Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Just Read Mark | 122266 | ||
I understand that some people group the psalms in different categories. I am interested in the group called the "Laments" --- could someone give me a thorough list of the psalms of complaint? I realize I could just classify them myself, but I thought someone may have already worked through this querry. JRM |
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2 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Morant61 | 122267 | ||
Greetings JRM! If you are interested in this topic, I would highly recommend the book, "Praise and Lament in the Psalms", by Claus Westermann. It is published by John Knox Press. There are two types of laments - the lament of the people and the lament of the individual. They have a similar structure. The lament of the people could be diagrammed as: a) Address and Introductory petition. b) Lament. c) Confession of Trust. d) Petition (Double Wish) e) Vow of Praise. These laments would include: Ps. 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, and 89. The lament of the individual could be diagrammed as: a) Address and cry for help. b) Lament. c) Confession of Trust. d) Petition. e) Assurance of being heard. f) Double Wish g) Vow of Praise. h) Praise of God - where request has been answered. They include: Ps. 6, 13, 22, 35, 38, 42, 43, 88, 102, and 109. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Just Read Mark | 122285 | ||
Thanks, Tim. I will look at this structure, with the Psalms you mention. There are other Psalms of complaint that don't fit this pattern. A Psalm that I find very biting, has spoken my cry to God, is 120. It seems unusual to me -- so personal, so vivid -- but it certainly seems a lament. Would you classify it that way? Another Psalm I've been looking at is 56. In this case, I think it fits the "individual" pattern perfectly. Very cool. The switch from a vow of praise, to the praising for God's accomplished act is an amazing conclusion to these texts: there is much to learn from that! Yours JRM |
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4 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Morant61 | 122297 | ||
Greetings JRM! Not every psalm of lament will fit the pattern perfectly. Some skip a step, while other's might combine several steps. In general though, the pattern seems to work quite well. I checked the book on Psalm 120. Westermann classifies it as a Psalm of praise. In general, he claims that the first half of the psalter is made up of psalms of lament and the last half of psalms of praise - with a few exceptions. For Ps. 56, he lists it as a lament of the individual, but a unique one in that the lament has already turned to praise at the end of the psalm. Here is a neat quote about this: "The fact that lamentation and petition can change into praise in the same Psalm has as a consequence a development which is peculiar to the Israelite Psalms, i.e., that praise is already heard in the conclusion of lament and petition, and that it forms the basis for the vow of praise....It should be noted that the grief over which the supplicant is lamenting, and for the removal of which he pleads with God, still remains. During the praying of these Psalms no miracle has occured, but something else has occurred. God has heard and inclined Himself to the one praying; God has had mercy on him. And in this the decisive event has taken place. That which is yet to come, the turning point in the situation, must of necessity follow. Therefore, it can now already be rearded as realized." (pp. 79-80). When I studied this in college, this was the point that really stood out for me. The lament is a heartfelt and brazen cry for help. But, in the midst of the plea, faith arises in the God who has demonstrated Himself to be faithful. Thus, by the end of the lament, praise begins to leak into the lament. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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5 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Just Read Mark | 122318 | ||
Exciting! I love that quote about the end of 56. May God train our hearts to be so fiercely honest in prayer, and then to find such trust at the end.... Psalm 120 still seems a lament to me. While it does begin with praise for God's listening ear, this fits with "address," part of a lament --- for these psalms begin with an acknowlegment of who the person is praying TO. ... in this case, to God who listens to our distressed cries. There is confidence about what God will do ("what shall be done to you, you false tongue?") --- but the psalm still leaves the supplicant living amid warring and godless folk. "Woe to me." Psalm 120 begins the Psalms of Ascent -- a mini-psalter within the psalter, that was used as pilgrims journeyed to the Temple. So, the lament causes the writer to leave Kedar, and move toward the joy of Jerusalem (psalm 134, or 135). Have you read Eugene Peterson's book on these Psalms, called "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction?" I enjoyed that a lot. I find the Psalter quite long, without a sustained narrative to hold it together; therefore grouping them in different ways helps me to sink my teeth in better. Thanks for your posts. They are pointing me back into the Word. JRM |
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6 | Psalms of Lament | Psalm | Morant61 | 122320 | ||
Greetings JRM! I am sure that the classifications can be very subjective at times! :-) I haven't read Eugene Peterson's book yet. I probably should, since if I remember correctly he is Nazarene, as am I! :-) This class on the Psalms was one of my favorites in college. Westermann has a wonderful section on praise. He points out there are two types of praise - declarative and descriptive. Declarative praise proclaims what God has done. Descriptive praise proclaims what God is like. One of the powerful points he made in this book was that praise never beings with 'I' or 'We'. It always begins with 'God' as the focal point. So, one of the assignments we had in this class was to practice praising God with using the word 'I'. It was tough! :-) Keep up the good work! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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