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The Big Idea

An Experiment: Memorizing the Psalter

I has been my experience that the more I am in the word the more easily things bubble up in my memory.

I have decided to work toward memorizing the whole book of Psalms. But not just as rote memorization, actually having it functionally memorized for meditation and retelling. So that I can use what is memorized and not just have it recitable. I want to be able to access each psalm from many angles. Rote memorization has only one starting point and the rest is all just recited after so while it is a tool not the primary form of memorization I am after. Therefore, my goal so far has been to learn the overall structure of each book withing the Psalter so that I have a basic roadmap for navigating the psalter in my mind. My overall hermeneutic for finding this structure has been to focus on the structural elements that are physically in the psalms them selves as the basic way to divide things. There fore superscriptions and repeated word and similar start and end phrases are the clues I am looking for to see how the psalms hold together with each other.

As I have started this journey I have been surprised how the Psalms feel like they are literally designed to be memorized. The more I spend time with them the more their flow and continuity begins to be something that impresses itself on my memory and consciousness. For example, the amount of times I have started to see echoes of the psalms in Jesus teaching or the rest of the new testament has started to put things in a much more comprehensive context than I have ever thought about Scripture before.

It is amazing how even having some rudimentary structure memorized has started to facilitate my ability to look at psalms next to each other and in the context of one another in was that are impossible with out holding things together in your mind.

Note

This idea started to form in me after reading/listening through the whole Bible in 40 days. My journal of that is here: Shredding Spiritual Muscles

In order to try to get my head around such a large memorization project I first did some smaller scale memorization projects. You can find my notes on these projects here: Memorizing the Lords Prayer Memorizing the Ten Commandments

Info

Also I find it interesting that the Second Council of Nicaea 787 A.C. made it a requirement to become Bishop to memorize the whole Psalter.

Companion Project: Inhabiting the Place Where Heaven and Earth Meet

Foundational Texts for this Project

These are books that have influenced me as I have been getting my head around this project:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible
- A powerful yet short book on how to see Jesus praying the Psalms with us and for us and how we can pray them faithfully.
Athanasius, Letter to Marcellinus, trans. and ed. Joel C Elowsky. New Haven, CT: ICCS Press, 2021.
- A fascinating look into how familiar Athanasius was with the Psalms and how highly he regarded them as a practical way to be formed by God’s word and taught how to handle every emotion or “inner movement.”
- PDF of the Text: Letter to Marcellinus translation-jce edit 08242016 final changes accepted (1).pdf
Timothy Saleska. Concordia Commentary on Psalm 1-50
- Introduction has a ton of resources and well laid out information about how to read and apply the psalms.
Martin Luther. First Lectures on the Psalms: Psalms 1-75. Luther’s Works, Vol. 10. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub., 1974.
- Started to read through and am surprised I have never hear this part of Luther quoted much.
Martin Luther. A Manual on the Book of Psalms.
The Homilies of Saint Jerome, Volume 1 (1–59 on the Psalms) (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 48). Trans. Marie Ewald. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1964.
- Started skimming his treatment of superscriptions and have found a ton of really fascinating stuff.

Suggestions from Dr. Joel Elowsky

These are potential texts that Dr. Elowsky suggested to me:

Blaising, Craig and Harding, Carmen, eds. Psalms 1-50, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2007.
Homilies on the Psalms: Codex Monacensis Graecus 314 by Origen, trans. Joseph Trigg. Fathers of the Church, Vol. ___ Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2020.
Didymus Lectures on the Psalms, trans. and ed. Jonathan Hicks. Ancient Christian Text Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2024.
Theodoret of Cyrus: Commentary on the Psalms 73-150. Trans. Robert C Hill. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2000.
Cameron, Michael. Essential Expositions of the Psalms by Augustine. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2015.
Martin Luther. Selected Psalms. Luther’s Works, Vol. 12. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub., 1974.

Suggestions from Dr. Timothy Saleska

These are potential texts that Dr. Saleska suggested to me. They are especally focused on Biblical Poetry as a whole:

Robert Alter. “The Art of Biblical Poetry,”
Adele Berlin. “The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism.”
Wilfred Watson. “Classical Hebrew Poetry: A Guide to its Techniques.”

Seeking Overall Shape and Structure

Since the main goal is to memorize everything having a handle on the overall structure of how the Psalter holds together will make it easier to keep things in memory as a dynamic unit and not a million individual unrelated chunks or a huge rote memorized list that I cannot access except at the beginning and end.

To this end I will use the following higherarchy of features to start grouping and noticing structure within the Psalter

Psalter as a Unified Whole - I believe that the whole psalter is meant to work together and puts forward a coherent prayer life, as well as teaching us a full bodied grammar and language in which to pray faithfully. This is inline with many early church Fathers who treated it as a kind of manual for Christian living. Some related thoughts: Psalms-The Language of Our Heart
1. Opening and Closing - Treating Psalm 1 and 2 as an overall introduction and 146-150 as the overall conclusion. I think this will be important to identify important themes and how they start and all lead toward the final praise of God.
Book Division - The five books offer the most clear division of the psalms and will serve as the next step down in organization. I think that it will help keep things in a nicely memorable packet. Therefore I will look for how Psalms relate within each book especially the start end and chiastic middle of each book.
Superscriptions - The next major clue to how things fit together and work together are the superscriptions. Not all Psalms have them but they can be found across all five books and offer a lot of information about how to group psalms and what they are helpful for.
Textual Structure - many psalms (and even between psalms as in 9 and 10) have specific structures to them. The most obvious being the Acrostic. I need to research and learn more about other structures like chiasms and how to identify them better.
Thematic Phrases and Words - There are many repeated phrases or ideas and using these to see how themes are developed and carried through the psalter by book but also as a whole.
Number Symbolism - Numbers are everywhere in the Psalms from the given number of a psalm to the grouping of psalms in specific sets (songs of accent being in 15, etc.). I want to look at the coherence and picture these numbers can help teach and the memory aid they can be. This is especially interesting when looking at numbering differences between the Masoretic numbering and the Septuagint numbering.

