:1-7; Psalms 68:1-35; Psalms 69:1-36; Psalms 70:1-5; Psalms 71:1-24; Psalms 72:1-20.

3.-History of all Israel from her rise in Egypt till her blessing under the rule of the Messiah. Psalms 73:1-28; Psalms 74:1-23; Psalms 75:1-10; Psalms 76:1-12; Psalms 77:1-20; Psalms 78:1-72; Psalms 79:1-13; Psalms 80:1-19; Psalms 81:1-16; Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 83:1-18; Psalms 84:1-12; Psalms 85:1-13; Psalms 86:1-17; Psalms 87:1-7; Psalms 88:1-18; Psalms 89:1-52; Psalms 90:1-17; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 92:1-15; Psalms 93:1-5; Psalms 94:1-23; Psalms 95:1-11; Psalms 96:1-13; Psalms 97:1-12; Psalms 98:1-9.

4.-The coming of Jehovah (Messiah) for the blessing of Israel and creation. Psalms 90:1-17; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 92:1-15; Psalms 93:1-5; Psalms 94:1-23; Psalms 95:1-11; Psalms 96:1-13; Psalms 97:1-12; Psalms 98:1-9; Psalms 99:1-9; Psalms 100:1-5; Psalms 101:1-8; Psalms 102:1-28; Psalms 103:1-22; Psalms 104:1-35; Psalms 105:1-45; Psalms 106:1-48

5.-Moral truths; songs and universal praise. Psalms 107:1-43; Psalms 108:1-13; Psalms 109:1-31; Psalms 110:1-7; Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10; Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 114:1-8; Psalms 115:1-18; Psalms 116:1-19; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 118:1-29; Psalms 119:1-176; Psalms 120:1-7; Psalms 121:1-8; Psalms 122:1-9; Psalms 123:1-4; Psalms 124:1-8; Psalms 125:1-5; Psalms 126:1-6; Psalms 127:1-5; Psalms 128:1-6; Psalms 129:1-8; Psalms 130:1-8; Psalms 131:1-3; Psalms 132:1-18; Psalms 133:1-3; Psalms 134:1-3; Psalms 135:1-21; Psalms 136:1-26; Psalms 137:1-9; Psalms 138:1-8; Psalms 139:1-24; Psalms 140:1-13; Psalms 141:1-10; Psalms 142:1-7; Psalms 143:1-12; Psalms 144:1-15; Psalms 145:1-21; Psalms 146:1-10; Psalms 147:1-20; Psalms 148:1-14; Psalms 149:1-9; Psalms 150:1-6

[The three first divisions end with the words "Amen, and amen;" while the two last divisions close with "Praise ye the Lord" or Hallelujah.]