The Twelve Psalms of Asaph

Ps. 50 & 73-83

Jay Horsley

Though the overwhelming majority of the psalms were written by David, there are a number of them ascribed to other men. Of the psalms whose author is named, besides David's seventy five, eleven are credited to the Korahites, one to Moses, two to Solomon, and one to a man named Ethan. Finally, is also a unique set of psalms that are ascribed to Asaph.

Around the year 1025 B.C. David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and set up regular worship to God. Asaph was a Levite, along with the Kohathites, was appointed to serve in the temple of David. “Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark rested there. And they ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order. And these are those who served with their sons. From the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of...[his lineage is traced back to Korah, Levi and Israel] And Heman's brother Asaph stood at his right hand, even Asaph the son of... [his lineage is traced back to Gershom, Levi and Israel]. (1 Chron. 6:31-33,36)

Asaph The Man

Asaph himself was both a skilled musician and a leader of the priests who worshiped in the tabernacle. When David told the Levites to pick a man for the task, Asaph was the one they chose. “Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph” (1 Chron. 15:16,17) Among the musicians it was recorded that Asaph was “the chief” and “played loud-sounding cymbals.” (1 Chron. 16:5)

He led the worship on special occasions, such as the day the ark of the covenant was brought in, and the regular daily worship. “Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD....he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required.” (1 Chron 16:7,37)

This arrangement was a model for the governor Zerubbabel when he restored the temple worship in the days of Nehemiah (about 430 B.C.). “For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God And so all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required.” (Neh. 16:46,47)

Aside from his musical and organizational skills, he also had a prophetic gift. This fact was mentioned several times. “...[T]he sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.” (1 Chron. 25:2) He is even referred to as “Asaph the seer.” (2 Chron. 29:30)

The Sons of Asaph: Direct Descendants

Not only did Asaph serve in the tabernacle with distinction, but his sons and their sons for many generations, did the same in the Temple. “Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.” (1 Chron. 25:1,2) These skilled men led the worship. Also note that, like Asaph, some of them also prophesied.

Over 400 years later some of his descendants were among the first to go into Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C. “And of the Levites...Bakbakkar, Heresh and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph” (1 Chron. 9:14,15) But his descendants were also among the first ones back seventy years later. “Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem ... The number of the men of the people of Israel: ...The Levites: ...The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.” (Ezra 2:1,40,41)

The Sons of Asaph: A Class or School of Temple Singers

The trained men under Asaph quickly grew to quite a large number. “All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the direction of the king. And their number who were trained in singing to the LORD, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was 288.” (1 Chron. 25:6,7) As already noted in vs. 2 of this chapter, the 4 sons of Asaph were listed. How did they have then 288 men Asaph had just 4 sons? Verses 8-31 of this chapter list 24 different families (the 4 sons of Asaph plus 20 more, most likely relatives) that all received an allotment of service in the tabernacle/temple under Asaph. So all those “of Asaph” did not have a direct descent from him. These other men who served along side Asaph's own sons may have been chosen because they were relatives, or because they were skilled singers, or both. (Also ref. 2 Chron. 29:13.)

To further show that the “sons of Asaph” was than just direct descendants, consider 2 Chron. 20. In the year 855 B.C. when the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Meunites all gathered to attack Jehoshaphat, he called on the Lord and called for nationwide fasting and prayer. When all the people assembled in Jerusalem for a solemn assembly of prayer, “In the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.” (2 Chron. 20:14,15) Jahaziel was one of the “sons of Asaph” who was descended from Mattaniah, one of those men chosen along with Asaph's own sons. This “son of Asaph” was not just one who worshiped in the temple, but who also prophesied like his forefather.

Asaph was truly a great, godly and influential man even though most of us have never heard of him. But his prophetic work and the impact of his psalms were great. Consider 2 Chron. 29. This is the record of King Hezekiah repairing and cleansing the temple (about 732 B.C.). After the work was done, he presided over a grand worship and dedication service. “Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.” (2 Chron. 29:29,20) Along with the psalms of David, they included those of Asaph. The psalms of Asaph were especially suitable for that occasion because of their subject matter and the confidence they they can inspire in those that contemplate them.

Now that we know something of this great man and his descendants who were dedicated to worshiping God and revealing His will, let's examine their marvelous psalms.

Overview of the Psalms of Asaph

Ps. 50, and 73 to 83 (inclusive) are the psalms of Asaph. Some, like Ps. 78, trace the history of God's people right up to David, as a contemporary of David, like Asaph, would have done. Others parts of this collection seem to be from those prophetic priestly descendants of Asaph who served so well through the whole length of Old Testament history.

