Ethan the Ezrahite -A Psalm Man

Ethan the Ezrahite-A Psalm Man 

Did you know that there's a Psalm written by a man named Ethan which was a top boy's name in the USA in 2009-2010?  However, the Biblical Ethan was a long-ago Hebrew singer-musician named in the Old Testament.  Not only was he a Psalm author, but had singer-musician friends named Heman, and Asaph who also wrote Psalms. Never heard of him?  Well, get to know more about him, his comrades, and his beautiful Psalm 89 below!

Psalm 89 Stats:  I have to confess I never really noticed the superscription or title above Psalm 89 which says that the psalm is a Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.  So, what's a Maschil? One definition is that it is a psalm song that enforces wisdom or piety.  The Psalm also has the distinction of being the final Psalm in Book III with its closing doxology verse with its double "Amens!"  at the end.  It's also a "two Selah" Psalm. 

What's In a Name?  How much do you know about your name?  Is it in the Bible?  If so, where?  What is its meaning?  Now Ethan is found in I Kings 5:31that indicates Ethan and Heman too were wise men but not nearly as wise as Solomon. 

It Hebrew Ethan's name that means "strong, firm."  Even today Ethan is still one of the top twenty boys' names.  In 2009-2010 it surged to number two only to be edged out by the Biblical name Jacob!

Other Things to Note About Ethan's name:  How many letters is in it? What smaller words are in it?  What follows it?  What two letters does it end with?  How does it compare to Heman? What shorter words are in Heman?  Listen how to pronounce it here:  What other words do you know that end in "an?'   Are you a fan of Ethan? Heman?  Can you find out more about other Ethans named after Ethan the Ezrahite?  about Heman? 

Recently, I was at a bookstore where I found a series of books using popular names, all with the same script, to be used by parents/grandparents to give their children with that particular popular name.  Upon seeing Ethan: I Love You Always a Marianne Richmond book I photographed it.  So, Ethan was still a name in 2024 as well as in the Bible! 

Ethan Allen's Puritan Family:  Did you know an early patriot of our county was named after the Biblical Ethan.  (Nameberry) Who is that?  Yes, Ethan Allen of Revolutionary War fame.  According to Wikipedia Ethan's Allen was born to Puritan parents and lived in the Litchfield Connecticut Colony.  after his birth his family moved to Cornwall.  

Wikipedia records that as a boy Ethan Allen excelled at quoting the Bible and was also known for disputing the meaning of passages.  He had five brothers with one of them being "Heman."  Looks like Ethan Allen's parents knew Scripture well!! His other brothers were Heber, Levi, Zimri, and Ira.  His two sisters were Lydia and Lucy.  All but one of the Allen children had Biblical names.  Who did not?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_allen - Search  

Currently online there's a much-photographed family whose names are Sammy, Sarah, Abby, Adam, Ada, and Sunny.  Do you know which names are Bible names?  ("Cooking with Sammy")      

Its first verse is an actual Psalm song sung today!  And in this verse is the theme of this fifty-two verse Psalm --the word "faithfulness" of God.  Check out these Psalm 89 references to find more "faithfulness" verses: 89:1, 5, 8, 24, and 33.  

If you'd like to hear the Psalm song, click here to listen!    Youtube/Cedarmont/Kids-Topic/January 26, 2017   Click here: Bing Videos

Youtube/Emmanuel Church, Rio Rico/4-1-2023. "I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever"  Click here: Bing Videos

Ethan Allen Furniture:  Perhaps you've heard of Ethan Allen fine furniture or passed by a store on the highway.  Incidentally, on our chat mat I will add a picture of my husband's dad who built Ethan Allen furniture near to his home in western New York.  Great grandfather Putnam was a skilled builder, and at one time we even recall staying in motel nearby that had Ethan Allen furniture in it!  Not only was Great G'Pa Putnam a master builder, but he was a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus.  Always he was faithful to attend the Stockton Community Church, and to serve and help others.  We miss him!   

