This fall, in my 7th-8th grade English class at our Providence home school co-op, we will do a six week literature study in the Old Testament, including the story of Joseph (in Genesis), Psalms, Proverbs, Esther, and Daniel. We will spend one week on Psalms. (I wish it could be longer!) In class on Monday, we will cover the first section, which is mainly on Psalm 119. The homework for the other four days covers three psalms each day. The writing assignment that week is to write their own psalm. I will update this study guide over the summer.
Psalms as Literature
Psalms is the longest book of the Bible, with 150 chapters. It has the longest and shortest chapters of the Bible in it (Psalm 119 and Psalm 117), as well as the middle chapter of the Bible (Psalm 118).
At least six people wrote this
collection of songs, prayers, and praises over a time period of several
centuries. David wrote more than 50%. Other authors include Asaph (chief choir
director for David), Sons of Korah (OT band/musicians), Ethan, Solomon, and
Moses.
The collection of psalms is also known as the Psalter. The words psalms and psalter come from a Greek word referring to stringed instruments such as the harp, lyre, or lute. This is because psalms were songs meant to be accompanied by these instruments. The Hebrew name for this book of the Bible is tehillim, which means praises, even though many of the psalms are tephillot, which means prayers. Sovereign Grace Music has a CD called Psalms. If you have this CD, try to listen to a little of it each day.
Most of the psalms are very poetic. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme or have a regular meter (rhythm). However, it does use poetic features such as alliteration (words starting with the same sound), repetition (using the same words to make a stronger point), imagery (similes and metaphor) and symbolism (an object representing an idea). For example, Psalm 18:33 contains a simile: “He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.” Psalm 84:11 uses a symbolic metaphor, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield,” to show that God gives us spiritual light and protection.
With a whopping 176 verses, this is by far the longest Psalm. Another unusual feature of this Psalm is that it is an acrostic poem. There are 22 sections of 8 verses each, one section for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the verses in the section starts with that letter. The NIV Study Bible notes: “The author had a theme that filled his soul, a theme as big as life, that ranged the length and breadth and height and depth of a person’s walk with God. Nothing less than the use of the full power of language would suffice, and of that the alphabet was a most apt symbol."
The main theme of Psalm 119 is devotion to God’s word. Eight Hebrew synonyms are used throughout the Psalm, which each section including at least six of them.
- torah: law
- ‘edot: statutes
- piqqudim: precepts
- miswot: commands or commandments
- mishpatim: laws or ordinances
- huqqim: decrees
- dabar: word, promise, or law
- ‘imrah: word or promise
You can find a chart with the Hebrew alphabet at: www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/aleph-bet.html. Please note that the Hebrew language is read from right to left, so Aleph is the first letter in the chart. The characters for Hebrew letters also stood for numbers, as you can see at the top of each one. Hebrew is traditionally written without vowels, but there are small markings that can be added to these consonants to show the vowel sounds said with them.
PSALM 119: ONE SELECTED VERSE FOR EACH HEBREW LETTER
Aleph: 1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Bet: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Gimel: 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Daleth: 27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
He: 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Waw: 48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
Zayin: 54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
Heth: 61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.
Teth: 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
Yodh: 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
Kaph: 86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause.
Lamedh: 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
Mem: 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Nun: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Samekh: 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
Ayin: 126 It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken.
Pe: 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Tsadhe: 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
Qoph: 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
Resh: 160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Sin and Shin: 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Taw: 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.
You can click on the Psalms headings to read them on-line in the English Standard Version.
Tuesday:
o Psalm 1: This psalm is an encomium, a song of praise for character qualities. It describes the righteous man, in contrast to the wicked. Tell why verse 3 is a simile. Using colored pencils, draw a picture of the scene described. Read this Psalm aloud to a parent or to your whole family at dinner.
o Psalm 22: This psalm is a messianic prophecy about the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua ha Mashiach). Find a passage in the New Testament which corresponds to the actual events foretold here. Write down the reference for it. The birth, life, and death of the messiah is foretold in hundreds of Old Testament verses written centuries before his appearance on earth. Please read Isaiah 53 for one extended example!
o Psalm 34: Write down at least two commands and corresponding promises from this Psalm. Then read 1 Peter 1:8-12 and tell which four verses in Psalm 34 are quoted in it. Psalm 34 is an acrostic.
