• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
  • Posted 05/30/2021
  • Viewed 377

 

The Book Of Psalms

 

Title

  • Hebrew title: Songs of Praise or Praises. Psalms have both praises and laments.
  • Greek title: Psalmos: It means ‘To Pluck’. This Greek word is used in the New Testament such as Luke.20:42; 24:44 and Acts.1:20 and it is connected with singing and musical accompaniment.

 

Literary Styles

  • Three primary forms of psalms
    • Praise psalms: These psalms start with or include such terms such as praise the Lord or sing unto the Lord
    • Lament psalms: These psalms start with or include such terms such as O Lord followed by a complaint
    • Wisdom psalms: These psalms focus on certain wisdom themes such as how to happy or successful or to be godly behaviour.

 

Authorship

          - The authorship of some of the psalms are given in titles or superscriptions but some do                              not have.

          - These are the authors of the psalms

          - David: Author of 73 psalms ( According to Hebrew Bible); 84 Psalms                                  ( According to Greek Bible); and 53 Psalms ( According to Vulgate Bible).

  • Anonymous: 50 psalms: 1,2,10,33,43,71,91, 93-97,104-107,118-119,135,137, 146-150
  • Asaph: 12 psalms: 50, 73-83
  • Sons of Korah:  11 psalms: 42-49 except 43; 84-88 except 86
  • Jeduthun: 3 psalms: 39; 62; 77
  • Solomon: 2 psalms: 72; 127
  • Moses:  1 psalm: 90
  • Ethan, 1 psalm: 89
  • Heman: 1 psalm: 88

Date:

Psalms is the collection of psalms coming from different times and contexts and writers. So there is a difficulty to pin point the date. However the psalms were collected through an editorial process into five sections. There is a scholarly assumption that Sections 1,2 and 4 have come from Pre-Exilic Period; Section 3 from Exilic Period and Section 5 from Post Exilic Period. The reason for five sections is assumed that it might reflect five books of Torah.

 

Structure

There is no general theme of pattern in the psalms. However every section of the Psalms ends with doxology except the first psalm which is considered as general introduction

  • Section 1: Psalms 1-41
  • Section 2: Psalms 42-72
  • Section 3: Psalms 73-89
  • Section 4: Psalms 90-106
  • Section 5: Psalms 107-150

 

Themes

  • Hymns of Praise:  8; 19; 104; 139; 148, 33; 103; 113; 117; 134-136; 145-147
  • Hymns of Thanksgiving: 9-10; 11; 16; 30; 32; 34; 92; 116; 138
  • Hymns of Lamentations:  12; 14; 44; 53; 58; 60; 74; 79; 80; 83; 85; 89; 90; 94; 106; 123; 126; 137, 3-7; 17; 22; 25-28; 31; 35; 38-43; 69-71; 86; 88; 102; 109; 120; 130; 139-143
  • Hymns of Kingship: 47; 93; 96-99; 2; 18; 20; 21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110
  • Hymns of Zion: 46; 48; 76; 84; 87; 122
  • Hymns of Liturgy: 50; 81; 134; 15; 24; 68
  • Hymns of Wisdom: 36; 37; 49; 73; 111; 112; 127; 128; 133
  • Hymns of Faith: 11; 16; 23; 62; 63; 91; 121; 131; 82; 115

 

Musical Terms used in the psalms:

  • Mizmor: It means to pluck: 57 psalms; Shir: 30 psalms; Maschil or Maskil: 30 psalms Mitchtam or mitkhtam: 6 psalms; Palal: 6 psalms; Selah: 71 psalms; Shiggaion or shigionoth: 1 psam; Neginoth: 6 psalms; Sheminith: 2 psalms; Alamoth: 4 psalms; Mechiloth: 1 psalm; Gittith: 3 psalms

 

Purpose of Psalms

- They are human’s expression to Covenant God of the deep emotions of life individually or collectively in personal or liturgical context.

-This is a form of personal prayer or faith expressions in poetic and musical format and it brings rich theology and personal faith realities of experiences.

-These are faith statements of individuals or community

- These are forms of prophetic message of God’s salvation to the humanity 

 

Interpretation Principles

We must give attention to the following aspects in terms of interpreting psalms. They are:

- Historical setting

- Literary style]

- Reference of psalms in wider biblical context and usage especially in terms of Christ

- Application relevance to our daily life.

 

Key Word:  Praise

 

Key Theme: Praise and Petition to God

 

Key Verse: Psalm 111:1

 

Theological Themes of Psalms

  • Monotheism: One God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time.
  • Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
  • Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant.
  • Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles.
  • Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord.

 

Outlines

  • Section 1: Psalms. 1-41: The book of Psalms begins with a contrast between the godly and the ungodly.
  • Psalms 42–72 These psalms could be summarized with the phrase God is our refuge and strength”
  • Psalms 73–89 These psalms encompass several themes and frequently describe God as a judge who can rebuke wicked earthly judges and destroy Israel’s enemies.
  • Psalms 90–106 Many of these psalms encourage us to praise the Lord, remember that vengeance belongs to Him, declare His glory, and serve Him with gladness.
  • Psalms 107–150 These psalms recognize that children are an heritage of the Lord” and that they are an eternal blessing for righteous parents.


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