Page 83 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

pilgrimage he continued to go yearly and sang sentences like, “Do not reject your anointed one” (132:10,
cf. 17).

As we finish our study of Psalms, we must note that each of the Books in Psalms ends in praise. The
entire collection ends with five psalms of praise. They are called Hallel psalms because they begin and
end with “Praise the LORD” or “hallelujah.” Book five may well end with Psalm 145:21, “My mouth will
speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” This would make
the last five psalms the conclusion of the entire psalter, a fitting focus of praise. All five psalms are a call
to praise Yahweh. “Praise the LORD, my soul (146:1b).” “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how
pleasant and fitting to praise him (147:1)!” “Praise the LORD…young men and women, old men and
children (148:7, 12).” “Let Israel rejoice in their Maker (149:2).” “Let everything that has breath praise
the LORD (150:6).” While the term Elohim is used a handful of times, God is addressed over and over as
Yahweh, the personal God.

9.2 Objectives

1. You will be introduced to two of the collections of psalms, Ascent and Hallel Psalms.

2. You will reflect on the difficulty of living in this lying world.

3. You will consider the Christian perspective of spiritual pilgrimage throughout life.

4. You will notice the theology of praise that ends each section as well as the end of the Psalms.

5. You will strive to compare modern songs to the Christ-centered theological depth of Psalms.

9.3 Songs of Ascent and Praise

Any of the Psalms of Ascent are worthy of study. Turning to the first, we find a pilgrim in
distress. He is particularly frustrated with “lying lips” and “deceitful tongues.” How
appropriate this is for the first psalm! The would-be pilgrim is reminded forcefully of what to
expect in life. People are liars. Their words hurt and cause damage. “It is hardly an
exaggeration to say that half the miseries of human life spring from the reckless and
malignant use of the tongue.” The Apostle James agrees, “The tongue also is a fire, a world
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of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on
fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” This is no more than what was announced in Psalm 1 and 2 about
the wicked who want nothing to do with God’s laws. In fact, the realization of a lying world can give a
person a push out the door of worldly living to begin his life of pilgrimage (120:1-2).

Early in life, even as a child, one must learn trust in God. Deceit can seem very large, very powerful. The
believer must cling to God and to God’s ultimate victory. While not necessarily wishing destruction on
the liar, life for the faithful would be even more painful without a confidence in God’s justice. The liar will

137 Cox. 18.
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