TromboneChat

Psalm 122 text

Highlights

 - Let's go to the Temple. Yay!

Summary

 - I was glad when they said "Let's go to the temple" when we arrived at Jerusalem
 - Jerusalem: the city built as a place for the tribes to give thanks to the Lord.
 - We pray that you have peace and security fir the sake of the temple of God.

Questions and Observations

1) I imagine that the pilgrims have arrived at their camp site, have settled in on the first day, and are now eager to visit the goal of their pilgrimage, the temple.
2) This is not the typical reaction at my place, when I say its time to go to church

Psalm 123 text

Highlights

 - faithfully waiting on the Lord

Summary

 - I look to you until you have mercy on us
 - we have had more than enough contempt from the proud

Questions and Observations

1) Pretty clear?

Psalm 124 text

Highlights

 - The Lord is our help

Summary

 - If you hadn't been on our side the nations would have defeated us
 - We bless the Lord who has kept us from being taken

Questions and Observations

1) Bless means to say good things of, the opposite of curse.  (it can also mean to make happy)

Back from my weekend away now. We didn't get washed away into the sea; it was all rather an anticlimax weatherwise.

In my absence, I see that we've passed various markers:
Shortest bible chapter (2 verses): Psalm 117
Halfway point of Protestant bible by chapter: Psalm 118
Longest bible chapter (176 verses): Psalm 119
Halfway point of Catholic bible by chapter: Psalm 122

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 14, 2017, 12:48PMDave: Are you talking about Psalm 110 or how the NT uses the old in general?

Issuing a general warning about the dangers of wanting to see the future (now the past) being foretold. Jesus also was familiar with the psalms, as were many around him. If one is familiar with a foretelling, then deliberately acts to make sure that something that can be matched to the foretelling happens in one's present time, then was that a true foretelling? Or rather more the keeping of somebody else's promise?

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 15, 2017, 12:14AMPsalm 119 text
Wow, this one is an epic... Good work on it, Martin, must have taken you a while.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 15, 2017, 12:14AM1) Now you know the Hebrew alphabet.  Its interesting to see the commonalities with the greek letter names that our alphabet are based on.  And also to note that they didn't have many vowels.
It's fascinating to trace the development of letters and numerals, to see the ways in which the same letter developed in parallel to become things quite mutually unrecognisable. To pick the first example, the Hebrew aleph and the Greek alpha share a lineage, perhaps originally coming out of Egypt. The Phoenician version of the letter is midway between the two, and in its shape of a 'sideways A', one can see both versions of it. If one squints a bit!

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 15, 2017, 12:14AM2) Each paragraph uses words that start with the paragraphs letter for the theme of the paragraph.
And contains exactly 8 verses. 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet x 8 verses per para = 176 verses.

Psalm 125 text

Highlights

 - Yahweh is something to lean on

Summary

 - Having faith in Yahweh makes for a strong personal foundation
 - Renouncing Yahweh results in loss of this

Questions and Observations

1) It is certainly a reassuring thing to feel that there is something powerful standing behind you looking out for your interests.

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 17, 2017, 05:34AMQuote from: drizabone on 15-01-2017,  07:48:13 AM
Dave: Are you talking about Psalm 110 or how the NT uses the old in general?

Issuing a general warning about the dangers of wanting to see the future (now the past) being foretold. Jesus also was familiar with the psalms, as were many around him. If one is familiar with a foretelling, then deliberately acts to make sure that something that can be matched to the foretelling happens in one's present time, then was that a true foretelling? Or rather more the keeping of somebody else's promise?

that's logical

QuoteQuote from: drizabone on 15-01-2017,  07:14:03 PM
Psalm 119 text

Wow, this one is an epic... Good work on it, Martin, must have taken you a while.

A couple of hours.  I was late for church, but I thought I had a reasonable excuse.

Psalm 126 text

Highlights

 - Restore us again

Summary

 - we couldn't believe it when the Lord resored Zion, we were so happy
 - restore our fortunes again, Lord

Questions and Observations

1) nothing tricky here

Psalm 127 text

Highlights

 - Tips for Solomon

Summary

 - Unless the Lord builds the house your efforts are in vain
 - Children are a heritage from the Lord

Questions and Observations

1) This Psalm is specified as being "of Solomon" ie by or about him.  Solomon commissioned lots of buildings and had lots of kids.  The Psalm is about building and having kids. Surprise.  So it would seem to be directly applicable to him.
2) Many take the psalm as being literally applicable to them too, and say that it teaches that we should have lots of kids.  Not sure about that. 
3) The building paragraph seems to be a few examples of the principle that unless something is the work of the Lord then it won't last.  That things perish is obvious to everyone, so I think that this would refer to things from an eternal perspective.

