Structures of Poetic Resonance

There are numerous meta-details around the poetry of Scripture, especially throughout the Psalms. An analysis of facts and details around the structure and background of poetry from a historical, theological, and literary perspective offers a deeper and more comprehensive view of ancient biblical literature and worship.

Themes of Psalms

A. The Sovereign God

1. The God of Creation (Ps 33, 74, 89, 95, 104, 135, 136, 147, 148)
2. The God of Israel (Ps 105, 106)
3. The God of the Nations (Ps 33)
4. The God who will establish His Rule upon the Earth

B. The People of God – the Righteous; the Enemies of God – the Wicked

C. God’s Attributes Known to His People (Ps 100, 107)

1. Loyalty
   Ps 5:7; 6:4; 13:5; 17:7; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 25:6, 7, 10; 26:3; 31:7, 16, 21; 32:10; 33:5, 18, 22, 36:5, 7, 10; 40:10, 11; 42:8; 44:26; 48:9; 51:1; 52:1, 8; 57:3; 10; 59:10, 16, 17; 62:12; 63:3; 66:20; 69:13,16; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 88:11; 89:1, 2, 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; 90:14; 92:2; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:4, 8, 11, 17; 106:1, 7, 45; 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26; 115:1; 117:2; 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 29; 119:14, 64, 76, 88, 124, 149, 159; 130:7; 136:1-26; 138:2, 8; 141:5; 143:8, 12; 144:2; 145:8; 147:11)
2. Goodness
   Ps 16:2; 25:8; 34:8; 54:6; 68:10; 73:1; 86:5; 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 119:68; 135:3; 136:1; 145:9
3. Faithfulness
   Ps 33:4; 36:5; 40:10; 88:11; 89:1, 2, 5, 8, 24, 33, 49; 92:2; 96:13; 100:5; 119:75, 86, 90, 138; 143:1
4. Righteousness
   Ps 7:9; 11:7; 15:2; 22:31; 31:1; 35:24; 50:6; 51:14; 69:27; 71:2, 15, 16, 19, 24; 72:1; 89:16; 97:6; 98:2; 103:17; 111:3; 112:3, 9; 119:40, 142; 143:1; 145:7
5. Compassion
   Ps 25:6; 40:11; 51:1; 69:16; 77:9; 78:38; 79:8; 103:4, 8, 13; 106:46; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 119:77

D. The Davidic Covenant (Ps 78, 89, 132)

Authors of Psalms

Name	Quantity	References
David	73	Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 41-65, 68-70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145
Asaph	12	Psalms 50, 73-83
Descendants of Korah	10	Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87
Solomon	2	Psalms 72, 127
Ethan	1	Psalm 89
Heman	1	Psalm 88
Moses	1	Psalm 90
Anonymous	50	Remaining

Divisions of Psalms

Psalms	Chapters	Quantity	Theme Correlation
Book I	1 – 41	41	Genesis: Creation, Sin, Salvation
Book II	42 – 72	31	Exodus: Redemption
Book III	73 – 89	17	Leviticus: Sanctuary
Book IV	90 – 106	17	Numbers: Desert Wanderings
Book V	107 – 150	44	Deuteronomy: Word of God

Categories of Hebrew Poetry

• Pilgrimage
• Wisdom
• Lament
• Thanksgiving
• Imprecatory
• Praise
• Royal
• Messianic

Rhythm of Thought – Types of Hebrew Parallelism

Name	Example	References
Synonymous Parallelism	O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your wrath.	Ps 1:2, Ps 6:1, Ps 7:16, Ps 15:1, Ps 19:1, Ps 49:1, 51:3; Prov 9:10, Prov 16:18, Prov 16:28, Prov 19:29
Antithetical Parallelism	The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives.	Ps 37:21, Ps 1:6, Prov 10:1, 2, 4, 7
Synthetic Parallelism	God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.	Ps 46:1, Ps 3:4, 29:1, 95:3, Eccl 11:1
Climactic Parallelism	In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.	Ps 22:4-5
Emblematic Parallelism	As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.	Ps 41, Ps 42:1, Ps 103:13
Formal (Catch-All)	“But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”	Ps 2:6, others

Rhythm of Sound – Types of Hebrew Poetry

Name	Definition	References
Acrostic	Text stanzas begin with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet and continue sequentially until completion. A memory device.	Ps 9, 10, 24, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145; Prov 31:10-31; Lam 1, 2, 3, 4
Alliteration	The same sound begins with different words through the text.	Ps 122:6
Assonance	The end of each line is a sound alike.	Ps 119:29
Paronomasia	A play on words as written and read – Mispat (justice) vs Mispah (bloodshed)	Is 5:7
Onomatopeia	A word that sounds like what it is describing.	Ps 81:7
Inclusion	A line of text is repeated again in the same text.	Ps 118:1, 29

