#17 Understanding the Variety of Psalm Types and Their Unique Expressions:

Part 7 – Thank Psalms

 

Understanding & Using the Psalms

  • Individual Lament:

Cries of the individual in times of distress

5,6,10,13,22,26,35,38,39,40,42,43,51,54,55,56,57,59,64,69,70,86,88,102,109,120,130,142,143

  • Communal Lament:

Cries of the community in times of distress

60,74,79,80,90,108,123,137

  • Hymns of Praise:

Celebrations of Yahweh’s goodness & character

8,9,19,29,30,33,34,65,66,67,68,76,95,96,97,98,99, 100,103,104,111,113,116,117,134,135,138,144,145, 146,147,148,149,150

  • Songs of Confidence:

Declarations of trust in Yahweh

3,4,7,11,12,16,17,18,20,23,27,28,31,36,41,46,50,58, 62,63,71,77,82,83,85,89,91,92,93,94,114,115,121,124,125,126,129,139,140,141

  • Royal Psalms:

Song in praise of Yahweh as Israel’s true king and the monarch who rules on Yahweh’s behalf

2,21,24,45,47,61,72,110,132

  • Psalms of Zion:

“National Anthems” that praise the earthly residence of Yahweh

14,48,53,84,87,122

  • “Thank” Psalms:

Expressions of appreciation for Yahweh’s deliverance

75,118,136

  • Wisdom or Priestly Instruction:

Poems which contain condensed teachings to be passed along by memorization

1,15,25,32,37,44,49,52,73,78,81,101,105,106,107,112,119,127

“Thank” Psalms

  • Character: Expressions of appreciation for Yahweh’s deliverance
  • Examples: Psalms 75, 118, 136

 

“Thank” Psalms: Example #1 – Psalm 75

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 We praise you, God,
    we praise you, for your Name is near;
    people tell of your wonderful deeds.

2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;
    it is I who judge with equity.
3 When the earth and all its people quake,
    it is I who hold its pillars firm.
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
    do not speak so defiantly.’”

6 No one from the east or the west
    or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:
    He brings one down, he exalts another.
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.

9 As for me, I will declare this forever;
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

 

Note these things:

  • At first glance this Psalm might not seem very “thankful.” However, there is a special formula for thanking that is more evident in the Hebrew language. Each of these Psalms use the term “todah” or “thanks” in it.
  • This becomes evident in Psalm 75 when reading verses 1 and 9. Each of these verses is about declaring God’s saving activities. This is the “thanks” that is being offered—not merely an off-handed “Thank you” to someone who has opened a door, or stepped out of the way. This thanks has to do with the huge things of life, where rival perspectives and powers are at stake. When God assert divine authority, it is over against the petty powers at work in human society that destroy and demean and dehumanize us. When God acts over against these powers, goodness and care and delight erupt once again, and life shimmers with significance.
  • So this “thanks” is named and identified on the basis of the clear and direct actions of God to reclaim and redeem and renew life on planet earth.

 

“Thank” Psalms: Example #2 – Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

 

Note These Things

  • This Psalm begins and ends with the “todah” thanks theme. It spells out a number of historical actions by which Yahweh has delivered the people, and the thanks is due to Yahweh precisely for this reason.
  • This Psalm becomes the usual final song of the Jewish Passover service, precisely because it talks of deliverance, and expresses thankfulness.
  • Jesus and his disciples likely sang this song after their meal together on the night before Jesus died.

 

“Thank” Psalms: Example #3 – Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

 

Note These Things

  • Notice that this Psalm is intended to be sung by a soloist and a choir or congregation, sort of like a gospel choir and lead singer, or a soloist leading a congregational response. The soloist sings the first line of each verse, with the choir or congregation responding with the refrain: “His love endures forever.”
  • Notice that this Psalm rehearses much of the early history of Israel from the creation itself through the Exodus and deliverance and the wilderness encounters on the way to the Promised Land. For this reason, the thankfulness of the Psalm is rooted in the history of God’s redemptive activity.
  • The final solo testimonies link God’s ancient saving activities to those in our contemporary experience.

 

Reflections on “Thank” Psalms

  • While many of the Psalms express thankfulness, these Psalms use a particular Hebrew term and style to give thanks to God.
  • The key element to current thankfulness, according to these Psalms, is a recognition of God’s past track record of deliverance for God’s people, and a confidence that this remains the desire of God’s heart with God’s current people.
  • These are some of the most popular and most often used and repeated Psalms in Israelites, Jewish and Christian worship.

Last modified: Thursday, August 9, 2018, 9:17 AM