The first test

Psalm

Comment

Torah

Wicked

Wisdom?

Royal

Personal

Penitential

Acrostic

Miktam

Prayer

Maskil

Just for the moment considering only Psalms 1-17 - how many differing themes emerge in these psalms?

Psalm 1 introduces at least 2: the way of Torah and the way of the wicked. In the structure chart I note 4 psalms connected by a third link: 73, 90, 107, 145 - representing Wilson's final wisdom frame. Wisdom itself is used in psalms 19, 37, 49, 51, 58, 90, 104, 105, 107, 111, and 119.

Psalm 2 introduces the anointed king. There are two ways to look at the designation Royal: the psalms related to royal functions in Israel, and the psalms related to יְהוָה as King. I have one connection on the diagram but two columns here to see if these should be divided.

Psalms 3, 4, and 5 all represent individual psalms expressing parts of the dialogue with יְהוָה. One could think of it as the introduction to the changes of mind that come with reflection on the covenant promises and the confidence that comes as a result.

Psalm 6 begins a new thing - the response to a rebuke from יְהוָה. There is a hint of rebuke in Psalm 4, but it is too brief to sink in. Psalm 38 is a reminder of Psalm 6. Psalm 6 is traditionally seen as the beginning of the 7 penitential psalms.

Having seen the first rebuke, Psalm 7 returns to the issue of the wicked. Include in this group Psalms 11, 37, and 149 though the histogram of wickedness is more pervasive than this.

Psalm 8 doesn't look very directly 'royal' but it does let יְהוָה give the human, the child of the dust rule תַּמְשִׁילֵהוּ over creation.

Like Psalm 7, Psalm 11 foreshadows hell and the judgment of the wicked. Let this not be trivialized, God's interest in the wicked extends to their redemption and the ambivalence of the psalmist over who is the subject of the suffering is clear. (How can ambivalence be clear eh?)

TBA - perhaps as 11

TBA - perhaps as 3

A double of 53 - but not itself a Maskil - perhaps it too early to introduce insight. Such must wait till the great penitential Psalm 51 is read.

With 24 and 1 and 119 a Torah stream

The first of the Miktamim

The first Prayer