(Part 1)

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