Wednesday in the Word

what the Bible means and how we know

Psalms

Psalms of Praise: Their form

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Psalms of Praise: Their form | WednesdayintheWord.com

75% of Psalms are 1 of three main types: lament, thanksgiving or praise. Here is the general form for praise psalms.

The Call to Praise

  • Prologue: Hallelujah

The Cause for Praise

  • Summary statement (e.g. His Greatness, Lord of creation; His Grace, Lord of History)
  • Specific illustrations

Conclusion

  • A renewed call to praise, exhortation or petition.
  • Epilogue

Examples: Psalm 33; Psalm 36; Psalm 105; Psalm 111; Psalm 117; Psalm 135; Psalm 136; Psalm 146.

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Example: Psalm 33

  • Call to Praise – vs 1
  • Summary Statement – vs 2-4
  • Specific illustrations – vs 5-9
  • Conclusion – vs 10
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For more: Claus Westermann, The Praises of God in the Psalms (1965). You’ll probably have to track it down in a library.

Psalms of Lament: Their Form

Psalms of Thanksgiving: Their Form

Resources: Psalms

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Psalms of Lament: Their form

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Psalms of Lament: Their form | WednesdayintheWord.com

75% of Psalms are 1 of three main types: lament, thanksgiving or praise. Here is the general form for lament psalms.

Introductory Cry for Help

  • Lament psalms are characterized by their address: “Oh, LORD!” They immediately turn to God for help.
  • Frequently, the lament psalm has an introductory petition and lament.
  • It is extremely helpful to remember this introductory petition/lament distinct from the petition proper and the lament proper.

Lament

  • Individual: In either brief or extended fashion, the psalmist describes his lamentable state.
    • sickness: the enemy rejoices that his affliction is a defect in him and his God (e.g. 6, 13, 31, 38, 39, 88, 102).
    • accusation: a false accusation is made against him (e.g. 7, 17, 26, 27).
    • persecution: physically abused by the enemy (e.g. 3, 9, 10, 35, 52, 56, 57, 62, 69, 70, 86, 109, 120, 139, 140, 141, 143).
    • sin (e.g. 6, 25, 38, 39, 41, 51)
  • Communal: the whole nation is lamenting over military crisis, drought, famine, epidemic, etc. Many terms are vague so the psalm can have wide application in worship (e.g. 10, 44,58,60,74,79, 80, 83, 90, 137)
  • 3 subjects often stated:
    • I – the king or nation
    • YOU – God
    • THEM – the psalmists enemies

Confession of Trust

  • Frequently contrasted to the lament
  • Many lament psalms have such extended sections pertaining to confidence that it is sometimes difficult to decide whether the psalm should be classified a lament or a song of trust.
  • Martin Luther: “My faith keeps hurting while my hurt keeps believing.”

Petition

  • Frequently 2, sometimes 3 petitions given
  • LISTEN (or look, pay attention, etc).
  • DELIVER (or save)
  • PUNISH them BECAUSE
  • MOTIVE: frequently, the psalmists gives a motive for God to intervene

Praise

  • Vow of Praise: The petition is still open. The psalmist does not assume the petition has been granted, but offers vows of praise that God will answer. Normally he includes the content of his vow, presenting the praise he will offer.
  • Declarative Praise: When this is the case, there is an abrupt change of mood from lament to praise. The psalmist is confident that God will answer his prayer, he offers up the acknowledgment he will offer in the temple when the petition has been granted in reality.

How do we account for this change in mood?

  • Some suggest at this point a priest informs the psalmist that his prayer has been heard and will be answered. (For example, Eli & Hannah).
  • Another explanation is that by faith the psalmist knows intuitively that his prayer has been heard.

Caution: This is the basic scheme but the possibilities of variation are numerous.

