Page 110 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

Book 2: Ps. 42-72 focuses on the Lament over evil. Beginning Elohistic Psalter (42-83), Book 2 consists
mainly of individual lament. The Korahites (42-49) begin with despair cut off and captured- God but shift
to praise victory and vindication by God and His king. Through Asaph (50), God stresses the covenant
priority of obedience over ritual. After his confession (51), David laments (52-64, 68-70) evil and
enemies, confident of God’s retribution defeating the wicked, defending His own! Anonymous psalms
(66-67) praise God as source of deliverance and blessing, calling all nations to Him. The final psalm (72),
is dedicated to Solomon, requesting universal rule of peace and prosperity.

Book 3: Ps. 73-89 With the psalms of Asaph and Korahites, Book 3 alternates praise and prayers for help!
Asaph (73-83) centers on crisis and community. With a focus on the ruin of Israel and Judah- Zion, a
major theme is hope in YHWH’s justice, praise of past rescue rebellion, lament over present ruin-
repent, pleas for retribution defeat the wicked and defend Your own! Korahites (84-89) focus on God’s
place Zion and His presence, seeking His rescue. Final two psalms are cries for help individual (88) and
community (89), lamenting God’s silence and appealing to covenant- David, a poetic theodicy shaped by
the exile.

Book 4: Ps. 90-106 focuses on praising God as the Creator King bracketed by Moses, Book 4 shifts from
emphasis on David (Books 1-2) to the desert era, fitting for exile- land (106:47). Outside two laments,
communal (90) and individual (102), and a song of trust (91), the main form is the hymn. In the
enthronement psalms (92-99) YHWH reigns, praised as almighty king, righteous and just judge, loyal
suzerain, and sovereign creator, defeating wicked, defending His own reacting to failure of king,
theodicy (88-89) For His steadfast love and mercy, creation and provision, and rescue despite their
rebellion (100-106), psalmists call for all creation Israel to praise Him, reflect His character. Praise:
Works and Word

Book 5: Ps. 107-145 After his absence (3-4), David reappears in Book 5, opening with praise for YHWH’s
redemption- captivity and return- exile (107), pleas for His rescue national and individual (108-109) and
a portrait of His redeemer (110). Three acrostic wisdom psalms (111-112, 119) celebrate God’s works
and word, with instruction on our right response. This Torah-oriented frame brackets the Hallel psalms
(113-118), praise for God’s saving character- Passover. Songs of Ascents, sung by pilgrims (120-134),
focus on YHWH as the source of help/blessing, Zion as His special city. Based in YHWH’s loyal love, a
closing chorus (135-145) brackets pleas for present rescue with praise of past redemption Epilogue (Ps.
146-150) Opening and closing each psalm with hallelujah, the psalmist calls all creation to praise YHWH
in every place, in every way, with all of their being. It is a fitting response to His works and character. As
faithful provider and protector (146), Israel’s loyal suzerain (147), sovereign creator and king (148), and
just judge (149), let everything with breath praise YHWH (150). Ones who fear Him are blessed, wicked
perish.

The word, Selah, occurs 74 times in the Bible. It occurs seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times
in Habakkuk. It is found in the poetical books of the Old Testament. “Thirty-one of the thirty-nine Psalms
that include the word Selah are titled, ‘to the choirmaster,’ which seems to connect this word to musical
notation” lxxxiii

The true meaning of Selah in the Bible is a mystery. Bible Scholars have come up with multiple meanings
and possible explanations for the meaning of the word.

The New American Standard Hebrew Lexicon defines the Hebrew word (הָל ֶֽס) as “to lift up, exalt.”

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