Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalms Background

The book of Psalms is a collection of songs, prayers, hymns, laments, and poetry.

Directing the praise of God, encouraging faith, and giving a voice to real raw human emotions such as sorrow, fear and joy.

The book of Psalms has a much wider scope than any other book of the Bible.

Its tradition and literary history span from the pre-monarchic (period before the kingdom) well into the second temple period (after the exilic period - when Nehemiah rebuilt )

The Psalms, like the other wisdom literature of the Old Testament (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes), is Hebrew poetry.

Unlike English poetry, which emphasizes rhyme and meter, Hebrew poetry relies on other characteristics for its impact like parallelism and figures of speech.

Parallelism

English verse manipulates sound, and emphasizes rhyme and meter.

Hebrew poetry repeats and rearranges thoughts rather than sounds.

There are several types of parallel arrangement of thoughts, with the first three listed below being the most basic.

(1) Synonymous—the same thought of the first line is basically repeated in different words in the second line (2:4; 3:1; 7:17).

(2) Antithetical—the thought of the first line is emphasized by a contrasting thought in the second line (1:6; 34:10).

They are often identified with “but.”

(3) Synthetic—the second line explains or further develops the idea of the first line (1:3; 95:3).

(4) Climactic—The second line repeats with the exception of the last terms (29:1).

(5) Emblematic—One line conveys the main point, the second line illuminates it by an image (42:1; 23:1).

What is a Psalm?

In order for us to firmly grasp and understand the book of Psalms it is imperative that we understand how the Psalms functioned in ancient Israel.

Psalms are tightly woven poetic compositions.

Even prayer Psalms reflecting life or death adversities (Psalms 13 and 22) present elaborate literary echoes and structures.

Their references to singing imply performance, their wording implies composition, and we conclude that they are not spontaneous improvised cries of help or praise.

The identities of “I” “We” and “they” are open-ended.

Different from biblical historical narratives and poetic oracles of the prophet, the speaker’s opponents in the Psalms are rarely identified.

The open-ended language of the Psalms implies that they are written for typical and recurring occasions in the life of God’s people.

Most of the Psalms follow regular literary patterns.

This reflects that traditional conventions of poetic composition prevailed over any type of free verse.

Many Psalms contain liturgical and ritual allusions.

Most hymns begin with plural imperatives that serve as a call to worship.

Hallelujah - You Praise Yahweh and changes of address in which addressing God directly “you” becomes “He” suggests the Psalms have a congregational setting

References to lyres and other musical instrumentation imply musical performance.

The Psalms formed an ancient prayer and hymn book.

Most Psalms were originally set prayers intended to guide worshipers in articulating cries of distress and celebrations of praise.

They are meant to lead the worshiper’s heart to God through times of trial and times of worship.

Psalms are educative and behaviorally modifying.

The Psalms came through generations of people living with and for God and they are deeply personal but not expressing only the individual author’s experiences but rather evoking the experiences that typify or should typify God’s people.

They are the songs for our hearts.

From creation to re-creation no theological theme of significance is absent from Psalms.

However to treat it as a theological text strictly is to miss its true strength and purpose.

Psalms true purpose is a richly varied guide to the perception experience and worship of God.

Within its descriptive imagery and depth of emotional expression the Psalms form the solid foundation of intimate faith and worship.

The Psalter is divided after the analogy of the Pentateuch into five books each ending with a doxology or benediction.

Book 1 Psalms 1-41 - all ascribed to David except 1,2,10 and 33 which although anonymous may also be ascribed to him.

Book 2 Psalms 42-72 ascribe 18 to David and 1 to Solomon (72) and the remaining 12 are anonymous

Book 3 Psalms 73-89 the 86th is ascribed to David the 88th to Herman the Ezrahite and the 89th to Ethan the Ezrahite

Book 4 Psalms 90-106 which the 90th is ascribed to Moses and the 101st and 103rd to David

Book 5 Psalms 107-150 15 ascribed to David and the 127th to Solomon.

The Abundant Life

Introduction

How would you describe the abundant life?

The abundant life is the successful life The world describes its version of a successful life and this picture of successful living has made its way into the church and believers lose themselves pursuing after it — chasing this version of success.

I will have achieved success when the bank account has so much in it, or when my paycheck has so much in it.

Other times the pursuit comes in the form of education and intellectual achievements.

I will be successful when I have letters and abbreviations after my name or before it.

Now days this one is more prevalent - the idea that success is tied to popularity or fame.

The proliferation of the internet, instagram, facebook, tiktok and youtube many chase for the number of subscribers, likes and views and when they get so many then they are successful.

Still yet some measure success in terms of health - I reach a weight, a body fat percentage a strength or a physical feat or achievement.

How do you define success in life - the abundant life?

What criteria do you use?

God has provided an abundant life for you far beyond these types of things that the world chases after.

These things are temporal fleeting and in fact passing away, while the blessed abundant life that God has provided is eternal in use and value.

How Happy

Psalm 1:1 (CSB)

1 How happy is the one

The word used here for happy is the Hebrew word ashre and it means blessedness, happiness over all and well-being in every area of life.

It is not our definition of happiness which depends entirely on circumstance and happenstance.

This word points more to a deep fulfilling sense of joy.

That is how Jesus can say to His disciples about the joy or blessedness they would have and in the same conversation telling them they would be hated and persecuted.

You are marked by a happiness over all and well being in every area of life.

Psalm 112 a sister Psalm demonstrates these different areas - security, finances, wisdom, business, etc

Ashre also has a meaning of being straight or right.

Gods desire for us to be happy and blessed comes by walking straight or right.

This promised blessing of happiness and abundance is attainable by all - rich, poor etc.

What is the promised abundant life is it riches, fame or anything like that?

No but it is an abundant life none the less and the one who has this present in their life is happy.

The abundant life is like a tree.

A tree is usually a picture of life and a picture of abundant life.

We are told happy is the one who is like a tree - full of life.

Not only are you like a tree, full of life but you are specifically a planted tree and this denotes several characteristics of your life.

The first is that you are rooted firmly and that suggests that you are unmoved when life comes.

Not that you dont adjust to life but that life and the things and events of life dont and wont change your faith in God.

You are unmovable and unshakeable for you are firmly rooted because you have been planted.

You will have a lasting endurance and a staying quality.

Secondly being planted means that you are chosen and not random or wild and that you have been carefully placed with great care for your growth.

Last is that plant can be also made transplanted in that God took you from where you were originally and has specifically planted you where you are now.

The abundant life is for those whom God has transplanted.

The abundant life is one in which you are full of life from being planted specifically and not only that but planted with every necessary resource for living.

Planted by flowing streams.

The water is not stagnant because it is flowing and flowing water is full of life.

The water is full of life because it has all the necessary resources.

This is one who drinks from instruction and wisdom from the water of the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

The abundant life is truly characteristic of a fruit bearing life.

The tree is so full of life that it is bearing fruit of life.

This tree bears fruit and as such is useful.

The picture is a life that has significance and means something.

The fruit bearing tree is good for something.

The truly abundant life is the life that has meaning not only in this life but also in the next life as well.

The desire of most people is that they matter, that their life matters.

The abundant life is a life that matters because it is a fruit bearing life.

Understanding of course that fruit is brought forth in its season.