The Analysed Bible, Volumes 1, 2, 3, by Rev. G. Campbell Morgan: The Book of Psalms - Analysed and Explained in Detail (Full Text and PDF).

A detailed analysis of the book of Psalms: Jehovah.

To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, being published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.

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The Book of Psalms - Analysed and Explained in Summary - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of "The Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, taken from Volumes 1, 2, & 3 of the "Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.

PSALMS - BOOK 1: Psalms 1-41
JEHOVAH - THE BECOMING ONE. THE HELPER (Adoring Worship)

Part A: AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED - Psalms 1-8

A1. The Foundations - Psalm 1-2

  1. Jehovah's Law. A contrast. Obedience and disobedience - Ps. 1
  2. Jehovah's King. Folly of rebellion. Wisdom of submission - Ps. 2

A2. The Experiences - Psalm 3-7

  1. Jehovah's salvation. Confidence in peril - Ps. 3
  2. Jehovah's countenance the cause of confidence - Ps. 4
  3. Jehovah's leading in time of persecution - Ps. 5
  4. Jehovah's deliverance in time of chastisement - Ps. 6
  5. Jehovah's deliverance confidently hoped in - Ps. 7

A3. The Ultimate Purpose - Psalm 8

  1. Jehovah's excellence manifest in Nature and man - Ps. 8

Part B: AUTHORITY DEFENDED - Psalms 9-15

B1. The Need - Psalm 9-10

  1. The throne and the enemy: Jehovah's righteous rule rejoiced in - Ps. 9
  2. Appeal for action: Jehovah's judgment besought - Ps. 10

B2. The Activity - Psalm 11-15

  1. Jehovah's throne the foundation - Ps. 11
  2. Jehovah's rule in the midst of ungodliness - Ps. 12
  3. Jehovah's succour sought by the afflicted - Ps. 13
  4. Jehovah's knowledge of the godless - Ps. 14
  5. Jehovah's friend described - Ps. 15

Part C: AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED - Psalms 16-41

C1. The Person - Psalm 16-24

  1. Jehovah the Portion of the trusting - Ps. 16
  2. Jehovah appealed to, to exercise judgment - Ps. 17
  3. Jehovah worshipped - Ps. 18
  4. Jehovah revealed in Nature and Law - Ps. 19
  5. Jehovah appealed to for help on behalf of the king - Ps. 20
  6. Jehovah praised as the Strength of the king - Ps. 21
  7. Jehovah the Succourer of the afflicted one - Ps. 22
  8. Jehovah the Shepherd of His own - Ps. 23
  9. Jehovah conquering through His King - Ps. 24

C2. The Process - Psalm 25-39

  1. Songs of Assurance: Jehovah besought for deliverance - Ps. 25
  2. Songs of Assurance: Jehovah worshipped. Conditions - Ps. 26
  3. Songs of Assurance: Jehovah worshipped. Experience - Ps. 27
  4. Songs of Assurance: Jehovah appealed to and worshipped - Ps. 28
  5. Songs of Assurance: Jehovah in the majesty of the storm - Ps. 29
  6. Songs of Appropiation: Jehovah delivering from affliction - Ps. 30
  7. Songs of Appropiation: Jehovah the Refuge of the afflicted - Ps. 31
  8. Songs of Appropiation: Jehovah and the backsliding soul - Ps. 32
  9. Songs of Appropiation: Jehovah the mighty Deliverer - Ps. 33
  10. Songs of Appropiation: Jehovah the constant Succourer - Ps. 34
  11. Songs of Aspiration: Jehovah besought for help against enemies - Ps. 35
  12. Songs of Aspiration: Jehovah forgotten and recognised. A contrast - Ps. 36
  13. Songs of Aspiration: Jehovah the Confidence of His people - Ps. 37
  14. Songs of Aspiration: Jehovah appealed to in penitence - Ps. 38
  15. Songs of Aspiration: Jehovah the Hope of the afflicted - Ps. 39

C3. The Person - Psalm 40-41

  1. Jehovah worshipped in praise and prayer - Ps. 40
  2. Jehovah recognised as rewarding compassion - Ps. 41

DOXOLOGY - BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING. AMEN AND AMEN. - Psalm 41:13

The Title

  1. The mysterious name, suggestive of essential Being, becoming whatever is needed by men, and therefore uniformly used as indicating God's relation to His people as Helper.

