Lookahead: One unequivocal aspect of David’s writings is that he really had a good handle on a myriad of amazing characteristics of God. Author, E. J. Janik, identified 44 attributes and 60 actions of God found in more than 1,200 Scriptures in the Psalms…”God bears, comforts, defends, forgives, guides, judges, provides, rescues, rewards, supports, and teaches. God also is awesome, compassionate, faithful, a fortress, good, great, holy, majestic, merciful, mighty, miraculous, a refuge, a savior, trustworthy, and wonderful. Furthermore, God is a deliverer, enthroned, glorious, hope, light, lover, and protector.”1
My Bible College Hermeneutics textbook referred to the Psalms as “serious worship.” And I felt like the LORD was pointing me to the Psalms as a good starting point for this “Fill In the Blank: Worship is _______ Series.”
Basis of Estimate:
1. During my research, I was focusing on the psalms that David wrote. This was a total of ~74 out of 150 psalms.
2. I ignored the ” bummer psalms.” (I believe one formal term for them is “imprecatory psalms”).
3. As I was going through the psalms, I made note of the musical instruments/terms where David recommended this accompaniment/arrangement (whenever info was available). I then did a brief analysis to try to understand what these (five) instrument types were back in the day; I tried to determine if they were stringed, percussion, upbeat, emotionally stimulating, etc. In many cases, modern day craftsmen and musicians had done amazing reproductions of the ancient musical instruments, as well as trying to create the most authentic musical arrangements of the original songs. One thing of note was that, although percussion and brass instruments were an important part of music in ancient Israel, they were not specified for use when singing/reciting the psalms. Herewith is a summary spreadsheet that shows the instruments and musical terms that David specified. Then in a subsequent spreadsheet, I correlate these presentation styles with the historical context and tone of the applicable psalms.
| Psalm Number | Musical Term Specified | Musical Term Explanation |
| 4 | Neginoth | Stringed instruments. Varying sources were almost unanimous that the two primary instruments, that are referred to as lyres, were small harps: the nevel and the kinnor. Found two websites with demos of how they sounded. (One uses natural fiber silk strings to simulate ancient gut strings) http://www.ancientlyre.com; http://www.harrariharps.com |
| 5 | For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes | Note: This speaks to a certain amount of ceremony and formality introduced into David’s worship. The temple would not have been built at this time. But we do know that David retrieved the Ark of the Covenant and secured it in a holy place. He also observed feast days and participated in sacrificial offerings. Ancient flute replica being played: https://lazerbeams.com/the-song-of-shilo/ |
| 6 | Neginoth (according to Sheminith) | Stringed instruments; Sheminith – eight; octave, a musical term, supposed to denote the lowest note sung by men’s voices ( 1 Chronicles 15:21 ; Psalms 6 ; 12…). https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sheminith/ |
| 7 | Shiggaion | The word denotes a lyrical poem composed under strong mental emotion; a song of impassioned imagination accompanied with suitable music. A dithyrambic code. https://www.harrariharps.com/temple-harp-projecthttp://thislamp.com/posts/2015/5/3/biblical-word-for-the-day-shigionoth.html |
| 8 | Gittith (Higgaion Selah between verse 16 and 17) | Gittith: The word is explained by Gesenius (“Thesaurus,” s. v. ) as meaning “striking instrument,” but it is now generally held to denote a zither. Rashi, following the Targum, derives the name from “Gath”; it would then mean “fabricated by the people of Gath.” https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6693-gittith; Higgaion: As used at Psalm 9:16, the word may signify either a solemn, deep-toned harp interlude or a solemn pause conducive to meditation. https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/62596/psalm-916-haggaion-selah |
| 9 | Higgaion Selah | Higgaion Selah cont…the term may mean a quiet interlude and is probably a musical or liturgical term. (Bible Hub) |
| 12 | Sheminith | Sheminith – eight; octave, a musical term, supposed to denote the lowest note sung by men’s voices ( 1 Chronicles 15:21 ; Psalms 6 ; 12 , title). https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sheminith/ |
