Light & Shade: An Exegetical Brief of Psalms 27
Light & Shade: An Exegetical Brief of
Psalms 27
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“Light and Salvation”: An Exegetical Brief of Psalm
27
A. An outline and Structural Analysis!
- Enemies and the Fear of the Lord (v1-3)!
- The Psalmist’s One Petition (v4-6)!
- Distress, but resolved to wait on Jehovah (v7-12)!
- Reassurance (v13-14)!
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B. Introduction !
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The book of Psalms consists of one hundred fifty songs and prayers in the
Wisdom literature section of the Bible. The identification of some psalms as prayers is also seen within the text, for example in the conclusion to Psalm 72, "The prayers of
David son of Jesse are ended." They each have a poetic character with frequent use of parallelism. Biblical Poetry found in Psalms uses parallelism as their primary poetic device. Synonymous parallelism involves two lines expressing the same idea but in two different terms, as by using different images or symbols1: The LORD is my light and my
salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?2 The
largest category of Psalms are laments. Each chapter can be categorized into different genres: Laments, Praise hymns, Wisdom Psalms and Thanksgiving Psalms. Psalms 27, the passage under examination, can be classified into more than one category, it can either be a lament, hymn or a thanksgiving psalm. The chapters in the book of Psalms are viewed as very powerful and a relevant way of life and they can help a person to truly connect with God, the way that David did. Understanding the Poetry in the book of
Britannica Dictionary "synonymous parallelism." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica
Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2013
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Psalms 27:1
Psalms is based on trying to understand the attitude, the outlook, the spiritual and psychological mood of the poet when they composed it3.!
C. Exegetical Brief !
I. Enemies and
Psalms 27
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
“Light and Salvation”: An Exegetical Brief of Psalm
27
A. An outline and Structural Analysis!
- Enemies and the Fear of the Lord (v1-3)!
- The Psalmist’s One Petition (v4-6)!
- Distress, but resolved to wait on Jehovah (v7-12)!
- Reassurance (v13-14)!
!
B. Introduction !
!
The book of Psalms consists of one hundred fifty songs and prayers in the
Wisdom literature section of the Bible. The identification of some psalms as prayers is also seen within the text, for example in the conclusion to Psalm 72, "The prayers of
David son of Jesse are ended." They each have a poetic character with frequent use of parallelism. Biblical Poetry found in Psalms uses parallelism as their primary poetic device. Synonymous parallelism involves two lines expressing the same idea but in two different terms, as by using different images or symbols1: The LORD is my light and my
salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?2 The
largest category of Psalms are laments. Each chapter can be categorized into different genres: Laments, Praise hymns, Wisdom Psalms and Thanksgiving Psalms. Psalms 27, the passage under examination, can be classified into more than one category, it can either be a lament, hymn or a thanksgiving psalm. The chapters in the book of Psalms are viewed as very powerful and a relevant way of life and they can help a person to truly connect with God, the way that David did. Understanding the Poetry in the book of
Britannica Dictionary "synonymous parallelism." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica
Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2013
1
2
Psalms 27:1
Psalms is based on trying to understand the attitude, the outlook, the spiritual and psychological mood of the poet when they composed it3.!
C. Exegetical Brief !
I. Enemies and
Bibliography: 3-14. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 21, 2013).! ! Barnes, W.E. The Psalms. Vol. 1. London: Methuen, 1931. Print! ! Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Vol. 5. Michigan: Zondervan, 2009 By A. Berkeley Mickelsen. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1992. 114-16. Print! ! Fokkelman, J. P. Reading Biblical Poetry: An Introductory Guide. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001 Publishing, Ltd., 2003.! ! NASB. New American Standard Bible. La Habra: Foundation Publications, 1997.! !