Psalm 128 text

Highlights

 - Blessings for those who fear the Lord

Summary

 - everyone who fears the Lord will be blessed

Questions and Observations

1) We've also read that those who fear the Lord also go through difficult circumstances, so this "blessing" doesn't exclude that.  This blessing is connected with Zion and Israel

Psalm 129 text

Highlights

 - The wicked shall receive their due

Summary

 - They've picked on Israel but they haven't prevailed
 - The Lord has put the unrighteous to shame
 - No one says that they should be blessed.

Questions and Observations

1) A prayer observing the end of the wicked

Psalm 130 text

Highlights

 - Standing in hope of forgiveness

Summary

 - I cry to you out of the depths
 - I stand condemned but you forgive
 - I wait on you and hope in your word
 - Israel, hope in the Lord, that he will redeem Israel

Questions and Observations

1)

Psalm 131 text

Highlights

 - Rest

Summary

 - Lord I'm am not to excited
 - I am at rest, like a chile with its mother
 - Hope in the Lord Israel

Questions and Observations

1) Thw psalmist has found sufficiency in the Lord and urges Israel to follow suit.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 17, 2017, 03:00PMPsalm 126 text

There's a simile I like here (v4):
"Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like streams in the Negeb!"

The Negeb is a desert; presumably its streams are seasonal.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 17, 2017, 03:15PMPsalm 127 text

2) Many take the psalm as being literally applicable to them too, and say that it teaches that we should have lots of kids.  Not sure about that. 

Certainly there are those strands of the religions that take this material as canonical that place enormous emphasis on their practitioners having a duty to procreate as much as possible - Catholicism, for example.

It's basic Darwinism - those that breed more outnumber those that breed less. Take two separated populations, A and B, both starting with 1,000 people. If each 2 people in A produce 4 (surviving) people, then after 7 generations A will exceed 100,000 people. If each 2 people in B produce 1 person, then after 7 generations B will be down to 10 people. It's easy to understand why it's a common religious injunction to breed as much as possible - basic self-interest in propagating the philosophy dictates it. The religion that encourages its members to breed more out-evolves the religion that doesn't.

Psalm 132 text

Highlights

 - What David and Yahweh did for each other

Summary

 - The psalmist reminds Yahweh of David's vow "to the mighty one of Jacob"
 - David found Yahweh a place to live
 - Yahweh promised David that his sons would reign forever if they kept the faith

Questions and Observations

1) David's vow in vv1-5 is not elsewhere recorded. "The Mighty One of Jacob" I think must be the divine or angelic figure that wrestled him - so presumably the vow is to Yahweh (although if Jacob was a real person with the given chronology, he lived long before Yahweh came to prominence, in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC). So I would guess that the vow related to the housing of the Ark of the Covenant, which we were told occupied David's mind for a while. The word "ark" is used in v8 here, supporting that idea.
2) Ephrathah? I wonder if Richard Adams was thinking of the name at least subconsciously when writing...

Psalm 133 text

Highlights

 - Friendship is nice

Summary

 - It's nice when we don't fight

Questions and Observations

1) Nice like... Um... Oil running down Aaron's beard? If you say so...

Psalm 134 text

Highlights

 - Bless Yahweh

Summary

 - Bless Yahweh that he may bless you

Questions and Observations

1) 3 verses, not quite the shortest chapter

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 18, 2017, 01:44AM
It's basic Darwinism - those that breed more outnumber those that breed less. Take two separated populations, A and B, both starting with 1,000 people. If each 2 people in A produce 4 (surviving) people, then after 7 generations A will exceed 100,000 people. If each 2 people in B produce 1 person, then after 7 generations B will be down to 10 people. It's easy to understand why it's a common religious injunction to breed as much as possible - basic self-interest in propagating the philosophy dictates it. The religion that encourages its members to breed more out-evolves the religion that doesn't.

That reminds me that I read recently in a pop science article that educated people tend to have less children than the uneducated, so you might think that this would result in the birth of proportionally more people that didn't value education.  There has been a genetic survey in Iceland that has confirmed this result. 

And I idly wondered why if the religious are having more children than the responsible atheists, why are so many kids leaving their religion?

I rather think it would be tactless of me to give that question an answer...

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 18, 2017, 02:28AM
1) David's vow in vv1-5 is not elsewhere recorded. "The Mighty One of Jacob" I think must be the divine or angelic figure that wrestled him - so presumably the vow is to Yahweh (although if Jacob was a real person with the given chronology, he lived long before Yahweh came to prominence, in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC). So I would guess that the vow related to the housing of the Ark of the Covenant, which we were told occupied David's mind for a while. The word "ark" is used in v8 here, supporting that idea.

