Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
The Book of Psalms is basically a HYMNAL, and just as modern hymn books have many different kinds of songs, so does the Book of Psalms. In fact, many hymn books are arranged by genre, grouping together songs for Christmas, Easter, Holy Week, and Pentecost, and there are Penitential Hymns, Joyous Hymns, Didactic (teaching) Hymns, and even Wedding and Funeral Hymns. The Book of Psalms is similar, but they are not in any particular order. There are Five Individual Songbooks within the Book of Psalms, and all five have a variety of songs in them.
Sometimes a Song starts out as one genre, and then morphs into another. Here are the generally accepted categories of Psalms:
Here is one list by Dr. Douglas Stuart that identifies ten different types of Psalms…
1. Laments – Largest group; more than 60 Psalms!
Common elements of Lament psalms:
Address –Complaint – Trust – Deliverance – Assurance – Praise
Individual [including Penitential Psalms] 3, 22, 31, 39, 42, 57, 71, 88, 120, 139, 142
Corporate 12, 44, 80, 94, 137
2. Thanksgiving Psalms
Common elements of Thanksgiving psalms:
– Misery (Distress) – Appeal – Deliverance – Testimony
Individual [including royal] 18, 30, 32, 34, 40, 66, 92, 116, 118, 138
Corporate [some=hymns] 65, 67, 75, 107, 124, 136
3. Hymns
Creator Hymns 8, 104, 148
Israel Hymns 66, 100, 111
History Hymns [including “Narrative Psalms”] 33, 145, 146, 147
4. Enthronement Psalms 24, 29, 47, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
5. Royal Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 144
6. Zion Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122
7. Wisdom Psalms 1, 36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133
8. Trust Psalms [subcategory of laments] 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131
9. Liturgies [somewhat catch-all] 15, 50, 68, 81, etc.
10. Torah Psalms 1, 119, etc.
(– This list is by Dr. Douglas Stuart, professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.)
Now, I am going to add to Dr. Stuart's awesome list with another category, Messianic Psalms. These would be Psalms that may start out as some other kind of Psalm and then emerges as a prophecy of the Messiah. It is my humble opinion that Psalm 2 is that kind of song.
First, it starts out as a lament over the rage and duplicity of "the nations". The leaders of the nations hate the new king and conspire against him. But the new king (presumably David) has been anointed by God for his role, and so the conspiracies and duplicity of the plots and attempted coup by the nations is laughable.
Next we see that God calls this King His Son, and His Begotten. We were all CREATED by God, but I don't think any of us can use the title "Begotten". So now, it would seem that we are talking about The Messiah.
So, Psalm 2 has gone from a Lament to a Royal, from a Royal to a Messianic Psalm, and finally, to a Song of Praise. It also could be called a Triumphant Song, or even a Didactic Psalm because it tells the people something new information. And, it even contains Prophecy. All that in one little song!
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ...Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” (2 Chronicles 20)
For those of you who have asked about my mini-vacation for my 67th Birthday, Here Goes:
The weather was MAGNIFICENT. Add to that the fall color and the almost-deserted beaches of Cape Cod in the off-season, and we had a great time. We went to visit our parents’ final resting place at the National Cemetery in Bourne, which was very touching and emotional for both of us. Then we proceeded down to Dennisport, where we stayed in a “tiny house” which made my trailer look like a palace :-) It was cute and clean and efficient, and had everything we needed, but for two women and a large dog was a wee bit cramped.
Fortunately, some restaurants and pubs were still open, and a few antique shops, but we mostly hiked. Penny LOVED it. But she is not fond of the ocean, and when my sister took off her shoes and rolled up her pant-legs to wade in the surf, Penny went into panic mode, and tried to “rescue” her from the water. She tugged on her sleeve and attempted to drag sis out of the surf, and wouldn’t give up until my sister relented and came back up onto the sand. Perhaps Penny knew that there had been many shark reports in the area or maybe she could sense them. or maybe she just doesn’t like salt water. Who knows? But now I know that Penny is very protective, not only of me, but of my sister as well.
Good Girl!
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS