The Use Of Psalms In Public Worship In Bible Times -- By: Warren Vanhetloo

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 14:4 (Winter 1971)
Article: The Use Of Psalms In Public Worship In Bible Times
Author: Warren Vanhetloo


The Use Of Psalms In Public Worship In Bible Times

Warren Vanhetloo

Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis

Psalms have been important in the worship of Jews and Christians from the crossing of the Red Sea to the present. Such vocal praise on the part of God’s people is frequently enjoined by the inspired Word as a proper way to worship the living God. It is well to be acquainted not alone with instructions and examples of such praise given in the Bible but also with what information can be known as to the methods which have been used in rendering such praise unto God. Most such information comes from the Bible; some from early writers; some from archaeology.

The primary interest for this study is the use of Psalms in the worship of the Jewish temple. Evidences of earlier use in the tabernacle, and of later use in the synagogues and local church are not so clear nor extensive.

Unless in a quotation, references to the one hundred fifty collected Psalms in the Old Testament will use a capital letter; other psalms or reference to psalms in general will begin with a small letter.

The Old Testament does not contain an organized set of instructions setting forth a prescribed method of using the Psalms in tabernacle or temple worship. Probably no such authoritative delineation of how and when to use the Psalms in public worship ever existed. The order of service in the temple is nowhere described; it must be reconstructed on the basis of many indications throughout Scripture. These clearly indicate that the Psalms were used in the temple in connection with the various sacrifices, festivals, and holy days.

Direct exhortations to use Psalms in worship are few. I Chronicles 16:9 and 25:1, 7 are clear, and a few others can be cited as enjoining use of the Psalms in worship, but these are insignificant when compared to the detailed instructions for other portions of the temple service. Although certain Psalms through custom came to be used regularly for certain occasions, even this was never thought of as having been specifically directed by God. Thus, since even minor details concerning the sacrifices to be offered were ordered by God, whereas indications concerning the rendering of Psalms were omitted, the relative importance of these two in the Old Testament worship is evident. In the worship of the temple at Jerusalem the sacrifices were always central and most important; the Psalms were

clearly supplementary to the offering of sacrifice. Just so, the preaching of the cross in t...

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