The Psalms

◩ The Psalms

- Collection of inspired Hebrew prayers and hymns

- Most beloved part of the OT (Gideon's)

(NT quotation Psalms.)

 

◩ What are the Psalms

- God's word to his people

- The Peoples' words to God and about God

- Prayers, hymns, and confessions to God, about His nature.

- The Problem of Hermeneutics

-- How do these words spoken to God function as a Word from God to us?

-- The Psalms do not function primarily for the teaching of doctrine or moral behavior.

 

◩ Value of the Psalms

- The psalms serve as a guide to worship

(엡 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,)

- the psalms demonstrate to us how we can relate honestly to God

- The psalms demonstrate the importance of reflection and meditation on things that God has done for us.

 

◩ Interpreting the Psalms

- Understand their Nature.....

 

◩ Nature of the Psalms

- The Psalms are musical poems.

-- Poems have rhythm, balance, structure for greater memorability.

-- Widely used in ancient Israel as a means of learning.

- Hebrew Poetry addresses the mind through the heart.

-- Musical poems evoke feelings.

- The Vocabulary of poetry is purposefully metaphorical.

-- Look for the intent of the metaphors.

 

 

◩ Parallelisms in Hebrew Poetry

- Synonymous parallelism - 2nd reinforces 1st

-- 9:1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

- Antithetical parallelism - 2nd contrasts 1st

-- 1:6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

- Synthetic parallelism - 2nd informs or adds to 1st

-- To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill

 

 

◩ Psalms as Literature

- Psalms as literature are of several different types, each type having a certain form an function

- The types of Psalms: Laments, Thanksgiving, Hymns of Praise, Salvation, History, Celebration and Affirmation, Wisdom, Songs of Trust

 

- Five Books of the Psalms"

-- Book 1: Pss 1-41("of David" except 1,2,33 which are untitled)

-- Book 2: Pss 42-72(42-50 "of the sons of Korah" or "of Asaph", 51-70 "of David"; 71 untitled, 72 "of Solomon")

-- Book 3: Pss 73-89(mostly "of Asaph" and some "of the sons of Korah")

-- Book 4: Pss 90-106(mostly "of David" except 101 and 103, untitled)

-- Book 5: Pss 107-150(mostly untitled, but 15 "of David" (inc.138-45); 15 "songs of ascent"(120-34); 5 "Hallelujah"(146-150)

 

◩ 7 types of Psalms

- Lament Psalms (e.g. 3, 31, 42, 88, 120)

-- Largest group, around 60, some corporate, some individual

-- Express struggles, suffering, disappointment, but with a deep sense of trust in Yahweh

- Thanksgiving Psalms(e.g., group 65, 75, 124; indv 18, 30)

-- 6 group, 10 individual, expressing feelings of joy and gratitude

- Hymns of Praise (e.g., 19, 100, 113)

-- Praise God as Creator (8), protector(66), history's Lord(33)

- Salvation-History Psalms (78, 105, 106, 135, 136)

-- Reviews history of God;s saving works, esp. exodud.

- Psalms of Celebration and Affirmation (e.g., 50, 89, 101)

-- Covenant renewal liturgies(50, 81); Davidic covenant (89, 132); Royal psalms (2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 144); Enthronement psalms(24, 29, 47, 93, 95-9); Songs of Zion(46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122)

- Wisdom Psalms (36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133)

-- 8 psalms similar to Proverbs(8)

- Songs of Trust(11, 16, 23, 27, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131)

-- 10 psalms that speak of the trustworthiness of God, his goodness and care.

 

◩ Psalm 3: A Lament

- 6 elements of Lament psalms(e.g., Ps3)

-- Address(vv. 1, 7)

-- Complaint(vv. 1b, 2)

-- Trust(vv. 3-6)

-- Deliverance(v. 7a)

-- Assurance(v. 7b)

-- Praise(v. 8)

 

- How would you preach this Psalm?

 

◩ Psalm 138: A Thanksgiving

- 5 Elements of a thanksgiving psalm(Ps 138)

-- Introduction(vv. 1-2)

-- Distress (assumed in v. 3)

-- Appeal(v. 3)

-- Deliverance (vv. 6-7)

-- Testimony (vv. 4-5, 8)

- How would you preach this Psalm?