The Relation

  1. The God of Israel: "God" "Elohim" The idea of supremacy; "of Israel" The Chosen People.

The Quantity

  1. From Everlasting to Everlasting: The word 'everlasting' means the concealed or vanishing point; and suggests the mysterious past and the unknown future. In its use here it reminds the heart of the eternity of God.

The Quality

  1. Blessed: The root idea is that of prostration in the attitude of adoration Amen and Amen: The consent of all to such adoration.

THE DIVINE NAME

Jehovah

  1. The Prevailing Name in tthis book is "Jehovah." It occurs in every Psalm at least twice and in one (Ps. 29) as many as 18 times.

God

  1. "God" is found 18 times in the singular, 50 times in the plural; in all 68 times. From 13 Psalms it is absent altogether.

Lord

  1. The general title "Lord" (Adonahy) only occurs 14 times in all, and these occasions are all in 8 Psalms.

THE DOMINANT THOUGHT

Jehovah Helper

  1. The dominant thought in this book of Psalms is that of God as Jehovah, the Helper of His people. The Psalms are songs of varying emotion and differing condition, but all express themselves in harmony with this note.

PSALMS - BOOK 2: Psalms 42-72
ELOHIM - THE WONDER-WORKING GOD (Wondering Worship)

Part A: MIGHTY DELIVERANCE - Psalms 42-51

A1. Exile - Psalm 42-44

  1. The Desire: God remembered in exile - Ps. 42
  2. The Prayer: God leading the exiled home - Ps. 43
  3. The Despair: God the Author of good and evil - Ps. 44

A2. Hope - Psalm 45-49

  1. The King: God gladdening the king and his bride - Ps. 45
  2. The Refuge: God the Refuge of His people - Ps. 46
  3. The Victor: God reigning over the nations - Ps. 47
  4. The Defender: God reigning over His own - Ps. 48
  5. The Life-Giver: God the Source of immortality - Ps. 49

A3. Restoration - Psalm 50-51

  1. The Act of God: God manifesting Himself through His people - Ps. 50
  2. The Attitude of Man: God the Saviour of the sinful - Ps. 51

Part B: MIGHTY DEFENCE - Psalms 52-60

B1. The Enemy - Psalm 52-55

  1. The Godless One: God the Destroyer of the sinful - Ps. 52
  2. The Godless One: God disappointed in man - Ps. 53
  3. The Cry of Distress: God the Helper of the oppressed - Ps. 54
  4. The Cry of Distress: God the Deliverer of the betrayed - Ps. 55

B2. The Defender - Psalm 56-60

  1. Hope: God the tender Friend of the oppressed - Ps. 56
  2. Hope: God the Refuge in calamity - Ps. 57
  3. Prayer: God the God of vengeance - Ps. 58
  4. Prayer: God the High Tower of the oppressed - Ps. 59
  5. Prayer: God the Hope of His people - Ps. 60

Part C: MIGHTY DOMINION - Psalms 61-72

C1. The Need - Psalm 61-64

  1. Assurance: God the Hope of man - Ps. 61
  2. Patience: God the only Hope of man - Ps. 62
  3. Confidence: God the perfect Hope of man - Ps. 63
  4. Certainty: God the Defence of the persecuted - Ps. 64

C2. The Answer - Psalm 65-68

  1. Praise for Might: God the God of harvest - Ps. 65
  2. Praise for Deliverance: God the Object of worship - Ps. 66
  3. Universal Praise: God the perfect Governor of the nations - Ps. 67
  4. The Arising of God: God the Strength of His people - Ps. 68

C3. The Process - Psalm 69-72

  1. The Suffering Witness: God the Succourer of the sorrowful - Ps. 69
  2. The Cry for Help: God the Hope of the despairing - Ps. 70
  3. The Cry of Confidence: God the Confidence of old age - Ps. 71
  4. The King and the Kingdom: God the King of the king - Ps. 72

