Literary Genres of Psalms Individual Psalms of Supplication

Literary Genres of Psalms Individual Psalms of Supplication Communal Psalms of Supplication

Psalms of Supplication

Structure of Supplication Psalms • Introduction – a) invocation of YHWH in first words – b) cry for help (imperative) – c) invocation repeated with illustrations and comparisons – d) self-description of petitioner

• Body – a) declaration to pour out one’s nefesh – b) narrative of distress: sickness, indictment, persecution by enemies, being abandoned to forces of destruction, being forsaken by God, guilt – c) questions: “Why? ”, “How long? ”

– d) plea made in immediate connection to the description of distress – e) when the plea involves turning back or overcoming enemies, it may take the form of maledictions or curses – f) inducements presented for YHWH’s intervention: YHWH’s honor, the righteousness of the petitioner (declarations of innocence)

• Closing Section – Vow – Looking forward to YHWH’s intervention

Themes of Supplication Psalms • Prayer Songs of a Sick Person (Pss 38, 41, 88; 30, 39, 69, 102, 103; 6, 13, [31], 32, [35], [71], 77, 91) • Prayer Songs of the Accused and Persecuted (Pss 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 17, 26, 27, 57, 63) • Prayer Songs of a Sinner (Pss 51, 130)

• Psalm of Confidence or Trust (todah) • Acrostic Summary of Conventional Supplications (Ps 25)

Example of an Individual Supplication Psalm (Ps 130) • • • A pilgrimage song. 1. From the depth I cry to you, YHWH! 2. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be inclined to my loud pleading!

• • 3. If you impute sin, YH, Lord, who could stand? 4. Indeed, with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared.

• • • 5. I hope, YHWH, my soul hopes; for his word I wait! 6. My soul is turned to the Lord more than the watchman to the morning, more than the watchman to the morning!

• • • 7. Let Israel wait for YHWH, for only with YHWH is there goodness and much redemption from him! 8. Indeed, he will redeem Israel from all its sins.

Example of a Communal Supplication Psalm (Ps 137) • • • 1. At the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we thought of Zion. 2. On the poplar trees there we hung up our lyres.

• • 3. Yes, there we were asked for songs by our guards and for shouts of joy by our oppressors [saying: ] “Sing for us one of the songs of Zion. ” 4. How could we sing a YHWH song on foreign soil?

• • • 5. If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither away! 6. Let my tongue stick to my gums if I do not remember you! If I do not exalt Jerusalem above the best of my joys!

• • • 7. Keep in mind, O YHWH, for the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem! Who said: “Tear down! Tear down all the way to the ground!”

• • 8. O daughter of Babylon, destroyer, blessings to him who pays you back! 9. Blessings to him who seizes your children and dashes them against a rock!