A Rhyme for Little Folks

Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm Man

Ethan, Ethan the Ezrahite*

A special Psalm once did write.

Ethan, Ethan, what did it say?

It told of God's faithfulness every day!

Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm man,

Wrote a Psalm song very grand!

                                                      LEP

* Substitute "Levite" and say it again!

Just for Kids Discussion:  Did you know that Ethan was a music man, a Levite, who helped with the singing long ago? And he wrote just one Psalm Song--Psalm 89.  And here it is.  Show children your Bible into which you've slipped a ribbon or special marker.  If they have a Bible help them find Psalm 89.  Notice how many verses Psalm 89 has and then mark it in their Bible with a highlighter.  What was the first verse?  What was the last verse?  Can you count up to 89?

Now Ethan's Psalm is also called a "Doxology Psalm" because it is the last Psalm Book III. of the Psalter.  And at the end what words do you see?  Exactly, "Amen and Amen!"   I call this a double Amen!  Beside this Psalm there's four other doxology Psalms --one at the end of each Psalm Book collection!  Do they all end in two amens? One other thing, do you know what "Amen" means?  It means "So be it!"   

The neat thing about Ethan's Psalm is someone wrote a song using the first verse which we still sing.  Did you listen to it?  Even long ago when I was a small girl, I sang this verse! 

The Stat Mat:  Click on the Stat Mat photo below.  Notice its Ps. Number, Book III, and its number of verses 52.  Point out its title or superscription says: "A Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite" which means "a

contemplation" of Ethan.  Notice "Ethan" is on a gold bottle top.  On his head is his Levitical priest hat--a turban.  Ethan was known for his wisdom, but he wasn't as wise as Solomon!  See that this is a Doxology Psalm which ends Book III with two Amens!

The Chat Mat:  Click on the Chat Mat to make it larger!  Once again Ethan is featured in the center with the meaning of his name below--which is "strong and firm."  Do your viewers know if their name is in the Bible, and if so, what is its meaning?  To the left on the chat mat is a tiny pic of the Temple (Solomon's Temple!) and a small crown showing Ethan was appointed by King David to be part of the temple musicians.  Over to the right see the photo of James Fillmore who used the first verse of Ethan's psalm in his famous song; "I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever."  Notice the girl's mouth open wide as she sings of the Lord's faithfulness!

I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord | Hymnary.org

Tiny Levite Priests On Bottle Tops:  The top two represent Ethan the Ezrahite priest --see how one has a bottle top ring around it.  Do click on these and they will be easy to see!!!   Below is Heman the Ezrahite who also was a Levite Priest and who wrote Psalm 88.  See Heman without his Levitical hat and then see him after with it on.  A bit of glitter was added.  These small bottle top figures are fun to move around, and younger kids will enjoy playing with them!  Do use the "Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm Man" action rhyme with your younger kids/grands.  One last thing:  Notice that there are six NT refs or references to Ethan's Psalm-check them out-- older kids/adults will be truly blessed upon finding so many of these beautiful Psalm words often recalled in NT verses by the Lord himself, and the apostles!

Coming soon will be Herman's Psalm, and Moses' Psalm too!  Yes, Moses wrote a Psalm--one of our beloved Psalms--when posted you will be able to read his amazing words.  It is a particularly special Psalm for me for my godly dad quoted it to me often!   

        

  

   

 

Psalm 5: The In the Morning Prayer Psalm

Psalm 5: The "In the Morning" Prayer Psalm

Psalm Five Stats:  Superscription:  "To the Chief Musician with Wind Instruments*, A Psalm of David"   Book I     # of Verses: 12 *Flutes

First Verse:  "Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation (sighing-groaning)."

Final Verse:  "For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous with favor wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield."     

