Get Ready
The Hebrew term for this book is “Sefer Tehillim,” which means “book of hymns” or “songs of praise.” The Greek word, Psalms, referred to “music on stringed instruments” or “songs adapted to this type of music.” Many psalms were used in Jewish worship, and several are now English Christian worship songs.
Author
Almost half of the psalms (73) are associated with David, either as the author or as the person the psalm was written for. The Hebrew word translated “of” can also mean “to” or “for – which is reasonable given his role as worship organizer in the kingdom.
Solomon (72, 127) and Moses (90) are specified as authors of psalms, as well as several priests or Levites, who organized and led worship services in the temple: Asaph and his family (50, 73-83), the sons of Korah (42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, 88), Heman (88), and Ethan the Ezrahite (89). Fifty of the psalms do not have an identified author.
Context
Many of the psalms were written during the time Israel was a united kingdom (1010-931 BCE); however, the compositions extend from Moses (1400 BCE) through the exile and return (538 BCE). This provides a variety of cultural as well as linguistic differences among the psalms. The variety of authors also gives us several different approaches to understanding, praising and petitioning God.
Structure
The book of Psalms is actually a compilation of five different collections of psalms (many translations identify each of the “books”). They appear in historical order: Psalms 1-41 are from the time when David was king, Psalms 42-72 are from Solomon’s time, Psalms 73-89 and 90-106 are generally from the time of exile, and Psalms 107-150 are from the period of the return from Babylon. There is no particular order to the psalms within each collection.
Major Themes
Psalms is a collection of individual “songs” that reflect humans’ response to God. Some psalms are intimate and personal statements about a single individual’s response to God in a specific situation; other psalms are intended to be group expressions about God in a worship setting. Many psalms are hymns of praise or thanksgiving for God’s blessings, while others are emotional calls for vengeance against an enemy.
Some scholars have identified the different types of psalms according to the subjects or themes they present:
- Praise psalms – focus on God’s qualities and characteristics [33, 103 and 139 are examples].
- History psalms – present God’s interactions with his called people [as in 68, 78 and 106].
- Relationship psalms – deal with the relationship God has with an individual [check 8, 20, 23 and 55].
- Petition (or protection) psalms – ask God to do something on the writer’s behalf – usually harmful to the person’s enemies [for example 35, 69, 137].
- Confession psalms – acknowledge the author’s (or the people’s) failures and sins [such as 6, 32, and 51].
- Messianic psalms – focus on Christ as the anointed descendent of King David [the New Testament mentions 2, 4, 22, 72, 132, among others].
- Liturgical psalms – are intended for group use in worship [check 30, 92 and 120].
Psalm 119 is a hymn to God’s law. It is the longest psalm and also the most literary and complex. Each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each line within that stanza begins with the same letter.
A note on Hebrew poetry
Parallelism is the predominant feature of Hebrew poetry. Unlike English poetry which often focuses on the sounds of words and the rhythm of those sounds, Hebrew poetry puts pairs of ideas or images together. There are three types of parallelism in Hebrew literature:
- Synonymous parallelism – repeats the same idea or thought in a slightly different way: I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me, [119:30].
- Antithetical parallelism – the second statement is the opposite of the first: For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land, [37:9].
- Building parallelism – the second statement builds on or amplifies the first: The Lord is high above the nations, and his glory above the heavens, [113:4].
Middle eastern literature is also more likely to use hyperbole and exaggerated images than we usually find in western modern literature. For example: O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me, [88:14-17].
Get into the Word:
1. What do we know about the writers(s) of the psalms? Who are the primary authors? Why do you think so many of the psalms are attributed to or connected with David?
2. When were the psalms written? What is probably the oldest psalm in the book? When were the newest ones written? How does this affect the current book?
3. How is the book organized? How are the psalms organized within each group? Does your Bible identify the various collections?
4. What is the overarching theme of Psalms? What are some of the primary types or groups of songs within the larger book? How do you respond the various types of psalms?
Bible Trivia:
Praise the Lord appears in some form 104 times in the Psalms.
Salvation is used 46 times.
Steadfast love of the Lord is mentioned 120 times.