Abraham and his descendants knew God by the name of Yahweh, so I think the link to Jacob's adversary is reasonable.  

There's a discussion on the meaning of God's name Yahweh here that might be relevant  http://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/q ... h-to-moses

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 18, 2017, 02:52AMI rather think it would be tactless of me to give that question an answer...

  You seem to be a polite Englishman, not tactless at all.  Although playing trombone, and bass trombone at that, sort of spoils that a bit.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 02:50AM

And I idly wondered why if the religious are having more children than the responsible atheists, why are so many kids leaving their religion?

Allele change in a population is much slower than cultural change. Attitudes toward education and religion (despite some allegations of a "God" gene) are probably far more cultural driven than genetic, if genetics even plays a part.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 02:50AMThat reminds me that I read recently in a pop science article that educated people tend to have less children than the uneducated, so you might think that this would result in the birth of proportionally more people that didn't value education.  There has been a genetic survey in Iceland that has confirmed this result. 
 
And I idly wondered why if the religious are having more children than the responsible atheists, why are so many kids leaving their religion?
Are religious people having more children than atheists on average in the West? Subcultures, probably, but I suspect that's more about the fact they're subcultures rather than so much that they're religious. I think that's more in line with your first paragraph there too.

Psalm 135 text

Highlights

 - Priase the Lord

Summary

 - Praise the Lord, because he has chosen Israel as his own possession
 - For I know the Lord is great and does whatever he pleases
 - He did mighty signs in Egypt and gave land to Israel
 - Your name endures forever
 - Idols have no life or understanding
 - Israel: bless the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem

Questions and Observations

1)

Psalm 136 text

Highlights

 - God deserves praise

Summary

 - Give thanks to the Lord
   - for he is good
   - who created all things
   - who redeemed Isreal from captivity
   - who defeated kings so that Israel could have their heritage
   - who rescued us when we were opressed
   - who is the God of heaven
 - for his steadfast love endures forever

Questions and Observations

1) Christians tend to muddle praise and thanks I think.

Psalm 137 text

Highlights

 - Getting mad with the Babylonians

Summary

 - When the Hebrew captives were in Babylon they wept because their captives wanted to sing of their homeland
 - They didn't know how to sing of Jerusalem well enough, and they were also afraid that they would forget.
 - They were angry with the Babylonians and offered to bless anyone who would repay them and kill their babies.

Questions and Observations

1) Well they obviously weren't polite Englishmen.
2) That reminds me of this  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybv4DOj-N0  Weren't fashions in the 70's just ummm...
3) I wonder why verse 9 didn't make it into the lyrics of the song?

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 10:12PM1) Christians tend to muddle praise and thanks I think.

Could you amplify? How would you define "praise"?

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 10:21PMPsalm 137 text
Corrected to 137, not 136.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 10:21PM1) Well they obviously weren't polite Englishmen.
I don't think Jesus would have approved the sentiment very much either...

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 18, 2017, 10:21PM2) That reminds me of this  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybv4DOj-N0  Weren't fashions in the 70's just ummm...
I play in a brass band. I cannot criticise.

Psalm 138 text

Highlights

 - David and Yahweh

Summary

 - David thanks Yahweh wholeheartedly
 - He recommends him to the other gods
 - Yahweh answered a prayer of his
 - Yahweh's power will grow over the whole earth
 - He appeals to Yahweh not to stop

Questions and Observations

1) Multiple gods again. As a link I've previously posted on the subject says: "The Psalms fairly explode with evidence [of other gods]".
2) David foretells that the whole earth will come under the sway of the god that he worships. Christianity has indeed spread the object of worship of this local cult far beyond anything that he might have thought geographically possible. But "whole earth"? No, and not likely to. Do Christians feel that it is the destiny of Christianity to swallow all in this way?

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 19, 2017, 02:19AMCould you amplify? How would you define "praise"?

Praise is saying how great someone is.  Thanks is a response for something nice they've done.

QuoteCorrected to 137, not 136.

Fixed

QuoteI don't think Jesus would have approved the sentiment very much either...

I think that he would understand the anger at the way they had been treated.  And approve that they had left it in his hands rather than try and seek revenge themselves.

QuoteI play in a brass band. I cannot criticise.

  They often have wonderful uniforms

Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 19, 2017, 02:29AMPsalm 138 text

...

2) David foretells that the whole earth will come under the sway of the god that he worships. Christianity has indeed spread the object of worship of this local cult far beyond anything that he might have thought geographically possible. But "whole earth"? No, and not likely to. Do Christians feel that it is the destiny of Christianity to swallow all in this way?

