Assign:
1) Daily Journal
2) #8 Identify type and outline: Psalms 32, 33, 54.
3) #9 Outline & diagram balanced thought structure of Ps 24
4) Review for discussion: Section B. #6, Section C. #’s 1-3
Day Objectives:
1) Explain the cultic symbol system behind the sacrificial system.
2) Learn to identify and outline the 3 basic psalm types.
3) Learn how to diagram “balanced thought structures.”

Proverbs 26:22
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a person’s inmost parts.
desirous pleasant sweet
Choice morsels
Words of a gossip tasty satisfying
Go to
“inmost parts” =
Go to
“inmost parts” =

Proverbs 17:22 Contrast, ellipsis, metaphor, cause-effect graphic language
Healing
Good
Medicine
Cheerful
Heart
[cause effect] restoring life
“BUT” (opposites) (opposites)
Poison
Downcast
Spirit cause effect death yuck

Introduction
Martin Luther on the Book of Psalms:
Where does one find finer words of joy than in the psalms of praise and thanksgiving? There you look into the hearts of all saints, as into fair and pleasant gardens, yes, as into heaven itself. There you see what fine and pleasant flowers of the heart spring up from all sorts of fair and happy thoughts toward God, because of his blessings.

Luther cont.
On the other hand, where do you find deeper, more sorrowful, more pitiful words of sadness than in the psalms of lamentation? There again you look into the hearts of all the saints, as into death, yes, as into hell itself. How gloomy and dark it is there, with all kinds of troubled forebodings about the wrath of
God! So, too, when they speak of fear and hope, they use such words that no painter could so depict for you fear or hope, and no Cicero or other orator so portray them.

Luther cont.
And that they speak these words to God and with God, this, I repeat, is the best thing of all.
This gives the words double earnestness and life…. Hence it is that the Psalter is the book of all saints; and everyone, in whatever situation he may be, finds in that situation psalms and words that fit his case, that suit him as if they were put there just for his sake, so that he could not put it better himself, or find or wish for anything better.
Luther’s Works, vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I (Fortress, 1960), pp. 255f. Taken from P.
Miller, Interpreting the Psalms (Fortress, 1986), pp. 19f.

Define “Cult”/“Cultic”
Any tangible expressions of religion (rituals, gestures, places, objects, personnel, seasons, etc.)

How to Read the Book of Psalms?
Psalms are NOT simply poems or songs.
They were functional songs: “cultic” expressions of faith – part of various religious rituals in specific settings for specific purposes.
How do cultic elements in your church setting aid people to worship
God?

Overview
Setting of transmission and employment
1. Whatever the origin of the Psalms, they seem to have been used in the Temple worship.
2. The Psalms as we have them have been made very generic : enemies, illnesses, threats, occasions of joy, etc. are stated in general terms.
3. As a result the Psalms have become applicable to all people.

Reading Psalms Overview
1. Because of the generic nature of the Psalms, we can read them
“form critically,” that is, according to their use within a social setting. ( Versus reading according to superscriptions.
)
A. The social setting of the temple can shed light on the function of the psalms, and
B. The forms of the psalms can shed light on the social setting
(the faith and practices) of the Israelites.
2. 3 major forms found in the 150 psalms [two naming systems]

Observations about Rhetorical Intentions
2/3 of all psalms have one of 3 Rhet. Intent’s:
1) get God to do something,
2)
3) thank God for something already done, praise God in general for God’s nature.
Doing #6 (pairing) Looked for formal features such as: rhetorical intention mood, mood shift temporal orientation of the speaker addressee, addressee shift

Psalms of Lament/Petition (1 of 3)
General characteristics : personal, speaker primarily addresses God, mood shifts from to despair to some hope/trust, oriented in the present setting of need or crisis
(What difference does music make?)
I.
Motifs Found in Lament Psalms
A.
[Introductory petition/lament]
B.
Lament [1) claim innocence
2) plea for forgiveness]
1)
2)
3)
You (God)
I
They (foes)
Drawing of a Lyre.
Copyright Zondervan Image Archives

Psalms of Lament/Petition (2 of 3)
C.
Petition
1) To take favorable notice
2)
3)
4)
To intervene
Motivation
“Double wish” a) against enemies (imprecation) b) for oneself
[honest how they feel and bold]

Psalms of Lament/Petition (3 of 3)
D.
Confession of Trust
(WAW adversative) Look for words such as
“then” “now” “but” and a shift to a positive mood.
1. Specific trust elements: a) vow of praise b) declarative praise
Statuette of Lyre Player. Copyright: http://www.getty.edu/museum/objects/Antiquities/90_AB_6_A.htm

PSALM 79 (1 of 2)
(Communal Lament)
Setting: Destruction of Jerusalem c. 586 BCE
I. Introductory lament 1-5
A. Enemy: has done this against You 1-3
B. We: have become a reproach 4
C. You: how long angry? 5
II. Petition with motivation 6-12
A A. Against enemy; reason: do not know You 6-7
B B. For selves; need: compassion, help, forgiveness 8-9
A C. Against enemy; reason: dishonor God 10
B D. For selves: doomed without You 11
A E. Against enemy; reason: reproach You 12

PSALM 79 (2 of 2)
(Communal Lament)
III. Expression of trust: vow of praise 13
"Then/now/but" (waw adversative) note: mood shift
"We will give testimony (thanks/praise) forever." http://www.lava.net/college/harp/