Psalter as a Unified Whole

Book Division

Master Overall Structure Attempt 1 (kind of chaotic lol)

Book 1 Structure overview

Book 1 breaks into 7 main sections:
- 1-2 (2 Psalms),
- 3-14 (12 Psalms),
- 15-17 (3 Psalms),
- 18-24 (7 Psalms),
- 25-31 (7 Psalms),
- 32-33 (2 Psalms),
- 34-41 (8 Psalms)
Three of the larger collections break down into smaller units:
- 3-6, 7-10, 11-14 (3 sets of 4)
- 25-28, 29-31 (one set of 4 and one of 3)
- 34-37, 38-41 (2 sets of 4)

Master list

Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms)
- Psalm 1 and 2 (2 Psalms) as introductions. No superscriptions
  1. Blessed is the Man
  2. Why do the Nations rage
    - Anointed, God’s King set on Zion/Holy Hill
- Struggle Cycle 3-14 (12 Psalms): Dealing with Enemies inside and out.
  - Psalms 3-6 (4 Psalms) Psalms of David.
    - Psalm 3 Episode from David’s life.
    - Psalm 4-6 Psalm To the Choir director.
      - Psalm 5 God as King
        
        Chiastic center of two surrounding string psalms.
  - Psalms 7-10 (4 Psalms)
    - Psalm 7 Shiggaion and Episode
    - Psalm 8-9 Psalms of David
      - Psalm 8 Lord over all the earth. Majestic Name in all the earth. Creational Praise
    - Psalm 10 NoSuper. Combined with 9 in Septuagint numbering. This would make 8 the center which does have a very unique creational praise theme in this collection.
      - God as King
      - Lament theme matching psalms after
      - Acrostic form matching Psalm before
  - Psalms 11-14 (4 Psalms)
    - Psalm 11 Of David. Lord in His Temple
    - Psalms 12-13 Psalm of David.
    - Psalm 14 Of David. Lord sees all have fallen away
- Bridge/Summary Psalms 15-17
  - Psalm 15 Psalm of David.
  - Psalm 16 Miktam of David. Clinging to the Lord
  - Psalm 17 Prayer of David.
  - These Psalms all look back at the struggles before in familiarity with God (17) but also look forward to the idea of living in God’s presence in the temple but also contrasting this with the image of the fool from Psalm 14 (15)
- King Cycle 18-24 (7 Psalms) Psalms of David
  - All to the Choir director except 23 and 24
  - Psalm 18 Episode and Long
    - Lord comes out of Temple to save
    - God Saves His King
  - Psalm 19 Creational praise, praising God for the Torah. Kind of the Heart of the King.
  - Psalms 20-21 symmetrical pair of Messianic king being the ultimate faithful one
    - Psalm 20 request to save God’s King
    - Psalm 21 is chiastic center of Book I
      - King rejoices in Lord’s strength, and he trust the Lord
    - Psalm 22 Cry to God
      - Lord as King
    - Psalm 23-24 non Choir director pair
      - Psalm 23 Shepherd
      - Psalm 24
        
        Lord over all the Earth. Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof
        
        Temple dwelling, gates opening for glory of the Lord to enter.
        
        Lord King of Glory
- Psalms 25-31 (7 Psalms) Journey to God’s Prescence
  - Psalms 25-28 (4 Psalms) Of David. Individual Lament
    - Psalm 25 is an acrostic
      - Seeking forgiveness
      - Waiting for the Lord
    - Psalm 27
      - Seeking Temple dwelling
      - Wait for the Lord
    - Psalm 28
      - far from temple
      - Seeking refuge
  - Psalm 29-31 (3 Psalms) Psalms of David.
    - Psalm 29
      - The Lord Shows up
      - Heavenly praise, Voice of the Lord
      - All cry Glory in the temple
      - Lord as King, heavenly temple
    - Psalm 30 Temple dedication
    - Psalm 31 Psalm and To the choir
      - Take refuge, wait for the Lord even in trouble
- Bridge/Summary Psalms 32-33 - Psalm 32 first Maskil - Blessed man shows up again from Psalm 1 - Forgiveness has been granted description of how it happened
  - Psalm 33 No superscription. Kind of a hinge psalm or a summary Psalm
    - Praise God for Creation
    - Summarizes many themes from before
      - Bring nations counsel to nothing Psalm 2
        
