psalm titles – Written Exposition

INTRODUCTION

The book of psalms is a collection of sacred poems suitable for private devotions or for use in worship. In Israel’s temple liturgy psalms were often sung to musical accompaniment, especially on stringed instruments. Almost half of the psalms are traditionally ascribed to David but some other contributors are also named. These authors or collectors are Moses (90), Solomon (72; 127), Asaph (50; 73-83), Heman the Ezrahite (88), Ethan the Ezrahite (89) and the Sons of Korah.

KORAH

Four people named Korah are mentioned in the Bible.

Edomite – Korah, son of Esau and Oholibamah (Gen 36:5, 14, 18; 1 Chron 1:35).

Edomite – Korah, son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau (Gen 36:16).

Judahite (Num 13:6) – Korah, son of Hebron and a descendant of Caleb (1 Chron 2:43).

Levite – Korah, son of Izhar, known for rebellion against Moses (Exod 6:21, 24; Num 16:1; 1 Chron 6:22)

KORAH’S REBELLION

Numbers chapter 16 treats the rebellion of Korah the Levite in some detail. In the New Testament this event is briefly referred to as’ ‘the gainsaying of Korah’ (Jude 1:11). He and three Reubenites called Dathan, Abiram and On assembled with 250 Israelite community leaders to protest against Moses’s leadership.

Korah was a cousin of Moses; their fathers Amran and Izhar were brothers (Exod 6:18-21; 1 Chron 6:18-22). As a Levite and member of the Kohathite clan Korah already had significant responsibilities relating to the transport of YHWH’s portable sanctuary known as the tabernacle (Num 4:1-20; 7:9; 10:21; 16:9) but he resented the fact that only Aaron and his descendants were chosen to function as priests (Num 16:10). He falsely argued that all the people were holy (Num 16:3) and that each one could therefore approach YHWH on his own terms. He may also have been jealous that Moses appointed another cousin, Elizaphan, a son of Uzziel the youngest son of Kohath (Exod 6:22), to headship of the Kohathite clan (Num 3:30).

Korah and his associates contended that Moses and Aaron had led the Israelites out of Egypt only to exalt themselves and lord it over the people (Num16:3). In response, Moses pointed out that rejection of God’s appointed leaders and the Aaronic priesthood amounted to rebellion against YHWH and proposed a contest (Num 16:16) that would validate his claim to leadership and Aaron’s to priesthood. The dissenters were to offer incense before YHWH and see what would happen then. Korah, Dathan and Abiram did so with the result that:
the ground cleaved asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. Numbers 16:31-35

A later passage, however, stresses that, unlike those of Dathan and Abiram, the children (sons) of Korah were not punished: Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. Numbers 26:11

LATER HISTORY OF THE KOHATHITES AND KORHITES

When Israel entered the promised land the Kohathites were allocated Levitical cities in the tribal territories of Judah (Josh 21:4), Ephraim, Dan and Manasseh. They do appear to have settled among the tribes in Judah (1 Chron 6:54-55), Ephraim (1 Chron 6:66-69) and Manasseh (1 Chron 6:70) but not in Dan.

Descendants of Korah are later listed as soldiers and also as bakers, singers, musicians and doorkeepers in the Tabernacle and Temple.

Soldiers

1 Chron 12:6

Bakers

1 Chron 9:31-32

Singers & musicians

Heman, a singer – 1 Chron 6:1-38
Heman’s 14 sons, singers and musicians – 1 Chron 25:4-6
Kohathite and Korhite singers – 2 Chron 20:19 in Jehoshaphat’s time.

Doorkeepers

1 Chron 9:17-23; Neh 11:19 after the exile (cf. Ezra 2:42; Neh 7:45).
1 Chron 26:1,19 in David’s time.
Psa 84:10

THE SONS OF KORAH IN PSALM TITLES

The literal ‘sons of Korah’ the Levite are named in Exod 6:24: And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites. These are not the men referred to in the titles of some psalms. However, since in the Bible the expression ‘sons of Korah,’ apart from psalm titles, only refers to the progeny of Korah the Levite (Exod 6:24; Num 26:11) it is generally accepted that in the psalm titles ‘sons of Korah’ refers to later descendants of the infamous Korah the Levite and not to descendants of the Edomite and Judahite Korahs listed above.

Basing their ideas on the references to the Korhites as Levitical singers and musicians (see above references) many commentators argue that there must have been a temple guild of singers and musicians known as ‘the sons of Korah’ and contend that the Korah psalm titles refer to this group.

The relevant psalm titles include the phrase ‘for the sons of Korah’ where the prefix (lamed) means ‘to’, ‘for’ or ‘belonging to.’ These psalms may therefore have been composed a) by them, or b) for their use, or c) in their style. The titles may indicate that perhaps the Korah psalms are from the collection of the sons of Korah, or were given to the sons of Korah to be set to music. Most likely authorship is also implied, i.e. they composed them as well as collecting and singing them.

