Sunday 14 July 2013

Memorizing the Psalms - 10 (90-106 Moses)

In this series, I am considering strategies for memorizing all the psalms of the Hebrew Psalter. Ask yourself also - what is(are) the central verse(s) of each psalm?

In this post we consider Book 4 as a whole.

אֲדֹנָי מָעוֹן אַתָּה הָיִיתָ לָּנוּ90:1My Lord, a habitation you yourself have become for us
יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן91:1One sitting in the secret of the Most High
טוֹב לְהֹדוֹת לַיהוָה92:2Good it is to give thanks to יהוה 
יְהוָה מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ93:1יהוה reigns pride clothed
אֵל נְקָמוֹת יְהוָה94:1God of vengeance יהוה 
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהוָה95:1Walk! Let us shout aloud to יהוה 
שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה שִׁיר חָדָשׁ96:1Sing to יהוה a new song
יְהוָה מָלָךְ תָּגֵל הָאָרֶץ97:1יהוה reigns let the earth rejoice
שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה שִׁיר חָדָשׁ98:1Sing to יהוה a new song
יְהוָה מָלָךְ יִרְגְּזוּ עַמִּים99:1יהוה reigns let peoples shudder
הָרִיעוּ לַיהוָה כָּל הָאָרֶץ100:1Raise a shout to יהוה all the earth
חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט אָשִׁירָה לְךָ יְהוָה אֲזַמֵּרָה101:1Mercy and judgment I will sing to you יהוה I will sing a psalm
יְהוָה שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי וְשַׁוְעָתִי אֵלֶיךָ תָבוֹא102:2יהוה hear my prayer and let my cry for help come to you
בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְהוָה103:1Bless יהוה O my being
בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְהוָה104:1Bless יהוה O my being
הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה105:1Give thanks to יהוה 
הַלְלוּ יָהּ הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה106:1Hallelu Yah Give thanks to יהוה 
  • Psalm 90 responds to the laments of Book 3. This is a prayer for establishment, a prayer for turning.
  • Psalm 91 responds to Psalm 90. This is a reflection on the reality of refuge.
  • Psalm 92 is the unique Song to the day of the Sabbath. 
  • Psalm 93 celebrates the reign of יהוה. 
  • Psalm 94 forms an envelope with Psalm 92 around Psalm 93. Psalms 92 and 94 share 25 roots including a nine-deep set of concentric circles. The clue to the envelope is the repetition of brute and dullard.
  • Psalm 95 reminds the reader of joy and the testing of contention (Meribah). This psalm is noted in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
  • Psalm 96 again celebrates the reign of יהוה with a new song.
  • Psalm 97 continues that celebration.
  • Psalm 98 with the repetition of the new song puts Psalm 96 in an envelope. There are circles 7 deep, but I wonder if this is deliberate... Nonetheless, Psalms 92 to 99 are clearly a related group.
  • Psalm 100 is the traditional Jubilate. The reading he made us and his we are links the joy to the Song.
  • Psalm 101 (of David) bears a strong relationship to the teaching of Psalms 1, 15, 24, and 26.
  • Psalm 102, the second psalm labeled a prayer in Book 4, closes a frame with Psalm 90 of the double use of renew (חלף ). (You won't find this in most translations).
  • Psalm 103, a recognition of the nurturing compassion of יהוה, the second of David through this inscription, forms with Psalm 101 an envelope for Psalm 102.
  • Psalm 104 celebrates the created order. 
  • Psalm 105 celebrates the covenant with Abraham.
  • Psalm 106 reflects the canonical story of Israel.


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