Psalm 113 – “Hymn”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist praises God for lifting the needy.

II. Photo
The psalmist praises God: “He raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the refuse heap to set them with the great, with the great men of His people!”

III. Select Verses    
2-4: Let the name of the LORD be blessed now and forever.  From east to west the name of the LORD is praised. The LORD is exalted above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.
5-9: Who is like the LORD our God, who, enthroned on high, sees what is below, in heaven and on earth?  He raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the refuse heap to set them with the great, with the great men of His people.  He sets the childless woman among her household as a happy mother of children. Hallelujah.

IV. Outline
1. Superscription
2-9. Hymn and rationale
9b. Postscript

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
Note: vv. 7-8 appear, with minor differences, in Hannah’s prayer (1 Sam 2:8).

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://www.shenzhenstuff.com/forum/topics/what-is-the-meaning

Psalm 112 – “Acrostic Blessing”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary
The psalmist describes and blesses the righteous in an alphabetic acrostic.

II. Photo
The righteous man is blessed: “A light shines for the upright in the darkness; he is gracious, compassionate, and beneficent.” (v. 4)

III. Select Verses    
(The whole psalm)
1-10: Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears the LORD, who is ardently devoted to His commandments. His descendants will be mighty in the land, a blessed generation of upright men. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever. A light shines for the upright in the darkness; he is gracious, compassionate, and beneficent. All goes well with the man who lends generously, who conducts his affairs with equity. He shall never be shaken; the beneficent man will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, he trusts in the LORD. His heart is resolute, he is unafraid; in the end he will see the fall of his foes. He gives freely to the poor; his beneficence lasts forever; his horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man shall see it and be vexed; he shall gnash his teeth; his courage shall fail. The desire of the wicked shall come to nothing.

IV. Outline
1a. Superscription
1b-9. Beatitude
10. Imprecation

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://dark.pozadia.org/images/wallpapers/wz_bring_the_light_back_5326246430-803730.jpeg

Psalm 111 – “Acrostic Hymn”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist praises and gives thanks to god in an alphabetic acrostic.

II. Photo
The psalmist speaks about early education: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; all who practice it gain sound understanding.” (v. 10)

III. Select Verses    
2-4a: The works of the LORD are great, within reach of all who desire them. His deeds are splendid and glorious; His beneficence is everlasting; He has won renown for His wonders.
4b-5a: The LORD is gracious and compassionate; He gives food to those who fear Him.
9: He sent redemption to His people; He ordained His covenant for all time; His name is holy and awesome.
10: The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD; all who practice it gain sound understanding. Praise of Him is everlasting.

IV. Outline
1a. Superscription
1b. Declaration of praise
2-9. Hymnic praise and thanksgiving
10. Motivation

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://www.iosho.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Education.jpg

Psalm 110 – “Oracle and Blessing”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary
The psalmist quotes God and blesses a righteous priest-king.

II. Photo
God blesses the protagonist: “Sit at My right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.” (v. 1b)

III. Select Verses    
(The entire psalm)
1-7: Of David. A psalm. The LORD said to my lord, “Sit at My right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.” The LORD will stretch forth from Zion your mighty scepter; hold sway over your enemies!  Your people come forward willingly on your day of battle. In majestic holiness, from the womb, from the dawn, yours was the dew of youth. The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree.”  The Lord is at your right hand. He crushes kings in the day of His anger.  He works judgment upon the nations, heaping up bodies, crushing heads far and wide.  He drinks from the stream on his way; therefore he holds his head high.

IV. Outline
1a. Superscription
1b-6. Oracles and Blessings

V. Comment
Psalm 110 is one of the most enigmatic psalms in the entire Psalter. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_joAc3TEVibs/TN0xwp_vNXI/AAAAAAAABJg/sews4X5o4JU/s1600/3449634437_0a20d3a673.jpg

Psalm 109 – “Imprecation”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist proclaims his innocence and asks God to punish his enemies severely.

II. Photo
The psalmist curses his enemies: “My accusers shall be clothed in shame, wrapped in their disgrace as in a robe!” (v. 29)

III. Select Verses    
2-5: The wicked and the deceitful open their mouth against me; they speak to me with lying tongue. They encircle me with words of hate; they attack me without cause. They answer my love with accusation and I must stand judgment.  They repay me with evil for good, with hatred for my love.
8-13: May his days be few; may another take over his position. May his children be orphans, his wife a widow.  May his children wander from their hovels, begging in search of [bread].  May his creditor seize all his possessions; may strangers plunder his wealth.  May no one show him mercy; may none pity his orphans;  may his posterity be cut off; may their names be blotted out in the next generation
14: May God be ever mindful of his father’s iniquity, and may the sin of his mother not be blotted out.
17: He loved to curse — may a curse come upon him! He would not bless — may blessing be far from him!

IV. Outline
1a. Superscription
1b. Invocation, initial plea
2-5. Rationale, Complaint, Proclamation of innocence
6-20. Imprecation, Rationale
21. Petition
22-25. Rationale, Complaint
26-27. Petition, Rationale
28-29. Hope / Imprecation
30-31. Vow, Rationale

V. Comment
Psalm 109 has been labeled by many a “curse psalm.” Indeed, verses 6-20 contain some of the harshest imprecations in the entire psalter:

• vv. 8-10: May his days be few; may another take over his position. May his children be orphans, his wife a widow. May his children wander from their hovels, begging in search of [bread].
• vv. 12-13: May no one show him mercy; may none pity his orphans; may his posterity be cut off; may their names be blotted out in the next generation.
• v. 17: He loved to curse — may a curse come upon him! He would not bless — may blessing be far from him!

