9.1& 2 KEYS TO
INTERPRETING POETRY
HISTORICAL CONTEXT; PARALLELISM; &
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
AUTHORS OF THE 5 BOOKS OF PSALMS:
(ADAMS 1992, 759)
Book 1
Ps 1
–
41
Book 2
42
–72
Book 3
73
–89
Book 4
90
–
106
Book 5
107
-
150
Author:
Mostly
David
Mostly
David &
*Sons of
Korah
Mostly
**Asaph
Mostly
Unknown
Mostly
Unknown
or David
*Sons of Korah= Levites during Moses’ time – Korah was Moses’ cousin
(Numbers 16 – Korah’s rebellion)
**Asaph= A Levite who was David’s Chief Musician also called a ‘seer’ (prophet)
DISCOVERING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT
LOOK FOR 4 ELEMENTS:
1. The superscription
2. The author
3. The date
4. The setting or circumstances
1) Superscriptions:
Writings Above the Psalms = headings above the Psalms between the Ps’
number and first verse. 116 of the 150 have superscriptions.
Very old - before Septuagint (250 BC)
•The Author’s name = Ps 47 says, “Of the sons of Korah”
•The type of Psalms = Ps 37 says, “A Maskil” meaning it contains teaching or
other types of psalms like: “song of ascent” – sung by priests as they ascended
into the Tabernacle or Temple or Sabbath, prayers, or praise, etc.
•Musical terms= Ps 4 says, “For the director of music. With stringed
instruments.” “Selah” in 39 psalms, a musical term meaning ‘to pause or
contemplate’. Others say it means ‘forever’ kind of like an ‘amen’
•Type of Service = Ps 45 says, “A Wedding Song”
•Historical Notes = 14 refer to events in David’s life. Ps 3 says, “A psalm of David
when he fled from his son Absalom”
Ps 142 – “A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer” The
cave of Adullam (I Sam 22) where he hid from King Saul.
Psalms 120 – 134 = “A Song of Ascents” The Jews (not only the
Priests) sang these Psalms as they were ascending up to Jerusalem for
one of their Holy Days. They traveled to Jerusalem at least three times a
year: in spring it was Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in
summer it was the Festival of Weeks (Pentecost), and in the fall it was
the Feast of Atonement and Feast of the Tabernacles.
2) Authors: David wrote 73 psalms. In Acts 2, Peter says Ps 16 & 110 were
written by David. Hebrews 4 connects Ps 95 to David. Asaph wrote 12
psalms according to I Chron 15 & II Chron 29. The sons of Korah wrote
10; Solomon wrote 2; Heman wrote 1; Ethan wrote 1; and Moses wrote 1
(Ps 90). David, Hezekiah, and Ezra helped collect the Psalms (II Chron 29
and Nehemiah 12)
3) Dates: Written over 1,000 years from 1400bc to 400bc. Ps. 90 written by
Moses is the oldest psalm written in the 15th century bc. Ps 137 was written
during the Babylonia captivity between 586bc –538bc. King David lived from
1010 –970 bc. The book of psalms (1-150) were completed during the time of
Ezra and Nehemiah (450 –400 bc).
•A psalm often had 2 settings: first when the author actually wrote the psalm
and 2nd when the poem was put to music and used in worship services. Ps
23 written when David was a shepherd, later put to music for worship
services. Ps 3 – David’s flight from Absalom (II Sam 13). Ps 18 – David fled
from Saul (II Sam 22). Ps 30 the dedication of the threshing floor where the
Temple would be built (II Sam 24). Ps 51 David’s prayer of repentance after
his sin against Bathsheba (II Sam 11-12)
•Often used as a part of worship –Ps 24 is a song led by priests with
people’s response – corral ready –back and forth back and forth, etc.
Priests sang, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”
People sang back, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?” “Who may stand
in his holy place?”... Etc.
PARALLELISM IN PSALMS
•Synonyms in parallel line:
•Synonyms in reverse parallel lines:
Parallel Lines: (Ps 19:1)
A B
Line 1:
The heavens
declare the glory of God;
Line 2:
the skies
proclaim the works of His
hands
Parallel Lines:
51: 1
A B
Line 1:
Have mercy on me, O God
according to Your unfailing love;
Line 2:
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions
CONTRASTS AND COMPARISONS IN PARALLEL LINES
Line 1 Ps 1:6
Line 2
Comparisons
–Ps 103:13
Line 1
As a father has compassion on his children
Line 2
so the Lord has compassion on those who
fear Him
Stanzas = groups sentences that have
one thought
Ps 1
Comparative Stanza
Righteous Wicked
He is like a tree planted by streams of
water which yields its fruit in season and
whose leaf does not whither. Whatever
he does prospers
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Mood, Emotion,
or Feeling
Words that reveal feelings
Psalms
Loneliness
The darkness is my closest friend
88:18
Longing
My soul thirsts for God, ...
42:2
Despair
Why are you down cast, oh my soul
42:5
Guilt
Hide Your face from my sins...
51:9
Joy
Glorify the Lord with me...
34:3
Types and Forms of Psalms
Form Type of Psalm Psalm
Praise & Worship
-3 parts
1.
Call to worship
2.
Development
3.
Conclusion
1. Hallelujah or Praise
8, 21, 33
–34, 103–106, 111–
113, 115
–117, 135, 145–150
2. Songs about Creation or
Nature
8, 19, 29, 33, 65, 104
3. Ps on the King & Messiah
2, 8, 16, 20
–22, 40–41, 45,
68
–69, 72, 89, 102, 110, 118
4. Ps praising God as King
24, 47, 93, 96
–99
5.
Songs of Zion and the
Ascent to Zion
43, 46, 48, 76, 84, 87;
120
–134
6. Historical Songs of Salvation
78, 105
–106, 108, 114, 126,
137
Form Type Psalm
Praise and Worship
Three Parts:
1. Call to worship
2. Development
3. Conclusion
Psalms of Wisdom and Teaching
1, 34, 37, 73, 112, 119, 133
Lament and
Sorrow
Five Parts:
1. Cry for help
2. The problem
3. Prayer for help
10. Laments: Prayer & Petition
a.
By one person (individual)
b. By a group (corporate)
a. 3, 4, 13, 22, 31, 39, 42, 57,
71, 120, 142
b. 12, 44, 80, 94, 137
4. The confidence
5. Conclusion
11. Repentance Psalms
28, 32, 51, 130
12. Psalms of Judgment
7, 35, 55, 58
–59, 69, 109, 137,
139:19
–22
Form Type Psalm
Thanksgiving
Five Parts:
1. Call to give thanks
2. The problem
3. The prayer recalled
4. God’s answer
5. Promise to be faithful
13. Thanksgiving Songs
a. By one person
(individual)
b. By a group (corporate)
a. 18, 30, 34, 41, 92, 103, 106,
116, 118, 138
b. 65, 75, 107, 124, 136