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Psalm 133

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 133 A Song of Ascents, of David “The brief didactic psalm employs two beautiful similes to illustrate the beauty and value of unity” Miller, 415. The two similes are the oil and dew. “The pilgrims came from many different walks of life, regions, and tribes, as they gathered for one purpose: the worship of the Lord in Jerusalem” VanGemeren, 815. 133:1 Behold, how good- “It is interesting that he gives no explanation as to why unity is good. Perhaps he does not need to do so, because this should be self-evident to everyone” Willis, vol. 3, 95. The word good is used in Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18,

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Psalm 132

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

A Song of Ascents This is considerably longer than the other songs of Ascents- NICOT, 933. “Its length seems to signal its special importance” McCann, 1210. This is a royal psalm along the line of Psalms 2, 45, 72, 89, 101 and it also stresses God’s choice of Zion like Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122. “Psalm 132 impressively articulates the theological rationale for making the pilgrimage- namely, Zion is God’s chosen place (vv. 13-14; see Pss. 122:1-2, 9; 125:1-2; 126:1; 128:5; 129:5; 133:3; 134:3), as well as the site of David’s throne” McCann, 1210. 132:1-5 David’s swore to build God’s house

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Psalm 131

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

A Song of Ascents, of David It is attributed to David. “It is not against high position that is divinely given, but it does model a critical attitude toward pure blind ambition” Longman, 433. “This personal prayer (vss. 1-2) has a lesson in it that needs to be shared by the nation (vs. 3)” Miller, 411. “This simple, concise, and affecting expression of humility shows no signs of cultic or public function,and is a good illustration of how the psalm as a poetic form of spiritual expressions often stands outside the generic categories that scholars have constructed” Alden, 457. 131:1 O LORD, my h

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Psalm 130

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 130 A Song of Ascents “In Christian tradition the psalm became one of the seven penitential psalms, the others being Ps. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 143” Allen, 195. “This psalm, of course, is a penitential psalm, focusing not on the evil of Israel’s enemies, as does Psalm 129, but on the wrongs Israel has done” Alter, 455. 130:1 Out of the depths- Ps. 30:1; 71:20; Isa. 51:10; Ezek. 27:34; Jonah 2:2-6 This is “a figure of speech suggesting his insurmountable difficulty, even to the point of death:…The exact problem is not specified” B.K, 886. I have cried to You, O LORD- Ps. 17:6; 86:7. Is the I

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Psalm 129

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 129 A Song of Ascents 129:1-2 Introductory summary; 129:3 Their intense need; 129:4 Praise to God 129:5-8 Request for judgment upon the foes “The psalm divide into two sections: verses 1-4 (statement of suffering) and verses 5-8 (prayer for vindication against the enemies causing the suffering)” Transforming Word, 498. 129:1 Many times they have persecuted me- The word many times in vss. 1-2 is used in 120:6; 123:4. In the NRSV is translated greatly. “A comparison of the NIV with the NRSV shows that the adverb at the beginning of vv. 1-2 can be construed to indicate either the frequency

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Psalm 128

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 128 A Song of Ascents “The quiet blessings of an ordered life are traced from the centre outwards in this psalm, as the eye travels from the godly man to his family and finally to Israel. Here is simple piety with its proper fruit of stability and peace: Kidner, 443. How are Psalms 127 and 128 linked? 1. The word blessed - 127:5; 128:1-2 2. eat/eating in 127:2; 128:2 3. Behold in 127:3; 128:4 4. son/sons in 127:3, 4; 128:3, 6 5. fruit in 127:3; 128:3 McCann, 1200; Allen, 184-185. “Both sections of Psalm 128 display the same movement from third person (vv. 1, 4) to direct address (vv. 2-3