As I understand it we will be bystanders when Jesus returns and takes his place as King of all.  Then all will know the Jesus is Lord. 

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 19, 2017, 03:12AM
As I understand it we will be bystanders when Jesus returns and takes his place as King of all.  Then all will know the Jesus is Lord. 

Amillenialists believe Jesus has already returned, spiritually, and is always with us.  There will not necessarily be an actual future return, as it's happened.  This solves a number of problems with the scriptural predictions of a return within the generation of His disciples. 

Quote from: timothy42b on Jan 19, 2017, 05:21AMAmillenialists believe Jesus has already returned, spiritually, and is always with us.  There will not necessarily be an actual future return, as it's happened.  This solves a number of problems with the scriptural predictions of a return within the generation of His disciples. 

Actually Tim, I don't know a single historic amillenialist who believes this-- I'm and amil and I certainly don't.  What you have described might be some form of liberal postmillialism or some forms of what is know an full preterism, but not amillenialism.  Check out a standard theology text on this.

Amillenialists do believe in a literal 2nd coming-- just no millenium after the 2nd coming, which is what the term means.  It has been the most dominant point of view throughout the history of the Christian church.

Revelation is going to be fun!

Psalm 139 text

Highlights

 - No regrets, no escape, no compromise

Summary

 - Lord, you know me completely - that is wonderful
 - Lord, you are with me everywhere and protect me
 - Lord, you made every part of me with a purpose in mind
 - Your thoughts are precious and vast
 - I am on your side as you judge the wicked
 - Know my thoughts and guide me

Questions and Observations

1) Apparently the Hebrew word for "formed" in v13 also carries the connotation of "acquired a possession".  Inward Parts is a translation of the Hebrew word for kidneys.  This passage is one of the reasons that many Christians understand that life begins at conception and that even unformed embryo's are living persons.
2) Once again the Psalmist writes of God judging the wicked.

Psalm 140 text

Highlights

 - Lord: deliver and judge

Summary

 - Deliver me from evil men
 - Guard me from the hands of wicked men
 - You are my God who has protected me
 - Judge the wicked: support the righteous

Questions and Observations

1) the evil wicked men spoke bad things
2) only 10 more to go

Psalm 141 text

Highlights

 - Handling provocation?

Summary

 - Listen to me Lord, when I call
 - guard my lips and my hearts so that I don't incline my heart to evil like the wicked
 - If a righteous man strikes me for this let me accept it, but let I pray against the wicked.
 - But I look to you to protect me.

Questions and Observations

1) I don't understand verses 5-7.  Is he talking about misguided good men, who are punishing him unjustly, and or corrupt judges?
2) David again.

Psalm 142 text

Highlights

 - Rescue me Lord

Summary

 - I bring my troubles to the Lord
 - when I am weak you know where I go, no one else cares about for me
 - Deliver me from my captivity so that I can give thanks to you.

Questions and Observations

1) A maskill of David, whatever that is.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 19, 2017, 03:12AMPraise is saying how great someone is.  Thanks is a response for something nice they've done.
Fair enough. That's how I'd define them too. I was just making sure that there isn't an 'insider' definition of these terms to throw my understanding off.

Yes, I concur that the two often seem to be conflated here. But I see how and why it happens (as I'm 100% certain do you, more familiar and invested as you are):
Axiom 1: Yahweh should be praised
Axiom 2: Yahweh should be thanked
So surely it must be a good thing from the worshipping POV to do them both simultaneously. An intensifying and efficient effect. And before long the act of thanks can be taken as implying the act of praise implicitly - so the praise doesn't need to be even be stated to be understood, and vice versa.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 20, 2017, 08:13PMPsalm 139 text

1) Apparently the Hebrew word for "formed" in v13 also carries the connotation of "acquired a possession".  Inward Parts is a translation of the Hebrew word for kidneys.  This passage is one of the reasons that many Christians understand that life begins at conception and that even unformed embryo's are living persons.

This is an example of an area where religious dogmatism becomes dangerous. The thing to do is to look in open-eyed fashion at the fuzzy interface between non-life and life, do one's best to understand when and how it happens, and then do one's best to formulate a moral approach based on what understanding is available. But if one turns up with preconceived ideas about what's going on, then all too often what happens is a doubling-down on the preconceptions, expressed with great force out of fear of having them challenged. I don't know your personal position on the subject - to me treating the moment of conception as the moment of humanity seems unsupportable. But then Catholics go even further... Basically, everybody's position on the subject seems a moral outrage to various other people. Perhaps we had better not distract the thread with it...

