THERE IS MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE PSALMS.

THERE IS MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE PSALMS.

            The study of music in the Book of Psalms is an awesome task.  Many of the other aspects of music in the Bible are not well researched by Bible commentators, but the subject of the "Psalms" is a well-worn topic.  There are hundreds of complete volumes devoted to the study of the Book of Psalms.1 These books range from small paper back volumes on the devotional aspects of the psalms to monumental treatises like William Plumer's Psalms which is 1,212 pages in length.

            Many of the Bible commentaries on the psalms have valuable introductions that give information on the history, poetry, theology, arrangement, authors, inscriptions, parallelism, figures of speech, inspiration, prophesy, names of God, divisions, collection, and even musical terms in the Book of Psalms.  There are often long discussions concerning the dating, collection, and authenticity of the inscriptions of the various psalms in this ancient collection of poetry.

            Since there is so much written on this first book of the Hagiographa, it is difficult to know just what should be included in this work that will be most helpful to ministers of music.  It seems that the first order of business should be to remind church musicians that this book is the "Song Book of the Bible."  This book does not merely contain music, it is all music.  This is an inspired sacred song book, and since its contents are completely religious in nature, the minister of music must have knowledge of how these poems (songs) are constructed in order to knowledgeably sing these most excellent songs.  It is also important for musicians to understand the content of these songs in order that they may be performed with understanding as I Corinthians 14:15 admonishes.  Finally the chief singer or chief musician is to be reminded that these songs were not intended to be read but rather sung since this and all Old Testament scripture was intended to be chanted or sung.  Reading these songs never does them justice for this is not a "Talk Book" but rather a "Song Book."