David

Many of  the Psalms that we have been reading have been a "David Psalm."  David was an interesting person and it is interesting to investigate the man who is behind many of the Psalms.  David was a king from about 1000 B.C.  We have seen through all many of the readings that David was strongly connected to music.  In the beginning of a large percentage of the Psalms, David's name is preceded by some musical commands, such as "To the lead player on the eight-stringed lyre."  This is significant because David become known partly due to the fact that he restored Saul's spirit by playing the Lyre.  In the Psalm Samuel 16.14-23, the lord departs from Saul and he begins to be tormented by an evil spirit.  Saul needs a good musician to rid him of the evil spirits and David rises to the occasion, ridding Saul of his tormentors by playing the Lyre.

This musical aspect of healing is very important to the Psalms.  As with any religion there is always some sort of individual connection with the divine, but group interaction and worship is key to any religion.  Music allows this to happen.  It is much easier to get a group of people involved with worship though song than it would be with only one person speaking to a crowd of followers.  David is directly connected to this because he was actually the first person to implement group worship for god outside of the temple.  I cannot be positive, but I could make a very good hypothesis that in David's sermons and teachings, song was used frequently to get the congregation involved.

Another interesting note about David is that he is a sinner, just like every mortal.  He committed adultery, one of the most look-downed upon sins.  David being a role model gives these mortals some sense of reassurance when they sin because they can think that they will be forgiven just as David will be.  All of David's Psalms reflect what people see in David, from his pre-temple worship, to music, and finally to his sinning, and how to be forgiven.