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Psalms

Temple Psalms

Yesterday was my last day serving as a temple worker in the Columbia, South Carolina temple. I’ve never had a bad day serving in the temple, and several psalms verbalize well the joy I feel in the house of the Lord, particularly psalms 23, 24, 84, and 100.

Psalms

Psalms 91-100

91. My Refuge 92. Flourishing 93. Mightier Than Many Waters 94. He That Planted the Ear 95. Harden Not Your Hearts 96. Let the Earth Be Glad 97. Zion Heard 98. Let the Floods Clap Their Hands 99. He Is Holy 100. Jubilate Deo

Psalms

Psalms 81-90

81. Open Thy Mouth 82. Ye Are Gods 83. They Are Confederate 84. How Amiable Are Thy Tabernacles 85. Mercy and Truth Meet 86. Unite My Heart 87. This Man Was Born There 88. Into Darkness 89. Thy Former Lovingkindnesses 90. Teach Us to Number Our Days

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COME, FOLLOW ME

  • Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord

    Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem, by James Tissot

    Psalms 120-134 are commonly known as “songs of ascent.” They were sung anciently during pilgrimages to the temple and, according to Jewish tradition, by the Levites on the stairs leading up to the temple. The King James Version labels them as “songs of degrees.” One of those songs begins, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121:1). All of them encourage us to look up and to ascend, drawing closer to God.

    As we study the last fifty psalms this week, we’ll read more psalms of David, all of the songs of ascent, the shortest psalm (117), the longest psalm (119), some important Messianic prophecies (110 and 118), and finally the closing Hallel: five psalms of pure joy (146-150). The final psalm exclaims exuberantly, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

    One example of collective praise in the Book of Mormon happens when the people of Alma miraculously escape from their captors. After traveling for a full day, they pitched their tents in a valley, which they named “Alma” after their leader. In that valley, “they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them. … And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God” (Mosiah 24:21-22). Perhaps everyone that can speak isn’t identical to everything that hath breath, but the description of Alma’s people is certainly in the spirit of Psalm 150.

    This week, as we study Psalms 101-150, let’s also raise our voices in praise to God.

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