5. What is the main feature of Hebrew poetry? How does it differ from English poetry? What are the three types of parallelism? What other differences are there between Hebrew poetry and more contemporary literature?
Notes: Joy . . .
Joy is mentioned 43 times in the Psalms, and joyful noise appears 6 times.
We often view “church” on Sunday as something less than joyful. Instead we treat it as something God says we have to do.
We forget what David knew when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem: being in God’s presence is the most joyful place we can be, being aware of God’s love is the most joy-filled experience possible!
God calls us to worship not as a duty, not as payment for his blessings, not as credit for our sins. He calls us to worship so we can know the joy he has in our faith, so we can experience his “steadfast love,” so we can share that love with others.
The psalms remind us that God intends worship to be joyful, to be a celebration that He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand, [95:7].
27: Two ways, God’s anointed, Trust – Psalms 1, 2, 3
Get Ready
When you were in high school who did you spend time with? How were these people like you? How were they different? What kinds of things did you do together? What kind of people are they now? Are you still friends with any of them? How has the relationship changed over time?
The Word
1The Two Ways
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;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
2God’s Promise to His Anointed
Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling
12 kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.
3Trust in God under Adversity
A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.
O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying to me, “There is no help for you in God.” Selah
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Rise up, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Deliverance belongs to the Lord;
may your blessing be on your people! Selah NRSV
Get into the Word:
1. What is the psalm about? What kind of people are involved? How does the writer describe the two types of people?
2. How are the peoples’ actions different? What is the outcome from each set of actions? What are the consequences of the two choices? Who does God watch over?
3. What is the second psalm about? What kind of people are involved? What are the people doing? What do they want to accomplish?
4. How does God respond to these people and their plans? How will he deal with this situation? Who else will become involved?
5. How is the “king” related to God? What will God do for the king? How will the king respond to the nations? What do the nations need to do to avoid this outcome?
6. What is the third psalm about? Who is speaking here? What is the situation? How does the writer describe God? What example does he cite as evidence? What does he ask of God?
Get Personal:
How does God help you with the choices you face? How does he help you understand his nature and character? How does he protect you?
Notes . . .
1:1. Those who do not — a “good” person does not follow wicked advice, take a sinful path, or associate with those who mock God and his law.
1:2. Delight — studying God’s law is not a chore for a person who really wants to follow it [see “Joy” above].
1:3. Prosper — following God is often linked with prosperity: God promised the Israelites a land “flowing with milk and honey,” [Exodus 3:8].
1:5. Will not stand — in ancient cultures, as now, the speaker in a meeting would stand; here “the wicked” would have nothing to say. The second line makes this clear: “sinners” will not participate in any meeting of “the righteous.”
2:1. Nations conspire — the writer is referring to the nations that attempted to conquer Israel when David was uniting it.
2:2. Anointed — “Messiah” is the Hebrew word for an anointed person; “Christos” is the Greek word – which leads many to see this psalm as a prophecy of Jesus.
2:4. Derision — scorn or contempt – the first line says God laughed at them.
2:6. Set my king — God appointed Saul and David as kings of Israel and promised David that one of his descendants would be king “forever,” [2 Sam 7:13]. Most ancient cultures believed kings were divinely appointed.
Zion — initially referred to the area of Jerusalem where the temple was, but later included the whole city. “Holy hill” referred to the elevated area of the temple.
2:7. My son — God’s promise to David included this concept: I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me, [2 Sam 7:14].
2:9. Rod of iron — other translations use “scepter” or “sword.” Iron was one of the strongest metals known at the time.
Dash them in pieces — “smash” or “shatter” are more contemporary terms.
2:12. Kiss his feet — rather than rebel and lose, the “kings” should submit to God’s chosen king.
3:1. Foes — the tradition is that David wrote this prayer when he fled from his son, Absalom [details at 2 Sam 15-18].
3:2. Selah — this Hebrew word means “lift up;” many believe it is a sign to “think about this.”
3:3. Shield — a common image for God’s protections [as in Psalm 7, 18, 28, 33, 59, 115, 144].
3:8. Deliverance — David generalizes: God will protect and bless him, but also everyone who calls on him.
Memory Verse:
The Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish, [1:6].
Next Lesson:
Psalm 58, 69: Petitions
