Psalms with Stories

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Last week in worship we focused on Psalms of praise. This upcoming week we will be focusing on Psalms that tell the story of God's ancient people and God's mighty deeds. We often think of the Psalms as an emotional book of the Bible, filled with flowery language and poetic expressions of worship. While the Psalms do include beautiful word pictures and God inspired poetry, the Psalms also recount large summaries of history. 

Ivan Aivazovsky. "Passage of the Jews through the Red Sea" 1891

History in the Psalms is typically presented as either a reference, or as a summary story. Here are a few examples of each: 

History as a reference:

Sometimes a Psalm will give only a brief mention of a person, place, or a slight hint about a moment in history. The purpose of these references are often declared close to the reference themselves. Psalm 135 is an example of this. We are given the lesson or purpose of the coming references in verses 5-7:

I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

The Psalmist gives a clear purpose statement (underlined), the Lord is great, He is supreme, He does what pleases him. Then the Psalmist gives examples in creation of the Lord's supremacy. The Psalm turns from creation to history in verse 8 and continuing with references through verse 12:

He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals. He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan—and he gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to his people Israel.

In only a few quick sentences huge sweeping portions of history are mentioned. First, there is a reference to God's great power displayed overcoming the (at that time) world super power of Egypt with the great exodus rescue of the ancient Israelites (You can read the detailed account of this in Exodus chapters 1-15). God's power is seen here in history as the greatest earthly power at the time could not withstand his desire to free his people from bondage in Egypt. While the ancient Egyptians saw the power of God as an enemy, the ancient people of God saw the power of God as a delivering redeemer. 

Second, a reference is made to the many nations and mighty kings which the Lord "struck down". The examples of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan are then both cited. These two kings mustered armies to destroy the ancient Israelites as they traveled close to their lands. The account of both kings and their armies defeat is told in Numbers 21:21-35. God's provision and power are on display in this reference as mighty kings of Canaan were destroyed by the Lord's strengthening of his people. It doesn't make any military sense for a nomadic people devoid of any military experience or prowess to be able to overpower in the open field renowned kings and their well rested, better equipped armies. God's power and provision is again on display in this mighty military victory. 

Third, a reference is made to the land of Sihon and Og becoming the land of God's people. The land which once was owned by mighty kings would now be a blessing for the ancient people of God. It was not due to the ancient Israelites exploration, ingenuity, cleverness, political savvy, or military might that they inhabited the land. The very ground upon which they farmed, built houses upon, and ate the fruit of was provided for by the mighty power of God. 

We then revisit the purpose statement of the Psalmist to remember why the Psalmist was making all these references in the first place: "I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him,". The Lord's greatness is on display in history in his redemption of his people, protection on behalf of his people, and the inheritance provided for his people. 

The historical references in Psalm 135 end with a declaration of God's worthiness to be remembered in verse 13:

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.

The Psalmist gives a subtle called to action in the middle of the Psalm (Psalm 135 continues with more themes in verses 14-21). God's greatness is worth remembering. God's works of magnificent renown are worth declaring to the next generations. Not only are the past deeds of God worth remembering currently, they are worth teaching to future generations. 

History as a Summary:

Sometimes a Psalm will go into greater detail about specific instances. Often times a story of God's ancient people is recounted with a lesson in mind. That lesson may be a warning, an encouragement, or in some other way a call to action. 

In Psalm 106:6-12 we read about the exodus in a brief but detailed recap:

We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.

The Psalmist here recounts history in a story with some explicit purposes in mind. Verse 6 begins the story with confession. "We have sinned, even as our ancestors did" says the Psalm. The reader might then ask the question "How, how is our sin like our ancestors?" the Psalm continues then to tell of the ways in which the ancestors of the Psalmist "gave no thought to [God's] miracles; they did not remember [God's] many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea". The Psalmist gives history as a comparison point to the sin of his own day. The story of God's grace and miraculous rescue of his people from Egypt is recounted.   

Psalm 106 continues to recount the history of God's people through several cycles of rebellion and unfaithfulness to God (most of the Psalm is this recounting of history in verses 7-42). In each case God is a merciful God who hears the cries of his people. The cycles  of ancient history are summarized in verses 43-46:

Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.

This recounting of history has a point. The point is more than simply "remember the past". All the history is recounted to help the current generation learn from the past mistakes of previous generations and then cling to the faithful God who is faithful to all generations! We're told the point of all this history with the call to action at the conclusion of Psalm 106:47-48

Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord.

The admission of sin that began in verse 6 "We have sinned, even as our ancestors did" now becomes a cry for rescue. All of the history had a point! To point towards the grace and mercy of a steadfast, trustworthy God who rescues his people as they call to him and turn in repentance. The faithfulness of God is what the Psalm calls the people of God to depend upon. As a result of God's faithfulness God's people can praise God's holy name. 

The Psalms contain so much! Yes there is poetry and expressions of worship, but there is also instruction in the midst of the realities of history. In the Psalms there is encouragement even in the midst of confession of sin. In the Psalms there is the repeated old old story of God's wonderful rescuing redemption of those who cry out to him. The history and lessons of history in the Psalms reminds me of the hymn by Katherine Hankey (1866):

Tell me the old, old story, Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love. Tell me the story simply, As to a little child, For I am weak and weary, And helpless and defiled.

Refrain: Tell me the old, old story, Tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, Of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly, That I may take it in, That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin. Tell me the story often, For I forget so soon; The early dew of morning Has passed away at noon.

Tell me the story softly, With earnest tones and grave; Remember I’m the sinner Whom Jesus came to save. Tell me the story always, If you would really be, In any time of trouble, A comforter to me.

Tell me the same old story When you have cause to fear That this world’s empty glory Is costing me too dear. Yes, and when that world’s glory Is dawning on my soul, Tell me the old, old story: Christ Jesus makes thee whole.