The superscriptions, and the places which the psalms themselves severally occupy in the Psalter, are thus the two guiding clews by which, in conjunction with the internal evidence, their various occasions are to be de- termined. In the critical results obtained on these points by those scholars who have recognised and used these helps there is, not indeed uniformity, but at least a visible tendency towards it. The same cannot be said for the results of the judgments of those, of what- ever school, who have neglected or rejected them ; nor, indeed, is it easily to be imagined that internal evidence alone should suffice to assign 150 devotional hymns, even approximately, to their several epochs. The table on the following pages exhibits all that can with proba- bility be ascertained on this head as to each psalm.
VII. Canonici/y and Use. — The inspiration and ca- nonical authority of the Psalms are established by the most abundant and convincing evidence. They never were, and never can be, rejected, except by impious im- pugners of all divine revelation. Not to mention other ancient testimonies [see Canon], we find complete evi- dence in the N. T., where the book is quoted or referred to as divine by Christ and his apostles at least seventy times. No other writing is so frequently cited, Isaiah, the next in the scale of quotation, being cited only about fifty-five times. Twice (Luke xx, 42 and Acts i, 20) we find distinct mention of the Book of Psalms (Bi(3\oQ SraXjuwi/). Once, however (Luke xxiv. 44), the name Psalms is used, not simply for this book, but for the Hagiographa, or the whole of the third division of the Hebrew Scriptures [see Hagiographa], because in it the Psalms are the first and chief part, or possibly, as Hiivernick suggests (Einleitung, § xiv, p. 78), because the division consists mainly of poetry. It deserves no- tice that in Heb. iv, 7, where the quotation is taken from the anonymous Psa. xcv, the book is indicated by David, most likely because he was the largest and most
PSALMS
152
PSALMS
eminent contributor, and also the patron and model of the other psalmists. For the same reasons many an- cient and modern authors often Bpeak of the book as the Psalm* of David (Carp- zov, Introd. ii. 98 i, without intending to ascribe all the productions to him.
hi> vi r\ ageofthet Ihnrch, the Psalms have been ex- tolled lor their excellence and their use for godly edi- fying (Carpzov, I c p. 109 116). Indeed, if Paul's es- timate of ancient inspired Scripture (2 Tim. iii, 15-17) can be justly applied to any single hook, that book must be the Psalma Even in the X. I'. there is scarcely a work of equal practical util- ity. Basil the Great and Chrysostotn. in their homi- lies (see Suiceri Tfo s. E< «7< s. s. v. \pa\fioc), expatiate most eloquently, and yet judiciously, on its excel- lence. The closed Basil's eulogy is to this effect : " In it is found a perfect ti eolo- gy (ivravda hn BtoXoyla TtXtia) : prophecy oi'Christ's Bojourn in the flesh, threat- ening of judgment, hope of resurrection, fear of retribu- tion, promises of glory, rev- elations of mysteries — all things are treasured in the book of l'salms, as in some great and common store- house." Among the early Christians it was customary to learn the book by heart, that psalmody might enli- ven their social hours, and soften i he fatigues and soothe the sorrows of life. They employed the l'salms, not only in their religious as- semblies, of which use we find probable mention in 1 Cor. xiv, ■_'(".. hut alsoal their meals and before retiring to rest, as < ilement of Alexan- dria testifies: bvoia Tip de<p \bd\fiol xai v^ivoi —ain't rqv icrriaoiv, npo Tt rFic tcoi- rnc,. Of their use at meal.-, we find an example also in the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matt. \\\i. 30). For i heir modern liturgical i Ps ilmody; Psal-
I I l:.
VIII. Classification. — Various classifications of the Psalms have been proposed (Carpzov, Introd. ii. 182- 184). Tholuck would divide them, a cording to the mat- ter, into songs of praise, of thanksgiving, of complaint, and of instruction. De Wette suggests another method of sorting them
Psalm.
Occasion.
Scripture.
i.
ii. iii. iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
xi.
Qnknown. (Probably Davidic.)
•2 Sam. vii, 1-29. •J Sam. xvii, 1-29. 1 Sam. XXX, 1-6.
1 Sain, xviii, 5-13.
l Sam. xxvi, 1-25.
1 Sam. xvi, 1-13.
2 Sam. viii, 1-5. 1 Sam. xix, 1-3.
1 Sam. xviii, 14-30.
1 Sam. xxvii, 1. (Comp. Psa. liii.)
'J Sain, vi, 17.
2 Sam. vii, 1-29.
1 Sam. xxiii, 14-18. (Comp. 2 Sam. xxii, 1-51.)
2 Sam. x, 1-14.
2 Sam. xii, 20-31.
1 Sam. xix, 4-11.
1 Sam. xviii, 1-4.
2 Sam.vi,17.
1 Sam. xix.lS-24.
1 Sam. XX, 1-42.
2 Sam. xvii, 2T-29. 2 Sam. xvii, 1-29. 2 Sam. xxi, 1-14.
2 Sam. xxiv, 10-30.
1 Sam. xxiii, 1-13.
2 Sam. xii, 15-23.
1 Sam. xxi. 1 15.
1 Sam. xxiii, 14-29.
2 Sam. xii, 1-15. 2 Sam. xvii, 1-29.
2 Kings xix, 1.
1 Kings iii, 1. (2Chran. xx, 14-19.
-{2 Chron. xx, 20-21. (.2 Chron. xx, 22-38.
2 Chron. xxviii, 1-19. 2 Sam. xii, 15-23.
1 Sam. xxii, 0-23.
1 Sam. xxiii, 19-28.