Ralph Porter

© 2003

How do godly people deal with their emotions?

    Many people think that godliness and emotionalism are opposites.

    Godly people are emotional people.

    God made us so that ALL people are emotional.

    Godly people have transformed emotions-but they DO feel!

AUTHOR AND DATE

    The superscriptions identify a number of different authors, ranging from 1450 to 430 B.C.

         73 (at least) were written by David

         12 were written by Asaph (50, 73-83)

         2 were written by Solomon (72, 127)

         1 was written by Heman the Ezrahite (88)

         1 was written by Ethan the Ezrahite (89)

         1 was written by Moses (90)

         11 are identified with the sons of Korah, though it's not clear whether they were the

              authors or the performers.

         50-60 psalms do not identify their authors.

              Some of these are attributed by tradition to Ezra; others to David.

    The dates vary considerably because of the different authors.

         They range from about 1450 to 430 B.C.

    The psalms are a loose collection of the writings of many authors, written over a period of

         hundreds of years and later gathered together in five collections which were eventually

         united as an instrument for the collective praise of Yahweh by Israel.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    The psalms reveal the heart of the man of God.

         Negatively, they contain an expression of his deepest feelings of sadness, affliction,

              discouragement and indignation.

         Positively, they express his joy, contentment and worship.

    They were never intended to be a theology book.

         They are a guide to worship.

         They speak from the heart, not from the head, though they are never disconnected from

               the head.     

    In the psalms, we see the man of God in intimate communion with God.

         His deepest desires and petitions to God are revealed.

    We can observe the man who recognizes God's right to rule in his life, and His right to

         rule over the universe, face-to-face with his God.

    By observing carefully their message, we can learn from them.

         They present an example of how the great men of God throughout the ages have

              enjoyed the fellowship of their God.

    From them we are able to develop an idea of what our fellowship with God should be

         like.

    They frequently serve as a guide in our worship, as we echo the sentiments of their

         authors before the living God.

ORGANIZATION

    The book of Psalms is composed of five books of psalms: Book 1, 1-41; Book 2, 42-72; Book

         3, 73-89; Book 4, 90-106; Book 5, 107-150.

    Each of the books concludes with a doxology (41:13; 72:19-20; 89:52; 106:48; 150:1-6).

    Jewish tradition, and numerous expositors, compare the division into five books with the

         Pentateuch. The parallel is not clearly supported by parallel content within the psalms

         themselves.

    It seems more likely that the organization of the books is based on the collection process

         they used. They were gathered in the following order:

              As the authors wrote, they were used as individual psalms, with the possible

                   exception of some which may have been written together for a common purpose.

              As they became better known, they were gathered into collections of songs that

                   circulated together

              These smaller collections were probably united into the form we find now, as larger

                   books, and then finally united into one book and organized by an editor, under the

                   direction of the Holy Spirit.

              These last two steps may have been handled over a period of time by different

                   individuals, which would explain the existence of five books, or all in one step by

                   one individual at about the time of Ezra.

HEBREW POETIC PARALLELISM

    Hebrew poetry does not emphasize rhyme, rhythm, nor technical form.

    It emphasizes thought, which is frequently marked by parallelism.

         1. Synonymous Parallelism--Close similarity between two consecutive lines. The second

                   line repeats the idea of the first in order to emphasize the message

                        Ps. 3:1 "O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!

                                   Many are rising up against me."

        2. Synthetic Parallelism--The second line takes up the idea of the first and develops it

                further.

                        Ps. 95:3 "For the Lord is a great God,

                                    And a great King above all gods."

         3. Antithetic Parallelism--The second line contrasts with the first to make the idea more

                   forceful and vivid

                        Ps. 1:6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

                                   But the way of the wicked will perish."

        4. Symbolic Parallelism--One line expresses the main thought, the other clarifies it with

                   a figure

                        Ps. 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water brooks,

                                    So my soul pants for Thee, O God."

        5. Climactic Parallelism--The second line repeats the first, except for the last word or

                   phrase. Emphasis is placed on the final line

                        Ps. 29:1 "Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,

                                    Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

                                    Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name."

