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Worship Yahweh Music Playlist

The Hebrew word translated “Psalms” is Tehillim which means praise or song of praise. The Greek word for “Psalms” is Psalmoi derived from the verb psallo which means to play a stringed instrument or to sing to accompaniment of a harp and is associated with the singing of songs or hymns.

The Psalms are a collection of songs, prayers, and poems that express a wide range of human emotions and experiences. They provide an example for individuals to express their feelings, whether they are joy, sorrow, praise, thanksgiving, or lament, in the context of their relationship with God. Psalms broaden our ability to effectively communicate with God and to worship Him. They provide insight into God’s character, His promises, plus the proper attitudes and behaviors for those seeking to live a life of faith. Many of the Psalms reflect David’s personal experiences, struggles, and relationship with God and thereby provide a relatable example for spiritually minded individuals to follow.

David1wrote at least 75 psalms and had great influence upon all the psalms except for Psalm 90 that Moses wrote and the few written during the Babylonian captivity. All the other writers were under the supervision and authority of David.

David was a man of extraordinary love and commitment to God. Acts 13:22 states it well – “…’I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.” David’s first recorded words were – “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26).

David’s final words 1 Chronicles 29:1-23

Psalm 78:70-72

In the time of Moses, God appointed the Levites to care for and carry the tabernacle of covenant. The priests and Levites were also responsible for the many sacrifices that were offered at the tabernacle. When the tabernacle was permanently placed in Jerusalem, David switched their responsibilities and radically changed how the people related to and worshipped Yahweh.

1 Chronicles 16:1-32; 23:1-6, 24-32

Asaph is attached to 12 psalms: 50, 73-83. He was the son of Berachiah, of the family of Gershom, who headed the service of music in the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 6:39; 15:17; 16:5; 2 Chronicles 5:12). There was another man with the same name during the Babylonian exile who wrote 74, 79, and 83.

Asaph was a prophet and poet (2 Chronicles 29:30; Nehemiah 12:46). He was one of David’s main musicians along with Heman and Ethan or Jeduthun. Asaph is first mentioned when the Ark of the covenant was moved to Jerusalem from the home of Obed-Edom (1 Chronicles 15:16-19). He led the service of music in the tent where the Ark was kept (1 Chronicles 16:4-37). Four of Asaph’s sons conducted under him and participated in the dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 5:12). The “sons of Asaph” are mentioned as choristers in the Temple (1 Chron 25:1; 2 Chron 20:14). He also headed a school of music with 148 students (Nehemiah 7:44). Some 128 of his family returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:41) and served in Zerubbabel’s temple (Ezra 3:10).

The sons of Korah wrote 11 psalms: 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87, 88.

In Numbers 3, God set aside the Levites for full time service to Him. The three sons of Levi−Gershon, Merari, and Kohath plus their descendants−were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and all the implements, as well as the Ark of the Covenant. Only Aaron’s descendants were allowed to serve as priests.

The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary under the direct supervision of Eleazar, son of Aaron. Korah was the grandson of Kohath, and he began to run with another group of Reubenite malcontents, namely, Dathan and Abiram. In pride, they roused a group of 250 men together to challenge the right of Moses and Aaron to the priesthood. Because of the rebellion, the ground under them split apart, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households and all those associated with Korah together with their possessions. Then the earth closed over them. Fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the 250 men who were aligned with them.

Although this clearly marked the end of Korah, some sons, perhaps too young to understand their father’s uprising, were spared (Numbers 26:9-11). After seven successive generations, the prophet Samuel arose from the line of Korah (1 Chronicles 6:31–38 and 1 Samuel 1:1, 20). The Korahites became doorkeepers and custodians for the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:19–21). One group of Korahites (1 Chronicles 12:6) joined King David in various military exploits and won the reputation of being expert warriors. During the time of King David, they became the great leaders in choral and orchestral music in the tabernacle. Heman the Kohathite had a place of great importance as a singer, along with Asaph and Ethan or Jeduthun. These individuals played an important role in the thanksgiving services and pageantry when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David formed an elaborate organization for song, instrumental music, and prophesying through these men.

Heman the Ezrahite wrote Psalm 88. He was from the sons of Korah. Heman was likely both a songwriter and musician. Heman worked closely with King David and is also named a seer in 1 Chronicles 25:5. He was a Levite mentioned with his family line in 1 Chronicles 6:33; “From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel.” He was the grandson of Samuel, the final judge of Israel who anointed King Saul and King David. Heman is listed as one of three main musicians appointed by King David “for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1).

Solomon wrote psalm 72 and 127; Moses psalm 90; Ethan the Ezrahite 89.

We have the following instruction in the New Testament:

Ephesians 5:19-20 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

We have few examples of how to do the above in the New Testament; nonetheless, in Psalms we have 150 great examples.

If you have songs you would like to add to the Worship Yahweh playlist, send a YouTube link to [email protected] or [email protected].

1. David’s name relates to 73 Psalms – 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145. In the New Testament, he is connected with Psalm 2 in Acts 4:25-26 and with Psalm 95 in Hebrews 4:7.