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Examples

Psalm 54

  • Address – vs 1-2
  • Petition – vs 1-2
  • Lament – vs 3
  • Confidence – vs 4
  • Imprecation – vs 5
  • Praise (freewill offering) – vs 6
  • Praise (renewed) – vs 7

Psalm 22

  • Address & Lament – vs 1-2
  • Confidence – vs 3-7
  • Lament – vs 6-8
  • Confidence – vs 9-10
  • Lament – vs 11-18
  • Petition – vs 19-21
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For more: Claus Westermann, The Praises of God in the Psalms (1965). You’ll probably have to track it down in a library.

Psalms of Thanksgiving: Their Form

Psalms of Praise: Their Form

Resources: Psalms

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Psalms of Thanksgiving: Their form

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Psalms of Thanksgiving: Their form | WednesdayintheWord.com

75% of Psalms are 1 of three main types: lament, thanksgiving or praise. Here is the general form for Thanksgiving psalms.

The essential feature of this type of Psalm is that the psalmist will tell others what God has done for him. The vow of praise may be made in private, but the payment of the vow must be in public.

Proclamation to Praise God

  • Normally with a voluntative: “I will praise…”
  • The psalmist announces his intention to give thanks to God.
  • The address may be short or omitted altogether.
  • The address is usually made to YHWH in the 2nd person (e.g. Psalm 30).

Introductory summary of praise

  • Frequently expressed in one sentence.

Reflection on past need and report of deliverance

  • Portrayal of distress
  • His cry for help (“I cried”)
  • His deliverance (“He heard… he delivered”)

Conclusion

  • The psalmist now pays his vows and testifies that YHWH is gracious.
  • May include a prayer for some future help or some other formulation of renewed praise.
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Example: Jonah 2

  • Introduction – Jonah 2:2
  • Portrayal of affliction: Jonah 2:3-6
  • Petition for help: Jonah 2:6-7
  • Deliverance: Jonah 2:6-7
  • Conclusion: Jonah 2:8-9

Examples: Psalm 18; Psalm 20; Psalm 32; Psalm 34; Psalm 40; Psalm 106; Psalm 116; Psalm 138.

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For more: Claus Westermann, The Praises of God in the Psalms (1965). You’ll probably have to track it down in a library.

Psalms of Lament: Their Form

Psalms of Praise: Their Form

Resources: Psalms

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Psalm 1: The Righteous and the Wicked

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Psalm 1 The righteous and the wicked - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

Psalm 1 is classified as a “wisdom” psalm.  In many ways it functions as an introduction to the book of psalms.

Psalm 1The Way of the righteous contrasted with the WickedNotes
A11 Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;		Does not:
thinking
behaving
accepting
A2.2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.		Does:
delight & meditate
A3.3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.		permanence (tree planted)
productivity (bears fruit)
permanence (leaf not wither)
productivity (all prospers)
B34 The wicked are not so,but are like chaff that the wind drives away.driven
B2.Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;		doomed
B1.for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.		damned

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Series: Psalms

Resources: Understanding Hebrew Poetry

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Podcast Season 12 episode 7

03 Interpreting the Psalms

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Bill Wilder speaks on how and why to interpret the Psalms. Bill Wilder is the Director of the Center for Christian Study.

Bill received an undergraduate degree in English and German from Guilford College and an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He completed his Ph.D. in biblical studies at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He is the author of Echoes of the Exodus: Narrative in the Context and Background of Galatians 5:18. Before coming to Charlottesville, Bill and his family spent two years in Ogbomosho, Nigeria, where Bill taught biblical languages, history, and theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill and his wife, Nicolien, have four children.

