To accompany your Come Follow Me study for August 8-14
In addition to reading these prescribed chapters, you may enjoy:
- “Psalms” at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/psalms?lang=eng
- Enrichment Section: Hebrew Literary Styles at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/enrichment-section-g-hebrew-literary-styles?lang=eng
- The Psalms: Songs from the Heart of Israel at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/the-psalms-songs-from-the-heart-of-israel?lang=eng
- The video Come Follow Me 2022 LDS (August 8-14) Psalms 1-48 | Ancient Hymnbook at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEPgOdogOQY
- The video Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew Poetry at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29wUDilK4VE
If you would enjoy seeing a Kahoot game related to this material which you could use for your own amusement or with your family or class, click here: https://create.kahoot.it/share/psalms-1-46/ca492ed6-9229-455e-9e00-7a565254ce31. (To use it with a group, after clicking on this link, you will need to log into Kahoot, creating a free account if you have not done so previously, then click on the blue “Start” button.)
Points to Ponder in Psalms 1-2; 8; 19-33; 40; 46
Unlike earlier books of the Old Testament, Psalms tells no story but is a collection of Hebrew poetry designed to inspire the reader. The most important question you can answer as you read each suggested Psalm is “What in this chapter did I personally find most impressive? If all the other verses in this psalm were to be taken away and I could keep only one, which would it be, and why?” What is your answer to that question for each of the following psalms? Your answer may well be (and probably should be) different from mine, though I’ll share my own choices in the “Possible Answers” section which follows.
1. Psalm 1
2. Psalm 2
3. Psalm 8
4. Psalm 19
5. Psalm 20
6. Psalm 21
7. Psalm 22
8. Psalm 23
9. Psalm 24
10. Psalm 25
11. Psalm 26
12. Psalm 27
13. Psalm 28
14. Psalm 29
15. Psalm 3
16. Psalm 31
17. Psalm 32
18. Psalm 33
19. Psalm 40
20. Psalm 46
As the article on “Hebrew Literary Styles” from the Institute Student Manual and the suggested video on Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew Poetry indicate, the poetry of the Psalms does not involve meter or rhyme as ours typically does, but a parallelism of ideas. Synonymous parallelism involves a repetition in the second line of the idea in the first line. Antithetic parallelism is where the second line contrasts with the first line. Synthetic parallelism does neither but has a second (and sometimes a third) line which adds to or expands upon the idea of the first line. An understanding of synonymous parallelism may be especially helpful in understanding the writer’s meaning. For each of the listed psalms, indicate at least one verse which contains either synonymous or antithetic parallelism and tell which kind it is. (Synonymous parallelism will be by far the easiest to identify.)
21. Psalm 1
22. Psalm 2
23. Psalm 8
24. Psalm 19
25. Psalm 20
26. Psalm 21
27. Psalm 22
28. Psalm 23
29. Psalm 24
30. Psalm 25
31. Psalm 26
32. Psalm 27
33. Psalm 28
34. Psalm 29
35. Psalm 30
36. Psalm 31
37. Psalm 32
38. Psalm 33
39. Psalm 40
40. Psalm 46
Other selected questions from these Psalms on which you may wish to ponder:
41. Psalm 1:3 says that “whatsoever he [a righteous man] doeth shall prosper.” How do you reconcile that with the obvious poverty and suffering endured by so many righteous people in today’s world?
42. What verses from Psalm 2 were quoted in the New Testament, and why?
43. How do other translations of Psalm 8:5 make it even more powerful than it seems in the King James version?
44. What 6 promised blessings of scripture study can you identify in Psalm 19 that would lead the psalmist to say the scriptures are “more to be desired … than gold”?
45. What verses can you find in Psalm 22 and Psalm 31 which either foretell events in Jesus’ life or were quoted by Him or others during his final hours?
46. What passage in Psalm 26 appears to be the inspiration for one of our hymns, and which hymn is it?
47. What passage in Psalm 27 appears to be the inspiration for one of our hymns, and which hymn is it?
48. What does David mean when he says in 40:6 that the Lord neither required nor desired sacrifice and burnt offerings? Wasn’t that a major point of the law of Moses?
49. To what “desolations” is 46:8 that the Lord “hath made in the earth,” and why did He make them?
Possible Answers to Points to Ponder in Psalms 1-2; 8; 19-33; 40; 46
Unlike earlier books of the Old Testament, Psalms tells no story but is a collection of Hebrew poetry designed to inspire the reader. The most important question you can answer as you read each suggested Psalm is “What in this chapter did I personally find most impressive? If all the other verses in this psalm were to be taken away and I could keep only one, which would it be, and why?” What is your answer to that question for each of the following psalms? Your answer may well be (and probably should be) different from mine, though I’ll share my own choices in the “Possible Answers” section which follows.
1. Psalm 1
1:2: Highlights the importance of delighting in God’s law and meditating on it.
2. Psalm 2
2:11: Though we should serve the Lord with deep reverence, we should also be joyful while doing so.
3. Psalm 8
8:5: Suggests man’s kinship with God and his divine potential
4. Psalm 19
19:1: We can see evidence of God’s existence as we look at the natural universe around us.
5. Psalm 20
20:7: It is better to trust in God than in military might.
6. Psalm 21
21:13: God’s power is worth getting excited about.
7. Psalm 22
22:22: We should tell others about the gospel.
8. Psalm 23
23:6: Eternal blessings follow obedience to God.
9. Psalm 24
24:4: The importance of worthiness to enter the temple
10. Psalm 25
25:14: We learn of God’s mysteries in the temple.
11. Psalm 26
26:8: The love we can and should feel for the temple
12. Psalm 27
27:4: The temple is a place of beauty and revelation where the righteous long to be.