The psalms of Asaph describe the burning of the sanctuary (Ps. 74:7) and the defilement of the temple (Ps. 79:1). These things did not happen in the days of Asaph, but his descendants surely saw it happen. Also descriptions of the Assyrians as the enemy of God's people (Ps. 83:8) and the complete apostasy of the Jews (Ps. 75) are in this collection. Neither of these things happened in David's day. Either Asaph prophetically saw nations and judgments (like Isaiah did) and spoke of them in his psalms, or some of his prophet/priest descendants described by inspiration the events that they saw in the later days. Some psalms, the Messianic psalms of David particularly, do predict the future. But many of them are double fulfillment, using a current situation as a launching point. If Asaph himself wrote these psalms in David's day then they are truly unique among all the psalms.

Keys Look For In The Psalms of Asaph

There are a number of things to notice of in reading the Psalms of Asaph. There are mostly serious contemplative psalms. Two of the psalms, Ps 74 & 78, are even labeled as “maskils,” which means “psalms of contemplation.” Many of these psalms consider the suffering of God's people that comes as a result of the judgments of God. They look back repeatedly to the sacred record of scripture to learn lessons to apply to the current situation. There are thoughtful looks at the problem of suffering, of how God deals with man in His own way, and the straying nature of man. The Psalms of Asaph also show a special concern for the children. The lessons that the next generation will learn now and live by later loom large in several of these psalms.

God's Judgment of Wicked Men. The psalms of Asaph address God's dealings with man's wickedness. His judgment comes both on evil individuals and evil nations. The wicked individual will perish, “Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction.” (Ps 73:18) Wicked nations will too. “But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another. For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.” (Ps. 75:7,8) “Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is Thou who dost possess all the nations.” (Ps. 82:8) But God's judgment is not limited to the nations of the world. His own people receive His wrath when they practice wickedness. “O LORD God of hosts, How long wilt Thou be angry with the prayer of Thy people? Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, And Thou hast made them to drink tears in large measure.” (Ps. 80:4,5)

Man's knowledge of the nature of God is so often lacking. We think that God has only love and not wrath. Or that God will only reward and not punish. The psalms of Asaph try to correct this misunderstanding. Ps. 50 poignantly states, “You thought that I was just like you; [But] I will reprove you, and state the case in order before your eyes.” (vs. 21) So the psalms of Asaph teach us, “Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him; And their time of punishment would be forever.” (Ps. 81:15)

Lessons From History and Scripture. The best way to not make the mistake of misunderstanding the nature of God is to look at the record of what He has done in the past. So the psalms of Asaph continually take us back to the sacred page. Ps. 77 considers the power of God shown to the wilderness generation. Ps. 78 traces the history of God's people from the Exodus all the way to David. These are general overviews of sacred history. But very specific details of Jewish history are also referenced. The defeat of God's enemies by Deborah, Barak and Gideon recorded in Judges 5-8 is used in Ps. 83 as a example of what the Jews would like to see again. “Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera and Jabin, at the torrent of Kishon, Who were destroyed at En-dor, Who became as dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna...” (vss. 8-11)

Such thoughtful study of God's doing is commonplace in the psalms of Asaph. “I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart; And my spirit ponders.” (Ps. 77:5,6) The study of these scriptures should lead us to further study of other scriptures.

Concern For the Coming Generations. Thoughtful contemplations of the psalms of Asaph includes consideration of how these lessons would effect the young people who heard them. Asaph himself said that he nearly lost his faith when he saw the wicked prosper. “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Ps. 73:2,3) In hindsight he admitted just how mistaken he was. “When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee.” (Ps. 73:21,22) Asaph was not proud that he had thought that way, but he was thankful that he did not share his ignorance and doubts and thus destroy the youths that would have heard him. “If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children.” (Ps. 73:15)

As well as thankfulness that he had refrained from teaching wrong, the psalms of Asaph express a desire to make sure that all things, even difficult things, are taught to the children so that they can have a full and faithful appreciation of God and His glorious works. “Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” (Ps. 78:1-4)

The psalms of Asaph are a wonderful collection of instructions, praises, prayers, and contemplations on many topics that can trouble us. Having these words of inspiration in our hearts will shield us from many common misconceptions concerning the nature of God's justice, the reason we suffer, and how, when and why judgment comes. If this collection of psalms were a separate book in our Bibles, like the lamentations of Jeremiah or the discourses of Job, we would surely be more familiar with them. But they are in the great storehouse of the psalms. They are hidden treasures waiting to be found. Though not locked away, they are often overlooked. Let us search them out for out good and for our lives. “Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! ...But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat; And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (Ps. 81:13,16)