        Because of that there is a Blessed Nation
      - Looks down from Heaven on all people Psalm 14
      - Lord sees and knows way of the righteous Psalm 1
      - Steadfast love of the Lord
      - King not saved by own strength but God
- Struggle Cycle Two 34-41 (8 Psalms): Dealing with Enemies inside and out.
  - Psalm 34-37 (4 Psalms) Of David
    - Psalm 34 Episode and Acrostic.
      - When David acted cray cray before Abimelech.
      - Blessed man again
    - Psalm 35
    - Psalms 36 To the Choir
    - Psalm 37 is an Acrostic
  - Psalm 38-41 To the Choir and Psalm
    - Psalm 38 Psalm, Temple Memorial Offering
    - Psalm 39
    - Psalm 40
      - Blessed Man
    - Psalm 41
      - Blessed Man explained and ends with Doxology
Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms)
- Psalm 42-43 hope for return to the temple
  - Psalm 42 Sons of Korah
- Psalm 44-49 Sons of Korah
- Psalm 50 Asaph
- Psalms 51-65 Davidic Psalms
  - Psalms 51-64 (14 Psalms) Laments
    - Psalms 51-59 (9 Psalms) Individual lament
    - Psalm 60 communal lament
    - Psalms 61-64 (4 Psalms)
- Psalm 58 is chiastic center of book
- Psalms 68-70 Davidic Psalms
- Psalm 72 Solomon written. future reign of messianic king over all nations. ends with Doxology
Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms)
- Psalm 73-83 (11 Psalms) Asaph written
  - Psalm 73-74 individual lament
  - Psalm 78 chiastic center of group of Asaph psalms
  - Psalm 82 is chiastic center of book
- Psalm 84-85 Sons of Korah (2 Psalms)
- Psalm 86 Davidic Psalm
- Psalm 87-89 Sons of Korah (and associates) (3 Psalms)
  - Psalms 87-88 Formal Sons of Korah Psalms
  - Psalms 88-89 Individual Laments
    - Psalm 88 Herman the Ezrahite by name.
    - Psalm 89 Ethan the Ezrahite by name. time of Solomon written. Reflect on God’s promise to David in midst of exile. mix of lament but ends with Doxology
Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms) possibly post exile collected?
- Psalms 90-92 (3 Psalms) living with God
  - Psalm 90 prayer of Moses return to roots. the difficulty of dwelling well with the Lord.
  - Psalm 91 Lord as refuge and place of protection
  - Psalm 92 a sabbath psalm. thanking God for rest
- Psalm 93-99 (7 Psalms) group that announces the Lord God as the true king of all creation.
  - Psalm 99 is chiastic center of book
- Psalm 100 psalm of thanksgiving
- Psalm 101 Davidic psalm
- Psalm 102 prayer of the afflicted
- Psalm 103 Davidic psalm
- Psalm 104 bless the lord
- Psalm 105 give thanks to the lord
- Psalm 106 praise the lord. ends with Doxology
Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms)
- Psalms 107-110 (4 Psalms) God hears the cry of his people and will one day send the messiah
  - Psalms 108-110 Davidic Psalms
- Psalms 111-112 (2 Psalms) Praise the lord pair together form an acrostic
  - 112 opening verse reflection of what the blessed man does in Psalm 1
  - or they are individually really short acrostics?
- Psalm 113-118 (6 Psalms) “Egyptian Hallel” or praise psalms focused around deliverance from Egypt
  - Septuagint combines 114 and 115 and splits 116 in two (verses 1-9) and (10-19). This places Hallelujah at the beginning of all six psalms
- Psalm 119 (1 Psalm1) super long acrostic psalm
- Psalm 120-134 (15 Psalms). 15 explicit Psalms of Ascent.
  - Same number as the number of steps up both the outer (8 steps) and inner (7 steps) gates combined.
  - Psalm 122 Davidic Psalm
  - Psalm 124 Davidic Psalm
  - Psalm 127 Solomon written
  - Psalm 131 Davidic Psalm
  - Psalm 133 Davidic Psalm
- Psalms 135-136 descriptive praise. Sometimes included with 120-134 as the “Great Hallel” total 17 psalms.
- Psalms 138-145 (8 Psalms) Final collection of Davidic Psalms
- Psalms 135-136 (2 Psalms) pair of history psalms
- Psalm 137 (1 Psalm) exile lament/ imprecatory psalm
- Psalm 145 is an acrostic
- Psalms 146-150 (5 Psalms) final conclusion to Psalms
  - Psalm 148 center of the five and says all creation is summoned to praise God
  - Psalm 150 Ends with Major Doxology

another possible division of the book http://www.bible.literarystructure.info/bible/19_Psalms_e.html

Superscriptions

The next major clue to how things fit together and work together are the superscriptions. Not all Psalms have them but they can be found across all five books and over a lot of information about how to group psalms and what they are helpful for.
The obscure or hard to translate superscription names seem to signal shifts in the structure of the Psalms either at major beginning ending or chiastic middle positions.
Type and Author connected. I.e. Psalm of David, etc.
- Secondary Description of Author. I.e Servant of the Lord
Secondary Type. I.e. A song, etc.
Secondary Author. I.e Heman the Ezrahite
Choirmaster setting
- Musical Instument. I.e strings,
According to phrase
- Does it matter if this is stand alone or connected with Choir setting?
David Life Episode
Occasion for use Congregational Praise group I: 95-100 7. Hallelujah group: 111-117 8. Songs of Ascent to Jerusalem: 120-134 9. Congregational Praise Group II: 146-150

Subscriptions 2. Author 3. Details about author 4. Event or musical notation attached 5. Formal psalm structure 6. Name of god used 7. acrostic or not 8. Other notable characteristic (repeated word or theme etc)
Egyptian Hallel - https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b3c443db-7da7-490a-a28f-a23f133d09e9/files/swd375x11k
CPH Psalm Overview - https://blog.cph.org/study/the-psalms-an-overview
Hallel discussion - https://www.thetorah.com/article/hallel-how-many-psalms
Book IV. This consists of three series of consecutive psalms with internal coherence (Ps. 90–94, 95–100 and 101–106).

People References

Sons of Korah
- Linage Numbers 4:4-15, Sons spared from Fathers rebellion Numbers 26:11
Jeduthun mentioned as a person
- In Psalms Super: 39
- Introduced 1 Chronicles 16:41-42
- 1 Chronicles 9:16, 1 Chronicles 16:38, 1 Chronicles 25:3, 1 Chronicles 25:3, Nehemiah 11:17
Asaph
- Introduction 1 Chronicles 6:39
- 2 Kings 18:18, 2 Kings 18:37, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 9:15, 1 Chronicles 15:17, 1 Chronicles 16:5 and 7 and 37,
Heman
- Introduction 1 Chronicles 6:33
Ethan the Ezrahite
- Introduction 1 Kings 4:31
Heman and Ethan
- 1 Kings 4:31, 1 Chronicles 2:6
Jeduthun, Heman
- 1 Chronicles 16:41-42, 2 Chronicles 29:14
Jeduthun, Heman and Asaph
- 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6, 2 Chronicles 5:12, 2 Chronicles 35:15
Heman, Asaph, Ethan
- 1 Chronicles 15:17 and 19

