Introduction to PSALMS.

The Psalms-hymns of praise-have been sung by Jews and Christians for over three thousand years. Many were written by David. Some were written hundreds of years later, after the Jews returned from Babylon. One, Psalm 90, may even have been written by Moses. Today we still sing many traditional hymns and contemporary Scripture songs based on these ancient songs.

The Psalms' deep emotion and understanding of the human heart make them rich resources for private prayer as well as public worship. The songwriters affirm, over and over again, that the God who created the world and redeemed Israel can be trusted to rescue those in distress, forgive the penitent, punish those who oppress his people, and provide for the needy. Because God is good, they praise him in words and music.

And yet the Psalms are also full of deep pain and sorrow. When Jesus cried out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" he was quoting Psalm 22:1. All human emotions-joy, gratitude, love, hatred, terror, depression, loneliness-are included in the Psalms.

To get the most out of the Psalms, it is helpful to understand how Hebrew poetry works. Like poems in the English language, the Psalms use figures of speech such as simile ("My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother's arms," 131:2) and metaphor ("Yahweh is my Roeh," 23:1). Instead of rhythm and rhyme, however, most verses have two parallel lines. The two lines may express the same thought two ways: "I was placed in your care from birth. / From my mother's womb you have been my God" (22:10). They may offer two contrasting thoughts: "Weeping may last for the night, / but there is a song of joy in the morning" (30:5). Or the second line may explain the first: "Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, / because you are with me, I fear no harm" (23:4). And some psalms make their point with joyful repetition: "Give thanks . . . because his mercy endures forever" (136).

Come to the Psalms in total honesty, bringing whatever is in your heart. God won't be shocked: "O Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me. / . . . You read my thoughts from far away" (139:1-2). But that is no reason to fear: "Taste and see that Yahweh is good. / Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him" (34:8).

Key Names of God in Psalms Yah, Yahweh LORD Melek King El, Elohim, Eloah God Shopet Judge Elyon Highest Adonay Lord, Master Machseh Refuge Metsuda Fortress Go'el Redeemer Roeh (Yahweh Roi) the LORD Is My Shepherd Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts (also Elohim Tsebaoth) El Chay Living God Ruach, Ruach Qodesh Spirit Migdal-Oz Strong Tower Ab Father Shadday Almighty Maon Dwelling Place Qedosh Yisrael Holy One of Israel Mashiach Christ, Messiah Tsur (Yahweh Tsur) the LORD My Rock PSALMS.

BOOK ONE.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30.

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40.

41.

BOOK TWO.

42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50.

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60.

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70.

71 72.

BOOK THREE.

73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80.

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89.

BOOK FOUR.

90.

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100.

101 102 103 104 105 106.

BOOK FIVE.

107 108 109 110.

111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120.

121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130.

131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140.

141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150.

BOOK ONE.

(Psalms 1-41) Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.

2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of Yahweh and reflects on his teachings day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted beside streams- a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither.

He succeeds in everything he does.a 4 Wicked people are not like that.

Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.

5 That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.

6 Yahweh knows the way of righteous people, but the way of wicked people will end.

Psalm 2 1 Why do the nations gather together?

Why do their people devise useless plots?

2 Kings take their stands.

Rulers make plans together against Yahweh and against his Mashiach b by saying, 3 "Let's break apart their chains and shake off their ropes."

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.

Adonay makes fun of them.

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger.

In his burning anger he terrifies them by saying, 6 "I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain."

7 I will announce Yahweh's decree.

He said to me: "You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.

8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.

You will break them with an iron scepter.

You will smash them to pieces like pottery."

10 Now, you kings, act wisely.

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11 Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, or he will become angry and you will die on your way because his anger will burst into flames.

Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.

MASHIACH.

CHRIST, MESSIAH.

Mashiach is the Hebrew word for Messiah. In the New Testament, the Greek word Christos is translated "Christ," and it means "Messiah"or "Anointed One,"a phrase that refersto someone set apart fora special mission.

Many ancient peoples believed that oil rubbed onto the body could impart strength, health, and beauty. Since oil was a staple of life in biblical times, used for lighting, cooking, medicine, cosmetic purposes, hygiene,and hospitality, it served as a symbol of both wealth and joy. An abundance of oil was evidence of God's pleasure. Scarcity symbolized his displeasure.

Oil was also used for sacred purposes, such as consecrating altars and vessels for worship, indicating that they had been set apart for the Lord's purposes. People could also be anointed and set apart. Though some of Israel's high priests were anointed when they took office, Israel's kings, especiallythose descended from David, were anointed rather than crowned. According to rabbinic tradition, oil (olive oil mixed with spices such as cinnamon, calamus, and myrrh) was poured on their heads in a circle to form a crown. This anointing signified the king's right to rule. It meant that God had blessed him with authority, strength, and honor.

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the Christ ("Anointed One") no fewer than 530 times, so much so that we have come to think of "Christ" as his last name. But unlike the ancient kings of Israel, Jesus was not anointed with oil. Instead, he was anointed with the Holy Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan River. The early Christians believed that Jesus was Mashiach in a unique sense. Like no king before him, he was called to heal the rift between God and his people.

In order to avoid being forced into playing a political role, Jesus avoided the title of Christ or Messiah throughout most of his life. Finally, shortly before his death, he answered the high priest's question: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" with the startling confession: "I am." (Mark 14:61-62) In time, oil became a symbol for the Holy Spirit, who imparts divine favor, power, and protection. The English word christen ("to anoint") comes from the Greek verb chrio ("to anoint").

Praying to Mashiach One of the most depressing stories ever written is Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Perhaps you know of this critically acclaimed play. Some commentators believe that the character Godot represents God. In any case, as one of the lines of the play confirms, this is a story in which" nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful."aThe two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly for Godot, who, despite promises to the contrary, never arrives.

I wonder if the Jewish people were ever tempted to despair of the arrival of their long-promised Messiah. Generation after generation had carried the hope forward, little realizing that once the Messiah did arrive, many people would not even recognize him. Jesus simply wasn't the kind of Messiah they were expecting. Instead of overthrowing their Roman oppressors through a display of incredible might, he was nailed to a cross in a spectacle of unimaginable weakness. Or so it must have seemed.

They didn't understand that Jesus was solving bigger problems than the Roman Empire, nor did they comprehend the methods he was using to free them from their bondage to sin and death.

So many times we, too, are waiting for God, begging him to show up in our lives. What happens when the help we are asking for doesn't come in the package we expect? What if our Messiah is solving bigger problems than the ones we want him to address?

Unlike the unhappy characters in Waiting for Godot, we are waiting for a God who does keep his promises. Over and over, Christ our Messiah comes to us, helping us, challenging and changing us, giving us deeper insight into his lifegiving ways.

Jesus Christ, our Messiah, open our eyes to the way you are at work in the world today. Help us to wait for you with confident expectation.

Promises Associated with the Name MASHIACH.

You can depend on God. Our message to you isn't false; it's true. God's Son, Yeshua Christ, whom I, Silvanus, and Timothy told you about, was true not false. Because of him our message was always true. Certainly, Christ made God's many promises come true. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20) But now Christ has come back from the dead. He is the very first person of those who have died to come back to life. Since a man brought death, a man also brought life back from death. As everyone dies because of Adam, so also everyone will be made alive because of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Psalm 3 A psalm by David when he fled from his son Absalom.

1 O Yahweh, look how my enemies have increased!

Many are attacking me.

2 Many are saying about me, "Even with Elohim on his side, he won't be victorious."

Selah 3 But you, O Yahweh, are a Magen that surrounds me.

You are my glory.

You hold my head high.