THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 2

 

THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 2

               The inspired psalms are an interesting, exciting, and quite fascinating collection of ancient Hebrew poetry.  These Hebrew songs are the largest and oldest complete collection of mono-theistic religious poetry and melodies surviving in the world today.  This collection of lyric poetry is studied and respected by saints and scholars throughout the world.  Even those who do not respect the Bible as the inspired word of God, revere this book for the quality of its poetical verse.  The quality of this Hebrew lyric poetry gives credence to the belief that there was a high level of literary and musical development among the ancient Hebrew culture.  The recent deciphering of the "Biblical accents" or the te'amim by Suzanne Haik-Vantoura has produced what she believes are the actual melodies of the psalmody of the Bible.  In Chapter VIII of Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective the subject of the deciphering of the te'amim is treated thoroughly.

          Some writers believe that this book has had as profound an influence on Christendom as any other single book of the Bible.  "No single book of scripture, not even the New Testament has, perhaps, even taken such hold on the hearts of Christendom.  None, if we may dare judge, unless it be the Gospels, has had so large an influence in molding the affections, sustaining the hopes and purifying the faith of believers." The Book of Psalms.  Vol. 1 and 2. By J.J. Perone, p. 22.  The list of authors who similarly attest to the great value of this complete collection of sacred lyric poems goes on and on, so much so that it can be said this this is probably the greatest devotional book of the Bible.

 

 

Thought for the Day

 

The Book of Psalms is the oldest extant complete collection of lyric poetry to be found anywhere in the world.