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 20, 2017, 08:18PMPsalm 140 text

 - Deliver me from evil men
This reminds me strongly of the movement "Save Me From Bloody Men" from Karl Jenkins's "mass for peace" 'The Armed Man (L'homme armé)'. I think the words are a reworking of this psalm, but can't find confirmation online.

Jenkins's version, wherever it came from, is strangely phrased... At least to those familiar with the speech of those English-speaking countries where 'bloody' is an expletive intensifier... Always raises a titter in the orchestra to turn the page and see the title, which sounds like the invocation of an exasperated woman... And even more so when the line in question is sung at the close of the (brief) movement... Perhaps it has a secondary meaning as an ironic nod in support to feminism - I don't know Karl Jenkins or his feelings on the matter.

Incidentally, in looking for alternative versions of this text, I was interested to find that the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition has this psalm listed instead as number 139.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 20, 2017, 08:30PMPsalm 141 text

Highlights

 - Handling provocation?
I think possibly more like "Receiving just criticism with humility" (see below)? What do you reckon?

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 20, 2017, 08:30PM1) I don't understand verses 5-7.  Is he talking about misguided good men, who are punishing him unjustly, and or corrupt judges?

We are told that the potential striker is righteous, so I think we must assume that what is meant is that the writer will deserve the punishment. What I think is being said is that the writer must recognise when they are being correctly called out for failing to adhere to specified standards.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 21, 2017, 02:43AMPsalm 142 text

1) A maskill of David, whatever that is.

As I recall from the same question when the term first arose many psalms ago, the best suggested answer the internet lit on was that a "maskil" was a poem expressing deep and overpowering emotion. This seems to fit well those psalms designated so. But then many other psalms might also fit that label, if that's all it means. Nobody seems quite sure...

Psalm 143 text

Highlights

 - David has a moment of doubt...

Summary

 - David asks Yahweh for clemency on the grounds that he's had a bad time of things recently
 - He is doubting of Yahweh, and says that he thinks it reasonable to do so, given the situation
 - He pleads to be saved from those that ail him

Questions and Observations

1) Interesting to see David portrayed as sincerely doubting in Yahweh's abilities, and perhaps his very existence. Indeed, why would one offer thanks to an unknowable entity for good guidance when the fruits of good guidance seem clearly absent? These are the kinds of situations that cost religious movements many followers.

Psalm 144 text

Highlights

 - ...but feels better about it now

Summary

 - David offers praise to Yahweh for what he (David) is
 - He invites Yahweh to offer dramatic signs
 - Pledges to praise him in song
 - Prays for their descendants to be strong and prosperous under Yahweh

Questions and Observations

1) I think surely intended as an immediate counterpoint to the previous psalm?

Psalm 145 text

Highlights

 - Feeling better again

Summary

 - David commits to offer Yahweh regular worship
 - To pass on the faith to the younger generation
 - Lists admirable attributes of Yahweh

Questions and Observations

1) Yep, he's definitely got over his blues.

A agree that it would not be good to hijack the RDB thread with


Quote from: MoominDave on Jan 21, 2017, 03:37AMPerhaps we had better not distract the thread with it...

I agree

QuoteThis reminds me strongly of the movement "Save Me From Bloody Men" from Karl Jenkins's "mass for peace" 'The Armed Man (L'homme armé)'. I think the words are a reworking of this psalm, but can't find confirmation online.

I've never heard that, I'll check it out

QuoteIncidentally, in looking for alternative versions of this text, I was interested to find that the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition has this psalm listed instead as number 139.

There are a couple of different numbering schemes for the Psalms based on whether they are sourced from the Hebrew or Greek (Massoretic or Septuagint) translation.  The Douay-Rheims is a translation of the Latin Vulgate which I think was from the Septuagint. 

QuoteI think possibly more like "Receiving just criticism with humility" (see below)? What do you reckon?

sounds reasonable

Psalm 146 text

Highlights

 - Trust imortal God, not mortal man

Summary

 - I will praise the Lord for as long as I live
 - Don't trust princes: they die and their plans perish
 - But God, who made heaven and earth keepts faith forever
 - He looks after the good and brings the wicked to ruin
 - The Lord will reign forever

Questions and Observations

1) Pretty clear?

Psalm

147 text

Highlights

 - Praise the Lord

Summary

 - Praise the Lord: he gathers the outcasts, heals the sick, creates the starts and casts the wicked down
 - Thank the Lord: he prepares the rain, provides food.  He delights in those who love and fear him
 - Praise the Lord: he protects us, provides snow and water.  He has made his covenant with US.

