Psalms Structure Content Message Claus Westermann Sunday Morning

+ Psalms: Structure, Content & Message Claus Westermann Sunday Morning Bible Study

+ Introduction n. A Call to Praise n The Significance of the Psalms in the Bible n How n The the Psalms Originated Collection of the Psalms n Superscriptions n The and Notations Poetic Form of the Psalms n Types and Genres of Psalms

+ A Call to Praise n Psalm 103: 1 -2—“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. ” n n Who made this call? What world did he live in? n “bless” n and “forget not” Praise Him so you don’t forget what He’s done and tell others what He’s done so they won’t forget.

+ n Psalm 103: 11 -14—” For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. ” n The immenseness of God versus the smallness of humans

+ The Significance of the Psalms in the Bible n Psalms: human responses to God’s word and actions n n n Passing through the Red Sea (Exodus 15) Barren woman celebrates the birth of a son (1 Samuel 2) Entire book of Psalms Mary (Luke 1) The Christ-hymn (Colossians 1) The throne of heaven (Revelation 5)

+ The Significance of the Psalms in the Bible n Praise and lament n Sometimes we praise God for his actions n Sometimes we lament God for his actions n Connection n between singing and praying Psalms are sung prayers or prayed singing n Significance for people throughout the ages

+ How the Psalms Originated n The Psalms arose out of the worship of Israel n Essential component of worship in its variety of forms n Psalms were first sung then written Worship was interconnected to all of life n n Events n n incorporated into psalms Events happened to one person or to the community The Psalms gave voice to everyone

+ The Collection of the Psalms n Modern collections n Book 1: Psalm 1 -41 n Book 2: Psalm 42 -72 Book 3: Psalm 73 -89 Book 4: Psalm 90 -106 Book 5: Psalm 107 -150 n n Larger n n collections Psalms 3 -41 attributed to David Psalms 42 -83 called Elohistic Psalter

+ The Collection of the Psalms n Smaller collections n Psalms 42 -49 are songs of Korah n Psalms 51 -59 are psalms of David Psalms 51 -59 are laments of the individual (IL) Enthronement psalms (93 -99, excluding 94) Psalms of praise (103 -107) n n n

+ Superscriptions and Notations n Superscriptions n Musical n n are not original designations are unclear “to the choirmaster” “Selah” n Though the notes are unclear, the Psalms can be understood

+ The Poetic Form of the Psalms n Parallelism n “synonymous parallelism” Psalm 103: 1—“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” “synthetic parallelism” n Psalm 103: 2—“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. ” “antithetic parallelism” n Proverbs 21: 26—“All day long [the sluggard] craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. ” n n n of members (common feature)

+ Types and Genres of Psalms n Main types of psalms n Community psalm of lament (CL) n Individual psalm of lament (IL) Community psalm of narrative praise (CP) Individual psalm of narrative praise (IP) Psalm of descriptive praise (hymn) (H) n n Narrative n Two n n praise versus descriptive praise other types Liturgies Wisdom psalms