FATHER’S SONG (9): Israel’s iPod (Psalms)

I have over 2,000 songs in my iTunes library.  I also have a much smaller “Playlist” of all my favorites: songs that make me smile and move me to dancing, songs that evoke significant memories, songs I’ve shared with special friends, songs that comfort me and songs that move me to tears.  Skimming through another person’s music collection can often give you a small window into that person’s soul.

By God’s grace the ancient “Favorites Playlist” of Israel has been preserved for us in the 150 song collection we call the Psalms.  We have in the middle of our Bibles essentially the iPod of the ancient Israelite people.  This collection of 150 songs includes hymns for holy days, community laments, individual laments, songs of pious persons, thank-offering songs, royal songs and more.  They were written by the community and for the community of Israel.  Many are attributed to individuals such as David and Asaph.  They are the raw, unfiltered poetic scribbles and lyrical expressions of man’s search for God amidst all the struggles common to man.