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JBTM_13-2_Fall_2016
JBTM_13-2_Fall_2016
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JBTM Jeffrey G. Audirsch<br />
44<br />
psalms, and enthronement psalms. 53 First, hymns or songs of praise (e.g., Ps 117) make up<br />
roughly one-fifth of the Psalter. These psalms issue a call to lift up praise/rejoice to God.<br />
Frequently the phrases, “give praise,” “sing,” “give thanks” begin the psalm. From there,<br />
God is given praise. 54 Contextually, the hymns are related to “annual festivals and national<br />
festivals.” 55<br />
Second, communal laments/complaints (e.g., Ps 80) are related to a specific calamity<br />
or threat to the people (e.g., war, imprisonment, drought, etc.). Typically, a fast is called<br />
and all the people congregate. The community is “sanctified” (Joel 1:14), sackcloth is<br />
worn, and pleading/weeping to God is done. 56 Individual laments/complaints (e.g., Ps 13)<br />
are derived from “the cult and its purposes.” A variety of situations are incorporated in<br />
the individual complaints (e.g., false allegations and illness). These psalms include an<br />
address, complaint, and a petition to God. 57 Third, individual thanksgiving songs were<br />
originally part of the worship service and linked to the thanksgiving offering. The offerer<br />
was celebrating deliverance from oppression/distress. These psalms possibly compliment<br />
individual lament psalms. More importantly, God is the object of the thanksgiving song<br />
due to his deliverance from distress. The structure of thanksgiving psalms does not always<br />
follow a set pattern. 58 Fourth, royal psalms emphasize a particular theme rather than a<br />
literary structure. These psalms are best understood as “kingship psalms” (e.g., Pss 2; 18;<br />
20; and 110). Gunkel writes,“Most of these psalms are full of enthusiastic praises of the king<br />
and exuberant good wishes for his welfare.” 59 Fifth, wisdom and Torah psalms emphasize<br />
the theme of “fear of Yahweh.” These psalms do not contain a literary structure and due to<br />
their limited number are considered a minor type. It should be noted that scholars disagree<br />
concerning the number of wisdom/Torah psalms. 60 Wisdom psalms emphasize the proper<br />
way to live. This form of teaching is usually isolated or at the conclusion of a psalm. 61 Sixth,<br />
enthronement psalms emphasize “Yahweh reigns” or “The Lord has become king” even<br />
when dire circumstances have arisen. For many Christians, enthronement psalms have<br />
been interpreted messianically.<br />
53<br />
Several dictionary articles and introductions to the Psalms provide helpful overviews of<br />
Gunkel’s literary types. These secondary sources are helpful for quickly identifying and outlining key<br />
characteristics of the major types of Psalms.<br />
54<br />
Gunkel and Begrich, An Introduction to the Psalms, 22–23; idem, Gunkel, The Psalms, 10–13. For a<br />
concise overview of Gunkel’s types, see also William H. Bellinger Jr., “Psalms 1: Book of,” in Dictionary<br />
of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry, & Writings, eds. Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns (Downers<br />
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008), 582–83.<br />
55<br />
Ibid., 61–62.<br />
56<br />
Ibid., 82–84.<br />
57<br />
Ibid., 94–96. See also Bellinger, “Psalms 1: Book of,” 581–82.<br />
58<br />
Ibid., 199–209.<br />
59<br />
Gunkel, The Psalms, 24.<br />
60<br />
Ibid., 22–23; cf. Bellinger, “Psalms 1: Book of,” 585.<br />
61<br />
Claus Westermann, “Book of Psalms,” New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary, 709.