The psalms have been a great encouragement and comfort to many believers over the centuries. In practical life we can relate to the experiences the various writers went through, and the sentiments they expressed as they reviewed those experiences in the light of their relationship to the Lord. Also, the Lord allowed that most of the psalms were written by men (like David and Asaph) who were poets and musicians. Thus the thoughts expressed are in poetic style, and set forth in beautiful language. They are meant not only to be read, but also to be sung, and thus impressed, not only on our minds, but also on our hearts. The cadence and beauty of the psalms have found their way into the hearts even of unbelievers, and have sometimes been used of the Lord to bring them to Christ. As another has remarked, “Words make you think a thought; music makes you feel a feeling: but singing makes you feel a thought.” The psalms are given in order to do this for us, for the Lord knew well that we had emotions as well as intellect.
However, sometimes Christians are confused when they encounter expressions that seem to be contrary to what is taught in the New Testament, and thus are hard to reconcile with Christian experience. As always, we must keep Scripture in its place, and recognize that while there is much in the Old Testament that is very helpful to us, it is the New Testament that gives us true Christianity. I would suggest that in reading the psalms, we can look at them in four different ways.
Individual Experience
First of all, we may look at the psalms as the individual (but sometimes collective) experience of the writer. We know that David wrote the bulk of the psalms, but many were also written by Asaph, one of the Levites whom David ordained to be involved in the music and singing in the temple. Some were written by the sons of Korah, who were also of the Levites. A few were written by individuals who wrote perhaps only one psalm, such as Ethan the Ezrahite (Psa. 89), Moses (Psa. 90), and Solomon (Psa. 127).
In reading these psalms, and especially those written by David, we can identify with the experiences through which he passed, and particularly when those experiences are identified for us in the heading of the psalm. More than this, we can read the details of those experiences in the historical books that concern David’s life, and then appreciate all the more his thoughts and feelings at that time. Every kind of trial is found in the psalms, as well as joy and thanksgiving in appreciation of God’s goodness.
All of this, however, must be read and understood within the context of Old Testament revelation, which was limited. God was not fully revealed, and the fullness of God’s grace had not yet been brought out in Christ. Thus we have in the psalms an understanding of God, and expressions relating to this understanding, that are not in keeping with the full revelation of God in Christ. There was not the nearness to God as Father that we know today, nor was there the full assurance of salvation.
The Thoughts and
Feelings of Christ
Secondly, we see in some of the psalms the thoughts and feelings of Christ Himself during His earthly pathway in this world, in going to the cross, and in suffering for sin. While they were writing, the Spirit of God sometimes took the thoughts and the pens of the inspired writers beyond their own experiences, to give us thoughts and feelings that could apply only to Christ. Often they did not understand what they were writing, as we find in 1 Peter 1:11 — “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” Some of the psalms that are particularly full of such experiences have been termed “Messianic psalms,” in that the thoughts and feelings of the Lord Jesus in His sufferings on the cross are clearly brought out. We have the history of the Lord Jesus in His life on earth in the gospels, but His innermost feelings are given to us in the psalms.
This is very precious to our souls, for while even the inspired writers often did not understand what they were writing about the sufferings and subsequent glory of the Lord Jesus, we today can enter into it all, and appreciate more all that He went through for God’s glory, and our blessing. We read of His sufferings at the hands of man (Psa. 69), but also His sufferings at the hands of God (Psa. 22), as well as the depth of His feelings while suffering at the hand of God (Psa. 88). Again, all this only increases our worship and adoration of that blessed One!
Prophetic Character
Thirdly, we must recognize the prophetic character of the psalms. As we have seen in other articles in this issue, the psalms are really divided into five books, all having a different prophetic meaning and emphasis. We know that prophecy relates to the earth, and thus the church is not the subject of prophecy. Thus the prophetic character of the psalms relates to Israel, and their experiences in going through the tribulation, until finally arriving at millennial blessing. As one brother put it, “The psalms will be the hymn book of the godly Jewish remnant in a coming day, for in those Psalms they will find an expression for every godly thought and feeling in the circumstances through which they are passing.” They will look to the Lord in severe trials and difficulties, celebrate His goodness to them in years past, and trust Him to bring them into full blessing on earth.
In this respect, many times they will call for judgment and vengeance on their enemies, and will call for the Lord to intervene directly on their behalf. Such expressions are found in the psalms — expressions that would be totally out of character for believers today, for believers today are told, “Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath” (Rom. 12:1919Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)). Today is the time of God’s grace, and as such, we are called to show God’s love and grace to this world. “Love your enemies, bless them which curse you, do good to them that hate you” (Matt. 5:4444But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)), and “Resist not evil” (Matt. 5:3939But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39)). But there is a day coming when God will judge evil, and when our Lord Jesus Christ will take His place as the rightful King. At that time it will be quite right for godly ones on earth to call down judgment on their enemies, for “when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)).
“Men of Like Passions”
Finally, we can enjoy the psalms for ourselves, as we read of the experiences of those who wrote them, and how they looked to the Lord for His care and eventual deliverance. The trials through which they passed are much the same as our own, for they were “men of like passions” with us, and went through many of the same experiences. As we have mentioned earlier in this article, every kind of trial is brought before us in the psalms, and we today can find comfort for our souls in reading of others who passed through difficulties and testings similar to our own. Then, when we are delivered, we can find a corresponding note of praise in the psalms, as we celebrate what God has done.
We read such verses as, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psa. 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)). God delights to hear the prayer of His own, and to answer them in this way, with deliverance. But then, sometimes we do not get deliverance in this life; then we read, “Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee” (Psa. 63:33Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (Psalm 63:3)), and, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness” (Psa. 17:1515As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)). So it is that many of the problems and difficulties through which we pass find their echo in the psalms. We are comforted and in peace as we consider His care for us, just as He cared for His own so many years ago.
In seeing these four different applications of the psalms, we can be “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) and find enjoyment for our own souls, while appreciating that which gives us a deeper appreciation of our precious Saviour, and that which foretells the future blessing of God’s earthly people.
W. J. Prost