BI 532 Psalms class notes

Hebrew Poetry found throughout the Old Testament

Brief extracts (Genesis 4:23-24; Num. 21:18; 1 Sam. 18:7)

Compositions like songs, hymns, and oracles (Gen. 49:2-27; Deut. 32:1-43; 1 Sam. 2:1-10).

Mostly poetical booksJob, Ecclesiastes

Entirely poetic booksPsalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations

History of Interpretation of the Psalms• The Traditional Approach

– This approach endeavors to relate the psalm to some incident in the life of the psalmist, usually presumed to be David.

• The Eschatological-Messianic Method

– Interprets the psalmic texts almost exclusively as referring to Christ and his kingdom

• Historical Criticism Approach

– Focus on reconstructing the written sources that were used to produce the extant psalm

– results became increasingly subjective and fragmented

• Form Critical Method

– studies the literary types or genres of the various psalms in order to analyze and interpret them

– stressed the importance of studying the Psalms not only in the context of the OT as a whole, but also in the literary and cultural context of ancient Near Eastern civilizations

– Gunkel organized the psalms into several literary types, including hymns, laments of the community, laments of the individual, thanksgiving songs of the individual, royal psalms, and wisdom psalms.

– Westermann, who focused on the praise and lament as the center of the worship of Israel.

• “As the language of joy and the language of suffering, praise and lament belong together as expressions of human existence before God.…”

• Tradition Criticism

– By focusing intently on the Sitz im Leben, this method endeavors to reconstruct the cultic occasion at which the psalm was used.

• Rhetorical-Critical Approach

– This method focuses on the specific stylistic features that make each psalm unique

The book of Psalms – the people express the various aspects of their unique relationship with him.

• Of all the books in the Old Testament the Book of Psalms most vividly represents the faith of individuals in the Lord. The Psalms are the inspired responses of human hearts to God’s revelation of Himself in law, history, and prophecy. Saints of all ages have appropriated this collection of prayers and praises in their public worship and private meditations.

Allen P. Ross

Title of the Book:• In the Hebrew, The Book of Psalms is titled, ים ל� ה� praise songs (τehillim)ת�

• The Septuagint (LXX) gives the name ψαλμόι (Psalmoi ), that is “songs or poems sung with musical accompaniment.” Psalmos comes from psallein, “to pluck a stringed instrument” as an accompaniment to song.

Author:• The superscriptions that preface 116 of the 150 psalms present specific information about the

writers and circumstances that produced the texts.

David 73 Most of Book 1 and Book 2

Asaph 12 Ps. 50; 73-83

Korahites 10 Ps. 42, 44-49; 84-85; 87

Solomon 2 Ps. 72; 127

Moses 1 Ps. 90

Ethan the Ezrahite 1 Ps. 89

Heman the Ezrahite 1 Ps. 88

No Author 50

Dates of the Psalm

1405 B.C. Moses Ps. 90

1011-971 B.C. David Mostly in Book 1 & 2

971-931 B.C. Solomon Ps. 72, 127

950 B.C. Asaph Ps. 50, 73-83

Pre-exilicDescendants of Korah

Ps. 42, 44-49; 84-85; 87

Pre-exilic Ezrahites Ps. 88

Post-exile Unknown Ps. 126 and 137

Division of the Psalms

Book Psalms Author General Content

Book I Psalms 1-41 David Songs of worship

Book II Psalms 42-72 David & Korah Hymns of petition

Book III Psalms 73-89 Mainly Asaph Hymns of petition

Book IV Psalms 90-106 Mainly Anonymous Anthems of praise

Book V Psalms 107-150David and Anonymous

Anthems of praise

Names Designating Types of Psalms

Classification of the Psalms: Names Designating Types of Psalms

",mizmôr "Psalm מזמור– is the heading for fifty-seven psalms. The word is a technical term because it is only used

in the Psalter. The word seems to be related to the verb that means "pluck" strings. It may be defined, then, as a technical term designating a song that is accompanied by the plucking of a stringed instrument (cf. Mowinckel, 11:208).

",šiyrāh "Song שיר– is a common term for both cultic and secular songs. It may have carried some special

designation in cultic material. The term is used in some thirty titles, some of which are also labeled "Psalm" (65, 75, 76, 92).

Maschil משכיל– "A Contemplative Poem," is found with thirteen psalms. (32,42,44,45,52-

55,74,78,77,142) There is little agreement concerning the translation of the term. It has been defined as "efficacious song" (Mowinckel). "meditation" (Delitzsch), "a skilful psalm" (Ewald). This latter view plays on the etymological connection to the verb "be wise, prudent."

