Psalm 46 August 6, 2009 Holy Cross Women’s Bible Study Group
Introduction
Psalm 46 speaks of God’s almighty presence and power, even under the most extreme, crisis-type situations. It might remind us of Paul’s statement in Romans: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Ro 8:35, 37 NRSV The rest of the chapter is pretty good too.)
What shape is it?
The heading “To Alamoth” is unknown. Early theologians (Jerome and Aquila) believed it was addressed to a “young woman” and thought this psalm was intended for sopranos. The Septuagint (Greek version, ca. 2-3rd century BC) says “hidden things,” as in religious mysteries. This heading also may have referred to the name of a tune. 1 Chronicles 15:20 describe harpists playing “according to Alamoth.”
Se-lah + Stanzas
The words “se-lah” give structure to this psalm, indicating where the refrain is to happen, however it appears the refrain has fallen out of verse 3. The refrain is found at vv 7, 11.
The stanzas address different ideas in each. What ideas do you see represented in each stanza?
What is it? Genre and History of Tradition
Shaking of the earth, a river, YHWH as a warrior
Jewish
Linked with the failure of Assyrian king, Sennacherib, to capture Jerusalem in 701 BC (2 Kgs 18:9-19:36). The King of Judah, Hezekiah, paid Sennacherib with the precious metals from the palace and Temple treasuries, as well as stripped the gold from the Temple entrance, so he wouldn’t destroy the city. This prevented their going into exile, at least until Babylon destroyed them in the year 586. Hezekiah knew Sennacherib was making his way toward Jerusalem (for four years), so he fortified the city walls, and had his workers carve an underground tunnel through rock from inside to outside of the city so that they could get water from the spring of Gihon without having to leave. The water source was also concealed so that Sennacherib couldn’t poison the water.
A river as the life-giving presence of God: Is 33:21, Ez 47, Zech 14:18. There was no actual river in or near Jerusalem, only the spring of Gihon.
Scholars think that verse 8 may have been calling worshippers to celebrate the New Year festival in Jerusalem. Such festivals helped the Israelites situate themselves within the temporal ordering of God’s creation. Jewish New Year was the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, which may have been the first day of a yet more ancient agricultural calendar. It was a holy day when people were exempt from work.
Christian
Images in this passage such as battles between nations, the life-giving river, earthquakes and others are found in the New Testament: Mark 13 (Mark’s “Little Apocalypse”), Revelation 6:15-17; 22:1-5, and elsewhere.
Theologian Martin Luther wrote the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” inspired by verse 1 of this psalm: “A safe stronghold our God is still…” (see below)
Theological Applications (all of them are up for discussion!)
1. Sovereignty of God (Karl Barth, and others) - God is all-powerful and all-wise, and beneficent towards us. Therefore we may trust in God to always be with us.
2. Eschatology (Biblical references to “the end times”) – The hope that we may one day see a “new heaven and a new earth” renewed by God’s salvation and healing. This hope can help us withstand the crises that happen.
3. Human dependence on God (Friedrich Schliermacher) - Discovering that we are truly dependent on God can lead us to newer and deeper faith.
4. Providence of God - We can trust that God is “looking out for us” and we can find security in God.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
words by Martin Luther
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing;
For still our ancient Foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing;
Dost ask who that may be:
Christ Jesus it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
3. And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him
His rage we can endure,
For lo his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
4. That Word above all earthly pow'r,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!
Public Domain
Sources:
• Barton, John and John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 130, 380.
• Chanted Psalm 46 The Genevan Resource Center: http://www.genevanpsalter.com/music-a-lyrics/1-individual-psalms/87-psalm-46 Tune composed in 1543, Meter: 9 9. 8 8. 9 9. 8 8, Mode: Mixolydian.
• Guitar version and lyrics to A Mighty Fortress from the “Reformed University Fellowship Hymnbook” at http://igracemusic.com/igracemusic/hymnbook/home.html The RUF is located in Franklin, TN
• Piano version of A Mighty Fortress is from http://www.abcog.org/hymns/4words.htm with Active Bible Church of God (Chicago: Hyde Park, Illinois).
No comments:
Post a Comment