75% of Psalms are one of three main types: lament, thanksgiving or praise. And they follow a pattern. Here is the general form for lament psalms.
Introductory Cry for Help
- Lament psalms are characterized by their address: “Oh, LORD!” They immediately turn to God for help.
- Frequently, the lament psalm has an introductory petition and lament.
- It is extremely helpful to remember this introductory petition/lament distinct from the petition proper and the lament proper.
Lament
- Individual: In either brief or extended fashion, the psalmist describes his lamentable state.
- sickness: the enemy rejoices that his affliction is a defect in him and his God (e.g. 6, 13, 31, 38, 39, 88, 102).
- accusation: a false accusation is made against him (e.g. 7, 17, 26, 27).
- persecution: physically abused by the enemy (e.g. 3, 9, 10, 35, 52, 56, 57, 62, 69, 70, 86, 109, 120, 139, 140, 141, 143).
- sin (e.g. 6, 25, 38, 39, 41, 51)
- Communal: the whole nation is lamenting over military crisis, drought, famine, epidemic, etc. Many terms are vague so the psalm can have wide application in worship (e.g. 10, 44,58,60,74,79, 80, 83, 90, 137)
- 3 subjects often stated:
- I – the king or nation
- YOU – God
- THEM – the psalmists enemies
Confession of Trust
- Frequently contrasted to the lament
- Many lament psalms have such extended sections pertaining to confidence that it is sometimes difficult to decide whether the psalm should be classified a lament or a song of trust.
- Martin Luther: “My faith keeps hurting while my hurt keeps believing.”
Petition
- Frequently 2, sometimes 3 petitions given
- LISTEN (or look, pay attention, etc).
- DELIVER (or save)
- PUNISH them BECAUSE
- MOTIVE: frequently, the psalmists gives a motive for God to intervene
Praise
- Vow of Praise: The petition is still open. The psalmist does not assume the petition has been granted, but offers vows of praise that God will answer. Normally he includes the content of his vow, presenting the praise he will offer.
- Declarative Praise: When this is the case, there is an abrupt change of mood from lament to praise. The psalmist is confident that God will answer his prayer, he offers up the acknowledgment he will offer in the temple when the petition has been granted in reality.
How do we account for this change in mood?
- Some suggest at this point a priest informs the psalmist that his prayer has been heard and will be answered. (For example, Eli & Hannah).
- Another explanation is that by faith the psalmist knows intuitively that his prayer has been heard.
Caution: This is the basic scheme but the possibilities of variation are numerous.
Examples
Psalm 54
Address vs 1
Psa 54:1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.
Petition – vs 2
Psa 54:2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Lament – vs 3
Psa 54:3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah
Confidence vs 4
Psa 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
Imprecation – vs 5
Psa 54:5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.
Praise (freewill offering) – vs 6
Psa 54:6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
Praise (renewed) – vs 7
Psa 54:7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Psalm 22
Address & Lament – vs 1-2
Psa 22:1 To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Confidence – vs 3-5
Psa 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
Psa 22:5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Lament – vs 6-8
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
Psa 22:7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
Psa 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
Confidence – vs 9-10
Psa 22:9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.
Psa 22:10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Lament – vs 11-18
Psa 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
Psa 22:12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
Psa 22:13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
Psa 22:15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—
Psa 22:17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me;
Psa 22:18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Petition – vs 19-31
Psa 22:19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!
Psa 22:21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
Psa 22:22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
Psa 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
Psa 22:24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
Psa 22:25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
Psa 22:26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
sa 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Psa 22:28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
Psa 22:29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
Psa 22:30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
Psa 22:31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
For more: Claus Westermann, The Praises of God in the Psalms (1965). You’ll probably have to track it down in a library.
Understanding Psalms of Thanksgiving
Understanding Praise Psalms
Resources: Psalms
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