VALUE OF PSALMS

The name Psalms is derived from the Septuagint title for the book, Psalmoi. Psalmoi is the plural of psalmos, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word mizmor, meaning "song."

The Hebrew title for the book is tehillim, the plural of tehillah, meaning "song of praise." Although only Psalm 145 is specifically designated as a tehillah in the Hebrew Bible, the entire book of Psalms is a collection of psalms in praise to God.

In the Hebrew Bible, as it was finally canonized, the book of Psalms is divided into five smaller books to correspond in number with the books of the law.

Book 1: Psalms 1 – 41
Book 2: Psalms 42 – 72
Book 3: Psalms 73 – 89
Book 4: Psalms 90 – 106
Book 5: Psalms 107 – 150

The last psalm in each of the first four books has a concluding doxology (an expression of praise repeated by the congregation during worship services), such as "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen" (41:13; see also 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48). The whole of Psalm 150 forms a doxology for all five books of the Psalms, just as Psalms 1 and 2 form an extended introduction.

In Psalms, we see God the Creator, God the Sustainer of his creation, God the Righteous ruler and God the Redeemer of his people. But we also see people like us in a close relationship with this God.

Perhaps the greatest asset of the Psalms is their accessibility — we can relate to the emotions, the ups and downs, the difficulties expressed so movingly by the authors of the various psalms. We can also relate to the language they used. Although the Psalms are full of similes and metaphors, these are easily understood and express truths in a memorable way: The wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away (1:4), the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed (9:9), the Lord is my shepherd (23:1), my soul thirsts for the living God (42:2), righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne (89:14), the rivers will clap hands and the mountains will sing for joy when God judges the earth (98:8-9), God’s word is a lamp to the feet and a light for the path (119:105) and "those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever" (125:1).

The Psalms call us to join believers throughout the ages in worshiping God, in proclaiming his majesty, in expressing our fears and hopes to him and, most importantly, placing our absolute trust in him, our Creator and Redeemer.

The value and importance of Psalms in recorded in New Testament also. Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)