n What are the Psalms
The
Book of Psalms in the OT
In
the Jewish Tradition, the Old Testament is
referred
to as TANACH—which is an acronym for
the
three major sections of the OT: 1) TORAH, the
first
five books, 2) NEVI’IM, the prophets and 3)
K’TUVIM,
writings, third section which is a miscellany of
various
and varied literature, including the Song of Songs,
the
Book of Esther, Lamentations, and the so called
“wisdom
literature” of Koheleth (Ecclesiastes), Proverbs,
and
Job.
The
Book of Psalms is found in this third
section
of the Old Testament, the K’TUVIM
n King David and the Psalms
n Traditionally, Psalms is said to have been written by King David.
Indeed, the Book of Psalms is frequently referred to as the Psalms of David. Midrah
Tehillim, a medieval commentary on the Book of Psalms says: “Moses gave
Israel the Five Books of the Torah and correspondingly, David gave them the
Five Books of Psalms.
n There is a lovely midrash—a rabbinic story—about King David.
n It is said that when David went to sleep at night, he hung his harp
over his bed.
n As he slept, the four winds came and plucked the strings of his
harp.
n David would awake and sing along.
n According to the story, these songs became the Psalms.
n Why did King David’s association with the Psalms arise?
n The most obvious reason is that out of the 150 Psalms, 73 begin with
the superscription (introductory phrase) L’David.
n The most obvious translation of the phrase L’David is “of
David,” although it also has various other meanings.
n The 73 Psalms then were taken to be that of David, and thus, by
David.
n By extension, the work as a whole was attributed to him.
n The Book of Psalms can also be attributed to David because the very
literary form of the work fits nicely with what we know about him.
n The biography of David contained in the two Books of Samuel tells us
a number of things that connect him to this work.
n In his youth David was a skillful lyre player and an inventor of
musical instruments.
n He is said to have been a composer of songs and won his first public
recognition as a singer.
n He was acclaimed as the “sweet singer of Israel.”
n Later, he is said to have been responsible for organizing the guilds
of Temple singers and musicians.
n Another reason for ascribing the Books of Psalms to King David is that
many of the Psalms portray circumstances and emotional states that harmonize
with what we read about David’s life in the books of First and Second Samuel
and First Kings.
n Thus one can associate some of the Psalms with specific aspects of
the life of David.
n Psalm 2 is easily linked to the establishment of the Davidic
dynasty.
n The shepherd motif of Psalm 23 and other Psalms can certainly be
connected with David’s occupation in his younger days.
n Psalm 110 can be read as depicting David’s coronation as king.
n Most notably, Psalm 18 is duplicated in its entirety in 2 Samuel,
Chapter 22.
n Jewish tradition found this
association with the life of King David so compelling that much of the
commentary on the Book of Psalms is devoted to associating particular Psalms to
events in David’s life.
n Modern scholarship suggests that King David may not have written all
of the Psalms, or any of them.
n What can be stated with certainty is that many of the Psalms
originated in a time much later than David’s lifetime (which was around 1000
BC).
n Many appear to come from the time when the first Temple was
standing, which was well after David’s death.
n Some reflect specific
historic events from later periods.
n Most famously, Psalm 137 talks about the Babylonian Exile—hundreds of
years after David’s death.
n Others portray the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, the rebuilding
of the Temple, and perhaps even its dedication.
n However, there is a beautiful and rich theological significance of
DAVID as the central human figure in the Book of Psalms.
n He is a paradigm for Israel, for the whole of humanity, for each one
of us.
n For in the biblical David the FUNDAMENTAL EXPERIENCE OF HUMAN LIFE
CAN BE FOUND:
n He sought God.
n He fell in love.
n He sinned.
n He repented.
n He experienced forgiveness.
n He is a man of ambition
n He experienced deep joy and
profound grief.
n He has many friends as well as enemies.
n He knew loyalty as well as betrayal in friendship.
n He was innocent as he was guilty.
n He experienced birth and death of loved ones.
n He was persecuted as well as lifted up.
n He was generous yet greedy.
n He was a king who suffered defeat and emerged triumphant.
n He knew peace as well as violence.
n In short, HE IS A MAN WHO KNEW LAUDS AND SUPPLICATIONS.
n HE KNEW HOW IT IS TO PRAISE AND TO PRAY!
n The Book of Psalms as the most unique
n The 5 books of the Torah record the history of salvation.
n They narrate and reveal the wonders God has done, beginning from the
creation of the world, the establishment of His people, freedom from Egypt, to
their journey to the promised land.
n The Torah tells the story of God’s creative work and gift of
salvation, God’s promises and their unfolding and fulfillment.
n The original and fundamental revelation is thus contained in the
Torah.
n The Prophets on the other hand contain the word, another fundamental
element, that interprets the history of salvation narrated in the Torah.
n Moreover, the other books found in K’TUVIM, especially the
wisdom literature are religious teachings.
n They can be said to be another word of interpretation.
n We take note of the MOVEMENT—from the STORY (the Torah) to the WORD
OF INTERPRETATION (Prophets and The Writings, esp. the Wisdom Literature).
n Then comes the Book of Psalms
that contains the response of Israel to the STORY and ITS INTERPRETATION.
n It is noteworthy that the Book of Psalms is divided in 5 sections.
n This brings us back to the First Five Books of the OT, the Torah.
n It thus signifies that the Book of Psalms is but a response as a
prayer to God’s works of wonders and His salvation narrated in the Torah.
n It is the cry of the human who needs God’s wonders and His
salvation.
n Therefore, the Book of Psalms is the STORY and ITS INTERPRETATION
becoming into a PRAYER.
n In this way, the Book of Psalms is the most unique of all the books
in the Old Testament.
n It is the book that teaches us to lift our hands in praise and
thanksgiving to the wonder of God’s creation.
n It teaches us as well to bend our knees in supplication when in need
of His salvation.
