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Subject : Hope in suffering and joy in liberation: study of Hebrew poetry and

Wisdom literature
Topic : Psalms Book 3
Submitted By : Christopher, Johnson, Daniel, William, Thanmi
Submitted To : Rev. Dr. Jagat Santra

1. Introduction

Book 3 of Psalms contains a great deal of lamentation and complaint. Divine judgment,
both positive and negative, comes to the fore in many of the psalms here. Contemplating these
psalms gives us a mirror in which to explore our own faithfulness or lack of it, as well as to
express our actual feelings to the God who is able to reconcile everything to himself.1

2. Background of the Division (Psalms 73- 89)

Psalm 3 begins with lament – LORD, how have they increased who trouble me! And ends
with praise – Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing is upon your people. These
seventeen psalms were subsequently compiled into Book III, probably during the same era by the
men of Hezekiah, or by Josiah, sixteenth ruler of the Southern Kingdom (640-609 B.C.). This
third book begins with eleven consecutive psalms written by Asaph, a Levite who led one of the
temple choirs (73-83), and includes a few songs written by David (86; 101; 103). These psalms
center primarily upon the holiness of Israel‟s sanctuary and coincide with the concern of the
Book of Leviticus.2

3. Structures of Psalms Book III


Book III consists of three groupings of psalms, having an overall symmetrical pattern (six psalms
[73–78], five psalms [79–83], six psalms [84–89]) and at its center (Psalm 81) an urgent
exhortation to fundamental covenant loyalty to The Lord. The tone darkens further in Book III.
The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God‟s presence.

1
https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work#book-3-psalms-7389
2
William D. Barrick, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: The Master Musician’s Melodies, (Oxford University Press:
Oxford 2009). p369
That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. The brief third
book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–
85; 87–88).3
The structure of Book III of Psalms can be further divided in the following manner4:
Psalms 73–78
Psalm 73: Wisdom from an individual‟s life
Psalm 74: Individual‟s prayer when rejected (invokes God‟s saving in Exodus)
Psalm 75: Assurance that God judges the wicked
Psalm 76: Assurance that God judges the wicked
Psalm 77: Community‟s prayer when rejected (invokes God‟s saving in Exodus)
Psalm 78: Wisdom from the community‟s life
Psalms 79–83
Psalm 79: Community prayer against enemy invasion
Psalm 80: Prayer to restore Israel
Psalm 81: Admonition to covenant loyalty (center of medley and book)
Psalm 82: Prayer to judge the earth
Psalm 83: Community prayer against enemy invasion
Psalms 84–89
Psalm 84: Yearning for fellowship with God (introduces the following five psalms)
Psalm 85: Communal cry of distress
Psalm 86: Individual cry of distress
Psalm 87: God's special love for Zion
Psalm 88: Individual cry of distress
Psalm 89: Communal cry of distress

4. Theological Themes

4.1. Wickedness and God’s Justice

3
https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/chart_19_03/(Accessed on 25th Aug, 2017 at 2:25 pm)
4
http://storage.cloversites.com/muskogeechurchofchrist/documents/Structure%20of%20Psalms.pdf(Accessed on
25th Aug, 2017 at 2:25 pm)
The prosperity of the wicked is certainly the object of reflection in the wisdom literature.
Psalm 73 is example of how the psalms, though often spoken out of personal grief and
misfortune, can be understood on a national scale. The national crisis of Judeans in 586 B.C. and
sets that crisis in the context of the divine presence the psalmist had experienced in the
sanctuary. The nationalizing of the problem can be further seen in the fact that the exile comes
into focus in the community laments of Psalms 74, 79, 80, 83, 85: 1-8, and 89: 39-52.5

4.2. God rises for judgment

The Psalm 76 emphasizes Yahweh‟s power and his willingness to use it on behalf of his
people. The psalm celebrates the powerful theophanic victories of Yahweh over his foes and the
forces of disorder. Fear and trust are so closely related to each other that, when God rises to sit in
judgment, the earth trembles and becomes silent before God. In both these reactions God‟s
surpassing greatness is manifested. So God‟s judgment ultimately results in God being made
known and worshipped not only in Judah and Israel but in the whole world.6