,Michtam ,מכתם– a term found in six psalms (16, 56-60). The meaning of the term is disputed: later

Hebrew, LXX and modern Hebrew understand it to be "inscription poem," or "epigram," It’s a poem containing pithy sayings." Mowinckel says it is "a song of atonement," connecting the word with Akkadian katamu. "to atone" (11:209).

te ,תפלה illāh p– "Prayer," is the heading for Psalms 17,86,90, 102, and 142 (note also 72:20). In a

technical sense it may denote more than prayer, a psalm of lamentation. See also Habakkuk 3:1 and Jonah 2:1.

",Praise" ,תהלה– is found only with Psalm 145. a psalm which is at the beginning of the great doxology to

the Psalter, Psalms 145·150.

",a song of loves " , שיר ידידות• is the heading of Psalm 45. It is appropriate to Psalm 45 which is a celebration of the royal

wedding.

,Siggiiyon ,שגיון– is found only with Psalm 7. Mowinckel says it means a psalm of "lamentation" (II:209). It

may be connected with the root sgh, "to wander," and therefore characterizes a song with irregular structure or variation of feeling--but this is all conjecture.

Hebrew poetry • rhyme of meaning

• 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

• Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

• Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

• and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

• The Two Key Elements of to interpret Hebrew Poetry

• Parallelism

– “The practice of balancing one thought or phrase by a corresponding thought or phrase containing approximately the same number of words, or at least a correspondence in ideas.”

• Figures of Speech

– Any expressive use of language in which words are used in other than their literal sense, or in other than their ordinary locutions, in order to suggest a picture, image, or for special effect.

• Synonymous Parallelism

• The thought of the first line is basically repeated in different words in the second line.

Psalms 140:1 (KJV)

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man:

preserve me from the violent man;

• Synonymous Parallelism

• Identical -

Psalms 24:1

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

• Similar –

Psalms 19:2

Day unto day uttereth speech, and

night unto night sheweth knowledge.

• Antithetical Parallelism

• The thought of the second line says the opposite of the first line

• Psalms 37:9

– For evildoers shall be cut off:

– but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

• Antithetical Parallelism

– Psalms 20:7

– Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:

– but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

• Psalms 1:6

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

but

the way of the ungodly shall perish.

• Synthetic Parallelism

The first line is explained or further developed in the successive lines

• Psalms 5:7

– But as for me,

– I will come into thy house

– in the multitude of thy mercy:

– and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

•

• Synthetic Parallelism

• Psalms 110:1

– The LORD said unto my Lord,

– Sit thou at my right hand,

– until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

• Climactic Parallelism

• The second line repeats the first line with the exception of the last terms

• Psalms 29:1

Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty,

give unto the LORD glory and strength.

• Psalms 29:4

The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

• Emblematic Parallelism

One line conveys the main point, the second line illuminates it by an image (simile or a metaphor)

Psalms 103:13

Like as a father pitieth his children,

so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalms 12:6

The words of the LORD are pure words:

as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

• Emblematic Parallelism

• Psalms 31:2

– Bow down thine ear to me;

– deliver me speedily:

– be thou my strong rock,

– for an house of defense to save me.

• Chiastic Parallelism

Psalms 135:15-18

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold,

the work of men's hands.

16 They have mouths, but they speak not;

eyes have they, but they see not;

17 They have ears, but they hear not;

neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18 They that make them are like unto them:

so is every one that trusteth in them.