| 16 | Miktam | There is an Akkadian root “katamu” that means “to cover.” Based on this, some suggest that a “michtam” was a psalm of atonement. https://jewishlink.news/what-is-the-meaning-of-michtam-mem-caf-tav-mem/ |
| 32, 52 | Maskil | Some say that a maskil is a teaching song, while others consider it to be a meditative piece that imparts wisdom—like singing proverb; again, not worshipping. https://www.compellingtruth.org/maskil.html |
| 53 | upon Mahalath, a Maskil | Mahalath is a lute or lyre.https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/Mahalath Lutes are stringed musical instruments that include a body and “a neck which serves both as a handle and as a means of stretching the strings beyond the body”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_lute-family_instruments.YouTube video of man playing replica of ancient lute (watch last 20%): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvFuFj9CcxU |
| 54 | Neginoth | Stringed instruments |
| 55 | Neginoth, a Maskil | Stringed instruments |
| 56 | Miktam | |
| 57, 58, 59, 60 | Miktam | |
| 61 | Neginoth | Stringed instruments |
| 142 | Maskil, Prayer | |
| about five psalms actually were identified as prayers |
One of the women in the YouTube videos had an interesting perspective. She said that ancient nomads would carry around lyres (small, portable harps) and play them for relaxation and entertainment purposes when they camped. But the sound was so beautiful that they eventually decided it was worshipful and suitable for worshipping God. Whether accurate or not, this speaks to an ancient methodology (including King David’s) of playing/singing songs to God.
However, I don’t believe that worship = playing/singing songs to God. Worship is what your heart does when you are playing/singing songs to God. And if you’re not following a formula…but your act of playing/singing songs to God elicits a spontaneously genuine response of love, Godly fear, awe, respect, reverence, etc…then that’s where the truth part comes in. (à la John 4:24)
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Back on topic, I additionally endeavored to understand the context and, where available, looked at key events that the psalms were written in the midst of. Finally, I tried to come away with some major characteristics of the psalms groupings e.g., Supplication more-so than Worship; Praise more-so than Worship; “Directed” in which David encourages and instructs everyone else to worship; “Conditional” in which David talks about past or future blessings proclaiming, THEREFORE I do or I will worship Him; Thanks more-so than Worship. During this characterization process, I began to change my opinion about David being the greatest worshipper whoever lived–and also my opinion that the psalms represented the finest form of worship.
| Psalm Number | Characteristic (C for Conditional, S for Supplication, P for Praise, D for Directed, T for Thanks) | Context | Musical Instrument/Term |
| 2 | David receives Nathan’s prophecy | ||
| 3 | David flees from Absalom | ||
| 4 | David flees from Absalom | Neginoth (stringed instruments) | |
| 5 | David flees from Absalom | Flutes | |
| 6 | David is nearing end of life | Neginoth (according to Sheminith – male voices) | |
| 7 | C | David countering Shimei criticism | Shiggaion (strong emotion) |
| 8 | David is nearing end of life | Gittith (Higgaion Selah between verse 16 and 17) (zither and meditative pause) | |
| 9 | David defeats Goliath | Higgaion Selah | |
| 11 | Written during Babylonian captivity | Higgaion (deep toned harp?) | |
| 12 | David flees from Saul | Sheminith (basso profundo) | |
| 13 | C | David is nearing end of life | |
| 14 | Written during Babylonian captivity (not by David?) | ||
| 15 | Written during Babylonian captivity (not by David?) | ||
| 16 | Written during Babylonian captivity (not by David?) | Miktam (psalm of atonement) | |
| 17 | S | David receives Nathan’s prophecy | |
| 18 | P | Priests are murdered | |
| 19 | When David achieved victory in war | ||
| 20 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 21 | Written during time of war with Ammonites and Syrians | ||
| 22 | P,C “He inhabits the praises” + Messianic | Written during time of war with Ammonites and Syrians | |
| 23 | David receives Nathan’s prophecy | ||
| 24 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 25 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 26 | Written during Babylonian captivity | ||
| 27 | C – I will offer sacrifices of joy | Written during Babylonian captivity | |
| 28 | C | Written during Babylonian captivity | |
