Arkansas State press., 1949-07-01

greatest hymn n.
book In the world
% the book Of
poems was used as =
ths hymn-book Of -
Psalms. This col. Dr.. Foreman
1setion Of religious
The temple which was built wher
he Jewish exiles returned Il
Dabyloa. II was the hymn-book Of
4erod's temple, and we know our
Lord used and loved II. II 10 In
Aeed the sons-book Of the Bible. It
was the only hymnal which the
0rst Christians used. for some
time. Indeed the book Of Psalms IL
Drobably the only hymn-book hon.
cred and used BY three separate
kslgions-Judaism. Mohammedan.
Ism and Christianity. i
How Il Grew
81 IKE al hymnals. this book Of
Psalms grew by degrees. II
was not written all at one time or
~ one person. David wrote some
Il the Psalms. how many we do
not know. The titles Of the
Psalms were added by later He
brew editors. are no part Of the
original Psalms, and are often In
accurate.
n b very likely that - much
- . AousanA years went by
6etweea Ne first Of the Psalms
= - written. and the last.
Every msdcrn hymnal that 10
any geed d IN part . collection
I - ~ best - The old hymnsls.
So our book Of Psalms. a. II
finally took shape. came from old
" collections. A glance through II
tn the American standard version
viii show that In, its present form
Il Is made up Of five smaller books.
ending with Psalms Al. ~. 80. 100
and $50. Each book ends with a dox.
ology and book v ends with mag
nificent series OF them. Sometimes
the editors left in duplicates. Read
Ing Psalm Ia side by side with
Psalm So viii show that these two
are exactly the same. only using
different names for God. At least
one Of the Psalms is made up OF
"clippings" from earlier Psalms:
mus Psalm 1903 Is made up from
Psalm SELL and Psalm 6o:5-i2.
ING Psalms YsTe cherished and
preserved generation after genera.
ton because Of their hear.-appeal.
Our Psalm book has gone through
centuries OF sitting; many were
dropped out and forgotten, but the
best were saved and sung. and
what We have is the cream Of the
best Of the singers Of Israel.
-.
Mirror Of Man --'e\
IoHN CALVIN called the Psalms
} the mirror Of the soul" All the
varied moods Of man--hope. dcs.
pair. triumph, envy. doubt. aspira.
zion, loneliness. hatred. fear. In.
Sitation. patriotism. Joy. bitterness.
WEAKNESS. amazement. anguish,
Sapture-almosi every emotion tina,
gan be felt toward God or man
6resthes somewhere or other In
these Psalms.
Since net enc a The authors
q ~ Palms Was . Christian.
! - course, We should not be
ssrpsised v find, here and
ehere. expressions tfor exam
D,e) q hatred which are out Of
harmeny with the spirit and
teaching Of Jesus. The won
Ger 10 that there II 20 little
u thst hind Of thing.
For every Psalm In which The
poet says something cruel or hate.
ful te. &. Psalm 1879 or 1909 e.l4.
there are scores that breathe
spiri, Of gentleness and grace. For
every note Of despair psalm So Is
the only completely gloomy one In
the whole collection). there are
many hallelujahs Of hope and glad.
ness.
Message Of God
II the Psalms are so human. how
= can they be also Gods word1
let they are also. truly. a message
Of God. For they not only cas-, q
divine light on the state Of mans
heart, but they show what the Life
q man Ia when God becomes real
For God was real TO each poet who
contributed 10 this great book. In
latter weeks this summer we shall
b looking at the Psalms from var.
Sous special angles. This week /,
WIN Be helpful to sit quietly with
the three typical Psalms. /. 81 and
100. and as you ponder over each
Cne In turn. ask yourself: VIVA,
does This show me abou, God?
What does this show about Life
when II turns 10 Codf
lCopyfieht by De International coup.
~ Of Religious Education on behalf ps
PrQteethnt denomins tons. Released