Book of Psalms

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Book of Psalms

• Israels Hymnbook

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Nature of Hebrew Poetry

• Poetry is found throughout Hebrew Bible.
• 3 books are purely poetic Psalms, Song of Songs,
  Lamentations.
• Mostly poetic prophetic books, Job, Proverbs.
• Hebrew poetry does not rhyme but employs
  parallelism (defining characteristic), meter, and
  figurative language.
• Parallelism second line of a pair repeats,
  echoes, or balances the thought of the first.
  (dominant feature of Hebrew poetry)
• Synonymous 2nd line restates 1st in different
  words (Psalm 241-2).
• Antithetic 2nd line states the opposite of 1st
  (Prov. 101, 4).
• Synthetic (formal) 2nd line balances the form
  but not the idea.
• Meter/rhythm certain number of accented
  syllables per line (33, 22, 32) does not
  translate well.
• Figurative language simile, metaphor, allegory,
  personification (Psalm 9612 trees sing for
  joy).

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Book of PsalmsFavorite book of all the saints
Martin Luther

• Collection of 150 individual psalms not
  chapters. (Dont say Psalms 231 say Psalm
  231)
• Some go back to 1st Temple period, others are
  postexilic.
• Collected in postexilic period hymnbook of 2nd
  Temple (and later of the synagogues).
• Divided into 5 books probably in imitation of
  Pentateuch.
• Superscriptions at beginning of many psalms
  provide musical directions, names of tunes, and
  names of collections.
• Davids name in many does not necessarily
  attribute authorship to him.
• Other names appear as well Solomon, Moses,
  Asaph, sons of Korah.
• Liturgical material, intended for use in worship
  (liturgy worship practices).
• Many different types of psalms express range of
  emotions.

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Types of Psalms

• Hymns songs of praise
• Praise God as Creator of world, Redeemer of
  Israel, etc.
• Two main parts
• Summons to praise God.
• Rehearsal of reasons for praising God often
  introduced by for or because.
• Examples
• Psalm 33
• Psalm 100

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Types of Psalms

• Laments cries for help in times of distress
• Often subdivided into individual and communal
  laments.
• Three main parts
• Complaint graphic description of
  distress/crisis (illness, suffering, enemies,
  guilt of sin, etc.) often blaming God for it.
• Petition urgent plea for God to remedy the
  situation.
• Assurance always close with assurance of
  deliverance conviction that God has heard plea
  and will answer.
• Examples
• Psalm 6 individual lament in time of illness
• Psalm 13 prayer for deliverance from enemies
• Psalm 79 communal lament over destruction of
  Temple (cf. Lamentations)
• Psalm 51 prayer for forgiveness
• Psalm 23 song of trust, focused entirely on
  assurance.
• More laments than any other type give
  permission for honesty with God in prayer.

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Types of Psalms

• Thanksgivings
• Thanking God for a specific deliverance.
• May recall an earlier time of lament that has now
  been resolved.
• Examples
• Psalm 30 thanksgiving for a healing
• V. 2, 8-10 recall earlier situation of lament
  similar to Psalm 6.
• Sheol (v. 3) abode of the dead depicted as
  under the earth.
• Psalm 92 thanksgiving for deliverance from
  enemies

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Types of Psalms

• 4. Royal Psalms
• Accompany ceremonies involving king coronation,
  battle, wedding, etc.
• Examples
• Psalm 20 prayer for a kings victory
• Psalm 21 thanksgiving for a kings victory
• Psalm 45 royal wedding song
• Psalm 72 prayer for a kings coronation

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Types of Psalms

• 5. Songs of Zion
• Hymns celebrating the Temple and Jerusalem
  (Zion was the temple mount in Jerusalem).
• Jerusalem is Gods chosen city, where he dwells
  enthroned in Temple protects and defends
  Jerusalem Zion becomes symbol of refuge and
  security.
• Examples
• Psalm 46 inspired Martin Luthers hymn "A
  Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
• Psalms 48, 76, 87, etc.
• Psalm 122 pilgrimage psalm I was glad when
  they said to me, Let us go to the house of the
  LORD!...

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Types of Psalms

• 6. Wisdom Psalms
• Teaching Psalms employing wisdom themes, such
  as advice to pursue virtue and avoid wickedness
  or instruction in Gods law.
• Examples
• Psalm 1 Happy are those who do not follow the
  advice of the wicked, or take the path that
  sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers
  but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and
  on his law they meditate day and night...The
  wicked are not so...
• Psalms 37, 73, 112, 119, 128, etc.