DOXOLOGY - BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROUS THINGS: AND BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER: AND LET THE WHOLE EARTH BE FILLED WITH HIS GLORY - Psalm 72:18-19

The Title

  1. Jehovah Elohim: The essential Helper Supreme.

The Relation

  1. The God of Israel: Who only doeth wonderous things.

The Quality

  1. Blessed: The Person. His Name. Amen and Amen.

The Quantity

  1. For ever.

The Extent

  1. The whole earth filled with His Glory.

THE DIVINE NAME

God

  1. The dominant name in this book is "God." It occurs in every Psalm at least twice and in one as many as 26 times. It is written in the singular (El) 16 times and in the plural (Elohim) 198 times.

Jehovah

  1. "Jehovah" is found 32 times. From 15 Psalms it is absent altogether. In addition the title "Jah" is used once.

Lord

  1. The general title "Lord" (Adonahy) only occurs 19 times scattered through 12 of the Psalms.

THE DOMINANT THOUGHT

Jehovah Mighty

  1. In the second book the dominant thought is that of the might of God realized by His people, and manifest through them. The worship is that of Jehovah as the wonder-working God.

PSALMS - BOOK 3: Psalms 73-89
ELOHIM - JEHOVAH - THE MIGHTY HELPER (Ceaseless Worship)

Part A: MIGHTY HELP - THE FACT - Psalms 73-77

A1. The Viewpoint - Psalm 73

  1. The Sanctuary. The Problem of the Prosperity of the Wicked. The Solution: God the Good of His people - Ps. 73

A2. The Revelation - Psalm 74-76

  1. The Hope: God as silent and inactive - Ps. 74
  2. The Certainty: God as speaking and active - Ps. 75
  3. The Activity: God the God of victory - Ps. 76

A3. The Vision - Psalm 77

  1. The Years of the Right Hand: God the Healer of sorrow - Ps. 77

Part B: MIGHTY HELP - THE EXPERIENCE - Psalms 78-83

B1. History - Psalm 78

  1. Egypt to David. The Institution for the Children. The Patience of God: God the God of patience - Ps. 78

B2. Special Manifestation - Psalm 79-81

  1. The Devastation: God the Hope of the distressed - Ps. 79
  2. The Appeal: God the Restorer of His people - Ps. 80
  3. The Deliverance: God the Strength of the loyal - Ps. 81

B3. Administration - Psalm 82-83

  1. Home: God the Judge of the judges - Ps. 82
  2. Foreign: God vindicated as most High - Ps. 83

Part C: MIGHTY HELP - THE HOPE Psalms 84-89

C1. Confidence- Psalm 84-85

  1. The Pilgrimage Contemplated: God the Strength of the pilgrim - Ps. 84
  2. Salvation sought: Jehovah the Restorer of the wanderer - Ps. 85

C2. The Attitude - Psalm 86-87

  1. Personal Submission: The Lord the mighty Helper of the needy - Ps. 86
  2. Relative Government: Jehovah, His city and His peoples - Ps. 87

C3. The Summary - Psalm 88-89

  1. Human Need: Jehovah the only Hope of the sorrowing - Ps. 88
  2. Divine Restoration: Jehovah the God of Discipline - Ps. 89

DOXOLOGY - BLESSED BE THE LORD FOR EVERMORE - Psalm 89:52

The Title

  1. Jehovah: The essential Helper.

The Quality

  1. Blessed. Amen and Amen.

The Quantity

  1. For evermore.

THE DIVINE NAME

God

  1. The dominant name in this book is still "God." It occurs at least in every Psalm and in one as many as 15 times. It is written in the singular (El) 20 times and in the plural (Elohim) 60 times.

Jehovah

  1. "Jehovah" is found 44 times. It is only absent from two Psalms and occurs in one, 10 times. The title "Jah" is used twice.