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Next: 04 Meeting God in the Psalms

Previous: 02 Living the Psalms

Series: How to Study Psalms

Resources: Psalms

For more: Bible Study 101

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Psalm 98 Make a Joyful Noise

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Psalm 98 is a victory or coronation psalm. It has 3 stanzas:
1-3: praise the Lord as savior
4-6: praise the Lord as King
7-9: praise the Lord as judge

Psalm 98 English Standard Version

1  A Psalm. Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2  The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3  He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5  Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6  With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7  Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8  Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9  before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Study Questions

  1. Read Psalm 98 several times. Look for repeated words and phrases; contrasts and comparison; answer the “5Ws and H” (who, what, when, where, why and how).
  2. Psalm 98 is a hymn of praise. A hymn has 2 characteristic parts: a call to worship and the reason for the praise. Divide the Psalm into stanzas.  Who or what is called to praise God in each stanza?  What are the reasons for praise?
  3. How is God described in this psalm?
  4. Read Exodus 15:1-21, the Song of Moses, when the Israelites had a great victory over Egypt because God, their Divine Warrior, delivered them. This song of praise is similar to Psalm 98; however, it recalls a specific victory in the history of Israel while Psalm 98 speaks generally of any of the many victories God won for Israel.  Israel needed a Divine Warrior to save them from their enemies.  Do you need a Divine Warrior in your life?  From what enemies does God need to save you?  What does Ephesians 6:12 say about this?
  5. Write your own hymn of praise to God.

Part of the Series: How to Study Psalms

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Psalm 19 Divine Revelation

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Psalm 19 English Standard Version

1  For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2  Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
3  There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
4  Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6  Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7  The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8  The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
12  Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13  Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Study Questions

  1. Read Psalm 19 several times.  Look for key words and repeated phrases; contrast and comparisons; answer the “5Ws and H” (who, what, when, where, why and how).
  2. Psalm 19 is a hymn written by King David.  Divide the psalm into stanzas.
  3. Who or what is called to praise God or brings praise in each stanza?  What are the reasons for the praise?
  4. What do you learn about God from Psalm 19?  What names for God are used in this psalm?
  5. Explain the two metaphors (verses 4b-6).  What do you think they mean?
  6. What do you learn about God’s Word (verses 7-10)?
  7. What is David’s response to verses 1-10?
  8. What is your response to these verses?

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
Teacher: Libby Taggart
Part of the Series: Understanding Psalms
Resources: Understanding Hebrew Poetry

 

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Psalm 130 Hope in the Lord

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Psalm 130 English Standard Version

1  A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2  O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3  If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
4  But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
5  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6  my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
7  O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
8  And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Study Questions

  1. Psalm 130 is an individual lament and a repentance psalm.  Read it several times, dividing it into sections, summarizing the main point of each section.  Answer the 5W’s and H (who, what, when, where, why, how).
  2. List the key words and repeated phrases; contrasts and comparisons; and parallelism.
  3. What does the Psalm say about God?
  4. In verse 1, the Psalmist is crying out to the Lord.  What do you think his condition is and how do you know (hint verse 3)?
  5. In verses 3-4, the Psalmist talks about iniquities and forgiveness.  How are these connected?  What is the condition for forgiveness?
  6. In verse 4, there is a a connection with forgiveness/mercy and fear of the Lord.  Look up “fear’  (H3372) in Strong’s Concordance.  Explain how forgiveness would produce “fear” of the Lord.  What would this look like in your life?
  7. In verses 5-6, the Psalmist seems to be coming out of the depths.  His is waiting, hoping and watching.  For what is he waiting?  Where is his hope?  Why would he hope in God’s Word?
  8. In verses 7-8, the Psalmist is no longer praying, but turns his attention to all the people of God and issues a command.  What is the command and what are the reasons for the command?
  9. Write your own personal lament or psalm of repentance.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
Teacher: Libby Taggart
Part of the Series: Understanding Psalms
Resources: Understanding Hebrew Poetry

 

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Read the Psalms in 30 days

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Read the Psalms in 30 days | WednesdayintheWord.com

Reading through the psalms can change your life! Here’s a plan to read through the psalms in 30 days.