Author/Musician across Books - Layer one

David (Psalm 73) -
- Book 1 (37 Psalms): 3-9, 11-32, 34-41,
- Book 2 (18 Psalms): 51-65, 68-70,
- Book 3 (1 Psalm): 86,
- Book 4 (2 Psalms): 101, 103,
- Book 5 (15 Psalms): 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145
Sons of Korah (Psalms 11) -
- Book 2 (7 Psalms): 42, 44-49,
- Book 3 (4 Psalms): 84-85, 87-88
Asaph (12 Psalms) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 50,
- Book 3 (11 Psalms): 73-83
Solomon (2 Psalms) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 72
- Book 5 (1 Psalms): 127 - Song of Ascent

Author/Musician unique to a Book - Layer one

Ethan the Ezrahite (1 Psalm) -
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 89
Moses (1 Psalm) -
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 90
Afflicted One (1 Psalm) -
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102

Author/Musician - Layer Two

Jeduthun (3 Psalm) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalm): “To” 39,
- Book 2 (1 Psalm): “According to” 62
- Book 3 (1 Psalm): “According to” 77
Heman the Ezrahite -
- Book 3 (1 Psalm): 88

Song/Type across Books - Layer one

A Psalm (58 Psalms ) -
- Book 1 (23 Psalms): 3-6, 8-9, 12-13, 15, 18-24, 29-31, 38-41
- Book 2 (12 Psalms): 47-51, 62-68
- Book 3 (12 Psalms): 73, 75-77, 79-80, 82-85, 87-88
- Book 4 (4 Psalms): 92, 98, 100-101
- Book 5 (7 Psalms): 108-110, 139-141, 143
Maskil (13 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 32
- Book 2 (7 Psalms): 42, 44-45, 52-55
- Book 3 (4 Psalms): 74, 78, 88-89
- Book 5 (1 Psalm): 142
A Miktam (6 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 16
- Book 2 (5 Psalms): 56-60
A Prayer (3 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 17 - David
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 86 - David
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102 - Afflicted One

Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer One

A Shiggaion (Psalm 1) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 7
A Song of Ascent (15 Psalms) -
- Book 5 (15 Psalms): 125-134

Song/Type across Books - Layer Two

According to Gittith (3 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 8
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 81, 84
According to Lilies (3 Psalms) -
- Book 2 (2 Psalms): 45, 69
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 80
According to Mahalath - (2 Psalms):
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 53
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 88
According to Do not Destroy (4 Psalms) -
- Book 2 (3 Psalms): 57-59
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 75
A Song (14 Psalms) -
- Book 2 (6 Psalms): 46, 48, 65-68,
- Book 3 (5 Psalms): 75-76, 83, 87-88,
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 92
- Book 5 (2 Psalms): 108, 145

Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer Two

According to Sheminth (2 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 6, 12
According to Muth-Labben “Death of the Son” (1 Psalm) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 9
According to Doe of the Dawn (1 Psalm) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 22
According to Alamoth (1 Psalm) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 46
According to Dove (1 Psalm ) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 56
According to Shushan Eduth (1 Psalm) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 60
A Love Song (1 Psalm) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 45
A Song of Praise (1 Psalm) -
- Book 5 (1 Psalms): 145 - David
Title for David: “Servant of the Lord” (2 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (2 Psalms): 18, 36

Occasion across Books

Memorial Offering (2 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 38 - David
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 70 - David
- Memorial offering reference: Leviticus 2:2 and 6:15

Occasion unique to a Book

Temple Dedication (1 Psalm)-
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 30 - David
For Instruction (1 Psalm) -
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 60 - David
For Testimony (1 Psalm) -
- Book 3 (1 Psalms): 80 - Asaph
For the Sabbath (1 Psalm) -
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 92 - Anonymous
For Giving Thanks (1 Psalm) -
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 100 - Anonymous
Pours out ones Heart (1 Psalm) -
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102 - Afflicted one

Instruments across Books

Strings (5 Psalms) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 4
- Book 2 (4 Psalms): 54-55, 61, 67
- Book 4 (1 Psalms): 76

Instruments Unique to a Book

Flutes (1 Psalm) -
- Book 1 (1 Psalms): 5
Far-off Terebinths (1 Psalm) - 56
- Book 2 (1 Psalms): 56

Need to do this with Choirmaster and David life Episode

Notes from Jerome
- psalm 5 superscripts are important Jerome
- psalm 7 lot about 7 and 8 and superscriptions
- p.26 Jerome superscripts as vestibules of the mansion of a psalm
- P. 35 psalm 9 about Jesus
- Also for him psalm 14 our 15 he makes the connection between sacrifice of the lamb and temple dwelling
- Psalm 76 connects Salem when old title of Jerusalem and where Melchizedek rules
- P 93 psalm 81 associated title for the wine presses with the three main festivals Passover, Pentecost and booths,

Textual Structure

Acrostics seem to always signal some kind of change in the collection as well
- Psalm 25 and 34 seem to start complimentary groups of 8 psalms with 33 as the chiastic center.
- Even Psalm 37 within one of those collections is on the “inner seam” of the eight with a special superscription in Psalm 38 immediately following.
Chiasms

Thematic Phrases and Words

Not sure how helpful this will be for memorizations sake.

