Psalm 128

Our ladies study has started a new ‘book’ – we chose a chapter from Psalms, specifically one which we knew had been set to music (in hopes of helping with memorization).  Song of Psalms 128.

Psa 128:1  A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Psa 128:2  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Psa 128:3  Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Psa 128:4  Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

Psa 128:5  The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Psa 128:6  Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

We each take a turn leading out with a verse (we’re all accountable to study and share/exhort one another).  My study began with the first phrase:

A Song of degrees. What does that mean, how many times is it used.  Every Psalm?  Any other passages?

Used exclusively in Psalms, but only in Psalms 120-134.  What does each word mean?

A song – H7892 - The second form being feminine; from H7891; a song; abstractly singing.

·         H7891 - The second form being the original form, used in (1Sa_18:6); a primitive root (rather identical with H7788 through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing.

H7892 – is used 90 times in 87 verses.  The first usage:

Genesis 31:27 - Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

Moses ‘sang’ a song (Exodus 15:1) as did Israel (Numbers 21:17), Deuteronomy had 5 verses, using the word 6 times.  Judges, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and Proverbs all had 1 usage.

Pro 25:20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

1 and 2 Chronicles each use it 7 times, as does Isaiah.  Amos has 4 usages, 3 for Nehemiah, while Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Ezekiel each have 2.

Last verse Amos 8:10:

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

And pray for me to continue my sharing with the next study on degrees.