The Book of Psalms

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  • Psalm 23

    (lyric, of David) * * * It is more wish than insight to call the whole of Psalms “great poetry.” I mean no disrespect. For their people and purposes, psalms are after more than power and precision or beauty and delight, more than the cleansing of perception. Reading the psalms may be an aesthetic and Read more

  • Psalm 22

    (director: tune “Doe at Dawn,” lyric, of David) * * * Psalms of lament are grounded in a number of ways. Having stated or cried out about a problem—lamented it— with more or less metaphor, the speaker calls for mercy or rescue or revenge, appealing either to abstract principles of justice (4:1, 5:12, 7:8-9, 11:7, Read more

  • Psalm 21

    (director: a lyric, of David) * * * Psalm 21 is explicitly a royal psalm and a martial one at that. It is also, implicitly, a providential psalm. The king is mentioned twice, once at the start of each half (1a, 7a), and there’s a golden crown (3b), while the conclusion pairs “strength” and “might” Read more

  • Psalm 20

    (director: lyric, of David) * * * This psalm is as compelling in its parts as it is as a whole. Its overall structure and movement are clear, with three intertwined motifs. First, a prayer for “answer” (1, 6, 9) and “help” (2) or “rescue” (5, 6 [x2]. 9). Second, a call for remembrance (3, Read more

  • Psalm 19

    (director: a lyric, of David) * * * Psalm 19 shows the potential and the limitations of collage. There are three main movements, each with two parts. The first movement (1-6) bears passing resemblance to an Italian sonnet— eight lines plus six, with a turn between. The second movement (7-11) also falls into two parts, Read more

  • Psalm 18

    (director: of the Lord’s servant, of David, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day the Lord rescued him from the grip of all his enemies and from Saul’s grasp. He said…) * * * The parallels that shape biblical poetry on every level—from word to line, from verse to Read more