| 29 | D | David is nearing end of life | |
| 30 | C | David is nearing end of life | |
| 31 | On the dedication of the threshing-floor of Araunah | ||
| 32 | C | David flees from Saul | Maskil (wisdom song – like singing a proverb) |
| 33 | C | David is pardoned for adultery | |
| 34 | C | David is pardoned for adultery | |
| 35 | P (Praising Him in the midst) | David leaves Gath | |
| 36 | S | Written during Babylonian captivity | |
| 37 | Written during Babylonian captivity | ||
| 38 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 39 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 40 | D | David is nearing end of life | |
| 41 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 51 | S | David is pardoned for adultery | |
| 52 | C, D, P | David flees Doeg | Maskil |
| 53 | Written during Babylonian captivity | upon Mahalath (lute), a Maskil | |
| 54 | David flees Ziphims | Neginoth | |
| 55 | David flees from Absalom | Neginoth | |
| 56 | David leaves Gath | Miktam | |
| 57 | David spares Saul in cave | Miktam | |
| 58 | David spares Saul in cave | Miktam | |
| 59 | David flees from Saul | Miktam | |
| 60 | Joab conquers Edom | ||
| 61 | David is nearing end of life | Neginoth | |
| 62 | David flees from Absalom | ||
| 63 | David flees from Saul | ||
| 64 | David flees from Saul | ||
| 65 | David is nearing end of life | ||
| 66 | The “How-To”of Worship, D | On laying foundation of Second Temple…did David write? | |
| 68 | D | On the first removal of the Ark of the Covenant | |
| 69 | P + Messianic | David is nearing end of life | |
| 86 | S, C | David is nearing end of life | |
| 101 | C | David is nearing end of life | |
| 108 | C | Joab conquers Edom | |
| 109 | C | David flees Doeg | |
| 122 | C | David is nearing end of life |
One unequivocal aspect of David’s writings is that he really had a good handle on a myriad of amazing characteristics of God. Author, E. J. Janik, identified 44 attributes and 60 actions of God found in more than 1,200 Scriptures in the Psalms…”God bears, comforts, defends, forgives, guides, judges, provides, rescues, rewards, supports, and teaches. God also is awesome, compassionate, faithful, a fortress, good, great, holy, majestic, merciful, mighty, miraculous, a refuge, a savior, trustworthy, and wonderful. Furthermore, God is a deliverer, enthroned, glorious, hope, light, lover, and protector.”1
So God is referred to in terms of his omniscience, in terms of His omnipotence, in terms of His omnipresence, in terms of His everlasting qualities, in terms of His goodness, in terms of His loving qualities, in terms of His sheer genius, etc., etc.
My question is, “Where did David get his source material?” My theory: I believe that a lot of it was downloaded to him from On-High! Plus many of these God-attributes were probably empirically derived from God-encounters/experiences. And I also believe that David had an extremely special relationship with the LORD, and knew Him better than the majority of people–past, present, and future. However, in my view, proclaiming these characteristics/attributes in a poetic venue is not “worship” per se — mentally and spiritually grasping the attributes is cause for worship. 🙂 And in fact, many of these revelations may have occurred as a result of David’s worship.
Strongs indicates that the Hebrew word for “demonstrative worship” is only used fifteen times in the Psalms: שָׁחָה shâchâh, shaw-khaw’; a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God): —bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. I wasn’t able to find expressions like, “LORD, I worship You!” Neither did there appear to be instances of David proclaiming “Holy, Holy!” as was attributed to the worshipping cherubim in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4:8. In the Book of Psalms, the adjective “Holy” as used to refer to mountains, the temple, works, hills, heaven, places, and habitation. There was only one instance in which David referred to God as Holy, in Psalm 22: But Thou art Holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. This psalm is actually thought to be a prophetic psalm–about the crucifiction–and words that Jesus later spoke.
Having briefly touched on Revelation, I am reminded that it provides an authentic example of awestruck worship…by the heavenly host/untold thousands:
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!
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1https://www.amazon.com/104-Attributes-Actions-God-Characteristics/dp/1946889377.
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