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Bible Dictionaries
Psalms
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or ‘Psalms’ in the Apostolic Church included OT Psalms and similar hymns of praise to God, as sung to musical accompaniment. In 1 Corinthians 14:15 St. Paul contemplates impromptu utterances under the influence of the Spirit, and appeals for the use of the reason in praise no less than in prayer. In 1 Corinthians 14:26 he assumes that members of the congregation will bring their assembly psalms which they have composed or learnt and wish to sing with or before others. The Psalms of Solomon, which may be dated c._ 50 b.c., prove the use of sacred poetry among the Jews at this period. Forceful hymns, full of noble indignation against Roman oppression and Jewish secularity, in their praise of patience and resignation they express the feeling that Israel deserves chastening. Like the Benedictus they look for a Messiah of the house of David. But they fall short of the canticles of the NT in spiritual insight. The tone is self-righteous and sometimes fierce.
The use of psalms in private is referred to in James 5:13 : ‘He that is merry let him sing psalms’ (cf. Ephesians 5:19).
A. E. Burn.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Psalms'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/p/psalms.html. 1906-1918.
