Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Class  
THE PSALMS: Lesson #25: 
"Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord" (Psalms 150:6)

"The book of Psalms is a collection of poems originally sung as praises or petitions to God. Many were written by David. This book is like a hymnal from ancient Israel. Its lyrics constitute some of the world’s best inspirational literature, expressing faith in the Lord and an earnest desire to live righteously" (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual (2001) pp. 117-122).

Note - "Selah - [is] A musical term that occurs 71 times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is uncertain. Most likely it is a direction to the musicians to strike up, either with a louder accompaniment or with an interlude while the singing ceased" (Bible Dictionary, p. 771).

1. Prophecies of the life and mission of Jesus Christ
Psalm 107:23-30 — 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
 24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Fulfilled - Matthew 8:23-27 — 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Psalm 69:8 — 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.
Fulfilled - John 1:11; 7:5 — 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 
•7:5  For neither did his brethren believe in him.

Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14 — 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 
•55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
Fulfilled - John 13:18, 21 — 18  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Psalm 69:20 — 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Fulfilled - Mark 14:32-41 — 32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist [knew] they what to answer him.
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Psalm 22:7-8 — 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Fulfilled - Matthew 27:39-43 — 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Psalm 22:16 — 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Fulfilled - Mark 15:25 —  25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Psalm 22:18 — 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Fulfilled - Matthew 27:35 — 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Psalm 22:1 — 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Fulfilled - Matthew 27:46 — 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalm 69:21 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Fulfilled - John 19:28-30 — 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Psalm 34:20 — 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Fulfilled - John 19:33-36 — 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Psalm 31:5 — 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
Fulfilled - Luke 23:46  —  46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Psalm 16:10 — 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Fulfilled - Acts 2:31-32; 13:34-35  —  31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
 •13:34-35  And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
 35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

"Jesus Christ is the only person whose birth, life, death, and resurrection were prophesied before his birth. Why do you think such detailed prophecies were given about the Savior’s life? (These prophecies made it clear that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world.) How were these prophecies a blessing to those who received them? (The prophecies helped people learn of the Savior and gain testimonies of him even before he was born [see Mosiah 3:13]. The prophecies also helped some people recognize him when he came.) (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual (2001) pp. 117-122.)

2.  The Creation of Heaven and Earth
Psalm 19:1 — 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psalm 104:5-7, 14, 24 — •5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
•14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
•24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Psalm 136:3-9 — 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3.  The Savior’s Mercy, Forgiveness, and Love
Psalm 23 — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 59:16 — 16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 78:38 —  38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalm 86:5, 13 — 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
•13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Psalm 100:4-5 — 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 103:2-4, 8-11 — 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
•8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

4.  Gratitude for the Scriptures
Psalm 19:7-11 —  7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Psalm 119: 15-16, 33-35, 40, 47-50, 72, 92, 97, 104-105, 174 — 15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
•33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
•40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
• 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
•72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
•92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
•97 O how love I thy law! [scriptures] it is my meditation all the day.
•104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
•174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

5.  The Temple
Psalm 5:7 —  7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Psalm 15:1–3 — 1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalm 27:4— 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 65:4— 4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Psalm 84:1–2, 4, 10–12 — •1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
 •4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
•10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Psalm 122 —  1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
 8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Psalm 134 — 1 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
 3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

6.  Gratitude to the Lord
Psalm 116:12-13, 16-19 — 12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant;
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

7.  Trust in the Lord
Psalm 4:5 — 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 5:11  — 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psalm 9:10  —10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psalm 18:2  — 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 56:11  —  11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalm 62:8  —  8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalm118:8–9  — 8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

8.  LDS Hymns inspired by the psalms
Some of these hymns are “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (Hymns, no. 108; Psalm 23), “The Lord Is My Light” (Hymns, no. 89; Psalm 27:1), “How Great Thou Art” (Hymns, no. 86; Psalm 8:3–9; 9:1–2), and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Hymns, no. 72; Psalm 23:6; 150).

The First Presidency said:
“Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end (Hymns, ix)." (Quoted from the Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, pp. 117-122.)

9. Poetic parallelism in the Psalms (from the Teacher's Manual)

"Your study of the psalms may be enriched by an understanding of the poetic techniques that David and other Hebrew poets used. One of these techniques is parallelism. One common characteristic of parallelism is the repetition of a thought in different words. Such repetition expands or intensifies the meaning of an idea. One example of this kind of parallelism is Psalm 102:1–2, in which the same thought is expressed in different words five times (“hear my prayer,” “let my cry come unto thee,” “hide not thy face from me,” “incline thine ear unto me,” and “in the day when I call answer me speedily”).…repetition intensifies the message."

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