Lord

  1. The general title "Lord" (Adonahy) occurs 15 times scattered through six Psalms.

THE DOMINANT THOUGHT

Jehovah To be Worshipped

  1. In the third book the dominant thought is that of the worship of God under all circumstances. Both names are used throughout, although that of God predominates. While this is so, the final doxology speaks of Jehovah, showing that the thought is that of worship rendered to God because He is the essential Helper.

PSALMS - BOOK 4: Psalms 90-106
JEHOVAH - THE GOVERNING KING (Submissive Worship)

Part A: THE PRINCIPLES - Psalms 90-92

A1. The Age-abiding Fact - Psalm 90

  1. Man's Failure: Jehovah the Eternal Dwelling Place of man - Ps. 90

A2. The Unshaken One - Psalm 91

  1. Man's Hope: Jehovah the Sanctuary of the Perfect One - Ps. 91

A3. The New Realization - Psalm 92

  1. Man's Restoration: Jehovah praised for His Righteous dealing - Ps. 92

Part B: THE PRACTICE - Psalms 93-100

B1. The Enthroned King - Psalm 93-96

  1. The Fact: Jehovah the King; the Fact - Ps. 93
  2. The Courage of Faith: Jehovah the King; Faith's affirmation - Ps. 94
  3. The Caution of Faith: Jehovah the King; A warning - Ps. 95
  4. Worship: Jehovah the King; Worship - Ps. 96

B2. The Activity of the King - Psalm 97-100

  1. His Judgements: Jehovah the King; His Judgements - Ps. 97
  2. Worship: Jehovah the King; Worship - Ps. 98
  3. His Reign: Jehovah the King; His Reign - Ps. 99
  4. Worship: Jehovah the King; Worship - Ps. 100

Part C: THE PRAISE - Psalms 101-106

C1. The Attitude of Praise - Psalm 101

  1. Submission: Jehovah recognised in public and private life - Ps. 101

C2. The Benefits: - Psalm 102-106

  1. The Age-abiding God: Jehovah the eternal God - Ps. 102
  2. The Loving Father: Jehovah the loving Father - Ps. 103
  3. The Creator and Sustainer: Jehovah the Creator and Sustainer - Ps. 104
  4. The True and Mighty One: Jehovah the true and mighty One - Ps. 105
  5. The Faithful and Patient One: Jehovah the faithful and patient One- Ps. 106

DOXOLOGY - BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, FROM EVERLASTING EVEN TO EVERLASTING, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY, AMEN, PRAISE YE THE LORD - Psalm 106:48

The Title

  1. Jehovah: The essential Helper.

The Relation

  1. The God of Israel.

The Quality

  1. Blessed. Hallelujah.

The Quantity

  1. From everlasting to everlasting.

The Extent

  1. And let all the people say, Amen.

THE DIVINE NAME

Jehovah

  1. The dominant name in this book is again "Jehovah." It occurs more than once in every Psalm, and in two as many as 11 times. "Jah" is found 7 times.

God

  1. The name "God" is absent altogether from five, and occurs only 27 times, 9 of them being singular (El), and 18 plural (Elohim).

Lord

  1. The general title "Lord" (Adonahy) only occurs twice.

THE DOMINANT THOUGHT

Jehovah Governing

  1. In this book the worship of Jehovah is rendered by all people. They are songs of His government and administration, for which the heart is lifted in adoration.

PSALMS - BOOK 5: Psalms 107-150
JEHOVAH - THE REDEEMER (Perfected Worship)

Part A: SONGS OF THE HOPE - Psalms 107-112

A1. The Hope - Psalm 107-109

  1. Assurance of Faith: Jehovah the Redeemer - Ps. 107
  2. Fixity of Faith: Jehovah the Anchorage of Hope - Ps. 108
  3. Triumph of Faith: Jehovah the Vindicator of the persecuted - Ps. 109

A2. The Reason - Psalm 110-112

  1. The Coming One: Jehovah and His Messiah - Ps. 110
  2. The Greatness and Grace of Jehovah: Jehovah the Great and Gracious - Ps. 111
  3. The Blessedness of the Trusting Man: Jehovah the Blessedness of the trusting - Ps. 112