Mark It! My and Thy Parts:   My: (David) my words, my meditation, my cry, my King, my God, my voice, my prayer, my face.    Thy: (The LORD) thy righteous, thy way, thy house, thy holy temple 

A Morning Prayer:  In the morning, says verse three, David would direct his prayer unto the LORD, and look up.  Does the Lord hear your voice in the morning?  

Mom's Morning Prayer Time:  Every morning my mom got down on her knees beside her bed.  Always first she would cover her head with a small handkerchief for mom believed this scriptural.  Little feet would interrupt her many times, but faithful mom always kept her on-her-knees morning prayer time each and every day but Sunday.  How blessed was I to have had a mother who demonstrated prayer and Scriptural reading all the days of her life.  How I thank the Lord over and over for her godly example!     

Illustrate It!  Draw a picture of King David surrounded by an upward pointing arrow frame as he prayed to his King and his God.

Note It!  The Evil Vs. The Righteous:  David noted that God took no pleasure in wickedness.  The foolish, says David, won't stand with you God.  But, David ends with you Lord will bless the righteous.

Psalm 5's Five Stanzas:  This psalm has five parts three positive, and two negative.  Verses one-three finds David directing his morning prayer up to the Lord.  Verses four-six describe God isn't pleased with wickedness-- the workers of iniquity.  Verses seven, eight is positive again for David says, "as for me, I will come into thy house ... I will worship toward thy holy temple ... make thy way straight before my face ...."  Verses nine, ten change once again that the wicked are not faithful ... they have rebelled against God.  Finally, verses eleven, and twelve end with "But let all those trust in thee rejoice.... bless the righteous."

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down!  Read aloud Psalm 5 with video.  Discuss which parts or sections deserve and thumbs up, or a thumbs down.  Practice reading Psalm using the thumb signal.  See photo. Click here to listen to Psalm 5 audio.  Bing Videos

A Psalm Story Con-verse-sation Starter:   I have a book, a more than a hundred and forty-year-old book, from the reign of Queen Victoria who died at 81 in 1901--one of the longest reigning monarchs of the UK.  Its black cover title is nearly unreadable except for the words "Church Hymns" at the bottom, but its inner pages though a bit tattered are not.  Its exact title is: The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England:  Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David ...."  Its first section is "The Order for Morning Prayer" while the second section is "The Order for Evening Prayer."     

This prayer book belonged to my Uncle John who lived in Burnley, England.  He must have been a young man when he used this book as he came via boat to the United States about 1911 just before the Titanic sank.  What a treasure and conversation starter for our grandchildren to talk about.   

Con-verse-sation Starter:  Explain that the Book of Common Prayer has many parts.  One is "The Order for Morning and Evening Prayer" Now often the content of these prayers is straight from Scripture, while other times it is a prayer someone has written.  Many of the prayers often tell you when to sit, and when to stand, and what to answer.   

However, often while performing ritual like prayer that the more one repeats the same thing over and over the more one may not pay attention to what they are saying, and the prayers then become rote repetition or vain repetition. Be aware often some churches use endless ritual rather than the sure Word of God.  

May the Lord hear our voices in the morning with prayers that come from our hearts.  And like David may we put our trust in the Lord and in the morning may we direct our prayer to him and look up!   

Parent Note: Often those who practice yoga lift up their eyes to the morning sun as do yogis, but may we direct our prayer to the Son of God.  For more thoughts see the article from the series here:  "ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!  S Is for Sun!"

Learn to Discern Granny: ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: S Is for Sun!  (Click on this line to read "S Is for Sun!"    Very informative!)

Stat Mat Statistics:  View the Stat Mat at the bottom; click to enlarge.  Note its statistics--it's a Book I Psalm of David lament with twelve verses.  Look at the REF. suggested from Ps. 55:17 which begins with Evening Prayer to Morning Prayer to Noontime Prayer.  Make a bright bookmark with a moon, rising sun, and noontime sun--click on the stat photo to see a closeup.  Note the small pic of Wee Sing Bible Songs (1986); find it online here: 

Bing Videos

Illustrate or use a color book pic of David the author of this psalm.  How many Psalms of David are there?  Define "lament" --use a Bible concordance or online dictionary.