4.3. The supplication (psalm 80)

The supplication reverts to the note of lament. The cult community envisages the utter
seriousness of their position. In this situation the faithful thus threatened make one more effort, a
last bold venture, and in supplication throw themselves into the arms of this God. It is precisely
because it is God who threatens them that God is their only help and that their affliction cannot
be his final word. In this way a unique encounter comes about between God and cult community,
the people of God receives their life from the hand of God. 7

4.4 The Sovereignty of Yahweh

The judicial function of the lower deities in heaven has its origin in the root-idea of the
celestial counterpart or archetype of the things that happen on earth and this seems to have
penetrated the Old Testament theology of the cultus8 in order to provide an answer to the
question of how the injustice prevailing on earth can be reconciled with belief in reality of the
5
C. Hassell, Bullock, Encountering the book of Psalms, ( Grand Rapids: Backer Academic, 2001), pg 64-65
6
Derek , Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Psalms 73-150, A commentary on Books 3,4, 5, ( London:
Inter- Varsity Press, 1975), pg 273-274
7
Artur, weiser, Psalms: A Commentary, ( London: SCM Press, 1962), pg 549-550
8
Cultus: A system or variety of religious worship.
righteous God. All other gods are understood as being subject to God.9 They are luminaries
created by the Lord and worshiped as idols by the people. The Creator is incomparable to the
created bodies and among others there is none like Him.10

“There is none like you among the gods O Lord, nor are there any works like yours….
You alone are God” (Psalm 86:8). Despite the sovereignty of Yahweh, man and even God‟s
chosen people indulge themselves in abhorrent idol worship. From the New Testament
perspective, behind these gods and goddesses is Satan who makes human beings fear and serve
him through these idols. Human beings are manipulated into trying to appease each of these gods
for fear of harm and danger on failing to do so. But this section (especially Psalms 82 and 86)
challenges this notion and places Yahweh as the supreme Most High God who judges the unjust
gods for exploiting humankind.11

4.5 The Sacredness and Joy of Yahweh’s Temple Worship

The psalmist expresses his overwhelming delight at being able to be in the temple of
Yahweh. He reflects on the happiness of those who make the pilgrimage to encounter God in his
dwelling place in Jerusalem.12 He delights in the holy city of Zion as having being founded by
Yahweh because he has set up his abode there. The sacredness and joy of worship in Yahweh‟s
temple is especially emphasized in this section (Psalms 84 and 87); so much so to the extent that
even the traditional enemies including Egypt, Babylon and Philistia are believed to come to this
place seeking Yahweh someday.13 Like other Korahite psalms, the sacredness of Yahweh‟s
temple worship is associated in Christian devotion with preparation for Holy Communion. For us
the sanctuary is the heavenly alter and the „Anointed‟ is the ascended Christ seated on the right
hand of the Father.14

5. Message
The message of Psalms book 3 is basically a response to the message of book 2 and its
specially placed Psalm 72. Book 3 begins with a problem of the two ways, the way of the wicked