Questions and Observations

1) More praise

Psalm 148 text

Highlights

 - Praise the Lord

Summary

 - Prase the Lord!
   - Everything: he created it
   - Everyone
 - His majesty is above everything

Questions and Observations

1) I think we're going to close out Psalms with praise

Psalm 149 text

Highlights

 - Sing to the Lord

Summary

 - Praise the Lord in song
 - Be glad and dance, because the Lord is happy when you do
 - Let the godly exult in their glory and execute vengeance on the nations
 - This is honour for his godly ones.
 - Praise the Lord

Questions and Observations

1) I still think we're going to close out Psalms with praise
2) "Praising the Lord... to execute vengeance... is honour" wasn't really expected though.  Shouldn't God be well behaved and civilised?

Lots of themes
 - lots of gods
 - but God is the one creator and they are subservient to him
 - God is thanked lots for looking after Israel
 - People who are suffering (maybe David) tell God how badly they are suffering and plead to be saved from it.
 - People (maybe David again) who have been attacked or seen evil pray that God will punish the evildoers
 - The Psalms express doubt in God: not that he exists, or that he is creator, or that he can save them or that he is righteous.  But more about whether he will protect them.
 - its more emotional/experiential than theology - so I'll call it applied theology: how to respond to God while we're experiencing life - good and bad.  So my summary of Applied Theology 101
  - remember God when you're suffering. Its ok to complain, and you are allowed to ask for relief
  - God loves those who are righteous so they can ask for relief
  - God is not often fussing over his people making life easy for them, sometimes they have to plead for a long time to get a response.
  - remember that God is the creator of all, (even the not so nice bits) and the bad gods are responsible to him
     - so praise him for his awesome power
     - thank him for his goodness
     - take your concerns to him and ask for relief
     - ask him to punish the evildoers for their evilness.  (NB the examples in Psalms left the punishment up to God)
     - sometimes the baddies destroyed themselves with their evilness.  Thank God for this.

Author
 - it seems to me that some of the Psalms are likely written by David.  They suit what I think his personality and what he went throug.  But I'm not going the be dogmatic and say that all Psalms that were "of David" were written by him.
 - I also think that there were lots of Psalms written by others.  eg Asaph could have been a person but it seems probably that others wrote in his name too.
 - there would have been other authors too
 - there would also have been a person or people who collated the Psalms and probably added the titles.

Psalm 150 text

Highlights

 - Let Everything Praise the Lord!

Summary

 - Praise the Lord, in heaven for his mighty deeds
 - Praise him with lots of loud instruments
 - Let everthing that has breath praise the Lord

Questions and Observations

1) We've done it!
2) It did end in praise!

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 22, 2017, 06:55PMWe've done it!
Huzzah! Thanks for doing most of the heavy lifting.

There are some psalms beyond this set of 150 that other Christian traditions count as canonical. I'll quickly run through these here.

Psalm 151 text (included in the Orthodox version of the Book of Psalms)

Highlights

 - Biography of David

Summary

 - David started out young, small, and junior in familial rank
 - He made musical instruments in order to offer Yahweh worship
 - David was divinely chosen
 - He killed the Philistines, who had other gods

Questions and Observations

1) "The mountains cannot witness" is an interesting twist on the common call to simply observe them and marvel. He just means that they cannot talk - but many Christian writers over the years have asserted that their very presence witnesses to their god.
2) This psalm is found in the Septuagint. Only known in Greek for many years, it was also found in the Dead Sea scrolls in Hebrew.

Psalms 152-155 belong together, but I can't find them on our usual website for the text. These are found in the Syrian Orthodox tradition.

Texts of psalms 151-155

Psalm 152
 - Offer Yahweh praise and he will like you

Psalm 153
 -  A prayer for support

Psalm 154
 - A plea for aid from Yahweh

Psalm 155
 - Thanks to Yahweh for a narrow escape

I have also found while searching the separate short book from the Orthodox tradition "Prayer of Manasseh" listed as "Psalm 152". In the Eastern Orthodox bible canon, this follows the book of psalms directly, which is presumably how the number 152 was arrived at.

Prayer of Manasseh (Orthodox Psalm 152 / separate book) text

Highlights

 - Praise and confession

Summary

 - The writer addresses prayer to Yahweh
 - Listing the standard accomplishments of world domination and eventual judgment
 - They talk of their sins, and beg forgiveness for them, leading to salvation
 - They promise to maintain their praising of the deity

Questions and Observations

1) This is superscripted "Prayer of Manasses". There have been a number of biblical people with this name; apparently the one meant is the long-reigning king of Judah in the 7th century BC, in the period between the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians and the destruction of Judah by the Babylonians.
2) Seems quite a worthy addition to the Christian canon, no?

There is also a pseudepigraphical book named Psalms of Solomon containing 18 more, which is referenced in writings from the late BC era, but was lost until modern times. These were never canonical, and I will leave them for now - maybe we'll get so keen later that we'll start going through related writings.