Part B: SONGS OF THE PROCESS - Psalms 113-118

B1. Jehovah's Activity - Psalm 113-114

  1. His humility: Jehovah the High and Lowly - Ps. 113
  2. His accomplishment: God the mighty Presence leading His people's exodus - Ps. 114

B2. Jehovah's Servant - Psalm 115-116

  1. The Passion. The Glory of His name: Jehovah and the glory of His name - Ps. 115
  2. The Experience. Darkness and Deliverance: Jehovah the Deliverer from death - Ps. 116

B3. Jehovah's Praise - Psalm 117-118

  1. The call of the Ideal Servant: Jehovah the Centre of earth's worship - Ps. 117
  2. The Song of the Redeemer: Jehovah and His enduring mercy - Ps. 118

Part C: SONGS OF THE WILL - Psalms 119

C1. Jehovah and the Perfection of His Revealed Will - Psalm 119

  1. (Aleth) The Perfect Law - 1-8
  2. (Beth) The Way of Cleansing - 9-16
  3. (Gimel) The Fountain of Joy - 17-24
  4. (Daleth) The Strength of Trial - 25-32
  5. (He) The Medium of Guidance - 33-40
  6. (Vau) The Inspiration of Testimony - 41-48
  7. (Zain) The Comfort of Sorrow - 49-56
  8. (Cheth) The Medium of Fellowship - 57-64
  9. (Teth) The Key of Affliction - 65-72
  10. (Jod) The Depths of Desire - 73-80
  11. (Caph) The Confidence of Darkness - 81-88
  12. (Lamed) The Fountain of Faith - 89-96
  13. (Mem) The Delight of Life - 97-104
  14. (Nun) The Light of Pilgrimage - 105-112
  15. (Samech) The Line of Rectitude - 113-120
  16. (Ain) The Hope of Distress - 121-128
  17. (Pe) The Light of Life - 129-136
  18. (Tzade) The Knowledge of God - 137-144
  19. (Koph) The Inspiration of Devotion - 145-152
  20. (Resh) The Principle of Life - 153-160
  21. (Shin) The True Wealth - 161-168
  22. (Tau) The Perfect Law- 169-176

Part D: SONGS OF THE PILGRIMAGE - Psalms 120-134

D1. The Far country - Psalm 120-121

  1. Desire: Jehovah the Hope of the pilgrim - Ps. 120
  2. Assurance: Jehovah the Help of the pilgrim - Ps. 121

D2. The Start - Psalm 122-123

  1. Anticipation: Jehovah the Glory of the pilgrim - Ps. 122
  2. Confidence: Jehovah the Support of the pilgrim - Ps. 123

D3. The Journey - Psalm 124-131

  1. Escape: Jehovah the Deliverer of the pilgrim - Ps. 124
  2. First Glimpse of City: Jehovah the Protector of the pilgrim - Ps. 125
  3. Approach; Laughter and Penetence: Jehovah the Restorer of the pilgrim - Ps. 126
  4. Approach; The Family Strength: Jehovah the Home-maker of the pilgrim - Ps. 127
  5. Approach; The Family Responsibility: Jehovah the Home-keeper of the pilgrim - Ps. 128
  6. Approach; A backward look: Jehovah the Confidence of the pilgrim - Ps. 129
  7. Approach; Penetence and Confidence: Jehovah the Redeemer of the pilgrim - Ps. 130
  8. Approach; Rest in the Will of God: Jehovah the Satisfaction of the pilgrim - Ps. 131

D4. The Entrance - Psalm 132

  1. Jehovah the Assurance of the pilgrim - Ps. 132

D5. The City and Worship - Psalm 133-134

  1. By Day: Jehovah the Gatherer of the pilgrim - Ps. 133
  2. By Night: Jehovah the Rest of the pilgrim - Ps. 134

Part E: SONGS OF THE EXPERIENCE - Psalms 135-144

E1. Sufficiency of Jehovah - Psalm 135-139

  1. Jehovah the Object of His people's praise - Ps. 135
  2. Jehovah the God of mercy - Ps. 136
  3. Jehovah the God of judgment - Ps. 137
  4. Jehovah the Perfecter - Ps. 138
  5. Jehovah the Omniscient and Omnipresent - Ps. 139

