Jeffrey M Pedersen
Old Testament Foundation
Integrative Project
The Psalms: A Creative Study
The following is a Bible Study/Adult Forum. It could be directed towards both youth and adults. The primary purpose of this is a creative exercise, not a traditional study, per se.
The Psalms: An Overview
What is a Psalm?
The word psalm comes form the Greek psallo, meaning “I sing.” The psalms are the Biblical’s version of poetry. They are expressions of the author’s understanding of the world and God. They follow many of the ancient poetic conventions including repetition, imagery and acrostics. Often times the psalms were meant to be sung with musical instruments.
There is no one author for all the Psalms, although the majority of them are attributed to David. Other authors include: Asaph, Moses, Ethan and Heman. We can find psalms in portions of the Bible, aside from the psaltery, including Exodus 15 and Luke’s Gospel (Magnificat, Benedictus and Nunc Dimittis).
Types of Psalms
There are several different types of psalms. The following is a list of types of psalms. For the purpose of this study, pay particular attentions to the first type. The types of psalms can roughly be divided into three: laments, thanksgiving and praise; but these particular labels are not comprehensive and as such we’ll need to add some other types.
Laments – expressions of grief, pain, loss, incomprehension, confusion and anger directed toward God. For example: 13, 22, 31, 74, 77, 80 and 90
Thanksgiving – expressions of joy and thankfulness in response to a gracious act of God. For example: 18, 30, 32, 65, 67 and 107
Praise – expressions of praise and honor because God is God. For example: 8, 92, 103, 113, 116, and 126.
Hymns – songs of praise suitable for various occasions. For example: 46 and 47.
Wisdom – poems giving advice for good, responsible, righteous living. For example: 1 and 49.
Salvation History – Poems recounting God’s saving acts. For example: 78 and 105.
Songs of Trust – expressions of trust in God’s faithfulness. For example: 11 and 23.
Royal Psalms – for use in royal coronations, weddings and other occasions. For example: 2 and 45.
Creation Psalms – reflections of God’s majesty in creation. For example: 19 and 33.
Liturgies – Israel’s worship. For example: 24 and 132.
The Con-Text for the Psalms
Like contemporary poetry, the psalms grow out of a specific context, addressing something often times very concrete. We can read the psalms and walk away enriched by their power and language, but if one studies the psalms a little closer, one can walk away with a full picture of the intention of the psalm as well as a strong idea of how the psalm can be read and related to one’s own life.
Let’s look at two examples of this:
Read Psalm 3. Now read 2 Samuel 15-18. Read Psalm 3 again.
How did you understand the psalm the first time you read it?
Did it speak to your life situation? Was it the Word of God to you?
What happened in the text itself? Just give a brief overview.
How did the reading of the text affect your second reading of the psalm?
How can this psalm be read and understood in community?
Read Psalm 74. Look at Jeremiah and Ezekiel for the context: the destruction of Jerusalem. Read Psalm 74 again.
If you want to look at a very obvious example, turn to Exodus 15. Read Exodus 15:1-18. Then go back and read the previous 14 chapters. Conclude your reading by looking at Exodus 15 again. While reading, reflect on the above questions.
Elijah: A Creative Exercise
Read 1 Kings 18:20 - 19:18. This is the story of Elijah’s “contest” with the priests of Baal and his flight to MountHoreb. Pay particular attention to 1 Kings 19:1-18. Remembering what we learned about psalms, write a psalm that expresses and reflects the situation of Elijah on MountHoreb. Look at other psalms for ideas for language, but make it speak to you, and for you.
The following is an example.
What would you have me do, Oh Lord?
What more do you want from me if not my life?
I have been zealous for you Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel
Your people have forsaken you and your covenant
They have killed your prophets, in the name of Baal
And now they seek to kill me
What do you want from me Lord of Hosts?
Your majesty and might have been revealed to your people
Yet they peruse me still
Your fire consumed the oblation and now it seeks to consume me
Where shall I go from here Lord?
How can I escape their pursuit?
A wind shakes me to my bones as I wait on you Lord
The mountain quakes beneath my feet and I fall down sick
A fire comes to consume me, but it is not you
Where are you Lord, I cry as I wait
In silence I hear you and stand on your mountain
And you answer me
Your ways are just and true Lord
Your power known to all the nations
I trust in your deliverance from my enemies
Be gracious to your servant as I leave your holy place
Anoint a prophet to follow me and kings to rule in righteousness