Messianic Psalms

Instance	Messianic Description	Psalm	Fulfillment
1	God declares Jesus to be His Son.	Ps. 2:7	Matt. 3:17
2	All things will be put under Jesus’ feet.	Ps. 8:6	Heb. 2:8
3	Jesus will be resurrected from the dead.	Ps. 16:10	Mark 16:6-7
4	God will forsake Jesus in His hour of need.	Ps. 22:1	Matt. 27:46
5	Jesus will be scorned and mocked.	Ps. 22:7-8	Luke 23:35
6	Jesus’ hands and feet will be pierced.	Ps. 22:16	John 20:25-27
7	Others will gamble for Jesus’s clothing.	Ps. 22:18	Matt. 27:35-36
8	Not one of Jesus’ bones will be broken.	Ps. 34:20	John 19:32-33, 36
9	Jesus will be accused by false witnesses.	Ps. 35:11	Mark 14:57
10	Jesus will be hated without a cause.	Ps. 35:19	John 15:25
11	Jesus will come to do God’s will.	Ps. 40:7-8	Heb. 10:7
12	Jesus will be betrayed by a friend.	Ps. 41:9	Luke 22:47
13	Jesus’s throne will last forever.	Ps. 45:6	Heb 1:8
14	Jesus will ascend to God’s right hand.	Ps. 68:18	Mark 16:19
15	Zeal for God’s house will consume Jesus.	Ps. 69:9	John 2:17
16	Jesus will be given vinegar and gall to drink.	Ps. 69:21	Matt. 27:34
17	Jesus will be a worldwide king.	Ps. 72:1-19	Rev. 19:11-20:6
18	Jesus will pray for His enemies	Ps. 109:4	Luke 23:34
19	Jesus’ betrayer’s place will be filled by another.	Ps. 109:8	Acts 1:20
20	Jesus’ enemies will be made subject to Him.	Ps. 110:1	Matt. 22:44
21	Jesus will be a priest like Melchizedek.	Ps. 110:4	Heb. 5:6
22	Jesus will be the chief cornerstone.	Ps. 118:22	Matt. 21:42
23	Jesus will come in the name of the Lord.	Ps. 118:26	Matt. 21:91

Interpretive History of Psalms

A. Writings – Individual and Freestanding

Psalms separately inspired and valued as:

1. Prophetic
2. Instructive
3. Allegorical
4. Historical-Grammatical

B. Worship – For Choirs and Others

C. Compilations – Scrolls, Codices or Books

Ancient Development of Psalms

The process of origination of the Psalms followed (1) individual personal development (2) giving of the Psalms to the Levites for temple worship (later synagogues), and (3) for collection to the book or compilation.

Each psalm originated as a separate piece of individual original work among the political and cultic leaders of Israel (Levites). The political leaders of Israel include Moses, David, and Solomon, and the cultic leaders include Asaph, the sons of Korah, Heman, and Ethan among them all.

After the Psalms were given to the Israelites for public worship in the temple, they were arranged in collection for retrieval and use. The origination of the Psalms was not collected in chronological order, theme, or by the author. They were collected and arranged with editorial intent. The words were retained, but the accompanying music detail was lost.

Psalm Order Formation by Intent

Hebrew Terms of Intent:	Zakar	Yadah	Halel
Meaning:	Remembrance	Acknowledgment	Praise
Idea:	A plea to God we are in trouble	Acknowledgment of answered prayer	Exaltation to God for who He is
Type:	Dirge: Lament (Psalms of Disorientation)	Gratitude: Declared Praise (Psalms of Reorientation)	Hymn: Descriptive Praise (Psalms of Orientation)

Psalm Order Formation by Type

The Laments (Psalms of Disorientation)		The Declaratives (Psalms of Reorientation)		The Descriptives (Psalms of Orientation)
Components:	Address Lament Confession of Trust Petition Vow to Praise or Declarative Praise of God	Components:	Proclamation to Praise God Summary Statement Report of Deliverance Praise of God	Components:	Call to Praise Cause of Praise Renewed Call to Praise
References:	Individual Laments: Ps 3-7, 9-10, 12-14, 17, 22, 25-28, 31, 35, 38-43, 52-57, 59, 61, 63-64, 69-71, 77, 86, 88, 89, 109, 120, 140-142 National Laments: Ps 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 9	References:	Ps 18, 30, 32, 34, 40, 65, 67, 92, 106, 107, 116, 118, 121, 124, 138	References:	Ps 33, 36, 105, 111, 113, 117, 135, 136, 146, 147

Psalm Order Formation by Author

Distribution of Books within Psalms

Book 1	Book 2	Book 3	Book 4	Book 5
Ps 1 – Ps 42	Ps 43 – Ps 72	Ps 74 – Ps 89	Ps 90 – Ps 106	Ps 107 – Ps 150

Book 1 – Majority of Davidic Psalms

Anonymous (cf.: Acts 4:25-26)	David (Anonymous Ps 10, 33)
Ps 1 -2	Ps 3 – 41

Book 2 – Majority of Davidic Psalms

Korah	Asaph	David (Anonymous 66, 67, 71)	Solomon
Ps 42 – 49	Ps 50	Ps 51 – 71	Ps 72

Book 3 – Central Position of Davidic Psalm

Asaph	Korah	David	Korah	Ethan
Ps 73 – 83	Ps 84 – 85	Ps 86	Ps 87 – 88	Ps 89

Book 4 – Davidic Psalms Evenly Distributed

Moses	Anonymous	David (Anonymous 102)	Anonymous
Ps 90	Ps 91 – 100	Ps 101 – 103	Ps 104 – 106

Book 5 – Davidic Psalms Evenly Distributed

Anonymous	David	Anonymous	Ascents	Anonymous	David	Anonymous
Ps 107	Ps 108 – 110	Ps 111 – 119	David: Ps 122 Ps 124 Ps 131 Ps 133 Solomon: Ps 127	Ps 135 – 137	Ps 138 – 145	Ps 146 – 150

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