An Introduction to Studying the Psalms
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers—Psalm 1:1
In the last post, we talked about reading the psalms. This post is about taking the next step and studying them more deeply. W. Robert Godfrey equates this study to the call to meditation in Psalm 1:2, saying “Poems don’t release their richness by one single quick reading, so we have to read and reread. The Hebrew word meditate really means mutter or repeat out loud to yourself and as one goes over and over those psalms looking for themes, looking for linguistic patterns, looking for literary shape, more and more depth is found and more and more blessing I believe is received.”
We live in an age where we like things packaged for us and delivered in a consumable form, pre-digested and preferably short! However I agree with Godfrey: if we are willing to do the work of looking, we will find incredible treasure.
Unfortunately, even if we enjoy poetry, reading Hebrew poetry accurately is not always so straightforward. Here are some tips for studying the psalms so that we honor its original intent even as we connect the dots to our contemporary scene.
Observe the Big Picture
This is probably the most important thing we can do but so often skipped in Bible study. Observing well is the key to understanding accurately.
As I shared in my last post on reading the psalms, I like to read each psalm I am studying in three different ways:
first, straight through from beginning to end without stopping to survey the land, so to speak;
second, to comb over the details slowly;
and third, to zoom back out and connect the details back into the big picture.
By the end of your first overview or survey reading, you should have a sense of
any title opening the song. This lets us know who wrote the psalm, as well as some other details, especially if there is a situation connected to it.
the type (genre) of psalm: is it a lament, kingship, confidence, hymn (pure praise), thanksgiving (for deliverance or an answer to prayer), remembrance (often of past significant redemptive events), wisdom, or confidence psalm?
general mood and tone—is it a “major or minor key” psalm?
Observe the Details
After this, go back a second time, verse by verse, and take each verse and line one at a time.
Parallelism
One of the most helpful things to understand about Hebrew poetry is that it is written in parallel. Sometimes this can be frustrating because it sounds repetitive when actually this form actually can yield incredible insights.
To do this, look at a line and match up the corresponding phrases together, such as in Psalm 1:1 above.
From here, Tremper Longman suggests that instead of looking at these as synonymous, look at how each line increases or adds to the previous. Ask: how are they similar? How does the second line extend the first? How does it increase?
For example, the parallel verbs “walks, stands, sits” are becoming more and more settled. “Counsel, way, and seat” show a similar settledness into a way of life. “Wicked, sinners, scoffers” become increasingly more hardened of heart and rebellious.
Other conjunctions
Besides similarities, notice any other conjunctions. Ask: Do they show opposites, such as with “or” or “but”? Do these show cause and effect with words like “for” or “because.” Pay attention to how the parallel structure of each line relates to the other.
Imagery
Third, take time to observe images. This is what makes poetry so impactful and brings them down to the human level. There are many truths that are beyond us. Imagery helps bring God’s message down to our understanding.
So look for things like similes (with “like” or “as”), metaphors (comparisons without “like” or “as”), and personification (giving non-human things human traits or qualities) that help compare what is unknown to what is known.
When you identify an image, take time to pair it to the broader idea. What two things are being put together? In Psalm 1, the images of a green tree in verse 3 and chaff in verse 4 help us to contrast the godly and the wicked.
Grammar
First, look for pronouns. Though some may find this nit-picky, paying attention to pronouns helps us know who is speaking (and who is not). This can help protect us from misinterpretation and taking the psalm to mean something when it doesn’t.
Second, look for verbs, particularly the tenses—past, present, future. This can also help protect us from falsely or prematurely claiming a psalm as a promise when it is not.
Interpret Carefully
After observing carefully, we also need to interpret carefully. This is an important step many students often skip. Here, may I make two suggestions?
Consider what this psalm would have meant to the original readers.
As believers on this side of the cross, things like Law, king, covenant, and so forth, will impact our perspective.
Because I am not a Bible scholar, this is where study helps like Bible dictionaries and cultural encyclopedias help. This does take a little time to delve into, but they do help fill in the holes of my understanding so I can interpret them properly.
Consider broader theological concepts and themes.
What does this psalm tell us about God and His nature? The redemptive story—creation, fall, Law, covenants? How might it point to Christ?
These help us connect it to God’s overarching trajectory throughout Scripture and ties the psalm to His larger context. It protects us from taking things to mean things it does not, which is very easy to do in reading the Psalms.
These two things help us to understand why this psalm was important to the original listeners, specifically the nation of Israel. Identify the key message to them and write it in their terms before moving on to the next part of our study.
Conclusion…But Also the Beginning
Because the psalms are so quotable, they are often emblazoned on T-shirts, plaques, mugs, or jewelry but completely out of context. We then build our faith on something that the Bible does not promise.
Though studying the psalms carefully takes time, doing so helps protect us from error. I must say as I am going through the study process, I am amazed when I realize that what I had assumed all along is not what the text is saying at all.
With that, however, I do want to say that doing the careful work of study after reading thoughtfully is critical because it actually is the beginning of application, an important aspect of connecting the dots. Reading and studying well helps us to get back to our original intent—to speak Scripture well to others as well as pray it back to God. We’ll explore these next time.
Posts in this series:
Part 1: Speaking the Psalms
Part 2: Reading the Psalms
Part 3: Studying the Psalms [you are here]
Part 4: Praying the Psalms