Wednesday:
o Psalm 19: Note that this Psalm has two main themes: God’s world (verses 1-6) and God’s word (7-14). This second section is very similar to Psalm 119. List all of the nouns and adjectives in this Psalm which are used to describe some facet of God’s word or law. In verse 10, what two objects are compared with God’s word? Why? Copy verse 14 and think about it.
o Psalm 51: This is a Psalm of King David’s confession and repentance after Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. (See 2 Samuel 12:1-15.) Spend some time thinking of ways that you may have offended God, and then pray through this Psalm. If you need to make peace or restitution with someone, go do it! (Ask your parents for help if necessary.) Read 1 John 1:5-10; then copy 1 John 1:9 and Psalm 51:10.
o Psalm 103: Now that you have spent some time in repentance, read this Psalm and thank God that he is gracious and forgiving! Look at verses 3 and 10-11 and tell what God does with our sins. Think of how you can forgive others as God has forgiven you.
Thursday:
o Psalm 55: Not all psalms are “happy” in their tone. This one talks about enemies, and worse yet, betrayal by former friends. It is a psalm of imprecation, calling down curses on those who are wicked. Copy down verse 22, a promise of God’s help for all of us.
o Psalm 84: This is a psalm of worship to God, especially in praise of his dwelling place, the temple. Copy your two favorite verses from this psalm. List at least three words that are from nature. Read the whole psalm aloud to a parent or to your family at dinner.
o Psalm 107: This psalm talks about four categories in people in verses 4-9, 10-22, 23-32, and 33-42. For each group, tell what their problem was and how God ministered to them. In what way were all of the groups supposed to respond to God’s mercy? Which group reminds you most of yourself?
Friday:
o Psalm 78: This Psalm gives a partial history of God’s dealings with his people: their repeated flagrant rebellions, and how he punished and restored them. According to verses 1-7, what is Asaph’s goal in telling them all of this? (Note: In 1 Chronicles 15-16, Asaph was appointed by David to minister musically in the temple.)
o Psalm 100: This Psalm is very commonly sung, and there
are many different versions of it in use.
William Keth wrote “All People that On Earth Do Dwell” to the tune of
The Old Hundredth. Compare the song to the psalm below. You can find a Bible study on Psalm 100 and other psalms at Jesus Walk's page Psalms: Giving Thanks to Our Faithful God.
o Psalm 139: This Psalm beautifully describes God’s care for us. Verses 1-12 talk about how he is always with us and how he knows us intimately. Verses 13-16 remind us that he is able to do this because he is the one who made us in our mothers’ wombs. How can this Psalm change the way you view yourself and your body? How does this Psalm apply to the sanctity of life for the unborn?
PSALM 100
By William Keth
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
(This song is sung to the same tune as the Doxology, which is sung
weekly in many traditional churches:“Praise
God from whom all blessings flow / Praise him all creatures here below / Praise
Him above ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” The doxology is part of a longer hymn by
Thomas Ken called “Awake My Soul.”
Psalm 100
King James Version
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people,
and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth
to
all generations.
(There are no verses in Psalm 100 to correspond which the last verse of the song, which extends the Old Testament praise of God the Father to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, too.)
WRITING A PSALM
Your writing assignment this week is to write your own psalm to God. Work on it a little each day. Use your own words to express your feelings and emotions as you meditate on the character of God and the circumstances of your own life. Pray as you write. Include poetic imagery. Be creative!
Here are two psalms that I have written.
Psalm to Sweet Jesus
by Virginia Knowles
Sweet Jesus, you bring to me all that is good:
Comfort and hope when I am discouraged,
Peace and reconciliation when I am in conflict,
Strength and enthusiasm when I am weary,
Wisdom and guidance when I am confused,
Courage and confidence when I am afraid,
Forgiveness and mercy when I have done wrong.
You bore the fatal punishment that I deserved,
Yet rose up again in power,
Promising that if I would turn from my awful sin,
And believe in your awesome grace,
I could become your own precious child,
And enter into your everlasting Gloryland.
Such a rich salvation that I could never earn!
As a simple gift of gratitude,
With help from your Word and your Spirit,
I will trust and obey your loving commands,
I will worship you with my prayers and songs,
I will serve others joyfully,
I will share your Good News,
So that each one who hears and believes
May receive the matchless treasure
Found only in you.
Rhapsody in M
by Virginia Knowles
Myriad mercies:
more and more
merited? no! no merit in murky miserable me
Mystery:
manic malice meted on Messiah Martyr
Mighty and Meek
Miracle:
manic malice meted on my Mediator misses me
marvelous mercies ministered on me
Majestic Master:
master me
move massive mountains in me
make merry melodies in me
mirrors of Thee in mere me
more and more
myriad mercies