In this series, I am considering strategies for memorizing all the psalms of the Hebrew Psalter. The first has to do with hearing the first few words of a psalm (not always unique). Along with this is the observing of a story line in the sequence of psalms.
We have seen to date the first 10, and the second 15, continuing the theme of refuge and containing a series concerning the elect from Psalm 18-24. Here are the next 9, from Psalm 26 to Psalm 34 in book 1, ending with the third acrostic.
שָׁפְטֵנִי יְהוָה כִּי אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּי הָלַכְתִּי | 26:1 | Judge me יהוה for I myself have walked in my completeness |
יְהוָה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא | 27:1 | יהוה my light and my salvation whom will I fear? |
אֵלֶיךָ יְהוָה אֶקְרָא | 28:1 | To you יהוה will I call |
הָבוּ לַיהוָה בְּנֵי אֵלִים | 29:1 | Ascribe to יהוה children of gods |
אֲרוֹמִמְךָ יְהוָה | 30:2 | I will exalt you יהוה |
בְּךָ יְהוָה חָסִיתִי | 31:2 | In you יהוה I take refuge |
אַשְׁרֵי נְשׂוּי פֶּשַׁע | 32:1 | happy transgression borne away |
רַנְּנוּ צַדִּיקִים בַּיהוָה | 33:1 | Shout for joy, righteous ones, in יהוה |
אֲבָרְכָה אֶת יְהוָה בְּכָל עֵת | 34:2 | I will bless יהוה at all times |
- Psalm 26 is bold in our ears. Who would invite judgment? Note how it recalls the central portion of Psalm 18 and the language of Psalm 1.
- The central verse 7 of Psalm 27, Hear יהוה my voice, I will call // and be gracious to me and answer me, repeats the requests of Psalms 3 and 4.
- 28 is a plea that יהוה not be silent.
- 29 responds with the voice of יהוה. Voice occurs 7 times in this poem.
- 30 is praise for healing and the poet sings and so is also not mute.
- 31 continues the statement of refuge and trust in יהוה.
- 32 is cited by Paul in Romans and contains instruction concerning horses and mules.
- 33, a poem that has no inscription, stands out among the psalms inscribed 'of David' (3 to 41). It is the first to instruct the singing of a new song. This poem is worthy of the celebratory acrostic that follows.
- 34, recalling the madness of taste, (the inscription and verse 9, Hebrew numbering) closes this section. Its words strongly reflect those of Psalm 33.
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