Psalms My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. - Psalms 104:34 N.K.J.V. Bible Index Our Devotional Index

The Psalms are like reading someone else's prayer journal. You are listening into their prayers and praises. It is a great encouragement to know that men of all ages experienced the same emotions, frustrations, battles, and trials of faith that we experience. As you read, look for the Lord, his faithfulness, his names, and his character. Then watch for disciplines exercised by these men of God and build them into your life. The Psalms are not just randomly placed journals. They are organized by themes, called Books. Each Book closes with a doxology or benediction. Book One: Psalm 1-41 Book Two: Psalm 42-72 Book Three: Psalm 73-89 Book Four: Psalm 90-106 Book Five: Psalm 107-150 The Psalms were (are) hymns, songs,or chants. Many have titles specifying the instrument andd/or meter to be used in the chant. Chanting Psalms has been done even in English readings as well and can be very beautiful as a way of reading the Psalms aloud. Paul exhorted the church to do this in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. The Great Hallel: Psalm 136 is generally called "the great Hallel." (songs of Thanksgiving) But the Talmud (The record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law) includes also Psalms 120-135. Psalms 113-118, inclusive, constitute the "Hallel" recited at the three great feasts (Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles), at the new moon, and on the eight days of Hanukkah. We know that Jesus used the Psalms. At the Last Supper they concluded with a Psalm, a Hymn, and went out.(Matthew 26:30) That would have been Psalm 136 at the end of the passover. Special Psalms: Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, composed of 176 verses, in sets of eight verses, each set beginning with one of the 22 Hebrew letters. Each verse of Psalm 119 speaks some reference to the Word of God. Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm, with only two verses. Psalm 23 is the most beloved. Great Psalms to memorize or read often are Psalm 1, 23, 37, 91, 100, and 103. You will find your own favorites. Songs of Degrees: A careful reader will notice those nuances. As a spiritual exercise you might even try to organize them into your own organizational structure. Seeing them, not as one book but five books, helps to keep you focused as you read the longest of the Books of the Bible. For instance Psalm 120 to 134 were known in Israel as "Songs of Degrees." Song of Degrees, Song of Steps, or Song of Ascents (Hebrew:Shir Hama'aloth) is a title given to each of fifteen of the Psalms, numbered 120-134. The probable origin of this name is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on the ascents or goings up to Jerusalem to attend the three pilgrim festivals (Deut. 16:16). They were well fitted for being sung by the way from their peculiar form, and from the sentiments they express. "They are characterized by brevity, by a key-word, by epanaphora [i.e, repetition], and by their epigrammatic style...More than half of them are cheerful, and all of them hopeful." They are sometimes called "Pilgrim Songs." Four of them (122, 124, 131 and 133) are claimed in their ascriptions to have been by David, and one (127) by Solomon, the rest being anonymous. However modern scholars do not believe that these ascriptions can be taken literally, though they do give some evidence that helps in dating of the Psalms and identifying their original use. Easton's Bible Dictionary Jewish tradition maintains that the Psalms are the work of David (seventy three Psalms are with David's name) The Psalms are replete with rich verses and passages to memorize, or if you can't memorize, at least to write out, type up and put on a plaque or on your refrigerator for constant reminders. I put them on my computer screen where I spend much of my study time. One such significant Psalm to me over the past year has been Psalm 121. 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:    He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper:    The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:    He shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in    from this time forth, and even for evermore. For me it has been a great reminder of God's constant care for me personally. The Psalms are very personal. You might try reading through the Psalms twice a year. There are 150 Psalms, some are long, but most are reasonable to read as a daily meditation. That covers 300 days at least. Then add Proverbs (31) and Ecclesiasted (12) to make 43 more chapters. I usually divide up the longer Psalms, so making an even 365 days. As you read and meditate through the Psalms "rake" through the precious leaves of Scriptures for gems of gold, or as Proverbs put it, "apples of gold in pictures of silver." There are many precious promises that need to be mined. ("It's mine, it's mine, it's mine!" Thus "mined.") Footnotes: Internet Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897. New King James Bible, Bible Gateway Index Our Devotional Index