• Acrostic Psalm

• Psalms 9, 10, 25, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145

• ה׀ 1 111 לו י ל� ה

• הוה א ה י� ה׃ב�וד עד ים ו� שר� וד י� ס ב ב� כל־לב

• 2 ה ג� הו י י� ים מעש ם׃ד�דל� ציה כל־חפ� ים ל� רוש�

• 3 עלו ה ר פ הד ד׃ו�וד־ו� דת לע ו עמ קת ד� צ�

• 4 יו ז את ל� פ� נ� שה ל� ה׃חכר ע הו רחום י� נון ו�

• 5 יו ט ירא ן ל� ו׃ירף נת ית ר� ם ב� עול ר ל� כ ז�

• 119 Psalm

• 1 ה׃ הו ת י� תור ים ב� כ� הל� רך ה ימי־ד מ� י ת� ר אש�

• 2 שוהו׃ ר� ב יד� כל־ל יו ב� י עדת ר רי נצ� ש� א

• 3 כו׃ יו הל רכ ד� ה ב� ל ף לא־פעלו עו� א

• 4 ד׃ א ר מ� מ ש� יך ל� ד Aק יתה פ� ו� תה צ� א

• 5 קיך׃ Aר ח מ ש� י ל� רכ נו ד� חלי יכ א

• 6 יך׃ ות צ� י אל־כל־מ� יט� הב� ז לא־אבוש ב� א

• 7 קך׃ ד� י צ� ט פ� ש� י מ� ד� למ� ב ב� שר לב י ך ב� אוד�

• 8 ד׃ א י עד־מ� נ� ב ל־תעז� ר א מ קיך אש� Aאת־ח

• 9 ך׃ בר ד� ר כ� מ ש� חו ל� ער את־אר� זכה־נ ה י� במ

• 10 יך׃ ות צ� מ� י מ� נ� ג ש� יך אל־ת ת� רש� י ד� ב� כל־ל� ב�

• 11 ך׃ חטא־ל ען לא א מ ך ל� רת מ� י א� ת� נ� י צפ ב� ל� ב�

• 12 קיך׃ Aי ח נ� ד ה למ� הו ה י� ברוך את

• 13 יך׃ טי־פ� פ� ש� ל מ� י כ ת� ר� פ י ס� פת ש� ב�

• 14 ל כל־הון׃ ע י כ� ת� ש� יך ש ות רך עד� ד ב�

• 15 יך׃ חת יטה אר� אב� יחה ו� יך אש� ד Aק פ� ב�

• 16 ך׃ בר ח ד� כ ע לא אש� תעש ש� יך א קת Aח ב�

• Figures of Speech

• Simile: A comparison of one thing with another by using the word like or as.

Psalms 97:5

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,

at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Psalms 103:15

As for man, his days are as grass:

as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

• Figures of Speech

• Metaphor: A comparison in which a thing represents another by using the word is or are.

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield:

the LORD will give grace and glory:

no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalms 45:1

My heart is inditing a good matter:

I speak of the things which I have made touching the king:

my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

• Figures of Speech

• Hyperbole: The use of exaggeration or over statement to stress a point. An exaggeration in which more is said than is literally meant.

Psalms 6:6

I am weary with my groaning;

all the night make I my bed to swim;

I water my couch with my tears.

Psalms 46:2

Therefore will not we fear,

though the earth be removed, and

though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

• Figures of Speech

• Metonymy: Metonymy is a figure by which one name or noun is used instead of another, to which it stands in a certain relation.

Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

• Figures of Speech

• Rhetorical question: A question to which a verbal answer is not expected.

Psalms 2:1

Why do the heathen rage, and

the people imagine a vain thing?

Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

• Figures of Speech

• Anthropomorphism: The assigning of some part of the human anatomy to God’s Person to convey some aspect of God’s being.

Psalms 11:4

The LORD is in his holy temple,

the LORD'S throne is in heaven:

his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Psalms 77:15

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people,

the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

• Figures of Speech

• Zoomorphism: Ascribing animal characteristics to God or others.

Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalms 91:4

He shall cover thee with his feathers,

and under his wings shalt thou trust:

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

• Figures of Speech

• Implication: an implied comparison between two things in which the name of one thing is used in place of the other.

Psalms 22:16

For dogs have compassed me:

the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:

they pierced my hands and my feet.

• Synecdoche - Substituting of a part for the whole or the whole for the part.

• Personification - Ascribing human characteristics or actions to inanimate objects or ideas or animals.

• Anthropopathism - Ascribing human emotions to God.

• Euphemism - Substituting an inoffensive or mild expression for an offensive or personal one.

• Litotes - An understatement in which less is said than is literally meant.

• Irony - A kind of ridicule which sounds like a compliment.

• Paradox - A statement that is seemingly absurd.

• How to Study a Psalm Pg. 50-56

• Determine who is speaking

– Psalmist, Israel, God

• Determine if the Psalm is personal or Corporate

– Most Individual, Psalm 120-134 Songs of Ascents

• Determine the purpose the psalm was written

– See Historical Title, Ask what is the problem?

• How to Study a Psalm Pg. 50-56

• Determine the emotional orientation of the Psalm

– Praising or Lamenting

• Determine the Genre of the Psalm if possible

• Determine if there is a refrain or recurring words or phrases

Ps 42:5, 11 43:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and

why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:

• Form criticism studies the literary types or genres of the various psalms in order to analyze and interpret them.

• Classification of Psalms

• Gunkel

• Hymns (intended for communal worship)

• Laments of the people (Community- Grief over some natural disaster)

• Laments of the individual (Personal Tragedy)

• Royal Psalms (Exalt the king as servant of Yahweh)

• Songs of Thanksgiving of the individual

• Spiritual Poems.

