The Singing Community and the Soloist Psalm 66 is a psalm of thanksgiving. It begins with the entire congregation of God praising God and calling the world to join in worship (vv. 1‐7). From there it moves to the voice of a single worshiper recounting how God has been faithful to him (vv. 8‐20). When the community is worshiping, they invite the world to Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! (v. 5) When the individual is worshiping, he invites all who follow God to...

Psalm 121 is the second in a group of psalms (Pss. 120-134) known as the Songs of Ascent . These psalms are traditionally associated with pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem and the Temple to participate in one of the major festivals of the Jewish year. Regardless of the direction from which the pilgrims traveled, at the end of their journey they would ascend to Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and the Temple. Psalm 120, the first song of ascent, indicates a foreign setting; note the phrases “alien in...

Psalm 80 has a chorus! When I was a kid, songs had choruses. Back then I was instructed that the Psalms were the hymn book of Israel and...