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aZARGQgleAk/TSG8566jh-I/AAAAAAAAAa8/AllLjxACU_8/s1600/dark-hood-05.jpg

Psalm 108 – “Petition for Military Success”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist praises God and asks him to fulfill his promise of military success.

II. Photo
The psalmist complains: “But You have rejected us, O God; God, You do not march with our armies!” (v. 12)

III. Select Verses    
2: My heart is firm, O God; I will sing and chant a hymn with all my soul.
8-10: God promised in His sanctuary that I would exultingly divide up Shechem, and measure the Valley of Sukkoth; Gilead and Manasseh would be mine, Ephraim my chief stronghold, Judah my scepter; Moab would be my washbasin; on Edom I would cast my shoe; I would raise a shout over Philistia.
12-13: But You have rejected us, O God; God, You do not march with our armies. Grant us Your aid against the foe, for the help of man is worthless.
14: With God we shall triumph; He will trample our foes.

IV. Outline

1. Superscription
2-7. Hymn
    2-4. Declaration of praise
    5. Rationale
    6. Wish
    7. Rationale
8-10. Oracle
11. Wish
12. Complaint
13. Petition and rationale
14. Hope / affirmation of confidence

V. Comment
Psalm 108 is a prime example of how some psalms were composed with interchangeable parts. The first portion of Psalm 108 can be found, with only minor differences, in Psalm 57, and the second portion can be found in Psalm 60:

Psalm 108:2-6

• My heart is firm, O God; I will sing and chant a hymn with all my soul.
• Awake, O harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn.
• I will praise You among the peoples, O LORD, sing a hymn to You among the nations;
• for Your faithfulness is higher than the heavens; Your steadfastness reaches to the sky.
• Exalt Yourself over the heavens, O God; let Your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 57:8-12

• My heart is firm, O God; my heart is firm; I will sing, I will chant a hymn.
• Awake, O my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn.
• I will praise You among the peoples, O LORD; I will sing a hymn to You among the nations;
• for Your faithfulness is as high as heaven; Your steadfastness reaches to the sky.
• Exalt Yourself over the heavens, O God, let Your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 108:7-14

• That those whom You love may be rescued, deliver with Your right hand and answer me.
• God promised in His sanctuary that I would exultingly divide up Shechem, and measure the Valley of Sukkoth;
• Gilead and Manasseh would be mine, Ephraim my chief stronghold, Judah my scepter;
• Moab would be my washbasin; on Edom I would cast my shoe; I would raise a shout over Philistia.
• Would that I were brought to the bastion! Would that I were led to Edom!
• But You have rejected us, O God; God, You do not march with our armies.
• Grant us Your aid against the foe, for the help of man is worthless.
• With God we shall triumph; He will trample our foes.

Ps 60:7-14

• That those whom You love might be rescued, deliver with Your right hand and answer me.
• God promised in His sanctuary that I would exultingly divide up Shechem, and measure the Valley of Sukkoth;
• Gilead and Manasseh would be mine, Ephraim my chief stronghold, Judah my scepter;
• Moab would be my washbasin; on Edom I would cast my shoe; acclaim me, O Philistia!
• Would that I were brought to the bastion! Would that I were led to Edom!
• But You have rejected us, O God; God, You do not march with our armies.
• Grant us Your aid against the foe, for the help of man is worthless.
• With God we shall triumph; He will trample our foes.

Passages such as these lead Gersternberger to write: “This fact in itself may irritate those readers who cling to a modern (and very wrong) concept of psalm authorship, as if the psalms were private compositions or literary pamphlets under some copyright rules. Much in contrast to our customs, psalms were liturgical texts to be used in worship gatherings or related ceremonies. And, according to the needs and insights of the congregations and their leaders, the songs and prayers were freely combined in specific liturgical situations. Other examples of ‘double’ use of some psalm texts can be studied with Psalms 14 and 53; 70; 18 (see 2 Samuel 22), etc.” (253-254)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://www.highfillperformancegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/army-marching.jpg

Psalm 107 – “Sermon about Prayer and Humility”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist gives four examples of people who cried out to God and were saved. He then explains that God punishes the haughty and helps the humble.

II. Photo
God saved a group of prisoners: “He brought them out of deepest darkness, broke their bonds asunder… He shattered gates of bronze, He broke their iron bars.” (vv. 14, 16)

III. Select Verses    
1-3: “’Praise the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love is eternal!’ Thus let the redeemed of the LORD say, those He redeemed from adversity, whom He gathered in from the lands, from east and west, from the north and from the sea.
23-32: Others go down to the sea in ships, ply their trade in the mighty waters;  they have seen the works of the LORD and His wonders in the deep.  By His word He raised a storm wind that made the waves surge.  Mounting up to the heaven, plunging down to the depths, disgorging in their misery,  they reeled and staggered like a drunken man, all their skill to no avail.  In their adversity they cried to the LORD, and He saved them from their troubles.  He reduced the storm to a whisper; the waves were stilled.  They rejoiced when all was quiet, and He brought them to the port they desired.  Let them praise the LORD for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind.  Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, acclaim Him in the assembly of the elders.
33-36:  He turns the rivers into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land,  fruitful land into a salt marsh, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. He turns the wilderness into pools, parched land into springs of water. There He settles the hungry; they build a place to settle in.
43: The wise man will take note of these things; he will consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

IV. Outline
1-3. Lesson
4-9. Rationale #1, Refrain
10-14. Rationale #2, Refrain
17-22. Rationale #3, Refrain
23-32. Rationale #4, Refrain
33-42. Sermon
43. Motivation

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://thelegacybuilder.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/prison-bars.jpg