1. God’s Songbook
Psalm 19
March 4, 2018
Robin Vogelzang

2. Psalm 19 For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the end of the world.
5 In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

3. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right;
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

4. 10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

5. What are the Psalms?
Martin Luther called them “a little Bible”
The Psalms are
- Prayers
- Poems
- Songs

6. Psalms as Prayer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer called Psalms “the prayer book of the Bible”
Prayer as relationship
Prayer as honesty
Prayer as conversation
“The psalms train us in the conversation with God that is prayer.” Eugene Peterson

7. Psalms as Prayer Anguish:
“Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord hear my voice." Psalm 130:1
“My soul is weary with sorrow” Psalm 119:28
"Heal me, Lord, for my soul is in agony, my bones are in deep anguish” Psalm 6:2-3
Joy:
“LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:9
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence; with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad!” Psalm 96:11

8. Psalms as Prayer
Psalm 19
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

9. Psalms as Prayer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer called Psalms “the prayer book of the Bible”
Prayer as relationship
Prayer as honesty
Prayer as conversation
“The psalms train us in the conversation with God that is prayer.” Eugene Peterson

10. Psalm 19
Structure:
First half (verses 1-6) on creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God…”
Second half (verses 7-11) on God’s law
“The law of the LORD is perfect…”

11. Psalm 19 Structure: First half (verses 1-6) on creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God…”
Second half (verses 7-11) on God’s law
“The law of the LORD is perfect…”
The God of the Universe speaks to us (through creation, through his Word).
How do we respond? How do we listen?

12. Psalms as Poetry Psalms speak to our imaginations
Metaphor, imagery, beauty
5 In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.

13. Psalms as Poetry Psalms engage our bodies
Repetition, memorization, internalizing
“Poets tell us what our eyes, blurred with too much gawking, and our ears, dulled with too much chatter, miss around and within us. Poets use words to drag us into the depth of reality itself…Poetry grabs for the jugular. Far from being cosmetic language, it is intestinal.” Eugene Peterson, Answering God
Parallel structure (Hebrew poetic form)

14. Psalms as Poetry 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right;
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

15. Psalms as Songbook
Why does the Good Book include a songbook?
Songs surround the story of God and his people
Physical, internal: we don’t just know, we feel
Singing as an act of love: whole-person presence
Music connects us to one another: community, literal harmony

16. Psalms as Songbook
“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things…burst into jubilant song with music” Psalm 98:1, 4
“Come let us sing for joy to the Lord” Psalm 95:1
“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre” Psalm 150:3

17. Psalms as Songbook 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the end of the world.

18. Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
Psalms as Songbook
Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”

19. Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
Psalms as Songbook
Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
maskil
miktam
sheminith
shiggaion
gittith
alamoth
mahalath

20. Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
Psalms as Songbook
Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
maskil
“for pipes”
miktam
“with stringed instruments”
sheminith
“song of ascents”
shiggaion
gittith
alamoth
mahalath

21. Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
Psalms as Songbook
Psalm 19: “For the director of music. A psalm of David.”
maskil
“for pipes”
tune “The death of the son”
miktam
“with stringed instruments”
tune “Lilies”
sheminith
“song of ascents”
tune “A dove on distant oaks”
shiggaion
gittith
tune “The lily of the covenant”
alamoth
mahalath

22. Psalms as Songbook
The Bible speaks to each generation, each culture in its specificity.
Hymns vs. praise songs?
Music speaks to us the way we hear, we learn best.

23. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right;
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.