{"id":966,"date":"2019-08-26T10:47:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-26T09:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=966"},"modified":"2019-08-26T10:47:42","modified_gmt":"2019-08-26T09:47:42","slug":"psalms-part-2-the-prayers-of-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=966","title":{"rendered":"Psalms Part 2 – The Prayers of Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

10.1\tThe Theology of the Psalms
\n\u201cThe Lord is the Creator (8, 104). It is the ground of his present sovereign rule over all things as King (29, 96\u201399). The righteousness of his rule is predominant (11, 75) in his divine Kingship (145) righteousness is only one strand in a threefold cord along with greatness and grace. The goodness of God (34) is inseparable from his holiness (103) and finds its counterpart in his wrath (38). He is universal in his rule (67) and particular in his choice of Israel (87), as shown by the messianic David, king of Israel and of the world (2, 72, 110). Both to his people as a whole (80) and to the individual (23), the Lord is Shepherd, the basis of confidence in looking to him for deliverance (16, 25, 31), recognizing his attentiveness to his people\u2019s needs (e.g. 3, 27).\u201d
\n(taken from J. A. Motyer, (1994). The Psalms. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 487).
\nGOD IN THE PSALMS. Yahweh is creator, warrior, king, judge, saviour and redeemer, shepherd and covenant Lord. God is our Rock and Stronghold\/Fortress.
\nGod is Creator Psalms 8:3; 24:2; 104:1\u201335, 135, 136 (In creation 136:4-9 leads on to covenant 136:10-15.) Theophanies Psa 18, 29.
\nGod is King Psa 47, 96, 97, 98, 93:1, 95:3, 89:11 incomparable 18:32, 35:10, 71:19
\nGod\u2019s wonderful deeds in Creation and Salvation 105:2, 106:7, 145:12, 86:10, 65:5, 78:4, 66:3, 26:6,139.<\/p>\n

God is all-powerful 102, 2, 44, 11.
\nGod ways reveal God\u2019s character: 25:4, 95:10, 103:7.<\/p>\n

God is our Rock (14x) our Stronghold and Fortress (18x)<\/p>\n

God is God of the Covenant Psalm 89 \u201cGod of Israel\u201d 41:13, 59:6, God of the Patriarchs 46:7, 11 and God of David. See also Psa 105, 44, 89, 132. And personally the God of the Psalmist \u201cmy salvation\u201d 18:46, 25:5.
\nGod is the loyal and FAITHFUL God The most important aspect of God\u2019s character in the covenant is HESED: unfailing loyalty and faithfulness mentioned 100 times in Psalms \u2013 \u201cthe power which guarantees a covenant and makes it strong and durable\u201d Psa 31:21, 17:17, 107:8, 108. God\u2019s loyalty is the basis of confidence in prayer.
\nGod is the God of GRACE in the Psalms
\nExodus 34:5-7 Man is weak Psa 103, 90 and a sinner Psa 130, 143, 19, 69, 90, 51. Grace is revealed through the Law Psa 1, 19, 119. God is present in the Temple. Psalms of Ascents 120-134, 5:7 27:4.
\n10.2\tPrayers: Psalms of Lament 22, 38, 59, 69, 109, 143
\nLament. Laments may be personal statements of despair, such as that found in Psalm 22:1\u201321, dirges following the death of an important person (David\u2019s elegy for Saul in 2 Sam 1:17\u201327) or communal cries in times of crisis, such as Psalm 137. Lamenting personal suffering 69, 38, Complaint against enemies 109, Complaint against God 22. Describing distress\/misfortune Psa 22:6-18 and crying out for deliverance. Protesting innocence Psa 59, expressing wishes or curses Psa 55:15, 61:4, 106:6, 30, and invoking the character and deeds of Yahweh in pleas for help e.g. Psa 143:1. God\u2019s power helps the poor and needy Psa 113:7. God is my strength, my stronghold, my tower, my rock. Psalms of Lament call out to God for help.
\n10.3\tPrayers: Petitions in the Psalms
\nRequests for physical deliverance\/rescue, mercy\/ forgiveness, healing, help in war, guidance, rain\/harvest, future blessings, to see God, to dwell in the Temple. e,g, asking God to be attentive 130, and to intervene 3:7. The grounds of petitions include Yahweh\u2019s Name 79:9f, 42:10, Yahweh\u2019s Character 86:15
\n10.4\tPrayers: Psalms of Confession 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143
\nThese seven penitential Psalms have been adopted by the church since Augustine (5th Century).
\n10.5\tImprecatory Psalms 35:1\u20138; 59; 69; 109, 137 Are they a problem?
\nIn contrast to a background of faith and obedience some feel that the imprecatory psalms (especially 35:1\u20138; 59; 69; 109) pose a moral difficulty. The underlying idea in these passages in the Psalter, where curses and revengeful punishments are invoked upon the enemy, is expressed in 139:21f., \u2018Do I not hate them that hate thee, O Lord? \u2026 I count them my enemies.\u2019
\n\u201cThe vigour with which enemies were denounced within the Psalms has ever been a source of difficulty. Has the desire for the sudden destruction of foes (35:8), their death (55:15), the breaking of their teeth (58:6), the destitution (109:10) and massacre of their children (137:9) anything in common with the mind of Christ? There are about 25 psalms which contain such passages. \u2026 In almost every case the imprecation which we find objectionable sits alongside a spirituality we would envy, e.g. Psalm 139. \u2026 They are all prayers. There is no suggestion that the psalmists planned vengeful action, nor even that they entertained vengeful thoughts. Their reaction to hurt was to commit the matter to the Lord and leave it there. As J. R. W. Stott remarks (The Canticles and Selected Psalms [Hodder & Stoughton, 1966], pp. 11ff.), \u2018I do not find it hard to imagine situations in which holy men of God do and should \u2026 cry to God for vengeance \u2026 and that without any feelings of personal animosity.\u2019\u201d J.A. Motyer, (1994). The Psalms in IVP New Bible commentary 488
\n10.6\t\u201cThe Poor\u201d in the Psalms<\/p>\n

READING FOR UNITS 10 and 11
\nJ. A. Motyer, (1994). The Psalms. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), IVP New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 487).
\nIVP New Bible Dictionary 3rd edition article on Psalms, Book of
\nGordon Fee and Douglas Stuart How to Read the Bible Book by Book Zondervan 2002 pp 130-143
\nTremper Longman III Old Testament Essentials Creation \u2026. IVP 2014 chapter 13
\nJohn Goldingay An Introduction to the Old Testament IVP 2016 pages 288-323
\nGood commentaries on the Psalms include
\nF. D. Kidner, Psalms, 2 vols, TOTC (IVP, 1975).
\nP. C. Craigie, Psalms 1\u201350, WBC (Word, 1983).
\nL. C. Allen, Psalms 101\u2013150, WBC (Word, 1983)<\/p>\n

See also B.S. Childs Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (1979)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

10.1 The Theology of the Psalms \u201cThe Lord is the Creator (8, 104). It is the ground of his present sovereign rule over all…<\/span><\/p>\n

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