The Psalms in Historical Context
Bible Class Lessons
by Jeff Smelser
PREFACE
The approach of this study is to relate the Psalms to their historical settings in the Old Testament wherever possible. In most of these cases, the historical setting is first suggested by the title attached to the individual psalm.
The origin and accuracy of these titles is a question of some interest to commentators. Generally, it seems, commentators are willing to second guess the accuracy of these titles.
The approach taken in the preparation of this material was to give the titles the benefit of the doubt. In the process of studying the psalms, it seemed that in many cases, the material in the psalm reinforced the historical setting indicated by the title, and in other cases, nothing in the psalm contradicted the title. The titles showed themselves sufficiently reliable that, in a few cases where something in the psalm might, at first glance, appear to belie the claim of the title, the title's claim was not quickly dismissed. Instead, upon further consideration, it was seen that the meaning of the psalm was in fact not necessarily at odds with the indicated historical setting.
A total of 99 psalms are covered in these lessons. The first psalm studied is probably the earliest of the Psalms. Psalm 90 was written by Moses and is studied against the backdrop of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
Beginning with lesson three, the focus is on those Psalms of David that, with a reasonable degree of probability, can be placed chronologically in the context of David's life. These are studied in chronological order, against the backdrop of 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 Chronicles. The student is encouraged to fill in the history in between the psalms to maintain the continuity.
After studying these psalms against a historical backdrop, and learning much about the connotations of various phrases, one is better equipped to move on to a study of other psalms of David where similar language and themes occur, but which cannot be related to particular events in David's life.
Finally, later psalms by various
authors are studied, with some particular attention given to the
Songs of Ascents and the Psalms of Asaph.
The Psalms in Historical Context
Introduction to the Psalms....................... Lesson aleph
Introduction to the Songs of Ascents....... Lesson 44
Introduction to the Psalms of Asaph........ Lesson 45
| Psalm | Lesson | Psalm | Lesson | Psalm | Lesson | Psalm | Lesson | |||
| 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 |
12 | 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 45 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 |
25
56 46 |
61 62 63 64 65 68 69 70 73 75 76 78 79 80 81 82 83 86 90 96 101 103 105 108 109 |
32
47 49 50 52 52 52 53 53 54 |
110 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 |
38 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 40 41 41 41 42 43 |
Introduction to the Psalms
HEBREW POETRY
1. What are the primary characteristics of our traditional poetry?
2. In Hebrew poetry, parallelism was characteristic. Observe the following types of parallelism in the passages cited:
3. Other features of some Hebrew poetry are acrostic arrangement, assonance, and alliteration. Psalm 119 illustrates each of these.
4. Examples of poetry can be found in the Old Testament in books other than the Psalms
Ex. 15:1-18
Dt. 32, 33
Jdg. 5
Job 3-41
Proverbs
Song of Solomon
THE BOOK OF PSALMS
The title of the Book
The Hebrew title is "the Book of Praises" or "praises"
"Psalms" is the title found in the Septuagint
The use of the Psalms
1 Chron. 15:16-24
Ps. 6, 12, Ps 46 Ps 8, 81,84
See Perowne, p. 88f - "Measures"
Mt. 26:30 (Ps. 113-118) "Hallel" Ps. 120-134 ("Ascents")
The Organization of the Psalms
It is actually 5 books of Psalms
Book I
Psalms 1-41
primarily psalms of David, perhaps one or two by Solomon
Yahweh occurs 273 times, Elohim occurs 15 times
Book II
Psalms 42-72
primarily psalms of David, some by sons of Korah..
Yahweh occurs 30 times, Elohim occurs 164 times
Book III
Psalms 73-89
psalms of Asaph, one by David, about three by sons of Korah, and a couple of others
Yahweh occurs 44 times, Elohim occurs 43 times
Book IV
Psalms 90-106
primarily anonymous, one or two by David, one by Moses
Yahweh occurs 103 times, Elohim does not occur
Book V
Psalms 107-150
many by David
Yahweh occurs 236 times, Elohim occurs 7 times
Questions
1. Compare Psalm 14 and Psalm 53, and note the differences between these two psalms. What difference do you see that is consistent with the fact that one psalm is in Book I while the other is in Book II?
2. What does Psalm 72:20 tell the reader? Compare Job 31:40. Who was the author of Psalm 72 according to its title? If the title is correct, then what does Psalm 72:20 refer to? Relative to divisions of the psalms into books, where is Psalm 72:20, and what do you know about the first two books of Psalms that might explain the meaning of Psalm 72:20?