Psalms For Celebration

In the time of Christ, boys and girls may have carried little parchment scrolls on which were written Psalms 113 through 118. Why these portions of Scripture? Because these chapters, which were called the Hallel, or Hallel of Egypt, were recited at the important Jewish feasts.

Here are some verses from these psalms:

Psalm 113:5

Who can be compared with the LORD our God,

who is enthroned on high?

Psalm 114:8

He turned the rock into pools of water;

yes, springs of water came from solid rock.

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, O LORD, but to you goes all the glory

for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalm 116:8

He has saved me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling.

Psalm 118:22

The stone rejected by the builders

has now become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

You may notice that hallel is part of hallelujah, which means “Praise the Lord.” That’s the phrase that starts or ends most of these six psalms. By itself, the word hallel simply means “praise,” so this is designated the praise section of the Psalms. Because Psalm 114:1 refers to Egypt, these psalms were also known as the Hallel of Egypt.

No one knows exactly when these psalms were written, but it was certainly after David’s time. All the Jews needed to know these psalms, for they were festival psalms, recited not only at Passover but also at the Festival of Harvest, the Festival of Shelters, the Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah), and usually at the new moon festivals.

At Passover, for instance, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the meal and Psalms 115 to 118 after it. When Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Last Supper in the upper room, it was a Passover meal. So, when Scripture says they sang a hymn before going out to Gethsemane, it must refer to the last four psalms of the Hallel. These psalms were probably sung antiphonally with Jesus, who, as the leader, would have sung the lines, and the disciples would have responded with “Hallelujah.”

The disciples never forgot some of the closing verses that Jesus sang: “The stone rejected by the builders,” “This is the Lord’s doing,” and “Bring forward the sacrifice and put it on the altar.” They had known these verses since they were little children with parchment scrolls up their sleeves, but now they saw them being fulfilled before their eyes.

Praise ye the Father! for His loving kindness,

Tenderly cares He for his erring children;

Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens,

Praise ye Jehovah!

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

For a fuller explanation of the annual Jewish feasts, see Leviticus 23.