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Psalm 127

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

“The psalm is ascribed to Solomon, and has perhaps a concealed signature in the expression his beloved (2), which is the word from which Jedidiah, his personal name from God, was formed (II Sam. 12:25)” Kidner, 440. Solomon carried on many building activities (I Kings 3:1-2; 7:1-11; 8:13; 9:1 ). This psalm has more of the characteristics of a wisdom psalms than other types. “A wisdom psalm... ‘provides instruction in right living and right faith” NICOT, 917. “In Jewish practice the psalm is recited as a part of thanksgiving as a part of a thanksgiving service after children” VanGemeren, 793 12

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Psalm 126

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

A Song of Ascents “The community prayer is strikingly similar to the longer Psalm 85…Verses 1-3 reflect upon a past deliverance, probably return from Babylonian captivity. Verses 4-6 plead for the further restoration from present problems” Miller, 405. “ The psalm starts out like a thanksgiving song, celebrating the restoration of the community’s fortunes, but the second part leads us to understand that it is lament of the community” Longman, 423. 126:1 When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion- The phrase brought back the captive ones might also be rendered ‘turned the captivity of’

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Psalm 125

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

This psalm “makes a proper distinction between the fate of righteous and the fate of the wicked, a favorite theme in Israel’s wisdom poetry (cf. Ps. 1; Prov. 1-9). Those blessed are those who trust in the LORD (vs. 1), the righteous (vs. 3), the good (vs. 4a), those who are upright in heart (vs. 4b). Wicked kings (vs. 3a) and people (vs. 5) must be eliminated so that the righteous will not be encouraged to do wrong (vs. 4)” Miller, 404. 125:1 Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever- Ps.68:15-16 The verb moved is translated shaken in Ps. 13:4; 15:5; 16:8; 21:7; 55:22; 62:2,

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Psalm 124

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 124 The verses of the Psalm describe Israel’s trouble- vs. 3-5- deliverance- vs. 1-2, 6b, 7- praise - vs. 6a, 8. The psalm shows us “how serious the threat was, and how little confidence David placed in his own power to survive it” Kidner, 436. 124:1 Had it not been the LORD who was on our side- 118:6; vs. 1-2 provide the protasis, the ifs clause to a conditional sentence, to the stanza and vs. 3-5 the apodosis, the then clause of the conditional sentence- Miller, 402. The word if actually begins both vss. 1 and 2 (Gen. 31:42; Deut. 32:37; I Sam. 25:34; II Kings 3:14; Psalm 94:17; 106:23

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Psalm 123

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 123 A Song of Ascents “Verses 1-2 are written in the tone of a psalm of trust, but 3-4 are in the form of a community lament. 123:1 To You I lift up my eyes- 121:1; Lifting up eyes can indicate arrogance- II Kings 19:22; Ps. 131:1 but here they are lifted up to God and not against Him. “ To phrase ‘to You’ is in the emphatic position, suggesting the psalmist’s complete orientation to God” McCann, 1187. O You who are enthroned in the heavens- Pss. 2:4; 11:4; 115:3, 16; 135:15 “His faithful love and wisdom are equally beyond our calculating (Ps. 36:5; Is. 55:9) ” Kidner, 435. “The Lord who

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Psalm 122

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 122 A Song of Ascents, of David The phrase “of David” is omitted in most mss. of the LXX and the Vulgate- Miller, 399. “The psalm gives more evidence of having been written as a pilgrim psalm than any among the Psalms of Ascents (120-134), with the possible exception of the last one” Miller, 399. Psalms of Zion are Pss. 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 132. 122:1-2 Journey to Jerusalem 122:1 I was glad when they said to me- “The idea did not originate with him, but he joined with a group of pilgrims to go to the city” Longman, 416. Vss. 1, 8-9 use first person singular words. “We hear the voice of an

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Psalm 121

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 121 There are some connections with Psalm 91. The idea of shade or shadow in 121:5; 91:1. The word keep in 121:3, 4, 5, 7, 7, 8 is also in 91:11. The word foot is used in 121:3 and 91:12 McCann, 1181. The name LORD appears in vs. 2, 5, 5, 7, 8. 121:1 From whence shall my help come?- The word help is m.s. and is used of God in Exodus 18:4; Deut. 33:7, 26, 29; Ps. 20:2; 33:20; 115:9, 10, 11; 121; 1, 2; 124:8; 146:5. The f.s. form is used in Ps. 40:13, 17; 44:26; 46:1; 108:12. “The question exposes his anxiety and sense of inadequacy” Laymen, 687. 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made

