SONG OF SOLOMON PSALM S SONG OF SOLOMONSONGS

SONG OF SOLOMON, PSALM S

SONG OF SOLOMON/SONGS • A love story between a man & a woman • Does not mention God anywhere • Tradition has tried to understand it allegorically (“husband” was God & “bride” was Israel) • Has caused problems for Jews & Christians as to why it’s in the Bible in the first place.

SONG OF SOLOMON/SONGS • Can be divided into seven sections in a chiastic structure (like an “X”): – 1 st & 7 th – Encounter between two lovers – 2 nd & 6 th – Struggle of two lovers to be together – 3 rd & 5 th – Wedding procession & royal identity – 4 th – Sexual union • Lesson was that sex was God’s gift to humankind and must be used properly. • 4: 1 -5: 1 – Groom describes bride with some strange language!

PSALMS 150 Psalms altogether Psalms are unique to OT for two reasons: • Other than Song of Songs, Psalms is entirely comprised of poems • They are humans talking to God – God’s voice is rarely heard Can be compared to a modern church hymnal as collection of songs written by many different people & come into existence over a long span of time.

PSALMS Because it is human voice, Psalms offer an incredible look into the roller-coaster emotions of God’s people at different times in their history. Psalms are one of the few parts of the Bible where humans express their feelings to God that cover the spectrum. Joy and Praise. Sadness and anger. It’s all there!

PSALMS Who wrote them? David gets credit for most of them, and certainly wrote some. But: • Hebrew “A psalm of David” can also be translated as “in the style of David” or “to David, ” as in a dedication. • Also, Psalms cover a wide range of history other than David’s reign – such as hymns of lament in exile. So Psalms were written by a wide range of individuals.

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • Original editors of the Psalms may have had a particular theological agenda in mind. • Context – before, during and after the Exile. Scholars believe ordering of the Psalms was to provide a theological foundation & inform the Israelites during difficult & challenging times.

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • Five “books” of the Psalter: –Psalms 1 -41 –Psalms 42 -72 – Psalms 73 -89 –Psalms 90 -106 –Psalms 107 -150

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • Books 1 & 2 deal with KINGSHIP OF ISRAEL – specifically the Davidic dynasty. • They focus on great traditions of the height of Israel’s power, when the King was revered and celebrated the most. • Examples: – Psalm 18: 50 – Psalm 20: 6 -9

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • Book 3 deals with the FAILURE OF KINGSHIP DURING & AFTER EXILE. • Marked by a noticeable change, sense of disillusionment. Assumption of Israel’s protection as God’s people is decimated • Major theological crisis for God’s people

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS Noticeable change at end of Psalm 89 & beginning of Psalm 90 (end of Book 3 & beginning of Book 4): Psalm 89: 46 -49 Psalm 90: 1 -2 Who is our dwelling place? Not kings – but GOD!!

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • Books 4 &5 deal with LOSS OF FAITH IN KINGSHIP & RENEWAL OF FAITH IN GOD – God is our old/new “king” • Hebrews realized God is who they had faith in all along - putting trust in an earthly king will only get you so far, but putting trust in God is where one’s allegiance should ultimately lie. • Language changes from celebrating the king to celebrating God: – Psalm 93 – big time! – Psalm 150

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS • The shape of the Psalter can be understood as intentional effort by editors to answer some of the critical theological questions in exilic and post-exilic Israel. • An account that was read publicly to remind God’s people of “the story of the majestic reign of King David, the dark days of oppression and exile, the restoration of the glorious reign of God and the surety that Israel could continue to exist as an identifiable entity in a world it no longer controlled. ”

OVERALL STRUCTURE OF PSALMS

SIX LITERARY FORMS OF PSALMS

Ordering of psalms conveys an important theological message to post-exilic Jews: – Books 1 & 2 – Celebration of Davidic dynasty & all things “king” – Book 3 – Disillusionment at destruction of kingship before & during exile – Book 4 & 5 – renewed reliance upon God & not human King However, this was a structure put in place by its editors. Each psalm is unique and conveys a singular message

HERMANN GUNKELL • German scholar of OT. Before his time, each psalm was studied individually. • Gunkell looked at role of psalms in Israelite worship services – discovered common literary forms of psalms & studied them that way • Discovered that each psalm had a specific setting in life – used for a particular worship service. Spoke to just about every life situation.

HERMANN GUNKELL • Concluded there were five major forms, with a group of exceptions. • Gunkell’s theory has been modified over the years but still stands strong today. • For our purposes, we’ll consider six forms

HYMNS OF PRAISE • Key word in these psalms is “Hallelujah!” which means “praise the Lord. ” Not in every praise hymn, but the spirit of it certainly is. • Usually had three basic parts: • A call to praise God • The reason for praising God • A renewed call to praise God

COMMUNAL LAMENTS • Prayers of petition to God for community’s deliverance in time of disasters as war, famine or epidemic. • Usually had four basic parts: • A cry to God for help • A description of the situation that brought on the appeal • A prayer for deliverance • An expression of faith that God would answer.

INDIVIDUAL LAMENTS • Same basic form as communal laments, but spoken from the point of an individual. • Used in worship services for individuals to ask God to deliver them from personal disaster. • Largest group of psalms

INDIVIDUAL SONGS OF THANKSGIVING • Used by individuals to praise God for deliverance from trouble. • Usually had four basic parts: • Introduction • Narration that told of speaker’s trouble • Acknowledgement of his deliverance • Announcement of an offering of thanks

ROYAL PSALMS • Used for special occasions in religious services for the king. • Examples? – Psalm 45 –psalm for a royal wedding. Singer addresses king first, then the queen-to-be. Finally the psalm ends with a “forecast” of what is to come through his sons.

PSALMS OF VENGEANCE • Not one of Gunkell’s original categories, but we’ll look at them separately • Almost embarrassing to read – incredible passionate, uncensored feelings of vengeance & anger • Important, though, b/c they demonstrated that God’s people could share their innermost feelings with God, even if not pretty.

WHICH KIND OF PSALM? 22 32 45 74 100 109 Individual Lament Thanksgiving Royal Psalm Communal Lament Psalm of Praise Psalm of Vengeance

NEXT WEEK – LAST CLASS! NEED ABOUT 75 MINUTES FOOD? ?