The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-28
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

4 Study of the International Sunday
| School Lesson Appointed for May
| 8, 1892. ose
--l-.-~-l--
Subject: The Delights of Gods House-The
Joys of worship. Ps., 81.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
etudy the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures rs
indicated aboye.l ="
INTRODUCTION.
We never tire of the Psalms. Dr. Conant, In
| Examiner and Chronicle once wrote: The
Book of Psalms is collection of the sacred
poetry of the Jews, written by inspired men,
and designed by the Holy Spirit for use in tho
private and public worship of Gods children
| in all ages. How wonderfully they adapted
to this purpose the experience OF pious hearts
| in every ago and cline affords ample testi-
mony. They are as clear and satisfying an ex-
PRESTON of the souls aspirations and repent
ance and worship to-day as they were in David's
or Ezras time, and as suited to the saint in
India or the Isles of the Sea as in America or
England. Surely, if we had no other, this
alone would be sufficient attestation of their
| inspired character. No merely human produce
ton could SO completely meet the spiritual
| needs of every period of time and Of every
/ phase OF human experience"
/ In the original (Hebrew) the Psalms are
| poetry. It, however, lacks rhyme Instead
| there is kind of balancing of clauses.
|; The Hebrew Bible was divided into several
|. parts one of which was the Hagiograpia. It
consisted of tile following books: Psalms,
| Proverbs, JOB, Cantices, Ruth, Lamentations,
!, Ecclesastes, Esther, Daniel Ezra, Nehemiah,
and Chronicles. I. and III. The Hagiograplia
was the last of the three divisions Of the FIe-
brew Old Testament and VIC notice tho Book
of Psalms leads this third division. The other
two divisions were the Law and the Prophets.
The Masorites werc authors of the volume
known tho Masora. It was complied or
composed by several learned rabbits in the
eight and ninth centuries. We do not know
their names. The word Masora means tradi-
ton, and is also written Masorcth and Mas5o-
roth.
The Masorites divided the Psalm into five
books. accounting the first Psalm as general
preface, to wit: Psalms to al, inclusive; 42
to ~ inclusive; 70 to SO, inclusive; so to 1906
inclusive, and lot to $50. 1t has been thought
this plan was suggested by tile fact the books
of Moses were divided into five parts the Pom
tateach. Ezra has the credit of having formed
tho $50 Psalms intooiie volume. I'll noticeable
that each of these five divisions closes with a
benedict each of the first three d visions with
" men and Amen" and each Of tho last two
with Praise 20 the Lord /" OF, in the original,
Ealeujah.
EXPLANATION OF PSALM 81.
]. Preliminary.
In the Vulgate and Douay Bibles this is the
a3d Psalm Sturgeon said, In this sweet
Sahbatie Psalm the writer reioiccs in the House
of God. He evidently loved tho place Of Cody
assembly, the place where prayer and praise
wcrc offered by the united tribes Of his people,"
Luther wrote, This is Psalm of consHla-
tior, which breaks forth into the most sweet
and powerful expressionsin praiseaId love of
tire ministry of the Word"
The commentator Alexander remarks. The
Psalfnist celebrates the blessedness of intimate
communion with God, and prays that he may
enjoy it,"
We notice the title, "To tho Chief Musician
upon Gittith Psalm for the Sons Of Korah."
Musician" Sec, c.sg. Psalms A. 5, 8, g. etc.
Tie Chief Musician was the precentor. We
have way of finding orlt his name.
The Gittith was stringed instrument (See
Psalms and 81 Some think we are to
understand an instrument used by the
Gittites (peopie of GATH. We remember
David was for time with the Philistines,
q Sa., 6, 10, II, 10, 49, and he may have in
trodueed the Gittitl thence. There are Some
who derive Gittith from the Hebrew word
gnih. meaning wine press, and hold the instrn-
nient tuna one common at vintage
feasis. Barnes prefers the first view.
We notice at the close OF verses and the
word Selah. Tho same word is used "a times
in tho Psalms and three times in the Book Of |
Habakkuk. The Psalter in the Prayer Book
tEpiscopal) omits it. IL is probably d call for |
q higher pitch in singing. There is, however, |
great difference of opinion as to Is meaning. |
" For the Sens of Korah." korah was a
greatgrandson of Levi. (Nu., 10: H. The de-
seendants of Koran were the body from whom |
IL.
music in all Jewish religious assemblies; also |
porte.s, doorkcepers. q Ch., g: 22-3l; 2 Ch., |
20 40 When Korah, Dathan. and AbIram
were destroyed, along with their families, at
Kadesh Barnea the children of koralI were
spared. (Nu., 26:11.i We learn from ! Chr,
8: 10 and 20: 1-1D that they were employed
about the Temple. 9 Ch, 20: 49,, states they
were employed AS singers. They are named i'll
the titles o! IL Psalns-42. ID. 40. 81 81, 81, SO.
Hcman was one Of the Sons of Korah. Il CHI,
6 3d. We see reason why the composition
was sent to them. They were to arrange it |
unsteady for in the worship at the Taber-
nacle
g Author
We havo no positive knowledge as to the
of the Saith Psalm. The following
say it WAS probably David: Tho Syriac. Calvin.
Poole, Henry, Luther, Plumer. Scott says it
is generally thought that David wrote it.
3. Time.
Scott dates 1921 b. G., thus showing his
preference of David as author.
4. Place.
If David were author, it vas probably written
at Jernsalam in memory of his feelings WHOM
as fugitive, he was deprived of the privilege
of attending services at the Tabernacle. 1t
was plainly written when regular Tabernacle
services were being conducted, and this fact
favors Dayids authorship.
D. Analysis.
l. Anxiety for the place of worship. (Vs.
Ia Longs taints, cries. Why's?
]. Tabernacle delightful. /.
2. Satisfies soul, heart, flesh. g.
3. Place OF rest, nest rest for soul, body,
mind. j.
4. Place for caro- Of children. 3.
5. Place OF song. Birds sing. Praising. a.
CT, 3.
&. Envious to he always there az I've minis
tiers. Leyites were always in tile courts. 4.
ii. Joy Of those on way to Gods Tabernacle.
Tvs. $40
/. Blessed to have ones heart (strength)
fixed on the Sanctuary. 5.
2. Blessed 10 love. (have heart on) the ways
leading to the house of God.
3. Those going are so eager to get there that
even when they go through sterile, hard ways,
ways that otherwise (in9a different state of
mind) might make them sad, find (consider)
hem delightful as wells and pools to thirsty