1. © Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION How does music function in our culture?

2. © Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S HYMNAL Music and singing were an important part of everyday life in ancient Israel OT mentions harvest songs, victory songs, mocking songs, funeral songs, praise songs and thanksgiving songs OT mentions drums, cymbals, pipes and other wind instruments, lyre and other stringed instruments and trumpets Israel’s worship involved sacrifices and music

3. © Cambridge University Press 2014 LYRE PLAYER & CYMBALS Art Resource; ART73506; photo credit: “Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY”

4. © Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S HYMNAL The book of Psalms is a collection of Israel’s favorite hymns used in the worship of Yahweh “Psalm” is the Greek word for “song, hymn” Christian canon places it between Job and Proverbs Jewish canon places it at the head of the third section of the canon, the “Writings”

5. © Cambridge University Press 2014 BOOK OF PSALMS Final editors of the hymnal organized the psalms into five books of unequal lengths to mirror the five-part division of the Pentateuch Book One: Psalms 1-41 Book Two: Psalms 42-72 Book Three: Psalms 73-89 Book Four: Psalms 90-106 Book Five: Psalms 107-150

6. © Cambridge University Press 2014 BOOK OF PSALMS This five-book arrangement is likely late We are not sure what the original organizing principle might have been Collection probably went through several stages, in which the organizing principle changed more than once Possibly organized by author, function or theme We shouldn’t expect an all-inclusive organizing principle

7. © Cambridge University Press 2014 BOOK OF PSALMS Psalm 1 and 2 provide a general introduction and Psalm 150 provides a conclusion Psalm 1 encourages a life of submission to the law of Yahweh Psalm 2 encourages accepting the sovereignty of the king of heaven and his messiah, the son of David Psalm 150 is a praise hymn in which all of creation breaks forth in praise of Yahweh

8. © Cambridge University Press 2014 BOOK OF PSALMS All but 34 of of the psalms have a title or superscription Generally either musical or historical notations Nearly half marked as psalms “of David,” which may indicate authorship, content or style Superscriptions are not original but they are early traditions

9. © Cambridge University Press 2014 BOOK OF PSALMS We cannot associate the Psalms with one specific period in Israel’s history Some were written in the exile; others are quite old Timeless quality is intentional Intended to be embraced and shared in any generation; inviting each reader into worship

10. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF OT CRITICISM Source Criticism focuses on the underlying literary sources of the present text. Includes the “Documentary Hypothesis” theory on the origins of the Pentateuch Redaction Criticism focuses on the editorial process of the biblical text. It is concerned with how the early sources may have been selected, arranged, expanded and combined into the present form.

11. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF OT CRITICISM Tradition Criticism focuses on the way older texts have been taken up, (re)interpreted, and incorporated into newer texts. Rhetorical Criticism focuses on OT as an organic literary whole, exploring its artistic integrity as a literary creation. Canonical Criticism focuses on interpreting the OT in light of the way it has been shaped to serve as Scripture in a believing or worshipping community.

12. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF OT CRITICISM Form Criticism focuses on the reconstructed literary, pre-literary or even oral stages of the sources prior to their composition. It classifies these original units according to their genre and function in a specific sociological setting. Hermann Gunkel is the “father” of form criticism Form criticism has been especially fruitful in studying the psalms and prophets Seeks the origin of songs and poems in their function rather than in their history

13. © Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION How do we classify or categorize music?

14. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF PSALMS General Categories: Joy & Sorrow Individual/Personal & Corporate/Communal Specific categories: Hymns / Praise Songs Enthronement Psalms Songs of Thanksgiving Songs of Lament Royal Psalms Wisdom and Instruction Psalms

15. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF PSALMS Hymns / Praise Songs call worshippers to praise Yahweh for his character or his wondrous works. Example: Psalm 117 Enthronement Psalms are a category of praise hymns that extol God’s kingship. Example: Psalm 47:1-2 Songs of Thanksgiving recount specific acts of God’s deliverance and express confidence in God’s power to save and deliver. Example: Psalm 30:1-3

16. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF PSALMS Songs of Lament arose in times of crisis when the speaker feels abandoned by God, attacked by enemies or carries an affliction or sorrow a)Address or Invocation b)Petition or request for Yahweh to deliver c)Complaint (naming the problem) d)Affirmation of trust in Yahweh e)Vow to praise Yahweh when the crisis or threat is passed Example: Psalm 54

17. © Cambridge University Press 2014 TYPES OF PSALMS Royal Psalms focus on particular events connected with the earthly king in Jerusalem Example: Psalm 2 Wisdom Psalms focus on the themes of Israel’s instruction literature: the promises and pitfalls of life and advice for living in a way that pleases God and results in success. Example: Psalm 19

18. © Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION What is the relationship between music and religion?

19. © Cambridge University Press 2014 RELIGION IN THE PSALMS Psalms consistently declare the incomparable quality of God’s character and recount his mighty acts of salvation in history Teach and encourage devotion to Yahweh as supreme over all other deities (monolatrous henotheism) Possible to understand the incomparability of Yahweh as implicit monotheism Who is like Yahweh our God? (Psalm 113)

20. © Cambridge University Press 2014 RELIGION IN THE PSALMS Concerned with defining God positively and inviting readers to worship and serve Yahweh exclusively Few explicit statements of monotheism “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours … For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God” (Psalm 86:8, 10)

21. © Cambridge University Press 2014 RELIGION IN THE PSALMS There are a few negative statements in the OT denying the existence of other deities “For all the gods of the peoples are idols” (Psalm 96:5) Elsewhere, other deities are proclaimed to be me mortals “I had thought to myself, ‘You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you.’ However, you will die like human, fall like any prince” (Ps 82:6-7)