The King, Anointed/messiah
The Temple/Sanctuary
The way of the Righteous vs the way of the wicked
Lament
- Psalms 38-43 +44 (7 Psalms) six individual laments end with communal lament
The blessedness of the man in Psalm 1 is actually from a verb אֶ֫שֶׁר that means happy or joyful or blessed¹. It is a rare word overall but shows up mostly in wisdoms poetry books.
- Shows up in a total of 19 Psalms.
- Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms) Shows up in 5 Psalms
  - 1:1, Blessed Man
    - 2:12 Blessed who take Refuge- encloses the introduction
  - 32:1 and 2, Blessed Man
    - 33:12, Blessed Nation
    - 34:8, Blessed Man
  - 40:4 Blessed Man
    - 41:1-2, Blessed Man explained
- Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms) Shows up in 3 Psalms
  - 65:4
- Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 2 Psalms
  - 84:5 and 6,
  - 89:15,
- Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 2 Psalms
  - 94:12
  - 106:3
- Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms) Shows up in 7 Psalms
  - 112:1,
  - 119:1 and 2,
  - 127:5,
  - 128:1 and 2,
  - 137:8 and 9, - Imprecatory
  - 144:15 + 2 times,
  - 146:5
Refuge
Delight in חָפֵץ has a few different forms but also a rare word that shows up in prophecy and a little history books².
- Shows up in 20 Psalms
- Psalm 40:15 same verse as 70:3
- 2 Samuel 22:20 same as Psalm 18:20,
- Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms) Shows up in 8 Psalms
  - 1:2
  - 5:5 + 4 times
  - 16:3
  - 18:19
  - 22:9
  - 34:12
    - 35:22 and 27
  - 37:19 and 23
- Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms) Shows up in 4 Psalms
  - 40:6 and 8 and 14
    - 41:12
  - 51:6 and 16 and 19,
  - 68:31
- Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 2 Psalms
  - 70:25
  - 73:25
- Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 0 Psalms
- Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms) Shows up in 8 Psalms
  - 107:30
  - 109:17
  - 111:2
    - 112:1
  - 115:3
  - 119:35
  - 135:6
  - 147:10
Meditate הָגָה or mutter or growl also a rare word³.
- Shows up in 10
- Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms) Shows up in 8 Psalms
  - 1:2
    - 2:1 + 2 times
  - 35:28 + 2 times
  - 37:30
  - 38:13
- Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms) Shows up in 4 Psalms
  - 63:7
  - 71:24
- Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 2 Psalms
  - 77:13
- Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 0 Psalms
- Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms) Shows up in 8 Psalms
  - 115:7
  - 143:5
Prosper צָלֵחַ, צָלַח⁴
- ψ 45:5; ψ 118:25, ψ 37:7, 1:3
Holy קֹ֫דֶשׁ a very common word and obviously a big deal across the bible
2:6, 3:4, 5:7, 11:4, 15:1, 20:2 and 6, 24:3, 28:2, 29:8, 30:4,33:21
43:3, 46:4, 47:8, 48:1, 51:11, 60:6, 63:2, 65:4, 68:17 and 24,
74:3, 77:13, 78:54, 79:1, 87:1, 89:20
93:5, 96:9, 97:12, 98:1, 99:9, 102:19, 103:1, 105:3 and 42, 106:47
108:7, 110:3, 114:2, 134:2, 138:2, 145:21, 150:1
Refuge
Trees (especially trees near water)
- fruit, leaves (flaura and fauna)
Righteous Paths/way
- righteous congregation
God knows yadah
walk, stand sit

First Word of Psalm

Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms) ⁵
- 1 Happy, Blessed אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי
- 2 Why rage לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ
- 3 Yahweh how many יְ֭הוָה מָֽה
  - Question
  - Cry for Help
- 4 When I Cry בְּקָרְאִ֡י
  - Cry for Help
- 5 Words, Listen to my words אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה
  - Listen
  - Cry for Help
- 6 Yahweh be not angry יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֥
  - Ask for Mercy
  - Cry for Help
- 7 Yahweh Our God יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי בְּךָ֣
  - Seek refuge
  - Cry for Help
- 8 Yahweh Our God יְהוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ
  - Creation Praise
- 9 Praise Yahweh אֹודֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה
  - Personal Praise
- 10 Why Yahweh לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה
  - Question
  - God Far away
- 11 To Yahweh I seek refuge בַּֽיהוָ֨ה׀ חָסִ֗יתִי
  - Seek refuge
- 12 Save! Yahweh הֹושִׁ֣יעָהa‬ יְ֭הוָה
  - Cry for help
- 13 How long Yahweh עַד־אָ֣נָה יְ֭הוָה
  - Question
- 14 Fool thinks אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל
- 15 Yahweh, who can dwell יְ֭הֹוָה מִי־יָג֣וּר
  - temple
- 16 Guard me God שָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי אֵ֝֗ל
  - seek refuge
- 17 Listen Yahweh שִׁמְעָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה
  - Listen
- 18 I speak love to Yahweh וַיֹּאמַ֡ר a‬אֶרְחָמְךָ֖b‬ יְהוָ֣ה
  - rescue response
- 19 The sky tells הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים
  - Creation praise
- 20 Answer, May the Lord answer you יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה
  - Blessing
Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms)
Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms)
Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms)
Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms)

Number Symbolism

Numbers are everywhere in the Psalms from the given number of a psalm to the grouping of psalms in specific sets (songs of accent being in 15, etc.). I want to look at the coherence and picture these numbers can help teach and the memory aid they can be

Memorization Methods

Athanasius’s Categories and Chain Method

In Athanasius’s: Letter to Marcellinus translation-jce edit 08242016 final changes accepted (1).pdf

Starts by talking about what is in the Bible as a whole

Pentateuch
Triteuch
Kings and Chronicles
Ezra and Nehemiah
Prophets

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 2

Book of Psalms is like a garden which besides bearing fruit in it that is found elsewhere—which it sets to music—brings to light its own special fruit which it accompanies in song along with the words.

Walks through how the Psalms are like this garden:

Genesis in Psalm 19 and 24
Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in Psalm 78, 114, 115, 105, 106
Priesthood and tabernacle 29
Joshua and Judges 107
Ezra and Nehemiah 126, 122
Prophets in Psalm 50, 118, 107, 45, 110,
Christ and His coming in Psalms 45, 87 45
Christ’s suffering in Psalm 2, 22, 88, 69, 138, 72
Ascension 24, 47, 110, 9, 72, 50, 82, 47, 72

Conclusion for this section: You can find elements from the Psalms in the other books and elements from the other books in the Psalms but the Psalms has it’s own unique musical style overall.