Day 1 – Morning: Psalms 1-5; Evening: Psalms 6-8

Day 2 – Morning: Psalms 9-11; Evening: Psalms 12-14

Day 3 – Morning: Psalms 15-17; Evening: Psalms 18

Day 4 – Morning: Psalms 19-21; Evening: Psalms 22-23

Day 5 – Morning: Psalms 24-26; Evening: Psalms 27-29

Day 6 – Morning: Psalms 30-31; Evening: Psalms 32-34

Day 7 – Morning: Psalms 35-36; Evening: Psalms 37

Day 8 – Morning: Psalms 38-40; Evening: Psalms 41-43

Day 9 – Morning: Psalms 44-46; Evening: Psalms 47-49

Day 10 – Morning: Psalms 50-52; Evening: Psalms 53-55

Day 11 – Morning: Psalms 56-58; Evening: Psalms 59-61

Day 12 – Morning: Psalms 62-64; Evening: Psalms 65-67

Day 13 – Morning: Psalms 68; Evening: Psalms 69-70

Day 14 – Morning: Psalms 71-72; Evening: Psalms 73-74

Day 15 – Morning: Psalms 75-77; Evening: Psalms 78

Day 16 – Morning: Psalms 79-81; Evening: Psalms 82-85

Day 17 – Morning: Psalms 86-88; Evening: Psalms 89

Day 18 – Morning: Psalms 90-92 ; Evening: Psalms 93-94

Day 19 – Morning: Psalms 95-97; Evening: Psalms 8-101

Day 20 – Morning: Psalms 102-103; Evening: Psalms 104

Day 21 – Morning: Psalms 105; Evening: Psalms 106

Day 22 – Morning: Psalms 107; Evening: Psalms 108-109

Day 23 – Morning: Psalms 110-113; Evening: Psalms 114-115

Day 24 – Morning: Psalms 116-118; Evening: Psalms 119:1-32

Day 25 – Morning: Psalms 119:33-72; Evening: Psalms 119:73-104

Day 26 – Morning: Psalms 119:105-144; Evening: Psalms 119:145-176

Day 27 – Morning: Psalms 120-125; Evening: Psalms 126-131

Day 28 – Morning: Psalms 132-135 ; Evening: Psalms 136-138

Day 29 – Morning: Psalms 139-140; Evening: Psalms 141-143

Day 30 – Morning: Psalms 144-146; Evening: Psalms 147-150

Resources: Psalms

Understanding Hebrew Poetry

Where to next?

Bible Study 101

Resource Library

Resources Book of the Bible

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04 Meeting God in the Psalms

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Meeting God in the Psalms | WednesdayintheWord.com

Teaching to Change Lives

  • If education changed lives…
  • How do you measure teachings effectiveness?
  • Heart to heart, not head to head.
  • First rule is to excite the student about the subject matter

Presuppositions

  • Personal experience
  • Reading into the Bible
  • Correlation
  • Shocking passages of scripture
  • Hermeneutical circle
  • Breaking the hermeneutical circle
  • Presuppositions make a difference
  • Universal presuppositions
  • Experiential presuppositions
  • Importance of systematic theology

Four poor substitutes for application

  • We substitute interpretation for application.
  • We substitute superficial obedience for substantive life-change.
  • We substitute rationalization for repentance.
  • We substitute an emotional experience for a volitional decision.

Avoid

  • “Be perfect” sermons; Examples: Psalm 1 and Psalm 15

Main teaching points

  • Principles should correlate with the general teaching of Scripture.
  • Principles should speak to the needs, interests, questions, and problems of real life today.
  • Principles should indicate a course of action.

Sermon Themes

  • Humanity’s radical corruption
  • God’s sovereign choice
  • Christ’s purposeful atonement
  • The Spirit’s effective call
  • God’ preservation of the saints

Resources

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 05 Sharing the Psalms

Previous: 03 Interpreting the Psalms

Series: How to Study Psalms

Resources: Psalms

For more: Bible Study 101

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