FORMS

    While each psalm is distinct and reflects its own logical development, there do appear to

         be some common patterns that can assist in understanding the author's thought.

    The forms are loosely applied and each psalm has its own individual character which

         takes priority over the form.

    In spite of the variations found, the forms help us to understand the message of the

         individual psalms.

INDIVIDUAL LAMENT PSALMS are a plea to God for help in the midst of a difficult or

    dangerous situation.

         The basic elements of this pattern include:

              --Direct appeal to God

              --Description of the problem

              --Confession of trust in God

              --Specific petition

              --Concluding declaration of praise to God

                   or vow to praise Him when the answer is received.

         Among this type of psalm, the following may be included:

              3-7, 12-13, 17, 22, 25-28, 31, 35, 38-40, 42-43, 51, 54-59, 61, 63-64, 69-71, 86, 88, 94, 102,

              108-09, 120, 130, 137, 140-43 (Total=46)

NATIONAL LAMENT PSALMS follow essentially the same pattern.

    The only consistent difference is that they address a national problem, rather than an

         individual one.

    The elements are the same as the individual lament psalms.

    It includes the following psalms:

         44, 60, 67, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 123 (Total=10)

INDIVIDUAL DECLARATIVE PRAISE PSALMS (Thanksgiving or Acknowledgment Psalms)

    acknowledge God's help in a time of need.

         These psalms include the following elements:

              --Declaration of the individual's determination to praise God

              --Summary statement

              --Report on the help received

              --Reconfirmation of the vow to praise Him

              --Declaration of praise

                   or instruction based on his experience.

    The following psalms develop according to this form:

         9, 18, 30, 32, 34, 40-41, 66, 106, 116, 118, 138 (Total=12)

NATIONAL DECLARATIVE PRAISE PSALMS (Thanksgiving or Acknowledgment Psalms)

    are essentially the same, but acknowledge God's activity in favor of the nation.

    These include: 68, 77, 124, 129 (Total=4)

DESCRIPTIVE PRAISE PSALMS (Worship Psalms) praise Him, not for some specific act

    which He has done for the worshiper, but rather for His Person or work.

    These normally:

         --Begin with a call to praise the Lord,

         --Then state the cause for praise.

         --The conclusion may be a call to praise, expression of praise, exhortation or petition.

    Among these psalms are: 8, 16, 19, 29, 33, 36, 65, 100, 103-105, 107, 111, 113, 117, 135-36,

         139, 145-50 (Total=24)

ENTHRONEMENT PSALMS refer to Yahweh's rule over the universe.

    These have sometimes been misunderstood as references to an annual enthronement

         festival for Yahweh, similar to pagan customs.

    These psalms are often characterized by the presence of the phrase "Yahweh reigns".

    The form is basically the same as the descriptive praise psalms.

    Psalms included: 11, 24, 29, 47, 75, 82, 93, 96-99 (Total=11)

ROYAL PSALMS are similar to enthronement psalms in that they point to God's

    sovereignty and right to rule over His people.

         The specific distinctive of the royal psalm is that God's earthly king, either the

              contemporary king or Messiah, is in view.

         They draw attention to specific aspects of the reign of God's king, such as his crowning,

              his fighting, or the basis of his right to rule, the Davidic covenant.

         This type is found in the following psalms: 2, 18, 20-21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144

            (Total=11)

"SONGS OF ZION" praise Jerusalem, the habitation of God.

    Some of this type, those known as "songs of ascent" or "pilgrimage psalms," were

         apparently sung by those on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the time of the annual feasts.

    These include: 42-43, 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 120-34 (Total=22)

DIDACTIC PSALMS (Instructional Psalms) are designed to instruct the reader.

    While many psalms have an educational purpose, they are predominantly of another

         type. These psalms have the specific purpose of instruction.

    Two kinds are most often found:

         Torah Psalms are teachings based on the exposition of the law.

        Wisdom Psalms, like Proverbs, demonstrate the two alternative ways of life:

              the folly of the man who bases everything on the present and rejects God,

              the wisdom of the man who sees life from God's perspective and seeks to follow Him.

