Three Ways the Psalms Should Shape Modern Worship
Church music and singing are essential to the worship of the church. This article explains three ways in which the Psalms should shape the worship songs of the church.
Church music and singing are essential to the worship of the church. This article explains three ways in which the Psalms should shape the worship songs of the church.
This is the second article in a series on the singing of Psalms in Christian worship. It compares ways of singing the psalms: those who chant the Psalms directly from the Bible and those who sing metrical paraphrases of the Psalms.
This article wants to encourage the singing of psalms in weekly public worship.
This article shows how Christ appears in the Psalms. It speaks of typical Messianic psalms, directly predictive psalms, mystically Messianic psalms, psalms of trust in Christ, and creation/new creation Messianic psalms.
This article examines the Songs of Ascents that comprise Psalms 120-134. The author attempts to trace the link between these psalms by studying literary aspects such as common references of words, and themes. The themes of ascending and pilgrimage feature prominently in the article.
The author encourages the reading of the Psalms, as they reveal that the Lord leads us through dark valleys and also lifts us up to mountaintops. In relation to this, the author considers some timely words of John Owen on the "erratic and irregular" nature of sanctification in the Christian's life.
This article discusses congregational singing. It notes New Testament passages like Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16, and the Old Testament Psalms. Along the way, commentary is offered on modern songbooks and hymnody.
This paper wants to trace the broad outline of the history of the book of Psalms in the canonical process in ancient Israel. The author argues that at least three stages in the canonical process can be identified.
This essay considers the intent of redaction criticism in the book of Psalms, and in particular the first three books of the Psalter. How important is the agenda of the editor of the Psalter and what are the principles that govern the arrangement of the Psalms within the book as a whole? Walton evaluates the contribution of Gerald Wilson.
Very often the book of Psalms is seen as a random collection of individual poems on a variety of topics. This framework assures very little to no awareness exists of a comprehension of the book’s total message, specific emphases, or any flow of the book’s structure and theology. Taking into account the structure of the book of Psalms as a whole makes significant contributions to the interpretive process. In the Introduction these points are expanded upon by Robertson.
In this chapter Wenham first gives a brief overview of the history of the use of the Psalms in congregational worship. He also discusses the specific impact of setting the words of the Psalms to music. Wenham further notes a secondary use of the Psalms, as a resource for private meditation and devotion. He suggests that the book of Psalms is a deliberately organized anthology designed for memorization.
This essay considers the textual criticism principles applied in the New International Version translation of the book of Psalms, and provides a critical assessment.
How can poetry like the Psalms best be analyzed? One method is formal analysis as practiced by the Chicago Critics. This paper wants to give examples of such an analysis—(Psalm 1 and Psalm 51)—and try to determine what it can add to other existing methods of analysis.
Chiasm is a Hebrew literary device. This paper give illustrations of chiasims in the book of Psalms.
How does Semitic poetry function? The argument of the article is that many of the Psalms were written in a chiastic pattern.
Whole psalms can be in chiastic arrangement. This paper wants to illustrate from Psalms 1-50 that many psalms were consciously or unconsciously arranged in a chiastic pattern.
Do we find any reference to worldwide mission in the Old Testament? Kaiser argues that there is a mission mandate and emphasis in the Old Testament that should not be overlooked.
Many believers use the Psalms as a prayer book. It is also primarily God’s hymn book. From the early church the Psalter has been both the prayer and hymn book of the church. The author indicates this for the apostolic church and the church of the early church fathers. He continues with the Middle Ages and the Reformed tradition.
How do you pray when you are alone? Silently, or audibly? The author considers the designation "quiet time" in light of his study of the Psalms, and regards silent prayers as the exception in Scripture. He advocates instead for "noisy time."
Should the church still sing the Psalms today? Are they not songs of the old covenant? God's church is called to sing all the Psalms. In singing the Psalms, we learn about the life God calls us to, the beauty of Christ, and the justice of God. Singing the Psalms will also enrich God's church to think about some topics which may be difficult. In singing Psalms, we sing God's word back to Him.
Should the church sing Psalms which pronounce curses on others? This article shows that singing imprecatory Psalms teaches God's people the true fear of God, reminds them of God's justice, and teaches them to rejoice in God's judgment.
This article traces the history of Psalm singing from the Old and New Testament, through the early church, through the Reformation, up to the present day. The author shows how the restoration of singing Psalms in corporate worship has been a blessing to God's church.
The richness of Psalm singing is found in that the Psalms are songs given by God. The Psalms teach theology and the history of redemption, they reveal the blessed life, and they help in making the word of Christ dwell in you.
This trilogy of articles argues that it is God's intention to see His church singing Psalms. Throughout history the church made this its practice out of an understanding that Psalms are songs given by God to His church. The author shows the spiritual value and edification embedded in Psalm singing, and answers objections to this practice.
This trilogy of articles argues that it is God's intention to see His church singing Psalms. Throughout history the church made this its practice out of an understanding that Psalms are songs given by God to His church. The author shows the spiritual value and edification embedded in Psalm singing, and answers objections to this practice.
This trilogy of articles argues that it is God's intention to see His church singing Psalms. Throughout history the church made this its practice out of an understanding that Psalms are songs given by God to His church. The author shows the spiritual value and edification embedded in Psalm singing, and answers objections to this practice.
Is the singing of hymns a deviation from God’s word? This article discusses the viewpoint of the Secession churches (of the Netherlands in the 1900's) on the singing of Psalms and hymns in the worship service.
This is the third article in a series about prayer and the psalms of lament. This article describes a good way to view suffering in relationship to God's providence and grace.
This article shows that John Calvin and Martin Luther shared the same conviction: that restoring singing to God's people is part of restoring true worship. The author shows how their differing starting principles led to their different views on the place of hymns and psalms in a worship service, as well as the place of musical instruments.
The author of this article looks at Psalms as the depiction of all parts of a religious emotional life. WIth this in mind, and with the conviction that all of Scripture speaks about Christ, this article looks at how the Book of Psalms reveals the emotions of Christ, such as his anger, compassion, grief, hope and joy.
This article looks at the place of singing in the worship service. The author does this by looking first at the place of singing in the temple and synagogue services, and the role of the Psalms in shaping this singing. Singing takes a central place in corporate worship, and must be done in such a way that it is in accordance with God's word.
Martin Luther warns that we must not be put off by the word 'theology'. In the way he understands it, theology is for everybody. We can learn true theology from king David in the Psalms. In the Psalms Luther finds three "rules" by which to become a true theologian: Oratio, meditatio, tentatio" (prayer, meditation, trials).