13. Psalm 28
28:7: Trusting in God brings great joy.
14. Psalm 29
29:2: There is beauty in holiness.
15. Psalm 30
30:5: There are better days ahead!
16, Psalm 31
31:19: Highlights the great goodness of God toward the righteous.
17. Psalm 32
32:11: The righteous will be full of gladness and joy.
18. Psalm 33
33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Where does our own nation stand?
19. Psalm 40
40:8: We should not only obey but delight to do so.
20. Psalm 46
46:10: Quiet meditation is a key to revelation.
As the article on “Hebrew Literary Styles” from the Institute Student Manual and the suggested video on Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew Poetry indicate, the poetry of the Psalms does not involve meter or rhyme as ours typically does, but a parallelism of ideas. Synonymous parallelism involves a repetition in the second line of the idea in the first line. Antithetic parallelism is where the second line contrasts with the first line. Synthetic parallelism does neither but has a second (and sometimes a third) line which adds to or expands upon the idea of the first line. An understanding of synonymous parallelism may be especially helpful in understanding the writer’s meaning. For each of the listed psalms, indicate at least one verse which contains either synonymous or antithetic parallelism and tell which kind it is. (Synonymous parallelism will be by far the easiest to identify.)
21. Psalm 1
1:5: Synonymous
1:6: Antithetic
22. Psalm 2
2:4: Synonymous
23. Psalm 8
8:4: Synonymous
Entire chapter: Chiasmus (a special type of synonymous parallelism, where ideas are repeated in reverse order):
See http://www.bible.literarystructure.info/bible/19_Psalms_pericope_e.html for other examples of chiastic structure throughout Psalms. Latter-day Saints are especially interested in this topic, as it turns out that the Book of Mormon is also full of chiasmus, even though this was a subject not being noticed or talked about even in the Bible in Joseph Smith’s day.
24. Psalm 19
19:1: Synonymous
25. Psalm 20
20:1: Synonymous
20:7-8: Antithetic
26. Psalm 21
21:1: Synonymous
27. Psalm 22
22:5: Synonymous
28. Psalm 23
23:2: Synonymous
29. Psalm 24
24:3: Synonymous
30. Psalm 25
25:14: Synonymous
31. Psalm 26
26:2: Synonymous
32. Psalm 27
27:8: Synonymous. In fact, this is a simple chiasm.
33. Psalm 28
28:4: Synonymous
34. Psalm 29
29:4: Synonymous
35. Psalm 30
30:5: Antithetic
36. Psalm 31
31:23: Antithetic (The “proud doer” here is someone who is arrogant and self-righteous—not one who is justly pleased with his righteous deeds. This is a case where it may help to consult alternate translations, which you can easily do at https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%2031:23.)
37. Psalm 32
32:1: Synonymous (Here is a case where a knowledge of Hebrew parallelism helps us understand the passage. It is not “blessed” to have one’s sin covered in the sense of being hidden, but in the sense of its being forgiven!)
32:10: Antithetic
38. Psalm 33
33:10: Synonymous
39. Psalm 40
40:14: Synonymous
40. Psalm 46
46:7: Synonymous
Other selected questions from these Psalms on which you may wish to ponder:
41. Psalm 1:3 says that “whatsoever he [a righteous man] doeth shall prosper.” How do you reconcile that with the obvious poverty and suffering endured by so many righteous people in today’s world?
This is a general principle with many obvious individual exceptions in mortality. But in a spiritual and eternal sense it is true even individually. As Paul testified, “All things work together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28.)
42. What verses from Psalm 2 were quoted in the New Testament, and why?
The early Christians are quoted as referring to Psalms 2:2-4 in Acts 4:25-27, seeing it fulfilled in the role of Herod, Pontius Pilate, and others in the death of Jesus Christ.
43. How do other translations of Psalm 8:5 make it even more powerful than it seems in the King James version?
Many other English translations correctly render this as “thou hast made him a little lower than God [“Eloheim”]. See https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%208:5
44. What 6 promised blessings of scripture study can you identify in Psalm 19 that would lead the psalmist to say the scriptures are “more to be desired … than gold”?
Verses 7-11 indicate that the scriptures, or “law of the Lord,” can:
- Convert the soul (19:7)
- Make the simple wise (19:7)
- Cause our heart to rejoice (19:8)
- Enlighten our eyes (19:8)
- Warn us (19:11)
- Bring us great reward if we follow them (19:11)
45. What verses can you find in Psalm 22 and Psalm 31 which either foretell events in Jesus’ life or were quoted by Him or others during his final hours?
- 22:1: Quoted by Jesus on the cross
- 22:8: Quoted by the onlooking scoffers
- 22:14: Christ’s blood is poured out like water.
- 22:15: Reminiscent of Jesus’ thirst on the cross
- 22:16: Crucifixion
- 22:18: The soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothes
- 31:5: Jesus’ final words on the cross
46. What passage in Psalm 26 appears to be the inspiration for one of our hymns, and which hymn is it?
26:8: Hymn #247, We Love Thy House, O God
47. What passage in Psalm 27 appears to be the inspiration for one of our hymns, and which hymn is it?
27:1: Hymn #89, The Lord Is My Light
48. What does David mean when he says in 40:6 that the Lord neither required nor desired sacrifice and burnt offerings? Wasn’t that a major point of the law of Moses?
David seems to understand that the Lord didn’t need the burnt animals. But He did want to see a broken heart and contrite spirit willing to make such sacrifices.
49. To what “desolations” is 46:8 referring that the Lord “hath made in the earth,” and why did He make them?
This seems to be a reference to His destruction of the wicked at the time of the Second Coming as a precursor to the Millennium of peace which would follow.