E2. Helplessness of Man - Psalm 140-143

  1. Jehovah the Defender of the defenceless - Ps. 140
  2. Jehovah the Keeper of the trembling - Ps. 141
  3. Jehovah the Refuge of the overwhelmed - Ps. 142
  4. Jehovah the Confidence of the desolate - Ps. 143

E3. Sufficiency answering Helplesness - Psalm 144

  1. Jehovah the Rock of strength - Ps. 144

Part F: SONGS OF THE PERFECTED PRAISE - Psalms 145-150

F1. Introductory - Psalm 145

  1. Jehovah the Object of perfect praise - Ps. 145

F2. Jehovah - Psalm 146-147

  1. Jehovah praised as the Helper of His people - Ps. 146
  2. Jehovah praised as the Governor of the world - Ps. 147

F3. The Worship - Psalm 148-149

  1. Jehovah praised by the whole creation - Ps. 148
  2. Jehovah praised by His saints - Ps. 149

F4. The Doxology - Psalm 150

  1. Jehovah praised in perfection - Ps. 150

DOXOLOGY - PRAISE YE THE LORD. PRAISE GOD IN HIS SANCTUARY. PRAISE HIM IN THE FIRMAMENT OF HIS POWER. PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MIGHTY ACTS. PRAISE HIM ACCORDING TO HIS EXCELLENT GREATNESSS. PRAISE HIM WITH THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET. PRAISE HIM WITH THE PSALTERY AND HARP. PRAISE HIM WITH THE TIMBREL AND DANCE. PRAISE HIM WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND THE PIPE. PRAISE HIM UPON THE LOUD CYMBALS. PRAISE HIM UPON THE HIGH SOUNDING CYMBALS. LET EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. PRAISE YE THE LORD - Psalm 150

The Title

  1. In this Doxology which occupies the whole Psalm the name of God only appears:- (i) as "Jah" in the perfect note of praise, "Hallelujah" twice repeated, "Jah" being in such case a contraction of Jehovah. (ii) as God in the singular for "El", which is always significant of His Might.

The Quality

  1. Praise Him.

The Place

  1. In the Sanctuary (Centre) In the Firmament (Circumference).

The Reason

  1. For his Mighty Acts.

The Measure

  1. According to His excellent greatness.

The Means

  1. With instruments of music.

The Condition

  1. Everything that hath breath.

THE DIVINE NAME

Jehovah

  1. Again in this final book, "Jehovah" is the predominant name. It occurs in every Psalm but two, in some of them many times - 236 in all. "Jah" is found 32 times.

God

  1. The name "God" is absent from 22 of these Psalms. It occurs 40 times, 10 in the singular (El), and 30 in the plural (Elohim).

Lord

  1. The general title "Lord" (Adonahy) is found 12 times.

THE DOMINANT THOUGHT

Jehovah Redeeming

  1. In this book, as an examination of the doxology will show, the worship of Jehovah is consumated. It rises in volume and beauty until in the closing words of the doxology ultimate purpose is declared. "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah". Still the songs are those arising out of experiences. A large section is devoted to Songs of Ascent which are those of the pilgrims as they gathered by many ways and along different paths to the place of Divine Glory.

Psalms

The word "Psalms" is the Anglicized form of a Greek word, which really means a poem set to music. The Hebrew title of the book was simply Praises, or Book of Praises. It is pre-eminently the worship book of the Hebrew people, and consists of a collection of songs which express the attitude of the soul in the presence of God, when contemplating past history, existing conditions, or prophetic hopes. The whole collection consists, in the Hebrew Bible, of five books. In the English and American Revisions this subdivision is shown.

We have no definite proof who the editor was. His method becomes evident by an examination of the grouping of the psalms. It is perfectly clear that neither authorship nor chronology was in his view. Eusebius declares that "the psalms are disposed according to a law of inward affinity," and Dr. Anderson says: "It must be remembered that every attempt to classify and arrange the psalms apart from the division of the whole Psalter into the five books as found in our Hebrew Bible, in the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate Versions — every such attempt is confessedly imperfect, and more or less arbitrary."