Next section moves to the Psalms forming and shaping and teaching us how to live our inner and outer lives:

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 10

in the Psalms you are also told how to keep away from evil…

the book of Psalms also tells how to repent and what is necessary to say for repentance to actually take place…

In the Psalms too you are told how it is necessary to bear afflictions, and what you should say to someone who is suffering and what to say after the suffering has occurred…

the Psalms also teach what you should actually say when giving thanks…

from the Psalms we are also taught what to cry out when fleeing and what words should be offered to God while we are being persecuted, as well as what to say after the persecution when we have been delivered…

in the Psalms we are even informed how one ought to praise the Lord and what words to say in order to confess him rightly. In fact, in every case we will find that these divine songs have been provided for us and the inner motions of our souls, and whatever condition we find ourselves in.

Main things Psalms teach how to do:

Keep away from evil
Repent of sin
Bear afflictions and comfort those who suffer
Give thanks
Cry out under persecution and give thanks when delivered from it
Praise the Lord and confess him rightly

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 12

It seems to me that these words often act like a mirror for the one who sings them. They allow him to see himself and the inner movements of his own soul in them. And when one recites them they produce that very effect.

Basics of singing the Psalms for personal formation:

Recognize own afflictions in Psalm 3
Boldness and Prayer in Psalms 12 and 17
Personal confession in 51
Being persecuted in Psalms 54, 56, 57, 142

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 12

each Psalm was dictated and composed by the Spirit, we find in them, as was said above, a better understanding of the inner movements of our own soul. All of what they say concerns us, and so their words come across as though they were our words. They serve as a reminder of the inner movements within us and as a corrective for our daily conduct.

Move to more detailed understanding of how Psalms speak to the inner movements of our soul:

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 14

If it is necessary to speak even more to the point,… the book of Psalms contains the primary pattern for how souls are to be managed. For just as one who comes before a king carries with him a certain comportment and demeanor in what he says, so that he might not be thrown out as uneducated when he talks, in the same way for those striving toward virtue and wanting to comprehend the life of the Savior in the body, when they read this divine book it first of all brings to mind the inner movements of the soul and in this way further models and teaches petitioners such words as they should use. For it must first be observed that in this book there are Psalms that speak in narrative form, in exhortations, in prophecies, in the form of prayer, as well as in confession:

Summary of First Sections

Letter to Marcellinus, para. 14

since the Psalms are arranged like this, it is possible for the readers to find in each, as was said above, the inner movements and conditions appropriate to the state of their own soul and identify the type of Psalm as well as the teaching contained in each.

Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5

Teaching Contained in the Psalm:

Genesis in Psalm 19 and 24
Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in Psalm 78, 114, 115, 105, 106
Priesthood and tabernacle 29
Joshua and Judges 107
Ezra and Nehemiah 126, 122
Prophets in Psalm 50, 118, 107, 45, 110,
Christ and His coming in Psalms 45, 87 45
Christ’s suffering in Psalm 2, 22, 88, 69, 138, 72
Ascension 24, 47, 110, 9, 72, 50, 82, 47, 72
Story of Scripture in 25 Psalms :
- Book I: 2, 9, 19, 22, 24, 29,
- Book II: 45, 47, 50, 69, 72,
- Book III: 78, 82, 87, 88,
- Book IV: 105, 106,
- Book V: 107, 110, 114, 115, 118, 122, 126 138,

Main movements of the soul:

Keep away from evil
- Boldness and Prayer in Psalms 12 and 17
Repent of sin
- Personal confession in 51
Bear afflictions and comfort those who suffer
- Recognize own afflictions in Psalm 3
Give thanks
Cry out under persecution and give thanks when delivered from it
- Being persecuted in Psalms 54, 56, 57, 142
Praise the Lord and confess him rightly

Basic formation of your soul in 8 Psalms

Basic Categories of form or type:

Narrative
Exhortation
Prophecy
Prayer
Confession

Mixing form and movements of the soul into a fuller list: Note: Levels made based on starting preposition of each chain

Mainly Form Categories

There are Narrative: 19, 44, 49, 50, 73, 77, 78, 89, 90, 107, 114 (and 115), 127, 137;
There are Prayer : 17, 68, 90, 102, 132, 142;
There are Petition, prayer and entreaty: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 25, 28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 64, 83, 86, 88, 138, 140, 143;
1. and Petition with thanksgiving: 139,
2. and Petition only: 3, 26, 69, 70, 71, 74, 79, 80, 109, 123, 130, 131;
Those in Confession: 9 (and 10), 75, 92, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 118, 136, 138;
Those having Confession and narrative: 9 (and 10), 75, 106, 107, 118, 138;
1. Confession and narrative with adoration: 111;
  1. and Exhortation: 37;
Those having Prophecy: 21, 22, 45, 47, 76;
1. and Reporting of events joined with prophecy: 110;
2. and Exhortation and prescriptions: 29, 33, 81, 95, 96, 97, 98, 103, 104, 114;
  1. Exhortation with song: 150;
    1. and Describing the virtuous life: 105, 112, 119, 125, 133;

Mainly Movements of the Soul Categories

Those Proclaiming Praise: 91, 113, 117, 135, 145,146, 147, 148, 150;
Those Giving thanks: 8, 9 (and 10), 18, 34, 46, 63, 77, 85, 116, 121, 122, 124, 126, 129, 144;
Those proclaiming Blessedness: 1, 32, 41, 119, 128;
1. And demonstrate Sing with zeal: 108; while also Exhort to fortitude 81;
  1. Accuse ungodly and lawbreakers: 2, 14, 36, 52, 53 while one of Invocation: 4;
Those Describing devotion: 20, 64;
Those Boasting in the Lord: 23, 27, 39, 40, 42, 62, 76, 84, 97, 99, 151 (LXX);
Those that Rebuke: 58, 82;
1. and those contain Words of a hymn: 48, 65;
  1. Jubilation and about the resurrection: 66;
    1. and only words of jubilation: 100.