Chat Mat #1:  At the start of this Psalm study, I found a bag of foam/sticker musical symbols to use round the mat in a variety of ways.  Using page 37 from my Wee Sing Book I colored and popped up kids praising the Lord.  Cutting round parts of pics is something younger kids enjoy as they move the figures while singing or repeating Scripture.  See the little David with his tactile gear--his sword is movable, and his bottle top shield helps kids understand that a shield can be moved about to protect oneself.  Note the last verse of the Psalm that uses the word--shield.  Truly as another Psalm says the Lord is a shield for me, the lifter of mine head!

Chat Mat #2:  This mat centers round comparing yogic salutations or greetings in the morning compared to Biblical ones said in morning prayers.  Here is a terrific opportunity to teach your kids the difference.  Youngsters and oldsters can easily learn to whom one should pray!  Will one pray to the Hindu sun God Surya or the Biblical Lord?  Many kid books make yoga poses into cute little exercises but that is not what they really are.  Recall the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." or the Verse from Deuteronomy which clearly tells one not to worship the sun, moon, or stars.  By the way:  What is the role according to Ps.148 of the sun, moon, and stars.?  

Chat Mat Suggestion:  Personalize this mat to fit the needs of your friends/family.  As I possess a treasure trove of old books with interesting family history and history of England this is a great opportunity to share many scriptural prayer psalms and verses.

Action Rhyme for Kids

In the Morning Let's 

Take a Psalm Break!

In the morning let's take a Psalm break!

A lift up your palms break.

An everyone be calm break.

A look up to God break, to pray:

"Hearken to the voice of my cry,

my King, and my God: for unto

thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou

hear in the morning, O LORD:

in the morning will I direct my prayer

unto thee and look up."  (From Ps. 5:2-3)

                                                           LEP

Motions:

  

Lift up palms.  Cross arms; sway.

Fold hands.  Pray.  Touch lips.  Point up.   

 

          

 

              

 

       

   

    

   

  

 

Psalm 139: One of the Most Awesome Psalms of the Psalter!

Psalm 139: One of the Most Awesome Psalms of the Psalter

Often labeled one of the grandest Psalms of the Psalter Psalm 139 would have to have a five-star rating and then some.  Filled with amazing verses the Psalm celebrates God's all-knowing watch care over his creation.  Called an omni-psalm by some it zeroes in on his omniscience, his omnipresence, and his omnipotence. 

Psalm Stats:  This Psalm, part of Psalms 107-150 or Book V, is titled "To the chief musician. A psalm of David."  Just twenty-four verses in length its contents from its first to its final verse make a super word-search chapter in which to put together a Psalm 139 ABC!  And if you do this (See exercise below!) you'll find one of the verbs used right away is "to know!"

The All-About the Word Lady: Jeanie #2:  This Psalm is a favorite of a dear friend I've dubbed Jeanie #2--recall Jeanie #1, the Okahumpka Psalm Lady-- who inspired this series.  Now, Jeanie #2 is much like Jeanie #1--an "all about the word lady" who is an avid prayer-warrior.  Jeanie and I love to have con-verse-sations about the Word.  Invariably she and I will be talking, and she'll begin a verse, and I'll finish it, or vice versa I'll begin a verse, and she finishes it.  And we'll often laugh when we do this.  Perhaps, verse 17 would be one of our fav verses where the Psalmist exclaims "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!"  Jeanie's fav verse, by the way, is verse fourteen which says, " ... I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."  

God Knows, God Sees:  An old childhood song I once sang rings so true: "He sees what we do, He hears what we say, My God is watching all the time, time, time; He sees what we do, He hears what we say, My God is watching all the time."  The song I sang was a variation of "Writing All the Time" from Hymnary.org.

