Wisdom Psalms
No clear-cut characteristics of wisdom Psalms have been charted out. However, some scholars offer identifying suggestions with regard to style, content and context or life-setting. As we have said, wisdom features are found in many of the psalms in the psalter. However, the wisdom psalms share certain components in style, content and context. These typical characteristics (style, content and context or life-setting) have been identified primarily by R. K. Johnston.
1. With regard to style: The use of the ʾašrē formula, “blessed/happy” this ʾašrē formula is found in Psalms 1; 32; 34; 112; 119; 127; 128. The use of acrostic poems, as L. C. Allen has written, “The acrostic form is used as an aesthetic device that in the interest of completeness supplies a structure, stimulus, and limit for the enumeration of lines and strophes,” the use of acrostic poems is found in Psalms 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145. Another element that is quite often found in wisdom psalms is similes and comparison, but these they don’t explicitly characterize wisdom psalms, similes and comparison are found in Psalms 1, 3-4; 32, 9; 49, 3 .15. Another usage typical of wisdom psalms is proverbial sayings, “Better is a little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (Ps 37, 16).
2. …show more content…
In terms of content: Common is the theme of contrast between the two ways: that of the righteous and that of the wicked (Ps 1; 34; 37; 49; 73; 111; 112 and 119). Another theme is fear of the Lord (Ps 19; 34; 111; 112; 128), as in “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111, 10). Wisdom psalms also talk about the importance of contemplating on Torah (Ps, 1; 19; 119), and the problems of retribution and the suffering of the righteous (Ps 34; 37; 49; 73 and 112). The retribution principle was also of vital interest to Psalmic wisdom with the contrasted the righteous, who will be saved, and the wicked, who will
1. With regard to style: The use of the ʾašrē formula, “blessed/happy” this ʾašrē formula is found in Psalms 1; 32; 34; 112; 119; 127; 128. The use of acrostic poems, as L. C. Allen has written, “The acrostic form is used as an aesthetic device that in the interest of completeness supplies a structure, stimulus, and limit for the enumeration of lines and strophes,” the use of acrostic poems is found in Psalms 34; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145. Another element that is quite often found in wisdom psalms is similes and comparison, but these they don’t explicitly characterize wisdom psalms, similes and comparison are found in Psalms 1, 3-4; 32, 9; 49, 3 .15. Another usage typical of wisdom psalms is proverbial sayings, “Better is a little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (Ps 37, 16).
2. …show more content…
In terms of content: Common is the theme of contrast between the two ways: that of the righteous and that of the wicked (Ps 1; 34; 37; 49; 73; 111; 112 and 119). Another theme is fear of the Lord (Ps 19; 34; 111; 112; 128), as in “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111, 10). Wisdom psalms also talk about the importance of contemplating on Torah (Ps, 1; 19; 119), and the problems of retribution and the suffering of the righteous (Ps 34; 37; 49; 73 and 112). The retribution principle was also of vital interest to Psalmic wisdom with the contrasted the righteous, who will be saved, and the wicked, who will