3 “There are those” Categories - Two are major form categories and one is not
9 Plain “Those” categories - Two are major form categories and the rest are not
1 “And those” category
- Exhortation is the only main form category that is not associated with a “those” category and is mixed in with the other categories (namely confession and prophecy)
- This makes 12 major “those” categories overall with one “and those”
  - First 6 categories all have references to major form categories
  - Second 6 categories all have references to movements of the soul
  - The singular “and those” category seems contrast with the category before it and mixes form and movement of soul (Words of Hymn) followed by jubilation psalms which does the same
8 plain “And” categories and the same 1 “and those”
4 categories with no preposition
2 “While” categories
“There” and “Those” categories seem to function as top level categories.
Seems clear that “and” categories function as subcategories of “there” and “those” categories.
“While” categories seem to create a contrasting pair with the category before it.
2 of the no preposition categories are clearly continuations or “sub sub” categories of those ahead of them
2 are less clear but can also work in the same way. They create more surprising associations like accusing ungodly associated with blessedness.

Rearranged by Book- How to manage your soul list 6 Prophecy Psalms 12 Exhortation Psalms 12 Confession Psalms 14 Narrative Psalms 35 Prayer Psalms

Core categories for managing your soul (38 Psalms)

	Narrative (14 Psalms)	Exhortation (1 Psalm)	Prophecy (5 Psalms)	Prayer (6 Psalms)	Confession (12 Psalms)
Book 1	19	37	21 & 22	17	9 & 10
Book 2	44, 49, 50		45, 47	68
Book 3	73, 77 & 78, 89		76		75
Book 4	90			90, 102	92, 105 & 106
Book 5	107, 114 & 115, 127, 137			132, 142	107 & 108, 111, 118, 136, 138

Subcategories still closely connected with the core categories

	Sub-Narrative	Exhortation w/ Prescription or Song (11 Psalms)	Prophecy w/ Events (1 Psalm)	Prayer, Petition and Entreaty (26 Psalms)	Petition (13 Psalms)	Confession w/ Narrative (Sub List of Confession)
Book 1	See Confession	29, 33		5 & 6 & 7, 12 & 13, 16, 25, 28, 31, 35, 38	3, 26	9 & 10
Book 2				43, 54 & 55 & 56 & 57, 59 & 60 & 61, 64	69 & 70 & 71
Book 3		81		83, 86, 88	74, 79, 80,	75
Book 4		95 & 96 & 97 & 98, 103 & 104				106
Book 5		114, Song(150)	110	138, 140, 143	109, 123, 130 & 131, with Thanksgiving(139)	107, with Adoration(111), 118, 138

Special Additional Categories

	Virtuous Life	Praise	Giving Thanks:	Blessedness	Sing with Zeal and Exhort to Fortitude	Accuse ungodly	Invocation	Describe Devotion	Boast in Lord	Rebuke	Hymn Words	Resurrection Jubilation	Only Jubilation
Book 1			8, 9 & 10, 18, 34	1, 32, 41		2,14,36	4	20	23, 27, 39 & 40
Book 2			46, 63			52 & 53		64	42, 62	58	48, 65	66
Book 3			77, 85		81- Fortitude				76, 84	82
Book 4	105	91							97, 99				100
Book 5	112, 119, 125, 133	113, 117, 135, 145 & 146 & 147 & 148, 150	116, 121 & 122, 124, 126, 129, 144	119, 128	108 - Zeal

Attending to your Soul

Bless someone: 1, 32, 41, 119, 128
Rebuke plotting: 2
Persecution from own people: 3
Give thanks that Lord heard you: 4, 75, 116
Wicked lying in wait: 5
Threats from the Lord: 6, 38
Someone plotting against you: 7
See Savior’s grace: 8
Wine harvest: 8, 84
Over come Enemy through Jesus: 9, 10
Confidence during stirred up trouble: 11
Flee to Lord when world falls apart: 12
Stand at post even in midst of snares of enemy: 13
Reject blaspheming God’s providence, talk to God: 14, 53
Citizenship in the kingdom of heaven: 15 and finally
17, 86, 88, 141 also 90
18,
19, 24
20
23
25
26, 35, 43
27
28
29
30, 127 and finally
31
32
33
34
36
37
39
40
41
42
44, 78, 89, 105, 106, 107, 114, 115
46
51
52
54, 56
57, 142
59, 55, 58
62
63
64, 65, 70, 71
65
66
67
73
74,
9, 10, 75, 92, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 118, 136, 138
76
77
79
81, 95
83
84
85, 126
86
91
Sabbath 92 week Psalms 24, 48, 93
96
97, 94
100
101
102
103
104
105, 107, 135, 146, 147, 148, 150
116
120 - 135
137
139
140
5, 143
144
145, 93, 98
Praise 105, 106, 107, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 135, 136, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

He breaks Psalms into two main categories

Personal Psalms
Sing alone in private about the Savior. Referenced in every Psalm but especially:
1. 45 and 110 Christ’s origin, incarnation and relationship with the Father.
2. 22 and 69 Cross and Suffering of Christ
3. 2 and 109 Betrayal of Jesus
4. 21, 50 and 72 Christ’s Kingdom, judgment, incarnation and calling the gentiles.
5. 16 Resurrection. 24 and 47 ascension into heaven.
6. 93, 96, 98 and 99 blessings from Christ’s suffering.

He then walks through each Psalm in each category and then chains related psalms to that kind of situation. Basically he walks through scene after scene and associates the psalms with that kind of situation.

Heavenly Temple Memory Palace

Brief description of the memory palace method and goal: Memory Palace Method

As I am diving into this

I have realized the Ezekiel’s temple vision (chapters 40-48) is literally an offer of a memory palace in Scripture. The fact that the only object that gets a height measurements is the outside temple is a clear clue that this is meant to be a space to have in your mind and do a mental walk about. So the first piece I will do is the actually get this temple vision in my mind so that I have a clear space with which to fill it with Psalms.

The purpose of this memory palace (Memory Temple really) is to place the psalms spatially and in a way that facilitates imagination and easy recall. I have chosen the temple vision because the temple is a place deeply connection with the psalms as songs that would have been sung in the physical temple for many reasons. In this memory palace keeping them in my mind functions as a way to enter (in a small way) the heavenly temple that Jesus cleansed with His blood and tore open the veil to allow us in by faith.

