<p> Module 6. Israel’s Songbook (Psalms)</p><p>1. Introduction</p><p>In the Text “Poetry” and the Poetic literature ([Job], Psalms, [Proverbs], [Ecclesiastes], Song of Songs)</p><p>Figures of speech </p><p>Comparison (simile, metaphor)</p><p>Overstatement (hyperbole)</p><p>Personification</p><p>Imagery</p><p>Behind the Text Imagery from nature: geography</p><p>Imagery from culture: royalty, ritual, military, hunting, herding, farming</p><p>In Front of the Text Describing and worshiping our God</p><p>1 2. Structural Features </p><p>In the Text</p><p>Parallelism </p><p>Synonymous: </p><p>The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims his handiwork. (Ps. 19:1) </p><p>Antithetic: </p><p>Hatred stirs up strife; love covers all offences. (Prov. 10:12)</p><p>Synthetic: </p><p>Better is a little that the righteous have than the abundance of the wicked. (Ps. 37:16)</p><p>Chiasm </p><p>Praise the Lord (a) With the lyre (b) With the 10-stringed harp (b’) Make melody to him (a’) (Ps 33:2)</p><p>Psalm 103</p><p>1-5 Exhortation to bless (a) 6-7 Gracious goodness (b) 8 Merciful goodness(c) 9 Sparing goodness (d) 10 Pardoning goodness (e) 11-13 Pardoning goodness (e’) 14-16 Sparing goodness (d’) 17-18 Merciful goodness (c’) 19 Glorious goodness (b’) 20-22 Exhortation to bless (a’)</p><p>Acrostic (Ps 119; cmp Lamentations) </p><p>Behind the Text Music and instruments</p><p>In Front of the Text Form and function</p><p>3. Psalm Types and Themes (Pt 1) 2 In the Text</p><p>Laments </p><p>Address>Complaint>Trust>Deliverance>Assurance>Praise Individual (e.g., 3, 22, 31, 39, 42, 57, 71, 120, 139, 142)</p><p>Community (e.g., 12, 44, 80, 94, 137)</p><p>Penitential (51)</p><p>Imprecatory (137, 139)</p><p>Trust (11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131)</p><p>Hymns of praise </p><p>For God the Creator (e.g., 8, 19, 104, 148)</p><p>For the God of Israel (e.g., 66, 100, 111, 114, 149)</p><p>For the Lord of history (e.g., 33, 103, 113, 117, 145-147) </p><p>Thanksgiving </p><p>Introduction, Distress, Appeal, Deliverance, Testimony</p><p>Individual (18, 30, 32, 34, 40, 66, 92, 116, 118, 138; cf. Jonah 2)</p><p>Community (65, 67, 75, 107, 124, 136) </p><p>Behind the Text Ancient Near Eastern psalms</p><p>In Front of the Text Both praise and lament, testimony and trust</p><p>Both the individual and the community</p><p>4. Psalm Types and Themes (Pt 2)</p><p>3 In the Text Types</p><p>Historical (78, 105, 106, 135, 136; cf. Exodus 15, Judges 5) </p><p>Royal (2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 144) </p><p>Enthronement (14, 19, 47, 93, 95-99)</p><p>Zion (46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122)</p><p>Wisdom (36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133)</p><p>Torah (1, 19, 119)</p><p>Themes</p><p>Creation</p><p>Covenant</p><p>Israel(ites)</p><p>David*</p><p>*The 5 “books” of the Psalter (1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150) </p><p>Sacrifice, praise, and worship </p><p>Behind the Text Worship and magic in the ancient Near East </p><p>In Front of the Text Both creation and covenant</p><p>4 5. The Psalms for Today </p><p>In Front of the Text A place for honesty</p><p>A place for images and figurative language</p><p>A place for instruments, music and dance</p><p>A place for individual and community</p><p>Preparing for Christ</p><p>5</p>