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Tag Archives: hebrew poetry
Psalm 145
This is one of those acrostic Hebrew poems of David, each verse beginning with a different Hebrew letter in alphabetic order. It is also likely a victory song, fitting neatly behind the previous psalm, which is a battle hymn. Not … Continue reading
Psalm 84
This is a Pilgrim Psalm, a celebration of marching to Zion for any number of annual feasts and festivals. The imagery is rich with symbolism. The psalmist begins with a common figure of speech heard among pilgrims meeting to share … Continue reading
Psalm 79
Like Psalm 74, this is a threnody for Israel the Mission. Something brought the wrath of God on His people, His city, and His Temple. Asaph’s cry is not for mere vengeance, but for God’s glory and a restoration of … Continue reading
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Tagged ancient hebrew culture, Asaph, hebrew poetry, Psalms
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Psalm 77
We remind ourselves that, for all their piety and scholarship, translators remain captive to their own biases. We should never pretend that we have none, but be conscious of them and strive to make them serve our individual callings. It … Continue reading
Posted in bible
Tagged Asaph, hebrew literature, hebrew poetry, Psalms, worship
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Psalm 76
Many scholars are convinced this psalm celebrates the miraculous deliverance of the city during the reign of Hezekiah by slaughtering the besieging Assyrian troops. But regardless of any particular historical reference, this psalm has almost surely been rewritten from it’s … Continue reading
Psalm 75
Asaph offers us a brief invocation followed by an oracle message from God. The underlying theme is fundamental to the Ancient Near Eastern understanding of how God operates within His Creation. As the feudal Sovereign Lord, He comes to visit … Continue reading
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Tagged Asaph, hebrew poetry, Psalms, symbolic references, worship
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Psalm 71
It seems rather obvious from David’s choice of words that he wrote this rather late in his reign. On the other hand, he hardly offers any clues to the experience that provoked this soulful song. Ever the proper feudal servant … Continue reading
Psalm 68
David uses here a collection of images and figures of speech we don’t see anywhere else. While we have no doubt that the bulk of his writing is consistently symbolic and loaded with parables, it serves well to tread carefully … Continue reading
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Tagged hebrew poetry, history, Israel, King David, military, Psalms, scripture, worship
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Psalm 66
In Hebrew, the word translated “song” means words for singing, whereas “psalm” means specifically that instruments should be played with it. David calls for praise from all the earth, meaning both the planet itself and all the people living on … Continue reading
Psalm 65
The header says David wrote this for use in the Temple worship. Scholars tell us this psalm was used in various thanksgiving services. English translations are all over the place on the first line, and it is difficult to bring … Continue reading
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Tagged Court of God, English translations, hebrew poetry, King David, Psalms, thanksgiving, worship
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