Sevens In The Psalms
I was reminded of these yesterday:
I find it interesting to note that there is a seven-fold division within the Word of God itself. The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into the Law of Moses (the OT historical books - Genesis to Esther), the Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi), and the Psalms (or Writings - Job to Song of Solomon). (See Luke 24:44) In the New Testament, we have the four Gospels (the life of Christ), Acts (early church history), the Epistles (Romans to Jude), and End-times Prophecy (Revelation).
There are also seven dispensations (by this I mean eras, nothing hyper-dispensational here - not referring to different ways of salvation or doctrines, as some mean when they use this term) of man's history, as presented in the Bible itself.
1) Innocence (in the Garden - from Creation to the Fall)
2) Pre-Deluvian Age (from the Fall to the Flood)
3) The Patriarchs (Fathers of Israel - from the Flood to the Law)
4) The Law (the time of Moses to the time of the Church)
5) The Church Age
6) The Millenium (1000 year reign of Christ on Earth - Revelation 20)
7) Eternity (Revelation 21-22)
The voice of the Lord is mentioned seven times in Psalm 29: verses 3, 4 (2x), 5, 7, 8, 9.
Seven Alphabetical (Acrostic - each verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet) Psalms: 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145.
Seven Penitential Psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.
In Psalm 100, there are seven ways we are commanded to praise God, and seven reasons for doing so - by the way, these reasons will never change if you are a child of God, so you always have a reason to praise God (actually 7 of them!):
Psalms 100:1-5 A Psalm of praise. 1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2) Serve the LORD with gladness: 3) come before his presence with singing. 1) Know ye that the LORD he is God: 2) it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; 3) we are his people, 4) and the sheep of his pasture. 4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, 5) and into his courts with praise: 6) be thankful unto him, 7) and bless his name. 5) For the LORD is good; 6) his mercy is everlasting; 7) and his truth endureth to all generations.
Seven-fold deliverance/salvation in Psalm 34. Salvation means deliverance, and the context will show what type of deliverance is in view - whether deliverance from enemies or afflictions, or spiritual deliverance from sin, death, and Hell. Notice how the last one sums it all up and emphasizes the spiritual deliverance - salvation - the Lord has given His people:
Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psalms 34:22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Seven times the phrase "be glad and rejoice" is used in the Bible:
1) Psalms 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O thou most High.
2) Psalms 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;
3) Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me, we will run after Thee: the king hath brought me into His chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.
4) Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
5) Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
6) Zephaniah 3:14-15 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
7) Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
Seven benefits to bless the Lord for:
Psalms 103:1-5 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
1) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
2) who healeth all thy diseases;
3) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
4&5) who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
6) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
7) so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Seven things - if you count being crowned with lovingkindness and crowned with tender mercies as two things.)
I find it interesting to note that there is a seven-fold division within the Word of God itself. The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into the Law of Moses (the OT historical books - Genesis to Esther), the Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi), and the Psalms (or Writings - Job to Song of Solomon). (See Luke 24:44) In the New Testament, we have the four Gospels (the life of Christ), Acts (early church history), the Epistles (Romans to Jude), and End-times Prophecy (Revelation).
There are also seven dispensations (by this I mean eras, nothing hyper-dispensational here - not referring to different ways of salvation or doctrines, as some mean when they use this term) of man's history, as presented in the Bible itself.
1) Innocence (in the Garden - from Creation to the Fall)
2) Pre-Deluvian Age (from the Fall to the Flood)
3) The Patriarchs (Fathers of Israel - from the Flood to the Law)
4) The Law (the time of Moses to the time of the Church)
5) The Church Age
6) The Millenium (1000 year reign of Christ on Earth - Revelation 20)
7) Eternity (Revelation 21-22)
The voice of the Lord is mentioned seven times in Psalm 29: verses 3, 4 (2x), 5, 7, 8, 9.
Seven Alphabetical (Acrostic - each verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet) Psalms: 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145.
Seven Penitential Psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.
In Psalm 100, there are seven ways we are commanded to praise God, and seven reasons for doing so - by the way, these reasons will never change if you are a child of God, so you always have a reason to praise God (actually 7 of them!):
Psalms 100:1-5 A Psalm of praise. 1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2) Serve the LORD with gladness: 3) come before his presence with singing. 1) Know ye that the LORD he is God: 2) it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; 3) we are his people, 4) and the sheep of his pasture. 4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, 5) and into his courts with praise: 6) be thankful unto him, 7) and bless his name. 5) For the LORD is good; 6) his mercy is everlasting; 7) and his truth endureth to all generations.
Seven-fold deliverance/salvation in Psalm 34. Salvation means deliverance, and the context will show what type of deliverance is in view - whether deliverance from enemies or afflictions, or spiritual deliverance from sin, death, and Hell. Notice how the last one sums it all up and emphasizes the spiritual deliverance - salvation - the Lord has given His people:
Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psalms 34:22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Seven times the phrase "be glad and rejoice" is used in the Bible:
1) Psalms 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O thou most High.
2) Psalms 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;
3) Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me, we will run after Thee: the king hath brought me into His chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.
4) Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
5) Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
6) Zephaniah 3:14-15 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
7) Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
Seven benefits to bless the Lord for:
Psalms 103:1-5 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
1) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
2) who healeth all thy diseases;
3) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
4&5) who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
6) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
7) so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Seven things - if you count being crowned with lovingkindness and crowned with tender mercies as two things.)
2 comments:
Very good post Bro. Jerry. Some of this I already knew from what my husband has taught in SS but other things I did not know. Thank you for sharing and revealing thest to me. I'll be making note of these and making notes in my Bible.
Bro Jerry thanks for leaving comments on my site first of all. Second never thought about most of these. This is a good study also very good sunday school material. I appreciate your posts and look foward to whatever God decides to give you. May God continue to bless you as you seek to serve him
Bro Tim
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