Quote from: drizabone on Jan 22, 2017, 06:55PMLots of themes
 - lots of gods
 - but God is the one creator and they are subservient to him
 - God is thanked lots for looking after Israel
 - People who are suffering (maybe David) tell God how badly they are suffering and plead to be saved from it.
 - People (maybe David again) who have been attacked or seen evil pray that God will punish the evildoers
 - The Psalms express doubt in God: not that he exists, or that he is creator, or that he can save them or that he is righteous.  But more about whether he will protect them.
 - its more emotional/experiential than theology - so I'll call it applied theology: how to respond to God while we're experiencing life - good and bad.  So my summary of Applied Theology 101
  - remember God when you're suffering. Its ok to complain, and you are allowed to ask for relief
  - God loves those who are righteous so they can ask for relief
  - God is not often fussing over his people making life easy for them, sometimes they have to plead for a long time to get a response.
  - remember that God is the creator of all, (even the not so nice bits) and the bad gods are responsible to him
     - so praise him for his awesome power
     - thank him for his goodness
     - take your concerns to him and ask for relief
     - ask him to punish the evildoers for their evilness.  (NB the examples in Psalms left the punishment up to God)
     - sometimes the baddies destroyed themselves with their evilness.  Thank God for this.

Author
 - it seems to me that some of the Psalms are likely written by David.  They suit what I think his personality and what he went throug.  But I'm not going the be dogmatic and say that all Psalms that were "of David" were written by him.
 - I also think that there were lots of Psalms written by others.  eg Asaph could have been a person but it seems probably that others wrote in his name too.
 - there would have been other authors too
 - there would also have been a person or people who collated the Psalms and probably added the titles.

Nice, Martin. I'll compress similar thoughts down for my ongoing summary document.

Looking back, I see that we commenced the Book of Psalms on 13th November. 2 months 10 days for 155 chapters is rapid progress by our standards; more rapid than would suit a book that was telling a story. I'm not sure how the coming few wisdom books will fall in terms of amenability to this kind of sweeping through or not. We'll find out!

Quote from: MoominDave on Apr 06, 2016, 02:58PMPart I - The Tetrateuch
Genesis

• [li]Big picture stuff
  • [li]Creation; Adam & Eve[/li][li]Humans, take 1; Cain & Abel, Noah[/li][li]The Flood; Wash everything away, start again[/li][li]Humans, take 2[/li]
  [/li][li]Abraham; extensive travels, original covenant, Lot, not sacrificing Isaac[/li][li]Jacob; conflict with twin Esau, banishment, wives, 12 sons[/li][li]Joseph; betrayal to Egypt, rise, saving of family, supposed origins of 12 tribes[/li]

Exodus

• [li]New scene, three generations on - Israelites now of low status in Egypt[/li][li]Moses grows up, fights battle of wills with Pharoah over plagues, leads Israelites to depart[/li][li]Wandering, take 1; through the desert to Mt. Sinai, where they make a long camp and...[/li]

Leviticus

• [li]...many laws are given[/li]

Numbers

• [li]Wandering, take 2; they reach their destination, but are too weak to attempt the task, and so...[/li][li]Wandering, take 3; more pootling around, building up military prowess over the years in the preparation for invasion; new leaders emerge, and they finish on the brink of their destination again[/li]

Quote from: MoominDave on Jul 16, 2016, 04:49AMPart II - The Deuteronomistic History
Deuteronomy

• [li]Moses orates; recap of terms and conditions, forward planning[/li][li]Moses dies[/li]

Joshua

• [li]Conquest of Canaan under Joshua[/li][li]Division of conquered land between the tribes, East and West banks of the Jordan[/li]

Judges

• [li]Prologue: Messy details of attempted not-always-successful conquest, compare with previous book[/li][li]An intermittent sequence of Judges leads: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson[/li][li]The Dan tribe take territory in the North and the Benjamin tribe are defeated by the other tribes[/li]

Ruth

• [li]Intermezzo: Heartwarming tale of a family coming through hard times in the era of the Judges[/li]

1 Samuel

• [li]Samuel is a priestly leader in a time of Philistine conflicts who needs a worthy successor[/li][li]Saul is appointed to the new role of king and with his son Jonathan defeats the Ammonites, Philistines, Amalekites, but he falls out with Samuel, who anoints David as a replacement king secretly[/li][li]David (a military hero) and Saul vie for superiority over a long period, eventually brought to an end when the Philistines kill Saul in battle[/li]

2 Samuel

• [li]The kingdom nearly splits, but David unites it, doing many heroic deeds[/li][li]But in time he becomes morally suspect and manipulated by schemers[/li]