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Psalm 120

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

120:1-2 Words of Trust and Petition 120:1 In my trouble I cried to the LORD- 102:2 The word order in Hebrew is “To the LORD in distress to me I cried/called and He answered me.” The point is the emphasis falls on the LORD to whom He called. Who are we calling on or looking to in times of distress? The author “expresses the sole dependence on God in the hour of distress” VanGemeren, 769. The Hebrew word for trouble or distress was used in Pss. 34:6, 7; 46:1; 50:15; 86:7; 91:15; 116:3. While he has suffered from “lying lips” ( vs. 2), a “deceitful tongue” ( vs. 2, 3 ), and people who “hate peace

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Jesus' Fulfillment of Psalm 119

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Jesus Fulfills Psalm 119 Psalm 119 and Jesus General Pictures: Jesus as the Word- While there are 177 synonyms for God’s law, word found in Psalm 119. Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of Word. The Word has become flesh and dwelt among us- John 1:1-14 He does things Psalm 119 attributes to the Word. The Word gives light in 119:105, 130 and Jesus is the Light- John 8:12; 9:5. Jesus fulfills the picture of the Psalmist trusting God, His word, and seeking to follow Him. See the comments below about the Servant beginning with Psalm 119:17. Jesus fulfills the picture of the God in whom the Psalmist

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Psalm 119:153-176

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

119:153-160 ר God’s mercy- vs. 156, lovingkindness - vs. 159, truth- vs. 160, and righteousness- vs. 160 are all mentioned here. 119:153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me- This word for look will begin vs. 153, 158, 159. This plea for rescue from affliction ties canonically to Exodus 3:7-8- Hermenia, 282. He begs “for deliverance from affliction (vs. 153) and from his persecutors and adversaries (vs. 157a), who are faithless with God (vs. 158)” Miller, 394. Only God can rescue (vs. 153 ) and redeem (vs. 154). For I do not forget Your law- “He obeys God’s law, but they don’t, and this again

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Psalm 119:129-152

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

119:129-136 פ “His own appreciation of the supernatural quality of the Lord’s word (129) is bracketed with his grief over the flouted word (136)” Motyer, 570. “YHWH’s Torah will be presented in the פ strophe as a wonder-working power” Hermenia, 279. 119:129 Your testimonies are wonderful- The same root for wonders is in vs. 18, 27. The word wonderful is used in Exodus 15:11; Psalm 77:11, 14; 78:12; 88:10, 12; 89:5; 139:5; Isaiah 9:6: 25:1; 29:14. This word is especially used of “YHWH’s deeds in the exodus (cf. Exod. 15:11; Ps. 77:11, 14; 78:12) ” Hermenia, 279. They “inspire awe and reverence”

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Psalm 119:97-128

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

119:89-96 ל “From its nadir, Psalm 119 moves to its zenith. Complaint has given way to a profession of faith in God’s sovereignty for all time (vv. 89a, 90a), in all places (vv. 89b, 90a), and over ‘all things’ (v. 91). The profession is highlighted by the uniqueness of vs. 90, which does not contain one of the eight synonyms” McCann, 1171. 119:97-104 מ “The mem strophe is a quiet interlude without petition” Allen, 143. The eight verses begin either with the word מה in vs. 97, 103 and מן in vs. 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104. While this last word can indicate a preposition meaning “ from, out of ”

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Psalm 119:73-96

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

119:89-96 ל “From its nadir, Psalm 119 moves to its zenith. Complaint has given way to a profession of faith in God’s sovereignty for all time (vv. 89a, 90a), in all places (vv. 89b, 90a), and over ‘all things’ (v. 91). The profession is highlighted by the uniqueness of vs. 90, which does not contain one of the eight synonyms” McCann, 1171. 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven- God’s word is eternally relevant. Just as the stars in the heavens provide fixed points of navigation, God’s word gives us something certain to adjust our lives to and by. Allen, 137, states that word

