Lesson Seven
Psalms Alive! (Part 2)
Exposition of the Book of Psalms:
Editorial Notes Attached To The Psalms
Now, it is time for you to find the editorial notes listed below in the Psalms indicated. Look up each listed Psalm (within parentheses) and see how the editorial notes are used. The listed Psalm chapter headings are not exhaustive of big numbers of examples, but only as samples. A reader will read all the Psalms editorial notes called for within his or her parentheses. For example: if you are asked to find “Psalm” in the editorial notes, you will say “’Psalm’ is defined as “instrumental accompaniment,” then mention Psalms 2, 6, 8-9 editorial notes, where it occurs. If a term is not defined, then a definition will be supplied by your instructor.
Meaning
Occurs
Descriptive of the character of the poem
Psalm
Song with 2: ------------ accompaniment.
Prefixed to 57 (3, 6, 8-9)
Song
A song at the dedication of the house/A Song of Love
to 31 Psalms (30, 45-46)
Maskil
A skillful or ------- psalm
Prefixed to 13 Psalms (45, 52) nd
Mikhtam
Meaning uncertain (-------- prayer?)
Prefixed to 6 Psalms (58-60) nd
Shiggaion
(--------------------)
Prefixed to 1 Psalm: 7 (7)
A Prayer
of -----
In 5 titles(17, 86)
A Praise
A Psalm of ------, of -----
In 1 titles (145)
Titles Related to Musical Setting or Performance
For the Choir Director
A special collection of psalms for the music director of the ------
Prefixed to 55 Psalms (88, 109) nd
On stringed instruments
Prefixed to Psalms 4, 6, 54, 55, (61, 67, 76) nd
For flute accompaniment (------------)
Prefixed to Psalm (5) nd
On Sheminith (upon an 8-stringed ----)
Prefixed to Psalms (6 and 12)
On the Gittith
Meaning --------- (winepress or a special instrument)
(8, 81) 84 nd
For Jeduthun
One of David’s ---------------
Prefixed to Psalms (39, 62), 77
On Muth-lubben
“----- to the Son”
Prefixed to Psalm (9)
Upon Aijeleth Hashshahar
“The hind of the morning”
Prefixed to Psalm (22)
According to the ----------
Prefixed to Psalms (45 and 69) “lilies”
According to Shushan Eduth
Prefixed to Psalm (60) “my strength”
Set to -------------; Eduth
Prefixed to Psalm (80) “lilies” nd
All three of these deal with ------ (the melody for vocalization?)
Set to Alamoth
“------- choir”
Prefixed to Psalm (46) (“for soprano voices”)
According to Jonath elem rehokim
“The ----------- of them Prefixed to Psalm (56) nd that are afar off” (David)
Set to Al-tashcheth (“do not -------”)
Prefixed to Psalm (57)
According to Mahalath; Mahalath Leannoth
Prefixed to Psalms (53) and 88
Mahalath
= ”” (a sad tone)
Selah
= Section or break Occurs 71 times (3:2, 4; 52:3, 5)
BOOK 5: Psalms 107-119
The fifth book in the fivefold division includes several smaller collections or groups of psalms. The Psalms of Ascents (120-134) and the Hallelujah (Psalms 111-113, 115-117, 146-148, 149-150) are evidently the nucleus around which the other psalms were grouped together. Before the fivefold division, there was probably a threefold arrangement in which Books 4 and 5 were one large ----------. An over-all liturgical purpose is evident throughout, resulting in a deep sense of --------------, which culminates in the closing words of Psalm 150: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah!"
Book 5 was compiled after the return to Israel from the exile in Babylon. Thus Psalms “of David” may not be written by him but may be collections that postexilic writers wanted to be ---------- with him. However, it is also possible that they were written by David and hidden so well that they were uncovered after the return to Judah in 538 BC. Your fellow prospector leans toward the second view expressed here.
Psalm 107 is The Song of the Redeemed. () This was the first --------- psalm in Book 5. Psalms 105, 106, and 107 constituted a trilogy of praise and thanks (the first thanks PSALM in Book 5), in spite of the book division here. The different character of verses 33-42 has suggested to many that this passage was added later. The differences in content and style make this suggestion plausible although not mandatory. It was the first HEALING PSALM in Book 5.
Psalm 108 is A Prayer for God's Help. ()This was the first psalm of David in Book 5, and this psalm combined a hymn of praise (first PRAISE PSALM in Book 5) and an individual lament (first INDIVIDUAL lament PSALM in Book 5), both of which are found in other psalms. Verses 1-5 occur also in , while verses 6-13 are found in with only minor variations. Since the divine proper name Yahweh (-------) was used in verse 3 rather than the generic 'Adonay (Lord) of Psalm 57, the present psalmist undoubtedly drew his material from the two earlier works. Perhaps the combination was formed to meet the needs of a new historical situation.
Psalm 109 is A Plea for Vengeance. () This was the second psalm of David in Book 5 and for the director of music in the temple. This psalm is clearly the lament of an individual (second INDIVIDUAL lament PSALM in Book 5) rather than the voice of the ------. The personal character of the thought and expression was too strong for corporate significance. The imprecations in verses 9-20 make the poem unsuitable for worship purposes. There is a righteous indignation against evil (King Saul or another enemy he faced) (cf. ff.); and the psalmist was assured that his foes were ------- of God. It was both the first IMPRECATORY and second PRAISE PSALM in Book 5.
Psalm 110 is The Promise of Victory and Dominion. () It was the third psalm of David in Book 5 with messianic (only Messianic PSALM in Book 5) overtones throughout. The psalmist was uttering a divine oracle with the authority of a -------. He addressed the oracle to his king and gave him assurance of victory. Men from Abraham to Simon of Maccabean times have been suggested as the historical recipient of the message. Yet Jesus' use of verse 1 in the LXX clearly authorized our finding here a wider significance than the primary meaning of the psalm in Old Testament ------- (cf. ).