Psalms of Declarative Praise (Thanksgiving)
(1 of 2)
General
Personal, use of 1st person
Mood: consistent, joyful
Audience: usually switches between God and community
Time: in the present, the psalmist looks back to the past
Setting: celebration of todah offering with extended family and the poor
I.
Motifs and Structure
A.
Proclamation
1.
States intention to praise God (“You”) and/or 2.
(Introductory Summary)

Psalms of Declarative Praise (Thanksgiving)
(2 of 2)
B.
Report of Deliverance
1. Trial or problem
2.
3.
Psalmists cry to God - “I cried,” “He heard”
The deliverance - “He delivered”
C.
Conclusion
1.
(2.
(3.
Renewed vow of praise
Descriptive praise )
Instruction )

Psalm 116
(abbreviated outline)
I. Proclamation and Summary, 1-2 [note chiastic structure ]
A. Response : love Yahweh; Reason : heard me
B. Reason : listened to me; Response : will call on Yahweh
II. Report, 3-11
A. Trial: near death, 3
B. Cry to Yahweh, 4
C. Deliverance [w/descriptive praise], 5-11
1. Affirmation to others, 5-6
2. Affirmation to self, 7
3. Affirmation to Yahweh, 8-9
4. Continued reflection on deliverance, 10-11
III. Conclusion, 12-19
A A. Vow of Praise, 12-14
B B. Affirmation and Commitment, 15-16
A C. Vow of Praise repeated, 17-19

Psalms of Descriptive Praise (Hymns)
General:
Tone: impersonal (often in 3rd person)
Audience: community and God
Mood: consistently joyful
Time: atemporal
Setting: often festivals and pilgrimages
I.
Motifs and Structures
(Prologue: Hallelujah)
A.
Call to Praise
Drawing of a Lyre.
Copyright Zondervan Image
Archives imperative: often repeated throughout psalm
B.
Cause for Praise
1.
Summary Statement (often 2-fold) a.
b.
God’s majesty: Lord of Creation
God’s grace: Lord of history
2.
Descriptive Illustrations

Psalms of Descriptive Praise (Hymns) any
C.
Conclusion: many options
1.
2.
Renewed call to praise
Exhortations
3. Petition, etc.
4.
Vow of praise
(Epilogue: Hallelujah)

Psalm 113
(abbreviated outline)
I. Call to Praise, 1-3
A. Whom: Yahweh; By whom: servants, 1 (3-fold rep.)
B. Whom: Yahweh; When and Where, 2-3 [note chiasm ]
A 1. Praise name of Yahweh
B
B
A
2. From now to the end [merism = always]
3. From place sun rises to sets [= everywhere]
4. Praise name of Yahweh
II. Cause for Praise, 4-9b
A. Yahweh is over all (sovereign), 4-6
B. Yahweh Intervenes (gracious), 7-9b
III. Concluding Call to Praise, 9c

UNIT 3...BACKGROUND ON PSALMS
Theological Basis and/or Implications
Each psalm has own distinct message; but some generalizations:
A. Petitions:
1.
God is to be approached boldly, with complete openness
2.
Even in despair, the psalmist expressed trust
B. Thanksgivings:
1.
God is to be thanked by testimony before community in celebration
2.
3.
God is experientially knowable
Faith in God who acts on their behalf
C. Hymns:
1.
2.
God is worthy of praise
God, who is majestic and sovereign, graciously condescends to care for those who trust God

DIAGRAMMING “BALANCED THOUGHT STRUCTURES”
PSALM 54 (1 of 2)
O God, by Your name save me,
And by Your power vindicate me!
O God, hear my prayer,
Give ear to the words of my mouth!
For strangers have arisen against me,
And terrifying ones seek my life;
Men who do not set God before them.

PSALM 54 (2 of 2)
Behold, God [is] the One who helps me,
My Lord [is] the One who upholds my life.
May He return evil to those lurking for me,
In Your faithfulness bring to an end them.
With a free-will offering I will sacrifice to You,
I will thank Your name, Yahweh, because [it is] good.
High Place Altar
Because from every trouble You have delivered me,
And against my enemies my eye has gloated.

Assignment 3) #9
9)
Obj.: Develop skill of identifying the “balanced thought structures” (parallelism) of Hebrew poetry.
Study handout, “Balanced Thought Structure”
(Handouts, pp. 18-19) a) (N) Come up with your own headings and outline of the major structure of Psalm 24. (This psalm does not fit one of the 3 major types.) b) (N) Using Handouts, p. 21, diagram verse-by-verse each of the balanced units of meaning in Psalm 24.

•
•
•

“Holiness & Sacrifices”
(relates to Handouts, pp. 10-11)
What are some “unclean” foods in our culture that might be eaten in other cultures? Why are they “unclean” in our culture?
What are some “unclean”/unacceptable behaviors in our culture that might be acceptable in other cultures? Why are they unacceptable?
For the Israelites fish were “clean” but lobsters were “unclean.”
What would be a possible explanation?
For Israel blood from a cut was “clean” but menstrual blood was
“unclean.” What would be a possible explanation?

“Holiness & Sacrifices” a. Purity system and Holiness system
purity: clean (life, order) vs. unclean b.
-
-
-
-
holiness: holy (set apart for sacred use) vs. common both were “contagious”
“gradations of holiness”
examples
:
Purification: permitted impurity (not sin) vs. unpermitted unpermitted polluted God’s “dwelling place”

*-
-
c.
“Holiness & Sacrifices”
Sacrificial system: gift or gesture of obedience, but not food or magical manipulation blood (Lev. 17:10-14): symbol of life types:
“Purgation”: cleansed God’s dwelling
“Well-being”: feast (“Thanks offering”;
Todah )
Horned altar from Megiddo