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Psalm 119:49-72

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 119:49-56 119:53 Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked- The word translated “burning indignation” is a rare word used only in Ps. 11:6 and Lam. 5:10. In Ps. 11:6 the word speaks of the divine judgment on the wicked. “The psalmist’s commitment to the Lord and His word dictates what He loves and what He hates. He cannot be neutral when it comes to wicked behavior by those who refuse to live by God’s law” Estes, 413-414. “The truly devout naturally have a moral outrage over the ungodly who forsake God’s laws” Ross, 512. 119:57-64 119:57 The LORD is my portion- This line is

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Psalm 119:33-48

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

119:33-40 ה The alphabetic arrangement lends itself to these hiphil verb forms, but the rest of the psalm reveals a studied effort to demonstrate reliance upon the God of the word as well as the word of God” Miller, 387. These hiphel verbs are in the imperative but, “in these petitions a tone of humility and dependence comes through” VanGemeren, 744. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes- vs. 12, 26. “God is the teacher (v. 33); the Hebrew verb ‘to teach’ ( ׳רה ) underlines the noun torah, which occurs in v. 34.” McCann, 1169. And I shall observe it to the end- vs. 112 “To the end

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Psalm 119:17-32

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

“vv. 25-28 describe his internal distress (I-lament), that is, that is the threat of physical and spiritual destruction” Hermenia, 268. 119:25 My soul cleaves to the dust- “Clinging to the dust is a graphic depiction of being in a life-threatening condition (see Ps. 44:25)” Ross, 490. Revive me according to Your word- revive is used in vs. 25, 37, 40, 88, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159. This “is a prayer for God to renew his vitality” Ross, 490. Lev. 18:5 connects life with keeping God’s law. The Psalms refer “to YHWH as the God who can give life to the dead ( Pss. 30:4; 116:3-4, 8-9)” Hermenia, 269.

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Psalm 119:1-16

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 119 This “is the longest psalm in the collection and the longest chapter in the Hebrew Bible, 176 verses or lines of poetry” Alter, 419. Its size has oft times discouraged serious study. Weiser in the Old Testament Library series views it as wearisome in its repetition of motifs and says it opens the door for legalism, but he offers no commentary on the text- Weiser, 739-741. “It is recited at the Feast of the Pentecost, the spring festival observed fifty days after Passover, which celebrates the giving of the Torah to Moses at Sinai during the wilderness wanderings” NICOT, 870. “The psa

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Psalm 118

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

“The psalm (may have) originated in victory celebrations of Israel’s king and people (cf. II Chron. 20:27). Later it was probably used in periodic commemoration of God’s past goodness to the Davidic dynasty” Laymen, 684. “ The ‘I’ standing collectively for Israel, verses 5-14, 17-19, 21, and 28 seem to portray a great deliverance which has come to a king, possibly David himself. There are similar sentiments in Psalm 18 ” Miller, 381. “It is best to see this as a corporate thanksgiving, although an individual leads in expressing gratitude on behalf of himself and the whole congregation” Longman

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Psalm 117

Tommy Peeler · Carefully Examining the Text

“It is not only the shortest psalm in the collection but also the shortest chapter in the Bible” Alter, 414; Longman, 398. It is 27 words in the NASB and 28 in the ESV. In Hebrew it is only 17 words. “Many Hebrew mss.attach it to Ps. 116 ….Other Hebrew mss. join the psalm to Ps. 118 ” Allen, 117. The basic structure of a song of praise is simple. It begins with a call to praise (vs. 1). Then the word translated for or because introduces the reason for praise ( lines 1 and 2 of vs. 2). Last, there is a final call to praise (line 3 of vs. 2). “Underlying this invitation is the conviction that th

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