Ten psalms are directly attributed to the sons of Korah.

Psalm 42 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, MASCHIL, FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 44 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN FOR THE SONS OF KORAH, MASCHIL.
Psalm 45 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON SHOSHANNIM, FOR THE SONS OF KORAH, MASCHIL, A SONG OF LOVES.
Psalm 46 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN FOR THE SONS OF KORAH, A SONG UPON ALAMOTH.
Psalm 47 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 48 A SONG AND PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 49 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 84 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON GITTITH, A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 85 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.
Psalm 87 A PSALM OR SONG FOR THE SONS OF KORAH.

One psalm (Psalm 88) is jointly attributed to the sons of Korah and Heman the Ezrahite: A SONG OR PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH, TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON MAHALATH LEANNOTH, MASCHIL OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE.

OBSERVATIONS

Psalm 43 has no title. Some scholars view Psalms 42 and 43 as one split psalm and thus attribute Psalm 43 to the sons of Korah also.

The Korah psalms 42 and 44-49 are in a group of psalms that has come to be known as the Elohistic Psalter (Pss 42-83). These psalms primarily use the divine name Elohim to refer to God.

The Korah psalms 84-85 and 87-88 are Yahwistic. They prefer the divine name YHWH (Yahweh, the LORD).

The Korah psalms include a rich variety of psalm types, for example:

Zion psalm – 46, 48, 87
Individual lament – 88
Communal lament – 44, 85
Wisdom psalm – 45, 49
Sanctuary psalm – 42/43, 84

(To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.)

1. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

7. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Psalms is possibly the best-loved book in the Bible. It stands as a testament to prayer, worship, praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and unwavering confidence in the Lord. It is a spiritual repository, encapsulating the full spectrum of human experience. Remarkably, despite its antiquity, it resonates with the same emotions, conflicts, and apprehensions that pervade contemporary life. It candidly articulates doubts, fears, grief, and anxieties, as well as assurance, trust, and hope.

It may be helpful to bear the following in mind when perusing the Psalms:

Poetic Essence: The Psalms are steeped in the art of Hebrew poetry, this may not be obvious in English translations.
Lyrical Tradition: Originally intended for musical accompaniment, the Psalms are compositions which were designed to be sung.
Devotional Utility: These verses are ideally suited for both public and private acts of worship.
Historical Anchorage: The Psalms derive their authenticity from genuine life experiences and historical events, notably episodes from the life of King David, particularly when on the run from King Saul and later, his own son Absalom.
Prophetic Dimensions: It is said that the New Testament features two hundred and nineteen quotations from the Old Testament, of which one hundred and sixteen are drawn from the Book of Psalms. Many of these citations are prophecies, foreshadowing the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Doctrinal Significance: The Psalms provide profound insights into the character of God. They impart theological teachings concerning the nature, attributes, mercies, and works of God.

The Book of Psalms thus serves a dual purpose. It imparts doctrinal truths about God and the Lord Jesus Christ while also furnishing guidance to us for daily living as believers This is consistent with the overarching intent of the Old Testament scriptures which is expressed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Historically, the Book of Psalms has been embraced by Christians through the centuries, although its origins were as Israel’s hymnal. The Psalms were originally intended to be sung – they are essentially poems set to music – but modern Christianity has mostly departed from this practice. The Psalms, however, remain an enduring source of spiritual contemplation and devotional help.

In this post I hope to shed some light on the title of this Psalm, offer a concise summary of its contents, and conclude with a brief reflection on its pivotal statement.

THE TITLE AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF PSALM 61

Among the 150 Psalms, more than a hundred bear an inscript (heading or caption) containing specific details about the Psalm, along with directions for musicians regarding the tune or musical accompaniment. These titles, likely added sometime after the collection of the Psalms, date back to ancient times. Some words in these titles are so old that their meanings were lost even before the time of Christ, leaving rabbis to speculate about their significance. One such enigmatic word appears in the title of Psalm 61, and that word is “Neginah.”

The title of Psalm 61 reads: “To the chief musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.”

“Neginah” (singular) appears only here, while some other Psalms (4, 6, 54, 55, 67, 71) feature the plural form, “Neginoth,” in their headings. The term “Neginoth” can denote either “music” or “song” (as seen in Job 30:9, Psalms 69:12, Lamentations 3:14, and Lamentations 5:14) or even refer to a stringed instrument, as observed in Habakkuk 3:19:

“The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments (neginoth).”