O Lord, You Know Me!  From Psalm139:1-4:  Here is a little action rhyme I wrote for little ones some years ago:

O Lord, You Know Me!

O Lord, you know me!  (Point up; then to yourself.)

You know when I sit; (Sit.)

You know when I stand.  (Stand.)

Even my thoughts you understand.  (Hands to head.)

O Lord, you know me!  (Point up; then to yourself.)

You know when I go out; (Walk in place.)

You know when I'm in bed.  (Place hands together next to one cheek.)

You know every word before it's said.  (Touch mouth.)

O Lord, you know me completely! (Point up; then to yourself.)

                                                                                                          LEP

(Shining Star Publications. C. 1998)

God Sees a Black Ant:  Mr. John Fannan, an older Scotchman, from my childhood each week in Sunday School would repeat this little thought:  "God sees a black ant on a black rock on a black night, and God sees you."  Perhaps verses eleven and twelve may have been two of his favorites.  Listen: "If I say surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and light are both alike to thee."    

A Celebration of Life Psalm:  If you need a verse that celebrates life this Psalm is the one to quote for the beautiful verse 14 expresses it so perfectly:  "I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well (very well)."   By the way this is the only verse where "praise" is used in this Psalm.  

A Psalm Song Video/Story of "Search Me O God":  The well-known hymn "Search Me O God" is based on Psalm 139:23-24 which reads: "Search me, O God and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  It was written by a man named James Edwin Orr.  See images of Orr here: imgurl:https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.CKEqugNFCahQXnNJa-PjYwHaIO?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain - Search

Listen to this kids' song video complete with children's photographs.  Click here. Bing Videos

Sing it with your children, or grands.  Ask children if the words of Orr's song exactly match the words of Scripture?

Willmington Wraps It Up:  "Psalm 139: God's Knowledge, Presence n' Power"

In his informative book Willmington's Survey of the Old Testament (Victor Books, c.1987, p.278-273) Harold L. Willmington explains that Psalm 139 divides nicely into four sections: Vv. 1-6 "Lord, You Know Me;" Vv. 7-12 "Lord, You are with me;" Vv.13-18 "Lord, You Created me;" and Vvs.19-24 "Lord Your cause is my cause."  Additionally, he notes that verses 23-24 David ends with six imperatives (calls for action): "Search me, know my heart, try me, know my thoughts, see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

A Challenge:  Discover Psalm 139's ABCs!

If you want to really to dig into Psalm 139 go through it over and over putting together its words into ABC order.  To do this means having a pencil, and notebook in hand searching through all twenty-four verses for a particular letter and writing down the words beginning with that letter.  For example, you'll find "K" has 6 words. Besides notice the questions, exclamations, and Selahs as well.   Reading through the Psalm so many times brings out words and ideas you did not notice before.  If you have time, try it it's guaranteed to familiarize yourself with this grand Psalm in an intimate way! 

The Stat Mat:  View the Stats Mat here. Notice King David in the upper left corner of whom the superscription mentions before the Psalm: "To the chief musician, A Psalm of David."  Ps.139 is in the last section or Book V.  It has twenty-four verses.  One of its NT references can be found in Matthew 9:4. Find it!  See the word "Praise" that is quoted only once in the entire text.  View also the Latin word "omni."  What does it mean?  What do the words below mean?    Click on photo and view mat here: 

The Chat Mat:  Look at the Chat Mat pics.  Find the word "know" or its variations six times in the Psalm.  Read the little action rhyme "O Lord, You Know Me!"  See how the pics are popped out.  Share this with someone who has young children or grands.  Read about my old friend "Mr. John Fannan" and his little quote he would repeat every Sunday when I was a small girl. See the ant on the dark rock!  Be sure to listen to "Search Me O God" too!  Oh, do memorize this awesome Psalm.  Look at the mat below: click on it to make it larger!

Do you homeschool?  Make your own mats.  Let your kids contribute.  What else might you include on your mats?  What is your favorite verse(s)?