48...SINGERS & THEIR SONGS...PART 3: PSALMS 76-150
Based on the book of Psalms (Ps)...Read more there

We'll continue looking at more or less representative or stand-out psalms in this 3rd section of our explorations into Psalms. 76 is a long rehearsal of history, maybe for use at a ceremonial observance of some sort. Maybe a bit like some religious Anzac Day? It ends on a note emphasising YHWH's choice of the Hebrew people & chosen ones within their ranks to achieve his purposes. 79 is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, most likely that by the Babylonians in 586BC. It is followed in 80 by a similar note of lament appealing to God to re-instate his people to their former state. 82 has overtones of a transition from a collection of gods to the One True God & reminds us not to assume the Hebrews were always & entirely monotheistic. 84 is a delightful hymn of longing for, praise of, confidence in, & commitment to YHWH God, & one that particularly repays singing. 89 centres on God's favour & faithfulness to the royal house of David. Mind you, neither David nor his descendants always returned that favour & faithfulness! Christians see that faith & favour restored in David's descendant Jesus, 'the king of the Jews' & those who place themselves under his trustworthy rule. 90 celebrates Moses' single-minded devotion to God & God's Law. 91 is almost a 'creed' in the confidence it expresses in God, then 92 & 93 can be enjoyed as responses in worship to that same confidence. 95 (known as the 'Venite' in some Christian circles) has long been used as a celebration of God's rule. Robert Alter (N1) quotes another un-named scholar calling 96 a 'mosaic' drawn from other familiar writings. This very familiarity might  have increased its usefulness & popularity in worship. 97-100 are great songs of confidence in & praise for God. 104 is a celebration of God's creativity & rule over the creation, & 105-107 (the last has a chorus) recapitulate God's people's role in all this & God's care for them. The next several pss. recall God's greatness & faithfulness as well as personal confessions of both faith & need. 119 is an elaborate acrostic (N2). Each of the 22 sections begins with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is very much a manual of instruction & the use of the acrostic method is clearly a strategy to aid learning the teachings by rote. We could say it sums up a good deal of the biblical teaching of which it is an important part, & would repay use as a kind of 'primer' of many core religious values.

119 is then followed by 15 pss., 120-134, known as 'Songs of Ascents'. These are generally considered to be songs intended for use by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for pilgrimages & festivals, & coming in sight of the city & its Temple (N3). 121 may be a reference to Hebrews on pilgrimage looking up to the hill tops, seeing altars to idols, & being moved to re-state their own commitment to YHWH God. 125 may reflect this same state of affairs. 130 with its beginning, 'Out of the depths....' is an example of 'depths' being used to refer to the threatening depths of  the sea as against the life-givingness of  God in his 'heights'. This is very much a penitential psalm, used by both Hebrews & Christians in this context. 136 then recites the praises of God for the mighty acts He has performed for Israel & against others. When we reach 137 we are faced with the contrasting emotions psalms can convey. The first 6 verses are a delightful if poignant lament for how the Hebrews feel about their exile in Babylon in the 6th C. BC.. But in v.7 this turns to a vicious tirade against their neighbours the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Did they come to the Hebrews' aid when they were attacked by Babylon? No, they egged the Babylonians on & aided & abetted them (N4). The first part of 139 is a kind of spiritual review of life, sometime used appropriately at funerals. However, at v.19 it turns (as 137 turns) into a rant against 'the wicked'. 145 then begins a set of songs of praise directed to God. vv. 15-16] have often been used as an appropriate 'table grace'. Bringing the Book of Psalms to an appropriate end on a great burst of praise is 150. And then the story goes on...49: Out of the mouths of...    

(N1) Robert Alter, Psalms, Norton, N.Y. 2007 ad loc. (N2)  There are other acrostic pss., but 119 is the longest (as well as the longest psalm). (N3) This would of course depend on when they were written &/or being sung. There were times when there was no Temple. (N4) [Obadiah 1:10-15] gives us the context for Hebrew bitterness towards the Edomites. The 'nice' part of 137 was made very popular by the group 'Boney M' in 1978.
Q: Do we ourselves prefer any particular genre of song?