After David had completed the conquest of Canaan and established the kingdom on the ruin of all opposing authority-enlarging it moreover according to its prophetically defined limits, from the Nile to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:1818In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18)) glory for a season wrapped its folds around the land of Immanuel. In the days of Solomon, the kingdom reached the zenith of its prosperity. This richest, wisest, and most powerful of monarchs sat on the throne of Judah in the magnificently adorned city of Jerusalem—the city of the Savior’s love and choice—but the season was of brief duration, and Israel’s sun under Solomon sank behind dark clouds of idolatry. It will however yet rise to set no more, and the glory of the Nazarene will hereafter light up the heavens and the earth.
Transient beams of glory once and again flitted across the land on which the eye of Jehovah rests perpetually, and grace had on several memorable occasions created melody in the heart of Israel and unsealed her lips to praise her redeeming God. But these moments and occasions were of rare occurrence. Moses did not provide that which was the suited expression and pledge of Christ’s, Israel’s, and creation’s glory in Millennial times; it was reserved for David the king and minstrel to establish both glory and praise. From the days of the “sweet Psalmist of Israel,” vocal and instrumental music became an integral part of Jewish worship. As the founder under God of a musical institution of singers and players, he gave a permanent form and character to Hebrew poetry in general, and his name, genius, and character are impressed on every page of the book of Psalms. Thus, for nearly 3000 years no portion of the Holy Scriptures has been so frequently read in public assembly and in private study as the Psalms of David. We are convinced that this book has exercised more general influence amongst professing christians than any other part of the sacred volume, and who among God’s saints have not, under all circumstances, found fitting expressions for their feelings, whether of joy or sorrow, in this book, which has been happily termed “the heart” of the sacred volume?
The general favor in which the Psalter is held is on account of the rich and varied experience it records—an experience common to all saints throughout all ages. There the Spirit of God has provided an outlet for the emotional part of our being. The soul may pour itself out in strains of anguish or in accents of gladness, may grandly celebrate the works of God in creation, or His ways of grace in redemption. This volume of holy song has been likened by certain Orientalists to the Reg-Veda or Hindu book of hymns. When you compare the sun’s blaze at noon with the candle’s flickering light, then compare the Psalms of David with the Hindu Reg-Veda.
But the Psalms while universally read, and more frequently referred to and cited from in the New Testament than any other portions of the Scriptures, are yet generally misunderstood, because their prophetic character has not been perceived.
(To be continued.)