Psalm 111 is God's Wonderful Works. () This was the second anonymous psalm in Book 5 and a hymn of praise (third praise PSALM in Book 5), carefully designed as an -------- poem (first ACROSTIC PSALM in Book 5). The twenty-two short lines begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet to make a perfect acrostic Psalm. This serves as an excellent ------ device. This hymn was closely connected with Psalm 112 in form, language, and subject matter. The two psalms were introductory to the Hallel collection, which properly begins with Psalm 113. This is the second PERFECT ACROSTIC PSALM in Book 5.
Psalm 112 is A Portrait of a Righteous Man. () This is the third anonymous psalm in Book 5. The concluding thought of Psalm 111 was more fully developed here, in keeping with the emphasis of the Wisdom literature. While 111 declared God's ---------------, 112 described the righteous man who had learned what it meant to --------. In its acrostic construction (second ALPHABETIC PSALM in Book 5), as well as in its subject matter, this educational psalm is a companion to the preceding one. This is the second PERFECT ACROSTIC PSALM in Book 5.
The Hallel Psalms
This collection is known in the Talmud as "-------------------." The designation comes from the repeated use of the Hebrew exclamation ---------- (Hebrew for “Praise you the Lord”), and from the reference to the Exodus in . This collection (113-118) was included in the worship of Judaism on festival occasions.
Psalm 113 is The Condescension of God. () This was the fourth anonymous psalm in Book 5. This hymn of praise (fourth praise PSALM in Book 5) was the first HALLEL PSALM. Verse 1 contains a ------ repetition of “Praise,” indicating special emphasis in praising the Lord. We are to praise God for condescending from His exalted position to express His love to people and raising the poor and needy to ----------------- on the earth.
Psalm 114 is The Wonder of the Exodus. () This was the fifth anonymous psalm in Book 5. The power of Hebrew poetry at its best was illustrated by this praise lyric (fifth praise PSALM in Book 5). The terse expression, the dramatic vividness, the excellent parallelism, and the imaginative exaggeration marked the psalm as a ------------------. The arrangement of the material into four stanzas of two verses each added balance to the poem's heightened expression. The final " ----------" of Psalm 113 undoubtedly once stood at the beginning of this second HALLEL PSALM, as attested by the LXX.
Psalm 115 is Glory to His Name. () This was the sixth anonymous psalm in Book 5 and was basically a hymn of praise (sixth praise PSALM in Book 5) designed for use in the temple -------. The presence of a complaint (vss. 1-2) does not nullify the hymn qualities but gives a historical basis for its original composition. That it was used in the worship of the feast celebrations is known from various sources. In fact, Psalms 115-118 were sung at the conclusion of the Passover meal, just before the worshipers returned to their homes. The hymn appears to have been designed originally for ---------- use (congregational response to leader readings). This was the third HALLEL PSALM.
Psalm 116 is A Song of Personal Thanksgiving. () This was the seventh anonymous psalm in Book 5, and this hymn of thanks (second thanks PSALM in Book 5) was strikingly personal from beginning to end. Its use in this Hallel collection in connection with the main feasts probably indicates that it was associated with the payment of individual ----. The LXX divides this psalm into two separate poems, making a division after verse 9. The presence of frequent ------- expressions points to a post-Exilic setting. It was also the seventh PRAISE PSALM in Book 5 and the fourth HALLEL PSALM.
Psalm 117 is A Shout of Praise. () This was the eighth anonymous psalm in Book 5 and the -------- hymn of praise (eighth PRAISE PSALM in Book 5) recorded in the Psalter. In some manuscripts, it is attached to the preceding poem and in other manuscripts, to the following one. However, both the Hebrew Text and the LXX treat it as a -------- Psalm. The two verses contain a complete act of praise. This was the fifth HALLEL PSALM.
Psalm 118 is Thanksgiving for Deliverance. () This was the ninth anonymous psalm in Book 5. As a processional and a jubilant expression of thanksgiving (third THANKS PSALM in Book 5), this song of praise served as a fitting ---------- to the Hallel collection. Clearly designed for antiphonal use, it employed solo voices, choruses, and congregational refrains. Verses 5-21 are quite individualistic in content, suggesting that verses 1-4 and 22-29 were added to adapt the original psalm for -------------- use. It is the ninth PRAISE PSALM in Book 5 and the sixth and final HALLEL PSALM.
Psalm 119 is The Torah of the Lord. () This was the tenth anonymous psalm in Book 5. Essentially an educational poem, this psalm took the form of a ------------------. Although the poem contained allusions to persecution and showed certain characteristics of laments, its main purpose was to glorify the Torah (God's law or teaching). The psalmist directed almost every verse to God, using many forms of petition. At the same time, he used some synonym for the law in all but seven verses. The synonyms were: law, testimonies, precepts, judgments, commandments, statutes, sayings, word, way, and path.
The acrostic principle (third ALPHABETIC PSALM in Book 5) was highly developed in this psalm, employing all ------------------ of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza was composed of eight lines, which stanza was composed of eight lines, which began with the letter characteristic of that stanza. We discover here the --------- of the psalmist's own devotion to God's teachings. It was also the tenth PRAISE PSALM in Book 5. It was the third PERFECT ACROSTIC PSALM in Book 5!
In Book 5, people might consider using Psalms by posthumous David to --------- survivors of the exile now back in Israel. Because Psalm 119 is anonymous, it cannot be assigned to any known writer. It can be compared to a known writer but not ----------- assigned to one.