80.The Book of Psalms; a selection from 1 - 23

Note the word `Selah. is Hebrew for pause'.

We now begin our journey through the Book of Psalms. There are 150 psalms, some composed by David, and others composed much later. I love the psalms. When I was a young boy I was a member of the choir in our local church which was very much middle of the road Protestant. This meant that our main services on a Sunday,

matins and evensong, always contained psalms to sing. I love them very much and

have a collection of them recorded in our cathedrals. As we travel through the book I

shall comment on psalms that appeal. I may also quote from various phrases I have

found useful.

Psalm 1. This wonderful psalm speaks of the happiness of Godly

man and the misery of the wicked: v.6 'for the Lord knoweth the way of the

righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish''.

Psalm 8. One of my favourites - David considers the mighty works of

God, then asks the question 'What is man that thou are mindful of him?...

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels'. He also says that

God has put 'all things under his feet' and goes on to describe some of

them.

Psalm 15. David describes a citizen of Zion †- qualities upon which

we should base our lives today.

† Zion is not mentioned in the psalm, Tiglath is referring to 'the tent' (verse 1) which David pitched for the Ark on Mount Zion.

Psalm 18. A long psalm of some 50 verses in which David gives

thanks for all the blessings we receive from God. He says the Lord is

his rock and fortress.

Psalm 23. This probably the most popular and well

known of all the psalms. David describes the Lord

as his shepherd. Later in our journey we find Christ

describing himself as a shepherd of his flock. the

whole of this psalm has an atmosphere of calmness

and peace, which is very helpful to read in times of

stress.

Psalm 24. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness

thereof. This a favourite to sing at harvest festivals,

speaking as it does. of the earth as the Lord's and

also those who live in it.

A Journey through the Bible with Tiglath