    Included among these psalms are: 1, 10, 14, 15, 23, 37, 49, 50, 52, 53, 62, 73, 81, 91, 92, 95,

         112, 114, 115, 119 (Total=20)

The following psalms provide some examples of the instructional psalms, with their focus

    on the value of pursuing wisdom:

The formula for contentment resides in avoiding the lifestyle of those who have not followed

    God, and placing God's Word at the center of one's life.

         People who follow God's ways will be stable, alive, and prosperous. In the end God

              will watch over them.

         People who reject His ways will be unstable, useless, and lacking in confidence before

              God. In the end they will be destroyed.

PREREQUISITES FOR SUCCESS   1-2

    Negative Prerequisites   1

         1.    Don't WALK according to the COUNSEL of the wicked.

         2.    Don't STAND in the PATHWAY of sinners.

         3.    Don't SIT in the SEAT of complainers.

    Positive Prerequisites   2

         1.    Delight in God's Word

         2.    Meditate on God's Word

RESULTS OF TWO ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES   3-6

    Immediate Results   3-5

         For those who live God's way   3

              1.    Fruitful and Faithful

              2.    Alive

              3.    Prosperous

         For those who live man's way   4-5

              1.    Unstable

              2.    Useless

              3.    Insecure

    Final Results   6

         God's protection for those who live His way

         God's judgment for those who live man's way

Which lifestyle do you prefer to follow?

What changes will that choice demand of your life this week?

The psalmist addresses the question of why the wicked succeed while the just suffer.

    In the presence of evil men who believe that God is unaware of their deeds, we are

         reminded that God does know.

    The psalmist calls on God to judge the evil one and to help the afflicted.

APPEAL TO GOD   1

DESCRIPTION OF THE WICKED   2-11

    (An ugly picture of sinful people oppressing others)

    His arrogance   2-7

         (Picture of fierce beast stalking a weaker victim)

    His attack   8-10

    His attitude   11

         (A practical atheist)

PETITION OF THE VICTIM   12-18

    Call for divine help   12-15

    Confidence of divine help   16-18

What about us? Do we care? What will we do about it?

David expresses his confidence in God.

He contrasts the security of the godly with the temporary nature of wealth, to demonstrate

    the importance of trusting God.

EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN GOD   1-2

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACKS BY THE WICKED   3-4

INSTRUCTION TO TRUST GOD   5-8

FOOLISHNESS OF TRUSTING WEALTH   9-10

CONCLUSION: TRUST GOD   11-12

The psalmist uses an acrostic formula,

    based on the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet,

    in eight verse segments (each verse is one line and starts with the same letter),

         to demonstrate that God's law, . . .

              is more valuable to him than any treasure he might possess and

              reveals to him everything he really needs to know.

1.     Aleph:        Blessed for blameless ways                   1-8

2.     Beth:           A pure way for a young man                  9-16

3.     Gimel:        Delightful statutes for God's servant     17-24

4.     Daleth:       A call for refreshing                                  25-32

5.     He:              Taught to follow God's decrees              33-40

6.     Waw:          Appeal to God's unfailing love              41-48

7.     Zayin:         God's Word remembered                       49-56

8.     Heth:           God is my portion                                   57-64

9.     Teth:           Precious treasure for God's servant      65-72

10.   Yodh:         Aware of God's presence                        73-80

11.   Kaph:         Longing for God's deliverance              81-88

12.   Lamedh:    God's Word firmly established             89-96

13.   Mem:         Love for God's law                                  97-104

14.   Nun:          A light for my path                                  105-112

15.   Samekh:    Consistent confidence in God's Word  113-120

16.   Ayin:         Obedience to the right and just             121-128

17.   Pe:             God's words give light                            129-136

18.   Tsadhe:     God's laws are right                                137-144

19.   Qoph:        My hope in God's Word                        145-152

20.   Resh:         A call for deliverance                             153-160

21.   Shin:          Persecuted without cause                      161-168

22.   Taw:         A call for understanding                         169-176