P a g e | 1 PSALM Background Notes As we read the Psalms together and ‘SING’ them as they should be sung a few background notes on how the Psalter is split up might be helpful 1. The Origin of the word ‘Psalm’ • The Greek word is ‘PSALMOS’ • From the Hebrew word meaning ‘to pluck’ as in what you do with a stringed instrument • Implies that the Psalms were composed to be accompanied by stringed instruments • Psalms are songs for the lyre and therefore lyric poems in the strictest sense • David and others originally wrote the Psalms to be sung with the harp 2. In NT worship we are told to sing the Psalms in our hearts. • ‘ ... singing and making melody to the Lord’ Eph 5:19 • The phrase ‘making melody’ comes from the Greek word ‘psallontes’ (literally, ‘plucking the strings of’) • Thus, we are to ‘pluck the strings of our heart’ as we sing Psalms 3. The History of the Psalms • The oldest of the Psalms originate from Moses • Exodus 15:1 to 15 – a song of triumph following the crossing of the Red Sea • Deuteronomy 32 and 33 – a song of exhortation to keep the Law after entering Canaan • Psalm 90 – a song of meditation, reflection and prayer • After Moses the writing of the Psalms had its good and bad moments • In David’s time (around BC 1000) it reached its full maturity • Under Solomon the creation of Psalms began to decline • Only twice after this did the creation of Psalms rise to any height Under Jehoshaphat in ca. BC 875 Under Hezekiah in ca. BC 725 P a g e | 2 4. The Authors • David – often considered to be the author of all the Psalms – but he wasn’t • David wrote at least 73 • Asaph – the music director during the reigns of David and Solomon – he wrote 12 • The sons of Korah – they were Levites who served in the temple – they wrote 12 • Solomon – as least 2 are attributed to him (Psalm 72 and 127) • Moses – he wrote the earliest. One is found in the Book of Psalms (90) • Hemen – contemporary with David and Asaph – Psalm 78 • Ethan – a companion to Asaph and Hemen in temple worship – he wrote Psalm 89 • 48 are anonymous 5. Arranging the Psalms They were originally collected into 5 books Book 1 1 to 41 Book 2 42 to 72 Book 3 73 to 89 Book 4 90 to 106 Book 5 107 to 150 6. The Psalms can also be grouped into these chief ‘groups’ a. Alphabetic or Acrostic These have lines which, in Hebrew, start with words whose first letters follow a certain pattern e.g. Psalm 119 where the first eight lines start with words beginning with the Hebrew letter ALEPH , then BETH etc. b. Ethical These are Psalms that teach moral principles – e.g. Psalm 15 c. Hallelujah These are Psalms beginning and/or ending with ‘hallelujah’ or ‘praise Jehovah’ d. Historical They review God’s dealings with his people – Psalm 106 e. Imprecatory They invoke God to bring evil upon enemies – Psalm 69 f. Messianic Speaking of the coming Messiah – Psalm 2 g. Penitential Expressing sorrow for sins committed – Psalm 51 h. Songs of Ascent Sung by pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem They are grouped together as 120 to 134 i. Suffering Cries of affliction – Psalm 102 j. Thanksgiving Grateful praise for blessings received – Psalm 100 P a g e | 3 There are some duplications – 14 and 53 Some evidence that the whole 150 were carefully organised since some Psalms link with the previous one (9/10 or 42/43) 7. Another classification Songs of ascent or ‘Pilgrim Psalms’ 120 to 134 Songs of Zion They praise Zion as the dwelling place of God 46 / 48 / 76 / 84 / 87 / 122 Hallel or Hymns of Praise Often sung at Passover 113 to 118 Enthronement Psalms Central to this is ‘Yahweh reigns’ 47:8, 93:1, 96:10, 97:1, 98:6, 99:1 Royal Psalms They are often Messianic 2 / 18 / 20 / 21 / 45 / 72 / 89 / 101 / 110 / 144 Wisdom Psalms 1 / 32 / 37 / 49 Others contain some wisdom elements 25 / 92 / 84 / 107 Laments – the largest single category e.g. Psalm 142 Address and introductory cry The lament (the real problem) Confession of trust Prayer – what the Psalmist wants God to do about it Shout of praise Try this structure with 3 / 6 / 13 / 28 / 56 Praise Psalms A proclamation to praise God Often describe some deliverance that God has blessed the writer or the community with 18 / 21 / 30 / 32 / 34 / 40 /41 / 66 / 106 / 116 / 138 P a g e | 4 Imprecatory Strong words against an enemy Psalm 137 Psalm 109: 6 to 15 The strongest are 35 / 69 / 109 and 137 Messianic The Lord was coming to reign on earth Psalm 20 Others are 16 / 22 / 40 /41:9 / 69 / 118 8. Various styles of the Psalms can be described as • Didactic – teaching and instruction • Liturgical – responsive readings for use in special services (Psalm 136) • Meditation • Praise and devotion • Prayer and petition 9. Poetic forms Parallelism The use of a relatively short sentence form that consists of 2 or more brief clauses ‘By day the Lord sends forth his love And at night His song is with me’ Psalm 42:9 The clauses are separated by a slight pause The second part is a continuation of the first not a completely new beginning Sometimes the second clause expresses the same idea as the first one; some times the clause is a contrast to the first one. That’s just a starter – if you want any more on this get in touch Billy Graham is on record as saying that he read a Psalm every day to remind him what God is like and a chapter of Proverbs to remind him how to deal with people Enjoy ‘SINGING’ the Psalms. .