In my previous entry on Psalm 5, I noted the common themes surrounded morning and evening in the set of laments in Psalms 3-7. I also suggested that we read Psalm 8 as a hymn of praise in response to God's faithfulness to answer the prayers of the laments in Psalms 3-7. These groanings of David are not merely individual, they are connected to the groanings of all creation for redemption (Romans 8:18ff), since the throne of David represents the throne of (new) Adam.
I then asked the question whether or not we are warranted to further this connection between David and Adam by noting that there are 5 laments preceeding Psalm 8, just as there are 5 days preceeding the creation of man in Gen 1.
Here now is further evidence connecting David's prayers (Psalms 3-9) to the creation account at the beginning of the Torah:
As I had noted in my previous entry, the superscripts unite psalms 3-7 in a chiastic pattern (A-B-C-B-A). but the superscripts of Psalms 8 & 9 are also similar to each other:
Thus psalms 8-9 as hymns of praise, are set apart as a doublet from the psalms of laments (3-7), as days 6 & days 7 are set apart in God's creation account in Gen 1 & 2.
Can you think of any other connections?
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I consider Psalm 5 to the centerpiece of a group of laments beginning in Psalm 3 and ending in Psalm 7. The superscripts for this set of psalms suggest an intentional composition strategy functioning to unify around the Davidic drama.
(3:1) A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM HIS SON.
(4:1) TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.
A PSALM OF DAVID.(5:1) TO THE CHOIRMASTER: FOR THE FLUTES.
A PSALM OF DAVID.(6:1) TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDING TO THE SHEMINITH.
A PSALM OF DAVID.
(7:1) A SHIGGAION OF DAVID, WHICH HE SANG TO THE LORD CONCERNING THE WORDS OF CUSH, A BENJAMINITE.
It appears to me that the superscripts of Psalm 3 & 7 bracket these laments with historical information concerning the life of David: Psalm 3 concerns David's fleeing from Absalom (2 Samuel 15); while Psalm 7 may refer to one or two later incidents: Shimei the Benjamite's curses against David (2 Samuel 16:1-23), and/or possibly the Cushite's news of Absalom's death (2 Samuel 18:31). Within this historical bracket (inclusio), Psalms 4-6 are connected with a chiasitic (A-B-A) pattern of instrumental directives to the "Choirmaster": strings - winds - strings.
Thus, Psalm 5 is the liturgical center for this set of laments anchored in the redemptive-historical situation where God's anointed king has been exiled from the throne and groans for final restoration.
Morning and Evening
Within this Davidic drama, I am impressed by a common theme surrounding morning and evening.
Upon closer examination of the word "morning" in the Psalms, I found that it is used most often to express confidence and hope that Yahweh will act in the morning to bring salvation, to deliver from the time of trouble. Conversely, evening/night is a metaphor for the time of trouble/distress, even from God's own wrath:
The "morning" is also used to express thanksgiving for Yahweh's faithful protection through the distress of the night:
Psalms 3-7 also seem to draw upon the theme of divine protection and divine deliverance by its use of morning and evening.
Resolution: New Creation in the Christ
"Morning" and "evening" are creation motifs. David's throne is not simply a throne for establishing justice in Israel, but for the entire cosmos. God had promised to set the entire world to right through a chosen seed, his annointed son. I think that is why David's psalms most often carry historical ambiguity. Not simply because the psalmists indend to express "timeless truths" or "an individual's existential struggles that relate to experiences of many", but because the Psalter is comprehensive and cosmic, concerned with the summation of all of history and creation with respect to God's promises through his chosen, annointed leadership--David's throne.
Thus, I read David's creation psalm (Psalm 8) as a praise arising from Yahweh's faithfulness to answer his laments of Psalms 3-7. David has been restored to the throne, "crowned with glory and honor"; peace and harmony has been restored to God's creation (cf. Gen 1 & 2). And this movement from lament to praise is a microcosm of the Psalter as a whole: God will answer the prayers of David to bring praise and worship to him in all creation.
David's greatest son, Jesus, has faced the full night of God's wrath but his tears of blood have turned to tears of joy in his resurrection and exaltation to God's right hand forever. The dawn of morning has come. God has been faithful to His promises to David. Praise God for the new creation He brought about for us in Christ!
Further Question(s) & Comments:
< verb >
< subject >
< object >
<genitive>
< adverb >
1
for the choir-director: upon the flutes
[for the end, concerning the one who inherits (LXX)]
a psalm of+David
1(2)
(noun masculine plural construct + suffix 1st person common singular)
the words of me
(verb hiphil imperative masculine singular paragogic heh)
heed
(noun proper)
O Yahweh
(verb qal imperative masculine singular paragogic heh)
consider
(noun masculine sing construct + suffix 1st person common singular)
the groaning of me
2(3)
(verb hiphil imperative masculine singular paragogic heh)
pay attention
(noun masculine singular)
to the voice
(noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular)
of my cry-for-help
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1st person common singular)
O King of me
(noun masculine plural construct + suffix 1st person common singular)
& God of me
(particle preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular )
for unto you
(verb hithpael imperfect 1st person common singular)
I pray
3(4)
(noun proper)
O Yahweh
(noun masculine singular)
in the morning
(verb qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular)
you shall hear
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1st person common sing)
the voice of me
(noun masculine singular)
a sacrifice [(in the) morning?]
(verb qal imperfect 1st person common singular)
I will prepare [a table of sacrifice?] [for battle?] [direct my prayer?]
