THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM - 12. THE PSALMISTS

The book of psalms is a collection of Hebrew poetry and songs compiled for use in individual, devotional and congregational communion. It reflects the religious, relational and worship life of the Hebrew race for about 1000 years of their history. It is composed of 150 chapters, comprising King David's poems, songs and prayers (50%), those by Asaph (8%), Korah's sons (8%), Moses, Solomon and Ethan (1 song each), other named psalmists (26%) and other unnamed writers (6%). Bible scholar Dr. Charles Greene explains the popular religious use of psalms: "In the course of dealing with the adversities of life, people are often frustrated by not being able to express adequately their emotional pain or mental anguish. The psalms release us from that frustration. With emotionally drenched complaints, humble confessions, desperate pleas, penitent prayers or screams of pain, the writers of the psalms skillfully expose and express the yearning of our deepest thoughts...By song and spirit they comfort the lonely, strenghten the weary, bind the broken-hearted and turn the eyes of the downcast up toward their Creator. Hope returns, faith is renewed and life again becomes bearable." As testimony to this truth, I remember as a student preparing to travel for further studies in the U.K., my mother gave me a particular psalm to pray with 21 times (she told me to count 21 matchsticks not to lose count!). I did. I travelled not long after that and came back with the golden fleece. She took me to testify to the faithfulness of God in her church on my return years later.

Perhaps the greatest of the psalmists was King David who wrote half the book of psalms. He had endeared himself to the Lord from his youth so he had learnt the fear, respect and worship of God. The great pastoral psalm, ps.23, was written by him as a shepherd boy who sought the safety and comfort of God in the trenches while tending his father's flock. He had acquired from youth artistic skills for composing music as well as making and playing musical instruments. He taught many others in these skills in the worship of God; Psalmists like Asaph, Korah, Heman were performing musicians with him. Although the writer of the ingenious work of psalm 119 was not revealed, many scholars believe it was written by King David judging by the poetic, prophetic and peculiar style of his writing. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the bible with 176 verses, is an acrostic poem of 22 stanzas with 8 couplets each, each stanza titled by its own Hebrew alphabet, and begins its first letter with the original Hebrew alphabet. This poetic style is not revealed in that of the other psalmists except that of David in psalm 19 which also dwelt chiefly on God's word.

Daniel Carrol and Wendell Kimbrough are modern day psalmists striving to retain and improve on the old flavour of the psalms. Folk singer and songwriter Wendell is bringing back the art of singing the psalms that has been lost in today's Christian church. He is on a mission to write a modern-day hymn for each of the 150 psalms. As the worship director and artist-in-residence for his church in Alabama, Wendell writes a new psalm each week for his congregation to sing. The result is a growing collection of sing-able hymns that capture the emotional power of the psalms. We need the same fire to burn in our own Christian songwriters here and now.

olusegunisaac2018@gmail.com.