Western Lit. 1-20: Optimism in the Psalms

    Praise Yahweh! The Book of Psalms is a book of songs, they were meant to be sung with a harp but were more than a hymnbook. The book of psalms begins by depicting a lawful man like a tree in the new Eden, eternally prosperous and fruitful. But the wicked dry up in a desert without the water of life which is found in God. The second Psalm depicts the image of God's kingdom on earth. The evil ones are restrained as God's king rules from on high. This King Gives praise to God and blessings to his people; He restrains evil and loves good. These first two chapters of the psalms act as the prayerbook of God's people as they strive to be faithful to the law and bring about God's kingdom. They also show us the two ideas upon which the rest of the book is constructed, Sanctions and sovereignty. When we have these two ideas in mind we can begin to understand the rest of the book and the Optimistic narrative it presents.

    The Main body of the book is divided into five smaller 'books' which each end with praise to Yahweh. The first of these books focus on the call to covenant faithfulness in Israel and the blessing this will bring God's people. It praises the Law as upright and perfect for everyone who follows it. The book shifts to recall David's past deliverance and elevation as a king. David's ascension is paralleled by the deliverance of a new king from death to a universal lordship. Book one concludes by optimistically predicting this new king will bring the blessings of covenant faithfulness to all of the nations. 

    The second book opens with two poems that speak of the hope for a future temple in zion. It closes with the image of a messianic king ruling Israel by echoing the words of the prophets. Its conclusion is that the reign of this king will fulfill God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 13 and 22. The third book also concludes with a promise of a future messiah to rule Israel but contrasts it with the downfall and destruction of David's earthly kingdom, asking this time for a perfect ethical future. These two poems teach us about the future of God's kingdom. They prophesy that the future will be perfectly ruled by a messiah and that God will fulfill all of his promises to his people eternally. However, it does keep in mind the grim situation of Israel at the time of the exile.

        The fourth book responds to this crisis by calling back to the time of Moses. In the introduction, Moses calls for mercy on Israel for their sins as he did when they worshipped the golden calf. The middle of this book announces that God rules over all of creation and that creation is called to celebrate this rule of wisdom and justice. The fifth book again affirms that God hears the call of his people and that A messianic king will come to rule and destroy evil. Following this two parallel narratives are found called the Hallel and the Songs of Ascents. These two songs speak of a messianic kingdom and affirm hope for a future exile from evil into that kingdom. They are divided by Psalm 119 which explores the Splendor and goodness of God in the Torah.

    The conclusion to the psalms consists of five books, 145-150. Each begins and ends with Hallelu-Ya, A praise to God for his majesty. The middle Psalm, 148, declares that God has raised up a horn for his people like one raised in battle, this represents our spiritual victory over evil. This plays into the overall narrative of the Psalms which is told by the Psalms of lament and Psalms of praise. At the beginning of the book, Lamentations far outnumber Praises, and God's people are in despair, but at the end of the book, we are left with a picture of a saving messiah and a restored kingdom. The book does not end in despair, but in victorious praise to God. The Psalms do not ignore the pain of this world, but they look to the future for victory. This Story of Lament and Praise, Faith and Hope, Historic law and future Messiah, that is what the Psalms are all about. Praise Yahweh!

Outline thanks to BibleProject for the discernment of scripture.

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