9
Artur Weiser, Pasalms: A Commentary (London: SCM Press, 1962), 557.
10
J.R. Church, Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms (Oklahoma City: Prophecy Publications, 1986), 199.
11
Bruce J. Nicholls (Gen. Ed.), Asia Bible Commentary Series: The Book of Psalms 73-150 (Manila: ATA, 1984), 41.
12
Michael Fallon, The Psalms: An Introductory Commentary (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2005), 295.
13
Fallon, The Psalms…., 306.
14
A. P. Carleton, How Shall I Study the Psalms? (Mysore: The Wesley Press, 1956), 138.
contrasted with the way of the righteous, but with a twist. The wicked prosper while the
righteous experience pain. It ends with the pain of a failed Davidic dynasty, a promise and a
covenant rejected (Ps 89:39, 44). The psalms in between are primarily lament psalms with praise
and petition sprinkled throughout and also designed to lament the failure of the Davidic dynasty.
It begins with a theodicy and ends with the same problem with the questions: “How long, O
Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?” (Ps 89:46).
Possible answers are given in the text but overall message of Book 3 is one pessimism. The full
and complete answers to the problem(s) of Book 3 will be given in Book 4& 5 (Ps 90-106 and
107-150).15
There is no doubt that Book 3 has been arranged in such a way as to highlight the present
plight of God‟s people: the failure of the Davidic dynasty. 16 It is dominated by psalms of crisis
which tell God in the most direct terms of suffering, doubt, unfairness, and of God‟s apparent
failure to do anything about it. Two types of crisis is mentioned in this book reflecting different
levels in which crisis was experienced. First, psalms record individual crisis of faith, in particular
the theodicy question (ps 73 & 77). Second, national and communal laments which complain that
God has rejected his people and is doing nothing about their national dilemma. All this comes to
a head in the final two psalms of the book, 88 & 89. Ps. 88 is significant for its totally bleak
outlook and 89 because it is rehearsal of God‟s promise to David with a deliberate intention of
throwing them back in God‟s face in the second half of the psalm to ask what has become of
them.17
6. Conclusion
The books 3 of psalms are a direct challenge to the assertions of psalms 1 and 2. Book 3
does not attempt to answer this crisis of faith directly, particularly the national crisis and the
failure of the monarchy. This is left hanging in most drastic fashion, by the bitter complaint of
psalm 88 and 89.18 Yet, these psalms being wisdom psalms are designed to instruct the reader
about certain basic questions relating to belief in God as a God of justice. These psalms celebrate

15
S Edward Tesh, Walter Zorn, ed. Psalms: Vol.2 of College Press NIV Commentary NIV Commentary Series
(Joplin: College Press, 2004), 39.
16
S Edward Tesh, Walter Zorn, ed. Psalms: Vol.2 of College Press NIV Commentary NIV Commentary Series
(Joplin: College Press, 2004), 39.
17
Anthony Gelston, Peter J. Harland, C.T.R. Hayward, ed. New Heaven and New earth Prophecy and the
Millennium: Essays in Honour of Anthony Gelston, Vol 77 (Euronext: BRILL, 1999), 75, 76.
18
Anthony Gelston, Peter J. Harland, C.T.R. Hayward, ed. New Heaven and New earth Prophecy and the
Millennium: Essays in Honour of Anthony Gelston, Vol 77 (Euronext: BRILL, 1999), 75, 76.
the sovereignty of God, God‟s hand in history, God‟s faithfulness and God‟s covenant with
David. These psalms remind us that our worship should be continual.19

Bibliography:
Barrick, William D Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: The Master Musician‟s Melodies,
Oxford University Press, Oxford 2009.
Bullock, C. Hassell, Encountering the book of Psalms, Grand Rapids, Backer Academic, 2001.
Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Psalms 73-150, A commentary on Books
3,4, 5, London, Inter- Varsity Press, 1975.
weiser, Artur, Psalms: A Commentary, London,SCM Press, 1962.
Church, J.R. Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms, Oklahoma City, Prophecy Publications, 1986.
Nicholls, Bruce J., Gen. Ed., Asia Bible Commentary Series: The Book of Psalms 73-150,
Manila, ATA, 1984.
Fallon, Michael, The Psalms: An Introductory Commentary, Bangalore, Asian Trading
Corporation, 2005.
Carleton, A. P.,How Shall I Study the Psalms?, Mysore, The Wesley Press, 1956.
Tesh, S Edward, Walter Zorn, ed. Psalms: Vol.2 of College Press NIV Commentary NIV
Commentary Series ,Joplin, College Press, 2004.
Peter J. Harland, Anthony Gelston C.T.R. Hayward, ed. New Heaven and New earth Prophecy
and the Millennium: Essays in Honour of Anthony Gelston, Vol 77 ,Euronext, BRILL, 1999.
Warren W, Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1997.

Webliography

https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/psalms-and-work#book-3-psalms-7389
http://storage.cloversites.com/muskogeechurchofchrist/documents/Structure%20of%20Psalms.p
df (Accessed on 25th Aug, 2017 at 2:25 pm)

19
Wiersbe, Warren W.: With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1991, S. Ps 76:1

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