Sacred Poetry

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Hey...

It's a wonderful Sunday today. Well, most days are actually very wonderful days, we just don't see and allow the little things in life to make us happy. Instead, we often are very pessimistic and accentuate on the negative. It's human nature I guess; Something we have to grow out of if we ought to make the best of life.

Today I planned on reading up about two things. I wanted to read further into epic poetry and I wanted to read about the book of Psalms. So far, I've only gotten the latter done.

The book of Psalms is the nineteenth book of the Bible. The word Psalms means songs sung to a harp. It is actually a compilation of sacred poetry. There are 150 chapters in the book, each one being considered to be a psalm. Many of these Psalms were written by King David and speak of Israelite faith, their struggles, and their God who was more than able to deliver them from all the hardships that they went through.

Today, many such Psalms can still be applied to our lives and we can still rely on the great God who is still able to do beyond all that we may ask our think. Psalm 91 is a very good example.
Psalm 91 (KJV)

¹He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

²I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

³Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

⁴He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

⁵Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

⁶Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

⁷A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

⁸Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

⁹Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

¹⁰There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

¹²They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹³Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

¹⁴Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

¹⁵He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Other Psalms were simply songs of worship. These too can still be sung (or recited) today as a form of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Psalm 100 (KJV)

¹Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

²Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

³Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

⁵For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

In Jewish Ritual, the psalms played a major role. The Psalms were sung by the Levites in front of the temple and later on the temple steps while priests played musical accompaniment on various instruments. It was intended to teach, explain, encourage its listening audience.

Today, the Psalms are used primarily in worship and prayer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sacred Poetry