Scholars debate whether “Neginah” in the title of Psalm 61 refers to a specific tune or melody or perhaps an ancient stringed instrument, details of which have faded into history. Other Psalms incorporate musical instruments in their titles, such as:

“Alamoth” in Psalm 46, thought to be a high-pitched harp.
“Gittith” in Psalms 8, 81, and 84, something akin to a guitar.
“Mahalath” in Psalms 5 and 88, indicating flutes.
“Sheminith” in Psalms 6, 12, and 1 Chronicles 15:21, referring to lyres or harps.

Notably, “A Psalm of David” reveals that King David penned this particular Psalm. Of the 150 Psalms, David is credited with composing 73, while the remaining ones are attributed to various authors, including Asaph (50; 73-83) , Ethan the Ezrahite (89), Heman the Ezrahite (88), Moses (90), and Solomon (127). David wrote so many psalms that he was known as “the sweet psalmist of Israel.” 2 Sam 23:1

THE ESSENCE AND MESSAGE OF PSALM 61

Psalm 61 lies within a cluster of Psalms (56-64) which offer sombre glimpses into King David’s life and the challenges he confronted. This brief Psalm traces the author’s emotional journey, beginning with desperation and culminating in a reaffirmation of trust in God. Whilst the specific circumstances are not elaborated, the Psalm provides a glimpse into the author’s inner turmoil, frustration, and mental anguish as he cries out to God in anticipation of relief.

Verse 1 commences with an urgent yell of desperation: “Hear my cry, O God!” The Psalmist conveys his sense of distance from God by claiming to call from the “end of the earth,” symbolizing alienation and indicating dire circumstances. His heart is faint with despair (“heart” here signifies courage that has failed) thus mirroring the inner turmoil of the Psalmist.

However, amid his despair, the Psalmist realizes that there is only one who can help in times of great need – God. Therefore, he reaches out to the Almighty for comfort and strength. This underscores for us the importance of turning to God in prayer even in the darkest moments of life.

In verses 2-4, the Psalmist invokes three powerful metaphors to describe God: a high rock that offers refuge, a strong tower that symbolizes security, and peaceful shelter (under God’s wings). These images emphasize God’s omnipotence and reliability in all circumstances. This confidence that the Psalmist has in God’s protection and strength is rooted in past experiences.

In the latter part of the psalm, the author expresses unshakable confidence in God’s faithfulness: “For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.” This declaration underscores the fundamental belief that God not only hears but also responds to the sincere petitions of His worshippers. It is enduring faith like this that has sustained believers through the ages.

The Psalmist concludes with a commitment to ongoing worship: “So will I sing praise unto thy name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.” This reflects a resolute dedication to a life of worship and gratitude, acknowledging that the relationship with God transcends a single moment of need and extends into daily devotion, from the present into eternity.

THE PIVOTAL STATEMENT OF PSALM 61

Allow me to conclude with a reflection on what is, for me, the key statement within this Psalm:

Verse 2b states, “When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

This text reveals a profound truth – that, despite our faithfulness to God, life can be fraught with challenges and difficulties.” “When” rather than “If” underscores the fact that every believer, at some point, will experience moments of overwhelming despair. The word “overwhelmed” paints a vivid picture of being buried beneath darkness, crushed, and enshrouded by life’s burdens.

Christians can find themselves overwhelmed in various ways:

Overwhelmed by Sin: Despite being cleansed from sin, Christians can still falter and err. This realization of our sinful nature can be overwhelming. Yet, we have the means to rise above it through confession and seeking God’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Overwhelmed by Sorrow: This world is filled with sorrow, stemming from the consequences of human actions and the fragility of life. Loss, betrayal, and shattered dreams can bring overwhelming grief. In such moments, we turn to God for solace.
Overwhelmed by Suffering: Suffering is an undeniable part of life. Illness, mortality, and witnessing the suffering of others can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed. In these times, we rely on God’s strength to endure.
Overwhelmed by Service: While serving God is a privilege, it can also become burdensome. Burnout, disappointment, and feeling unappreciated can make service overwhelming. It is crucial to rely on God for strength and guidance in service.

In all these scenarios, the Psalmist’s cry becomes our own: “When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” It is a reminder that, in times of despair, we must turn to the Lord, the One who stands as our refuge and stronghold, and acknowledge our dependence on God’s strength to navigate life’s challenges and maintain our devotion to Him. Notice the four ‘I will’s in the psalm.

v.2 ‘I will cry’

v.4 ‘I will abide’

v.4 ‘I will trust’

v.8 ‘I will sing praise’

So, as we ponder Psalm 61, we find in its verses a timeless guide for seeking solace in God’s unwavering presence, irrespective of life’s overwhelming moments. Like other psalms, Psalm 61 has been a source of strength and comfort for countless believers throughout history. Its enduring appeal lies in its capacity to speak to the human condition and offer a pathway to deeper spiritual connection and understanding.

Tag: psalm titles

Sons of Korah: Their Role in Worship and Psalms

PSALM 61