A THEOLOGICAL AND LITERARY FRAMEWORK OF THE PSALMS: Exploring Its Unified Structure

Didache: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen Volume 5 Nomor 2 (June 2024): 162-174 DOI: 10.55076/didache.v5i2.265 A THEOLOGICAL AND LITERARY FRAMEWORK OF THE PSALMS: EXPLORING ITS UNIFIED STRUCTURE Sioe Lie, Bobby Kurnia Putrawan, Sutrisno Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Moriah, Tangerang, Indonesia Email: Submitted: 21 July 2024 Revision: 29 October 2024 Accepted: 17 November 2024 Abstract Interpreters often view the book of Psalms as a collection of liturgical songs used in temple worship. While this perspective is not incorrect, it has led to a tendency to interpret each psalm in isolation, without considering its relationship to other psalms in the book. This research introduces a broader perspective, suggesting that the book of Psalms is not merely a compilation of individual songs but rather an intentionally arranged collection with a unified structural pattern culminating in Psalm 150. In this sense, Psalms 1 to 150 can be seen as a series of milestones leading to this peak. To fully grasp the message of a particular psalm, it is necessary not only to interpret it individually but also to examine its placement within the overall structure of the book and its function within the larger sequence arranged by the editor. Keywords: stucture of Psalms; exegesis of Psalms; doxology in Psalms. Didache: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen by https://jurnal.moriah.ac.id/index.php/didache/ is licensed under a Lisensi Creative Commons Atribusi-BerbagiSerupa 4.0 Internasional INTRODUCTION The Book of Psalms is a collection of hymns central to early Jewish worship and tradition. Its name, "Psalms," originates from the Greek term βίβλος ψαλμῶν (biblos psalmon), found in the New Testament (Acts 1:20). This term is derived from the Greek word ψαλτήριον (psaltērion), referring to an ancient stringed instrument (Rösel, 2018:10). Similarly, the IndoArabic term "mazmur" is linked to the Hebrew word mizmor, which also refers to a stringed instrument and later came to mean "song of praise." In Hebrew tradition, the collection is commonly called ‫( סֵ פֶר ְּתהִ לִ ים‬sefer tehillîm), meaning "book of praises," highlighting its function as a compilation of songs glorifying God. Comprising 150 songs, the Psalms extend beyond this book to include other biblical songs like Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 32–33, and 1 Samuel 2. These texts collectively demonstrate a rich tradition of poetic and musical expression within ancient Jewish culture. 162 Sioe, Bobby, Sutrisno…A Theological and Literary Framework of the Psalms From a literary perspective, the Psalms are classified under prayer literature, encompassing hymns, laments, and thanksgiving songs (Bernhardt, 2015; Grohmann & Siquans, 2017; Seybold, 2005). This dual identity as both song and prayer reflects its use in both personal devotion and communal worship. Augustine, a significant early Christian theologian, even referred to the Psalms as "the prayer of Christ," emphasizing their enduring spiritual significance.1 In terms of its literary form (Formgeschichte) and its place in the cultural life of the early Jewish period (Sitz im Leben), the book of Psalms is also referred to as a book of prayer, in addition to being classified as song literature or songs and hymns of thanksgiving (Bernhardt, 2015; Grohmann & Siquans, 2017; Seybold, 2005). Even a church father, Augustine, called the Book of Psalms the prayer of Christ. The questions that will be answered in this introductory section to the book of Psalms are about the function of the book of Psalms in the lives of the people of the Old Testament and how people today can live the book of Psalms in their lives today. In other words, this introduction invites reflection on the dual functions of the Psalms: as historical artifacts of Old Testament worship and as guides for contemporary faith practices. Their themes of praise, lament, and thanksgiving offer timeless insights into human-divine relationships. By studying their structure and content, modern readers can uncover lessons about prayer, worship, and perseverance in faith. Questions addressed in this study include the role of Psalms in shaping the spirituality of ancient communities and their relevance for believers today. Ultimately, the Psalms serve as a bridge connecting ancient traditions with modern expressions of faith. RESULT David and His Prayers as a Paradigm in the Book of Psalms David was the king of Israel who reigned for 40 years, from 1000 to 961 BC (he reigned in Hebron for 7 years and then in Jerusalem for 33 years) (Fischer, 2023). In addition to the Chronicle tradition, the name "David" is also important in the Deuteronomistic tradition. In the Deuteronomistic records, especially in the book of 2 Samuel, David is held up as a "good king", so that in the book of Kings David becomes the prototype of a "good king". In his article, Joseph says that of the more than 40 kings who reigned in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, See (Grünbeck, 2015:214). In this regard Augustine said: Psalmus vox totius Christi capitis et corporis ("The Psalms are the voice of the whole head and body of Christ"). According to Augustine, if Christ prays, He uses the singing of the Psalms as His prayer. 1 163 Didache: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen only three were called "the one like David", which is a paradigm for characterising a king as a good king (Joseph, 2015). Moreover, in the eyes of the editors of the Book of Chronicles, David's position was even more honourable. In the genealogy of kings, only the list of kings from David's dynasty is recorded. The list of kings of Israel (the northern kingdom) is not recorded. It can therefore be said that the name of David occupies a very important and privileged place in the great tradition of the Old Testament canon, namely in the Deuteronomistic Chronicles and the Chronicles. Recent Psalm studies have examined the Psalms not as stand-alone songs, but as a "psalmic continuum" (Ho, 2019). Therefore, when studying one song in the book of Psalms, it should be studied in relation to the other songs in that section. The Book of Psalms consists of five volumes, namely 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106 and 107-150. Below is a chart of the structure of the five volumes of Psalms by Gillingham (S. Gillingham, 2015): Figure 1. A chart of the structure of the five volumes of Psalms. From the above chart we can see that each volume has a doxology at the end. Volume 1 has a doxology at 41:14, volume 2 at 72:19, volume 3 at 89:53, volume 4 at 106:48, and volume 5 at chapter 150 (Clifford, 2005; S. Gillingham, 2015). This doxology for volume 5 is also the doxology for the whole book. In Jewish tradition, the five books of Psalms are related to the five books of the Torah of Moses. The five books of Moses or the Pentateuch are called the Torah of Moses, while the five volumes of Psalms are called the Torah of David (S. Gillingham, 2015). The Torah of David is understood to be an account of the making and renew (...truncated)