Through The Bible
Session #17 – Psalms
August 21, 2002
Psalms continues in the ‘wisdom literature’ section of the Bible. Remember the wisdom books are: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.
· The psalms invite people at all different points on their faith journey to enter in. There is a simplicity and straightforwardness. There is an invitation to plunge into the heart of deep theological thought in the same psalms.
Authorship
- David wrote 73 of them (3-9; 11-32; 34-41; 51-65; 68-70; 86; 101; 103; 108-110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138-145).
- Asaph – David’s choir leader in Jerusalem wrote 12 of them (50; 73-83).
- Descendants of Korah wrote 10 of them (42; 44-49; 84-85; 87).
- Solomon wrote 2 (72; 127)
- Ethan wrote 1 (89)
- Heman wrote 1 (88)
- Moses wrote 1 (90)
- Anonymous writers wrote approximately 50 of them.
Theological Values
· Walter Brueggemann: the psalms can be most usefully understood when we think about them in terms of crucifixion and resurrection.[1] What does he mean by this? Remember three terms:
a. Orientation – Human life consists in satisfied seasons of well-being that should prompt gratitude from us. Expressions of joy, delight, goodness, and the reliability of God come to mind.
- express confidence and a settled faith.
- God is known to be reliable and trustworthy.
- Life is not troubled or threatened and there’s no seeming end to this condition.
- Key examples: Psalm 1, 8, 14, 15, 19, 24, 33, 37 104, 119, 131, 133, 145
b. Disorientation – Human life consists in anguished seasons of hurt, alienation, suffering, and death. Rage, resentment, self-pity, and hatred are conjured up in our expression.
- Interesting observation: Isn’t it interesting that in a world that seems at times increasingly disoriented, the Church continues to sing songs of orientation? Why do you think that is?
- Why don’t we sing songs of lament? Too often we live in a society / culture of denial and cover-up.
- The value of these psalms is that it reminds us the world must be experienced as it really is and not in some pretended way.
- It also reminds us that even in discord, there is room for God to speak.
- Key examples: Psalm 13, 35, 74, 79, 86, 137.
c. Reorientation – Human life consists in turns of surprise when we are overwhelmed with the new gifts of God. Joy breaks through despair.
- There’s a new gift of life just when none was expected.
- Psalms of thanksgiving, expectation of Messiah, Praise
- Key examples: Psalm 29, 30, 34, 40, 47, 65, 66, 93, 97-99, 100, 103, 113, 114, 117, 124, 129, 135, 138, 146-150.
Other places where we see this orientation, disorientation, reorientation thing happening.
· Jeremiah 1.10 – the fate of Jerusalem (plucked up and broken down / rebuilt and planted).
· Look at Philippians 2.5-11 for parallel of this.
- orientation – though he was in the form of God (2.6)
- disorientation – emptied himself (2.7)
- reorientation – God has highly exalted him (2.9)
· The Psalms remind us of the reality of life.
- Deep loss and amazing gift are held in a powerful tension.
- our society and world wants to ignore unpleasantness. The psalms remind us that’s a part of life but that God is there.
- Exile, crucifixion, death, heartache are a part of life. The psalms don’t ignore that. But they remind us God is there in the midst of it.