By Jeremy Bell
Here is my personal study on Psalm 5 using groupings from my motif analysis as displayed in my book, Psalm in Motif Visualization. I have taken these groupings of the Psalm and put them together. So, the entirety of the Psalm will be presented, but these groupings will present the text in a different order.
In music, a one verse song is labeled as strophic form. Strophic form music covers all genres, though is most popular in folk music. Folk music is traditional music that was often passed on through families and small communities. It tells stories and even teaches towards learning. Folk music has always been heavily tied to social networks. This Psalm was written by David in strophic form, an easy form to remember and to tell a story that is more personal, with a lesson, for his social network. David gave this to the chief musician, likely Jeduthun or one of his sons and envisioned flutes as the instrument of choice.
Psalm 5 is Verse form. A verse is one idea that still has a breakdown of pattern, but those patterns are contained in one idea. These patterns are much like the sections of a piece of music, each related, but distributed in a pattern throughout the Psalm. When I present for Visualization, my goal is to highlight the patterns and intent rather than strict translation. I hope it gives fresh encouragement, but I strongly recommend the Psalm to be read as is for proper understanding.
[ Psalm 5 ]
Psalm 5, regrouped in motifs
Give ear to my words, Yahweh.
Consider my meditation.
Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God;
for I pray to you.
Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.
In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
As for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house.
I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies.
Make your way straight before my face.
Let all those who take refuge in you rejoice.
Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them.
For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness.
Evil can’t live with you.
The arrogant will not stand in your sight.
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You will destroy those who speak lies.
Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth.
Their heart is destruction.
Their throat is an open tomb.
They flatter with their tongue.
Hold them guilty, God.
Let them fall by their own counsels.
Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
for they have rebelled against you.
Let them who love your name be joyful in you.
For you will bless the righteous.
Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
David established the priestly musicians after he was anointed king and brought the ark of the covenant back to its place. He did that, rejoicing in the Lord and making loud music in celebration to proclaim what the Lord did for him and Israel. The Lord, his God, his savior, his intimate friend. David did not just express joy for his enemy’s judgement, he recognized why his enemies were judged and sentenced. He knew he could easily think and behave like that and needed God to lead him away from that to Gods’ righteousness. He also knew God delivered Him and not himself.
Psalm 5, a folk song in strophic form for the social network of Gods’ people, the family God made and is still making. The personal experience of a family member has been passed down for thousands of years. It tells a story of many things not the least of which can be found the very Nature of Joy.
Resources and Notes
All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.
For more related to this blog, check out my post on Truth Basics for Christian Living with Strategic Options.
This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.
Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.
One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.
There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.
Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.