1 Kings

• [li]David dies, succeeded by Solomon, who consolidates his power base brutally but gains great wealth and a reputation for great wisdom, building the "first temple" and a palace; however, like David he becomes morally suspect in time[/li][li]After he dies, the kingdom is split into Israel (larger Northern portion) and Judah (smaller Southern portion), and the continual inference is that Judah is the legitimate one of the two[/li][li]Kings succeed in both Israel and Judah; Elijah gains prominence as a prophet[/li]

2 Kings

• [li]Long successions of kings of both Israel and Judah are described, and the prophet Elisha comes to prominence[/li][li]Most kings do not prioritise Yahweh-worship - none in Israel, but some in Judah.
  [/li][li]First Israel then Judah are unable to tread the difficult path of negotiation between stronger powers on either side, with both populations destroyed and exiled by 586 BC[/li]

Quote from: MoominDave on Oct 28, 2016, 07:11AMPart III - The Chronicler's History
1 Chronicles

• [li]Recap of genealogy to the beginning; return of some exiles to Judah[/li][li]Recap of Samuel written to favour David more highly[/li]

2 Chronicles

• [li]Recap of Kings with only the Judah parts and a focus on relations with Yahweh[/li][li]End of exile when Babylon falls[/li]

Ezra

• [li]Cyrus of Persia commands Judah to return home and rebuild their temple; decades later Artaxerxes of Persia commands Ezra to lead a second wave of returnees[/li]

Nehemiah

• [li]Nehemiah, a Judahite official of Artaxerxes of Persia, is appointed governor of Judah, rebuilding Jerusalem's wall; he and Ezra organise Judah, mixing enlightened social reform with brutally dogmatic interpretations of Mosaic law[/li]

Tobit Catholic/Orthodox

• [li]Tobit and his son Tobias are exiled in Nineveh when Israel falls, while Sarah lives in Media; a demon has killed seven of her husbands. With an angel's help, Tobias rescues her, and everyone lives happily ever after[/li]

Judith Catholic/Orthodox

• [li]Nebuchadnezzar is enraged by the Israelites' failure to answer a military summons, and despatches his general Holofernes with his army to suppress them; Judith, a beautiful Israelite widow, uses feminine wiles to distract Holofernes, killing him[/li]

Esther

• [li]Jewish exile in Susa Esther wins a beauty contest to become queen of Persia; factions vie to destroy the Jews in Persia, but the influence of her and her uncle Mordecai carries the day[/li]

1 Maccabees Catholic/Orthodox

• [li]In the 160s BC the Greek rulers attempt a religious crackdown in Judaea, against which Judas Maccabeus leads a rebellion[/li][li]Various competing empires trade blows, and all the while the rebellion becomes more secure; Jonathan Apphus and then Simon Thassi succeed Judas and establish a medium-term peace, along with Simon's dynasty, the Hasmonaeans[/li]

2 Maccabees  Catholic/Orthodox

• [li]Prior to the Maccabean revolt, unedifying political struggles within the priesthood result in turmoil, resulting in the crackdown of 1 Maccabees; Judas leads the first portion of his revolt, in less detail this time[/li]

Quote from: MoominDave on Nov 12, 2016, 05:45AMPart IV - Wisdom Literature
Job

• [li]Job is a wealthy and good man, devoted to Yahweh[/li][li]Satan talks Yahweh into letting him test Job's faith, which he does by destroying his fortune, family, and health[/li][li]Job and his friends talk it over at length; Job is convinced of his innocence, his friends of his guilt[/li][li]Yahweh eventually turns up and ticks them all off for not respecting him enough; he restores Job's fortunes twice over[/li]

Psalms

• [li]Large collection of devotional songs/poems, whose themes include
  • [li]Overarching powerfulness of Yahweh[/li][li]Need to praise and thank Yahweh[/li][li]How bad it feels when Yahweh feels absent, and how good it feels when he feels present[/li]
  [/li]

Prayer of Manasseh Orthodox

• [li]An extra psalm[/li]

Proverbs 1 text

Highlights

 - The wisdom of Solomon

Summary

 - We begin with proverbs ascribed to Solomon
   - And a heading passage admonishing us that it is good to understand these maxims
   - And also a note that being a believer is the way to get started on wisdom
 - Listen to your parents and not to those that tell you otherwise
 - Take heed of the obvious lessons that you see around you - otherwise you'll come to regret it

Questions and Observations

1) The nature of wisdom does not change hugely much as years pass. Though I daresay I shall not be finding that the emphasis on religious piety placed here will be quite within my definition of it. And simply parroting what your parents say is not deep wisdom either.