Dr. Heiser gives general guidelines to interpreting the different genre of psalms. It is the genre that determines the meaning of psalms in interpretation [1]. He makes an important note of the parallelism of the structure of the poetry within psalms, as well as how each of the psalms is arranged in the different sections of the book [2]. Not all psalms are alike, and not all genres identify fully the meaning of the psalms; rather, there must be an evaluation of word meaning, historical setting, and the circumstances that cause the psalm to be written in the first place. And, contrary to popular but mistaken ideas, not all Psalms was written by David.
We know of the different authors or “poets” or “hymn-writers” because many Psalms contain superscriptions. Those superscriptions sometimes identify the author and the purpose or place that the psalm was written. Those that specifically speak of the activity of David during specific moments of his life are easily compared, and can be verified. However, some of the superscriptions don’t connect well; scholars suspect that these superscriptions might have been added later to help clarify and contextualize content. Maybe so. Many pastors and students view superscriptions within psalms to be as reliable as the different titles that Bible publishers put in their versions to guide the reader to content and context. But, to maintain integrity in your own psalm study presentations, it is important for Professional Theologists to recognize that probably most of the superscriptions are not the inerrant part of God’s Word; rather it is an added part to help guide the reader. There are different ways of interpreting the superscriptions to be more confident of their veracity, but that is for another, detailed class. Until then, just be aware of this one conflict.
One other characteristic of Psalms that can be divided into different groups is seeking the amount of people connected to its presentation. One of the divisions of Psalms can be based upon communal or individual Psalms. These can be divided by seeking the “we” or the “I” within the content. Sometimes Psalms fluctuate between the two; identifying these also assists in the interpretation of the psalm [3]. But, it should also be noted that some scholars stress that there is a collective use of “I” and may well be spoken communally even though the “I” is present [4].
The deliberate structure of different psalms must also be examined carefully. There is a general uniformity to language and the nature of its structure. It is not just literary significance that must be determined, but also the psalm’s religious or functional significance. Generally speaking, thanksgiving is often spoken before lamentations begin; this speaks of great honor shared with God in the communication in spite of the difficulties that the bearer of the psalm is experiencing.
Another important structure is the ACROSTIC Psalm that can be found in Psalms 9-10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145. Acrostic Psalms are based upon the Hebrew alphabet, possibly to aid in the memorization of them. Regardless of purpose, the ACROSTIC Psalm takes on a deeper nature when it is considered to be alphabetized in its first letters, to capture the content and context in a structure that must be noted.
Finally, in this brief overview of Psalm interpretation, it must be recognized that not all Psalms are Hebrew poetry or parallelism. Some reflect liturgy and worship formalities without the literary marker that indicates it is indeed a well-formed poem. Scholars in the nineteenth-century embarked upon a scholarly path to either declare or deny specific Psalms as poetry. This resulted in negative assessments of many Psalms that suggested that they were merely composites;[5] this could lead to a slippery path of declaring the inerrant Word of God faulty. Psalms are much deeper than a cursory examination will reveal and each must be considered fully on all aspects to receive the full meaning of the Psalm.
BibliographyHeiser, Michael S. BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Ridderbos, N. H., and P. C. Craigie. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Psalms, Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiliey: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979-1988.
Footnotes[1] Michael S. Heiser, Bi101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources (LOGOS Bible Software).
[2] Ibid.
[3] N. H. Ridderbos, and P. C. Craigie, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Psalms, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiliey (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979-1988), 1034.
[4] Ibid., 1036.
[5] Ibid.
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About the AuthorKathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
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