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Introduction to the Psalter, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 542

Essay

The word “psalm” is a translation or interpretation of the Bible into Greek, and is rooted in the Hebrew word “mizmor,” meaning “song sung to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument.” So psalms are like song lyrics, or poetry with a musical foundation. There are 150 psalms in the Book of psalms, functioning as chapters. The meanings of each of the psalms are not overtly obvious, but are ambiguous and open to interpretation. There are other psalms besides those included in the Book of Psalms, but most of them are included in the Book.

Hannah’s first prayer, like hundreds of others in the Bible, is prose. It lacks the structure and rhythm of poetry or song, and is written in direct, straightforward language. The second prayer is offered by Hannah after her first prayer request (for a son) was fulfilled by God. This prayer is structured like a poem, with the rhythm and tone of a psalm.

Brettler asserts that Hannah could not have recited this second prayer as it is written because it does not fit the historical timeline, and refers to the king. The monarchical period came later, and the tone of the poem reads like an ode to a monarch.

Brettler explains that the audience for this writing would expect Hannah to recite a psalm in honor and gratitude for the birth of her son. She would have asked of a priest or other authority to provide a psalm for her, and this ode to a king would have worked as an appropriate “off the rack” psalm.

Brettler asserts that lament or complaint psalms share a “triad of elements”: invocations, requests, and motivation. They call out to God; they ask for God to grant a wish or favor; and they state what the petitioner will do in exchange for the favor.

Brettler notes that in Psalm 6 the line “the Lord has heeded the sound of my weeping” is in the past tense, while “the Lord will accept my prayer” is something that has not yet happened. And the mood changes with the change in tense. Scholars have explained such changes and shifts by claiming that they demonstrate that the worshipper is showing confidence that God will in fact heed the prayer.

The superscriptions are not literal attributions of authorship. They are attributions of origin, meaning they may indicate that they were written in the style of the name given in the superscription.

Brettler describes the Book of Psalms as a “collection of collections.” To illustrate this point, Brettler compares and contrasts Psalm 14 and psalm 53, and describes them as “slightly different versions” that “come from two separate collections.”

Psalm 1 identifies that the Book of Psalms is intended for reading by the “righteous person” who “studies the Torah day and night.” It establishes the primacy of the Torah and orients the reader for the rest of the Book of Psalms.

Brettler asserts that the five-part structure of the Book of Psalms was created by a “later editor” for the purpose of structuring it to move from “being troubled to being joyful.” Brettler also asserts that the five-part structure was intentionally created to structure of the Five Books of Moses, and to make the Book of Psalms a “real book” rather than just a collection of poems.

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