• Classification of Psalms

• Kittel

• The Hymn (Song of Praise)

• The Prayer of Thanksgiving

• The prayer of Petition

• The Didactic Poem

• The Spiritual Song

• Classification of Psalms

• Claus Westermann

• The Psalms Of Declarative Praise

• Community

• Individual

• The Psalm of Descriptive Praise (Hymn)

• The Psalms Of Lament

• Community

• Individual

• Creation Psalms

• Liturgical Psalms

• Enthronement Psalms

• Wisdom Psalms

• Classification of Psalms

• Bullock (Textbook)

• Praise Psalms (41)

• Individual and communal lament psalms (59)

• Thanksgiving psalms (8)

• Psalms of Trust (6)

• Psalms of the Earthy King (10)

• Psalms of the Heavenly King

• Wisdom psalms (9)

• The Psalms of Torah

• Imprecatory psalms

Classification of Psalms

Psalms of Praise• These psalms thank God for the blessings he has bestowed and express confidence that he will

bestow further blessings.

• 41 Psalms are classified as Psalms of Praise

• Structure of Praise Psalms

• Declarative praise

– Praise of God for specific acts

– 18,21,30,32,34,40,41,66,106,116,138

• Descriptive (Hymns)

– Praise to God for His gracious acts

– 28,36,105,111,113,117,135,136,146,147

Structure of Declarative Praise Psalms• Proclamation of Praise to God

– Clear intent to praise God - “I will Praise…”

• Report of Deliverance

– Reason God should be Praised

• Renewed Vow of Praise

– Offer of Praise to God

Structure of Descriptive Praise Psalms• Prologue

– Hallelujah

• Call to Praise

– Extended Call to Praise

• Cause for Praise

– Reason and Substance to Praise God

• Conclusion

– Renewed call to Praise

• Epilogue

Psalms of Lament• The psalms of lament consist of urgent and fervent cries to God from stressful and troubling

circumstances. These psalms speak to believers in moments of desperation and despair, when our need is for God’s deliverance.

• 59 Psalms are classified as Psalms of Lament

• It is important to note that lament Psalms are not simple complaints, but complaints based on the representative’s identification with YHWH and his subsequent persecutions. Thus he complains (Respectfully) based on his hope in the promises and his yearning for the promise to come forth and his situation to be rectified in the glory of YHWH.

Structure of Lament Psalms• Individual Lament

– Cry to God of an individual for help in a distressful situation

– 3–7; 12; 13; 22; 25–28; 35; 38–40; 42–44; 51; 54–57; 77.

• Community Lament

– Cry to God of a community for help in times of calamity

– 59–61; 63; 64; 69–71; 74; 79; 80; 83; 85; 86; 88; 90; 126.

An Individual’s Lament• Address, with an introductory cry for help and/or of turning to God

• Lament

• Confession of Trust

• Petition

• Assurance of being heard

• Wish or petition for God’s intervention

• Vow of praise

• Praise of God when petition has been heard

A Community’s Lament• Address & Introductory Petition

• Lament

• Confession of Trust

• Petition

• Vow of Praise

Thanksgiving psalms• Thanks to God for deliverance out of crisis

• Individual Psalm of Thanksgiving

– Psalm 30

• Community Psalm of Thanksgiving

– Psalm 107

– Thanksgiving psalms

Structure– Introduction

– Report of crisis

– Problem

– Deliverance from crisis

– Conclusion

– Vow to praise

Psalms of Trust• Psalmist responds to God in trust due to unspoken trouble encountered.

Individual Psalms of Trust

– Psalm 16,23

Community Psalms of Trust

– Psalm 90

Structure– Declaration of trust

– Invitation to trust

– Basis for trust

– Petition

– Vow to Praise

– Interior lament

Psalms of the Earthy King• These Psalms refer to a kings or an anointed one.

– Psalm 20

Psalms of the Heavenly King• These psalms are also called enthronement psalms or Messianic psalms. They are linked

together by common subject matter. They contain the statement, “The Lord Reigns.”

– Psalm 24

Wisdom psalms• These Psalms offer guidance or wisdom on how to live godly.

– Psalm 1, 73

The Psalms of Torah• The focus of these psalms is on the “Torah” or Law of God.

– Psalm 19, 119

Imprecatory psalms• These Psalms call out judgment on enemies.

– Psalm 35, 69

– Psalms 137:9 (KJV) Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.