Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

made of the large intestines of sheep’. 6 The stringed instruments, whose vibrations came from the in- ward parts of sheep, are used to express our love to the heart of the Good Shepherd. King David played the lyre at the return of the Ark to Jerusalem and the Lyre were present at the temple worship; The king (Solomon) used the almug wood to…construct harps and lyres for the musicians.” (1 Kgs. 10:12) The harp, ‘kinnor’, was the first musical instrument mentioned in the scriptures. “…Jubal, the first musician– the inventor of the harp and flute.” (Gen. 4:21) It was smaller than the lyre and seemingly more popu- lar in the culture. Both stringed instruments were used to accompany the prophetic song; the Prophet Samuel told Saul: “…you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the altar on the hill. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.” (1 Sam 10:5) All of these instruments are mentioned in Psalm 150, the great prophecy of praise! • Praise is exciting- “Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;” (4) The tambourine was the popular ‘little hand drum, used primarily in the round dance…’ 7 It was most often mentioned as being played by women during times of victory and celebration and accompanied by dancing. “Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance.” (Ex. 15:20) The dance is a ‘ma’hol’; a corporate round dance that includes spinning and twirling with joy. Moses’ song at the Red Sea was the first song in the Bible and it celebrated the Lord’s victory over Pharaoh. The tam- bourine and dance that were never mentioned in the Old Testament Temple are now incorporated into the heavenly worship experienced by the church! • Praise is happy- “…praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!” (4) Strings and flutes to- gether produce an exhilarating sound. The flute mentioned here is the ‘shepherd’s flute’, the ‘shawm’, a straight flute which was played without mouthpiece by blowing across the edge of the upper opening.’ 8 The shepherds of Israel join their flock in offering praises to Jesus, the shepherd of the sheep. The clear prophetic call to mankind to come and worship in Psalm 150 is amplified across the universe; “Even musical instruments like the flute or the harp, though they are lifeless, are examples of the need for speaking in plain language. For no one will recognize the melody unless the notes are played clearly.” (1 Cor. 14:7) The melody and message are clear, God loves us and we are encouraged to express our love back to him! • Praise is a demonstration of love- “Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.” (5) Cymbals are the loudest and most commanding instrument in the symphony and are usually used at the climax of the music to express grandeur. Here the great orchestra of God is at full volume and both the small ‘castanet’ cymbals of high pitch and the giant cymbals are sounding out the power of his love; “If I could speak in tongues of people and angels but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Cor.13:1) Filled with the love of God both angels and mankind carry on the thunderous song of praise into the ages of eternity. This song of love has no finale! Our natural life is a gift from God and is sustained by continually breathing in oxygen: “For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4) The Holy Spirit is the ‘oxy- gen’ of our spiritual life and singing praises is one of the ways that we ‘breathe’ in his strength: “…let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts.” (Eph. 5:18, 19) The human voice is the most beautiful of all the instruments and the one the Lord desires most to hear. In Psalm 149 the invitation to praise was directed towards his people, in these closing moments of celestial worship the invitation is given to the entire world; ‘ …all the beings who are endowed by God with the breath of life, i.e. to all mankind.’ 9 “Let everything that lives (that has breath…NIV) sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (6)

All the thoughts, revelations, love, instructions, music, prayers, exaltations and emotions of the mag- nificent psalms are summed up in one closing word:

“HALLELUJAH! [Praise the Lord.]”

1 Scroggie 2 Keil & Delitzsch 3 Harris, Vol. 1, page 210 4 Spurgeon 5 Harris, Vol. 2, page 951

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