The key to the method of the editor is to be found in the doxologies with which the books close. Each of the five has such a doxology, and an examination of these will reveal a certain conception of God, and an attitude of the soul in worship resulting from such conception. They may be grouped thus:

  1. Book 1 Psalm 41:13 - Worship of Jehovah as the Becoming One, Who is the Helper.
  2. Book 2 Psalm 72:18-19 - Worship of Jehovah as the wonder-working God.
  3. Book 3 Psalm 89:52 - Worship of Jehovah ceaseless.
  4. Book 4 Psalm 106:48 - Worship of Jehovah rendered.
  5. Book 5 Psalm 150:1-6 - Worship of Jehovah consummated.

The individual psalms are natural expressions by many authors, at various times, under differing circumstances, of the consciousness of God. The editing gathers these individual songs around the notes of truth dominant in each.

These notes are indicated in each book by the particular title of Jehovah which preponderates. The subject of the Divine titles is too great a one to be discussed at length now, but as an introduction to the study of the Psalter, recognition of difference is necessary. The proportion in which the four titles are used in the book of Psalms, as indicated in the diagram, is a somewhat rough one. That is to say, under Elohim are included El and Eloah, because while there is a minor difference of suggestion between the singular and the plural, the underlying thought is the same. So also with reference to Adonahy and Adon.

Jehovah

In the ancient Hebrew Scriptures this particular title was always written in the form of a tetragrammaton - YHYH - and there are differences of opinion as to what the actual form of the word should be. Without entering into any discussion of the varied interpretations, I adopt that of Mr. Joseph Bryant Rotherham in the "Emphasized Bible," both as to spelling and significance. He claims that the word thus abbreviated is Yahweh, and interprets it as meaning "the Becoming One." In his Bible he says, "Yahweh is almost always regarded as the third person singular, masculine, imperfect tense, from the root Hawah, an old form of the root Hayah. The one meaning of Hawah is 'become.' So that the force of Yahweh, thus derived as a verb, would be, 'He will become,' or, as expressive of use and wont as a noun, it is, 'He who becometh,' 'The Becoming One.'" In a letter written to me in the course of correspondence on the subject, referring to this meaning, Mr. Rotherham says, "'He becometh'; that is, 'He who becometh,' The Becoming One': becoming to His people whatever in His rich favour He pleases, in order to meet their need, and at last becoming Man." The truth therefore suggested by the use of this word is always that, first of the essential Being of God which enables Him to become; and by deduction, that God in infinite grace does become whatever man needs.

Elohim

This is a plural noun, but it is plural in a sense peculiar to the Hebrew language. Canon Girdlestone says: "It is well known that the Hebrews often expressed a word in the plural, so as to give it a special or technical meaning, as in the case of the words blood, water, wisdom, salvation, righteousness, life. ... It is implied that the word in the singular number is not large enough to set forth all that is intended; and so, in the case of the Divine Name, the plural form expresses the truth that the finite word conveys an inadequate idea of the Being Whom it represents. Other names of God will be found to be plural also, and it is worthy of notice that in the well-known passage in Ecclesiastes (12:1) the Hebrew runs thus, 'Remember now thy Creators in the days of thy youth.'" The root idea of the word is that of strength or might; and the thought of God suggested by it is that of His strength as revealed in creation, and in all the operations of His power.

Adonahy

This is again plural in form. Its simple signification is "Master" or "Lord"; and the thought it suggests is that of sovereign supremacy.

Jah

This is the shorter form of the name Jehovah, and is only found in Scripture; twice in Exodus, a few times in Isaiah, and in thirty- five passages in the book of Psalms.

These names reveal the doctrine of God, which creates the worship of man. Recognizing that Jehovah and Jah have the same essential significance, there are three lines of thought suggested. First, the essential Being of God, and the fact that He becomes in grace what man needs. Second, the essential Might of God, and the fact that it operates in power. Third, the essential Lordship of God, and His consequent sovereignty over man.

The analyses are intended to help in the study of the collection, as to the conceptions impelling to worship.