The National tribune., 1892-04-07

School Lesson Appointed for April
II. 1892. used
Subject: Religion Taught by Nature and by Reyela.
tiOn. IPs., IS.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from The Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION.
In our Hebrew Bibles the Book of Psalms
has simply the title Tehilleem. which means
hymns. praises, songs. 1t comes from verb
(haplaH) signifying to give clear, sharp sound.
When Ethiopian women join in public rejoic-
ings they utter shouts sounding thus, Elellell,
| Ellellell Tho Hebrew verb haWldU, is simply
| the incorporation into language OF the very
sound uttered when masssof people were in
| happy seasons. The tone is evidently suitable
| for continuous musical strain. HdWlaH comes
| to us from the Hebrew with some such history
as our words buzz clang, crackle From it is
| gotten the word halleluJah. The Psalms them
selves are often onomatopoetic. The word,
which is the general title of the Book of
Psalms, is never used in any of the titles of the
said Psalms. 1t occurs, however. at times in
| the bodies of certain Psalms. The Hebrew
word for book is sepher. Some Hebrew Bibles
head the Book of Psalms, sepher Teh1leem
The title in the Septuagnt Greek Old Tes-
tament) is Psaln,oi Psaltharion. 1t is thus
we get our name Psalm. The word comes
twitch. twang. The reference is probably to
| the fact the Psalms were used in temple wor-
| lip accompanied by various kinds of stringed
| instruments, as the Tyre, harp, cithara and the
| like. The Psalms in many cases were proba.
| bly, written in special for such use. Naturally
Oh
| ing the words for the striDged musical instru-
ments.
The Hebrew and Greek words alike carry
| the idea of praise, and that specially in wor-
| ship. Most of the Psalms are hymns full of
deep, joyous emotion. At the same time many
of them are adapted to the sadder experiences
of life, and it is mostly from this fact they are
so dear to the church. We may estimate that
about one-seventh Of the Psalms express i'll
| special the pathetic, mournful feelings. fire.
quent expression among German scholars for
the Psalms is the Hebrew Anthology. We
have in the collection didactic, elegiac his
torical, lyric, moral, or ethic subjects. The
variety is part of the attraction. We find
odes, grave maxims, devout precepts, dramatic
dialogs, idyls, etc.
Mrs G. f. Alexander expressed words akin
to the spirit of the Church in general when
she wrote the following on 1.-The Uses of the
Psalms:
Come, blessed Psalms! when mists of sin
Ger my soul becouded lie
Pierce through the wild worlds strife and din,
And bid the evil spirit fly.
Come. blessed Psalms when. weak and lone,
My heart breaks down and finds no aid
And let me find in your deep tone
Some voice of comfort ready made.
For who shall find, In pain or loss.
Words of such sweet, sustaining power
As those that hung about the Cross.
And SOUtLeG my SayIour'S dying hour?
THE NINETEENTH PSALM EXPLAINED.
/. Preliminary
The nineteenth Psalm is one of the most re-
markable pieces of lterature-one of the favor
lite Psalms, ranking. g. g., with the 9Th, 23d,
10th. 5lst.
What is its object? DR.. A. Barnes says:
"This beautiful Psalm is designed to illustrate
the superiority of revealed truth above the
light Of nature in showing the character and
projections Of nature" Geddes writes No
poem ever contained finer argument against
atheism, nor one better expressed" Henry
states: There are two excellent books which
the great God has published for the instruction
and edifcation of the children of men. This
Psalm treats of them both and recommends them
both to our diigent study. j. The book of tho
creatures, in which we may easily read the power
and Godhead of the creator H. The Book
of the Scriptures, which makes known to US the
Will OF GOd concerning
Principal j. w. Dawson, d. D., LII. D.,
remarks: "This is q morning Psalm. 1t Is as
if the author, in the wakeful hours Of the clear
night, had been gazing at the heavens from his
couch on the house top, or from his watching
place ON some Ills side, until at length he sees
the dawn spreading over the east, and the sun
suddenly bursting forth from the horizon and
speeding on its glorious course. Then the poet
turns from the heavens to his Bible, and stud
les his daily portion ere he goes forth to his
work, singing as lie goes, the praises of the
joint revelation Of God in his works and in his
word"
memorial window has been placed in the
chapel Of Williams College in remembrance of
the late Prof Albert Hopkins. 1t is an elegant
piece of art The main figure pictures the
Psalmist DAVID with eyes gazing into the
heavens. Underneath are inscribed the words
of the first verse Of the Nineteenth Psalm.
"To the chief musician" says the title. We
have the same heading in Psalms 4, 5, 6, 8,
8. lila, 10. We find this expression in the
titles Of So Psalms. The chief musician was the
leader of the Temple choirs. He selected the
music and superintendent the rehearsas. ALI
music for worship was submitted to him.
2. Data.
We consider tho entire Nineteenth Psalm.
This is well, for the Psalm is beautiful unit.
In the original Hebrew it is poetry. Some
thing of the poetic is lost by translation, and
yet the student feels the inspiration Of more
than usual interest when trying to get into the
spirit OF this particular Psalm.
3. AuttOr.
There is scarce any room to question David's
authorship. In the heading or title it is
plainly said, % Psalm of David" Plumer
thinks it strange that DR.. A. Clark had any
doubt about this matter. Hengstenberg wrote,
"Of the Davidic authorship of the Psalm there
can be no doubt"
4. Time.
We may date b. c. 1910. Rosenmuller says
"When this Psalm was composed cannot be
shown with any probability" Clark was in
the dark, because he could not see that David
was author. Goblin chronoogcally has this
Psalm follow Psalm IL, b. c. 1000. Scott puts
it 1912 b. G. Granting David composed it, and
we may assume this fact most certainly, we
date b. G. 1040.
s. Place.
The Psalm was composed most likely at Jeru-
salem. That was the residence of King David.
G. Occasion.
There is no plain indication of the exact
events in the life of David melting him to
write this particular Psalm. Most of the
Psalms are the language of deep personal ex-
perence. 1t has been thought David composed
the 18th Psalm when he was out in the wilder
ness seeking refuge from the prosecuting Saul.
lie was away from the Temple, unable to join
in the worship morning and evening. But he