(particle preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular)
for you
(verb piel imperfect 1st person common singular)
& I will serve up [keep watch(LXX)?][look up?]
4(5)
(particle conjunction)
for
(particle negative)
not
(noun masculine singular) + (adjective masculine singular)
a god + who-delights-in
(noun masculine singular)
offense
(pronoun independent 2nd person masculine singular)
you are
(verb qal impf 3rd person masc sing + suffix 2nd person masc sing)
may not dwell with you
(adjective masculine singular)
evil
5(6)
(verb hithpael imperfect 3rd person masculine plural)
shall not take-their-stand
(verb qal participle masculine plural)
the infatuated
(noun feminine dual construct + suffix 2nd person masc sing)
before the eyes of you
(verb qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular)
you hate
(noun masc sing construct )+ (verb qal participle masc plural)
all + those-who-practice
(noun masculine singular)
injustice
6(7)
(verb piel imperfect 2nd person masculine singular)
you make-destroyed
(verb qal participle masculine plural construct)
those-who-speak
(noun masculine singular)
a lie
(noun masculine singular) +
a man
(noun masculine plural) & (noun feminine singular)
of blood & fraud
(verb piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular)
abhors
Yahweh
7(8)
(pronoun independent 1st person common singular)
But as for me
(particle prep)+(noun masculine singular)
in the abundance
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masc sing)
of the faithfulness of you
(verb qal imperfect 1st person common singular cohortative in meaning)
may I enter
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masculine singular)
the house of you
(verb hishtaphel imperfect 1st person common singular cohortative in meaning)
may I bow
(prep) + (noun masculine singular construct) +
towards + the temple
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masc singular)
+ of the holiness of you
(prep) + (noun feminine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masc sing)
in fear of you
8(9)
O Yahweh
(verb qal imperative masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular)
lead me
(prep)+(noun feminine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masc sing)
in the righteousness of you
(part-prep) + (noun masc plural construct + suffix 1st person common sing)
because of the enemy-accusers of me
(verb hiphil imperative masculine singular qere)
make level
(noun masculine plural construct + suffix 1st person common singular)
before the face of me
(noun both singular construct + suffix 2nd person masculine singular)
the way of you
9(10)
for is not
(noun masc sing construct + suffix 3rd person masc sing)
in the mouth of him
(verb niphal participle feminine singular)
trustworthiness
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 3rd person masc plural)
the inside of them
(noun common feminine plural)
is destructions/threats.
(noun masculine singular)
is a grave
(verb qal passive participle masculine singular)
opened
(noun masculine singular construct + suffix 3rd person masc plural)
the throat of them
(noun both sing const + suffix 3rd person masc plural)
the tongue of them
(verb hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural)
they make-smooth/flatter
10(11)
(verb hiphil imperative masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural)
make them pay [for their guilt]
O God,
(verb qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural jussive in meaning)
let them fall
(prep)+(noun feminine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masculine plural)
from the counsels of them
(prep)+(noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masc plural)
in the abundance of the crimes of them
(verb hiphil imperative masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural)
make them scatter
(conj) + (verb qal perfect 3rd person common plural)
for they have rebelled
(particle preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular )
against you
11(12)
(particle conjunction) + (verb qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural jussive in meaning)
&/but let them be merry
(noun masc sing construct) + (verb qal participle masc plural construct)
all + those-who-take-refuge
(particle preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular)
in you
(noun masculine singular)
forever
(verb piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural jussive in meaning)
let them be exultant
(particle conjunction) + (verb hiphil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular)
& make inaccessible
(particle preposition + suffix 3rd person masculine plural)
upon them
(verb qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural jussive in meaning)
& let them rejoice
(particle preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular )
in you
(verb qal participle masculine plural )
those-who-love
(noun masc sing construct + suffix 2nd person masc singular)
the name of you
12(13)
(particle conjunction) + (pronoun independent 2nd person masc sing)
for You
(verb piel imperfect 2nd person masculine singular)
you make blessed
(adjective masculine singular)
the righteous
O Yahweh
(particle article & insep prep) + (noun feminine singular)
as a body-shield
(noun masculine singular)
with favor
(verb qal impf 2nd person masc sing + suffix 3rd pr masc sing)
you surround/crown him
What are Messianic Psalms? The popular way to identify which psalms are "messianic" is two-fold:
1) psalms that the NT records Jesus to have prayed
2) psalms used in NT as containing prophecy that was literally fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah
Now, it's conceivable to have an even stricter view that only the portions of Scripture quoted by or in reference to Christ in the NT are "Messianic". I've heard rumors of this kind of position, but don't know anyone personally who holds to it.
A broader view allows the Messianic class to be applied to psalms and/or portions of psalms that echo those quoted in the NT or else do not fully fit the historical situation of the author (but only seem to apply to Jesus). Thus, psalms that suggest the deity of the king (e.g. Ps 45:6-7) or moral perfection (e.g. Ps 7:8) are taken as prophetic and predictive, not true prayers of Israelites for their own time, while Psalms that include confession of sin are excluded from Messianic consideration (e.g. Ps 51).
But do you think this delineation between Messianic and non-Messianic portions of Scripture does full justice to the teaching of Jesus in Luke 24:27 and 44-45?
ESV Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
ESV Luke 24:44: Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Would anyone be offended if a plump, roasted rabbit was served to you for Easter dinner in a baby blue wicker basket ornamented with deviled eggs and a glass of pastel pink vinegar?