Greetings in Yeshua’s marvelous name!
Given what’s going on in Ukraine at the moment I thought the following might be helpful as I know we are praying for the situation.
As we explain in our teaching, Shine Forth Songs Of Praise is the meaning of the Hebrew word translated “Psalms”.
“Psalms” is from the Greek “Psalmois” “Songs” cf. Col. 3:16.
Though of course the Shine Forth Songs Of Praise can be used as prayer, we should keep in mind that they are primarily Songs. Verse 1 in Hebrew not uncommonly has some type of musical reference.
The Hebrew word translated Psalms, does have a connection through some shared root letters, with the main Hebrew word for prayer. (Hebrew by the way has almost a dozen words for prayer!).
Unfortunately, time at the moment does not allow me to include a little learning together about each of these five Psalms, but I will briefly point out when they are used.
Five is a significant number in Hebrew, symbolically representing grace but coming from a verb defined correctly by one of the great Torah teachers as ” prepare; equip in order to exert power”.
It is a whole other discussion (!), but while we’re at it we should take note; the Torah consists of not 4 Books or 6 Books – but 5. It is also extremely extremely important not to see the Torah through a Western lens, i.e., as though it was “5 separate books”, but rather as it is seen in Hebrew, “5 Fifths”.
A major part and function of the Torah is to do exactly what the verb 5 comes from means; “prepare; equip in order to exert power”. The power talked about is the power to exert the ethical and moral character of God; this is actually what the idea of “made in God’s image and likeness” means. In Gen. 1:26-27, the Hebrew has nothing whatsoever to do with physical likeness or something that can be seen.
Lastly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that if we take the Hebrew letters of “5” and rearrange them we get the word Mashiach!
Our Mashiach did not come only as an atonement for sin, but also to “rearrange” things so through him. Man once again could be “prepared” and “be equipped”, in order to live godly and Mashiach-like lives, empowered by the Ruach Hakodesh to do so!
Cf. Mt. 5-7; Yochanon 14:26 (in context probably for the Twelve, but none the less still very encouraging!) etc. etc.
Paul held out and encouraged the Philippians (3:17) and Timothy (2 Tim. 21-22, 3:10) about living godly lives!
Cephas (Peter’s Aramaic name) very much does so also in both of his Letters! Cf. esp. 1 Pet. 2:12, and most esp. 2 Pet. 1:3- 12, certainly one of the most remarkable passages in Scripture!
The 5 Psalms are:
Psalm 20 – having to do with preparation for battle; we should note that it is the first of the 36 traditional Psalms used for one who is ill
Psalm 83 – traditionally recited after afternoon prayer
We should note in it that the Psalmist sees the enemies of Israel as the enemies of God.
Psalm 121 – part of what are known as the 15 Songs of Ascent, song by the Levites as they ascended up 15 stairs into the Temple
In Yeshua’s time Jewish travelers to Jerusalem sang these as they ascended up to the Mount of Olives after ascending up a very steep road about 18 miles from Yericho (“Jericho”; you’ll recall that Yeshua healed a fellow Jew who called out to him “son of David”, when Yeshua passed through there. On “son of David” cf. Lk. 1:30-34 etc. etc. Yericho is about a mile or so northwest of the northwest corner of what is called in Hebrew the Salt Sea, commonly known as the Dead Sea).
These 15 Songs of Ascent were no doubt sung by Yeshua’s parents, when they brought him to Jerusalem cf. Lk. 2!
Psalm 130 – traditionally recited after morning prayer. Though someone who has sinned recognizes the gravity of this, it’s included in the larger context of national distress
Psalm 142 – also traditionally recited after morning prayer. Although this has to do with David being in a difficult situation and as he was faced with throughout his whole reign as king of Israel, as we point out in our teaching on the Psalms.
The five Psalms been utilized by Jews during times of difficulty for the Jewish People, and especially when things today are more difficult in Israel then usual.
In short if I may please, a very key lesson we learn from King David when it comes to the Psalms:
David often found himself alone and isolated especially when King Saul was after him! The Psalms show us that David was always always concerned for his People Israel and for Jerusalem!
So, while it is certainly fine to utilize these when there is particular difficulty in the world, the larger context of the Psalms and concern for the Jewish People and Jerusalem, can easily be overlooked or forgotten.
This is especially so given traditional Western teaching, that tends to teach or focus on the Psalms as an “individualistic devotional”.
May God richly bless your use of His wonderful Word, and may we even more so, lead lives of holiness and look for and hasten the day of God 2 Pet. 3:11-13.
You can also find more on the Shine Forth Songs of Praise, on the Teaching page of the website which has a teaching window dedicated to the rich Hebrew songs!
I’ve also recently done an original rendering directly from the Hebrew of the most beloved of the Psalms, Ps. 23, traditionally referred to as The LORD is my Shepherd.
There was also a 1-hour audio summary teaching about the 23rd Psalm.
Be well!
Jacob
assemblywithoutthewalls.org