Chapter 7: Israel’s Sacred Songs Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations (The Writings I) Ketuvim in Hebrew The third section of the Hebrew canon is the Writings

a collection of various types of poems, most of which were sung in the context of worship an anthology of love poetry from ancient Israel a group of poems of anguish that were all motivated by the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E.

Types of Psalms Lament – the most frequent – a prayer to God that describes a situation of distress; cries out to God in anguish, and calls upon God to act to relieve the situation (petition). Personal Laments – One-third of psalms describe the situation of a single person.

91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Communal Laments – Psalm 79 Enemies (vss. 1-3) “us” (vs. 4) God (vs. 5) Petition (vss. 6-12) Promise of Praise (vs. 13)

Other Psalms The Song of Praise – a poem that acknowledges and affirms God, in terms of who God is or what God has done. Songs of Thanksgiving – Give thanks to God for specific deeds of deliverance. The Hymn is referred to praising God in general. Human Mortality – 90 Suffering of the Righteous – 73 Royal Songs – a concern with the king – 2, 21, 132, etc. Liturgical Psalms – Specific use in public worship – 15, 24, 107, etc. Zion Psalms – focus on Jerusalem – 46, 76, 87, etc.

Psalm 119 The longest Psalm, longest chapter in bible, 176 verses The acrostic alphabetic psalm The first line or strophe (stanza) begins with aleph, first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second line with the second letter, beth, and so on through the twenty-two Hebrew letters of the alphabet

God and I – a first person perspective, speaking to God with two basic patterns: dislocation and reorientation God and other divine beings – the biblical writers could both attack the other gods, such as Canaanite Ba’al. God and Israel – “deeds you performed in … the days of old.” Psalm 44:1-3 God and nature – The earth is admonished to praise the Lord. Psalms 96:1; 97:1

WASF The wasf is a poem that describe the parts of the human body through metaphors, such as eyes, breasts, lips, etc. * Psalms 4:1-5 Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes behind your veil. …Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely …Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies.

Lamentations 3: Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning; Great is Your the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed? 39 Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord; 41 Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in prayer. 45 You have made us an offscouring and refuse In the midst of the peoples. 46 All our enemies Have opened their mouths against us. 48 My eyes overflow with rivers of water For the destruction of the daughter of my people. 52 My enemies without cause Hunted me down like a bird.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT Research Paper Presentation Be prepared to discuss in class RESOURCES: Hauer, Christian E., & William A. Young. An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds. 8 th edition. Boston: Pearson Print. The Holy Bible Eagle’s Web