The images and placement of things are starting vaguely but as I study Ezekiel’s vision I will work to flesh it out more clearly. While also allowing my imagination to create an image that is memorable and engaging for me.

Notes on the books for reference: The Book of Ezekiel

Description of overall setting:

Imagine a kind of zoomed out view. A high huge Mountain covered in trees and plants with a kind of temple complex at the top. A city is off to the south below.

Tour of Ezekiel starts at the eastern gateway. And follows the diagram below:

The overall measurement that governs the plans is 25. This maps very well to 150 Psalms. If you were to even basically break the temple into 25 zones like this:

You would have discreet collections of 6 Psalms for each location. The zone generally line up with the outer and inner walls and the central temple compound.

The math by the five books is not quite as clean. If you divide 25 by 5 you get 5 zones per book.

Ezekiel 40:49 - Very short description of the two pillars at the entrance of the temple itself The front of the temple is tall and square with two huge bronze pillars at the entrance on either side of the door. The river flows out of the doorway and down the stairs.

Psalm 1 - He will Establish You stand at the top of the stairs and look at the right hand pillar. On it in bright lettering forming the name Jachin. As you look at the name letters change to say “He Will Establish.” Suddenly the sides of the pillar light up with writing and you hear these words:

Blessed is the man Who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.

As the writing reaches the top of the pillar a tree sprouts and grows from the top of the pillar and you hear the Psalm continue:

He is like a tree Planted by streams of water

You notice the river flowing out of the temple by the pillar to your feet. You look back up at the tree and see large fruit of all kinds growing on its’ branches:

That bears fruit in its season and its leaves never wither In all that he does, he prospers.

You look back down to you feet and notice bits of dry and broken chaff like the floor of a barn:

The wicked are not so they are like chaff that the wind drives away

A powerful wind blows out of the doorway of the temple and the bits of chaff swirl and then fly off the temple plaza and out of sight:

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous for the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish

Psalm 2 - In Him is Strength

Peg Method

(I do not think that I will pursue this method very far or at least not using it alone)

One way to approach things is using the peg method. If I chose this I will memorize handles for each Psalm as a way to start to navigate them within my memory and recall them when needed.

Step one is to come up with a sentence or phrase that captures a key theme or element of that Psalm. this will be the kind of “tag” that I start to memorize

Once I have all 150 tags memorized then we will see how deepening it can go and the way I can use that mental navigation.

Book I

(Psalms 1-41) 1 - Tree 2- Kiss 3 - Hair 4 - Bed 5 - Morning 6 - Bones 7 - Sword 8 - Stars 9 - Throne 10 - Net 11 - Bird 12 - Lips 13 - Face 14 - Bread 15 - Tent 16 - Cup 17 - Wings 18 - Rock 19 - Sun 20 - Banner 21 - Crown 22 - Worm 23 - Shepherd 24 - Seas
25 - Paths 26 - Altar 27 - House 28 - Pit 29 - Voice 30 - Dancing 31 - Fortress 32 - Summer 33 - Harp 34 - Crazy 35 - Shield 36 - Clouds 37 - Grass 38 - Arrows 39 - Tongue 40 - Mud 41- Sickbed

Conclusion 41:13

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Book II

(Psalms 42–72) 42 -

Conclusion 72:18-19

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

Book III

(Psalms 73–89) 73 -

Conclusion 89:52

Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

Book IV

(Psalms 90–106) 90 -

Conclusion 106:48

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!

Book V

(Psalms 107–150) 107 -

Closing Hallelujahs

146 - 147 - 148 149 150

Various Note fragments

Opening and Closing (The First Seven)

Psalm One and Two as portal of Prayer

As I have thought and read and also super procrastinated this project I have come across the start of an image that will help me keep Psalm 1 and 2 firmly placed in my mind.

The image is that of walking up to the beautiful temple of Solomon and seeing the big grand pillars at the entrance. This correlates with treating the Psalter as a spiritual temple with which to worship God. I love this imagery and it helps keep the purpose of the psalms right up front as well as being memorable.

The description of these pillars being built on the physical temple are: 1 Ki 7:21 and 2 Ch 3:17

The basic identity of each pillar:

Right Pillar (primary pillar like right hand is primary) and is the first to be erected. Named Jachin. Which translates to “He Will Establish.”
Left Pillar named Boaz. Which translates to “In Him Is Strength.”

This already is a very compelling image and one that fills the Psalms themselves with a deep sense of place and purpose. I think it will also be a strong anchor to possibly keep developing the “tour of the temple” style memorization as we go.

Treating Psalm 1 and 2 as an overall introduction and as the overall conclusion. I think this will be important to identify important themes and how they start and all lead toward the final praise of God. This looks at the overall structure of the whole book.

This imagery even lines up with the content of the Psalms themselves.

Psalm 1

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words - Priestly in character. Specks of the ideal reader and meditator of God’s word and abiding in the presence of God. Jesus is the ideal mean who lived this which we are then branches of the tree that is Jesus as He abides by the stream.
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections - If we map the first pillar to this Psalm we see that “He will establish” fits well with the overall message of the psalm and who is the one establishing (not us but God). Jerome psalm 1 like entrance to a big mansion and each psalm a chamber they all have a key

Psalm 2

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words - Kingly in character. Jesus is the true Davidic kind that the nations cannot overcome.
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections - Second pillar means “In Him is Strength” which is the best short hand description of Jesus as king that I can think of for the messianic ruler of the universe.

Psalm 146-150 as Concluding Praise

Psalm 146

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words -
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections -

Psalm 147

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words -
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections -

Psalm 148

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words -
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections -

Psalm 149

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words -
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections -

Psalm 150

Superscriptions -
Textual Structure -
Thematic Phrases and Words -
Number Symbolism -
Other Connections -

Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 81. ↩
Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, pp. 342–43. ↩
Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 211. ↩
Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 852. ↩
Elliger, K., et al. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Electronic ed., German Bible Society, 2003, p. Ps 1-20 ↩

Explorer

Memorizing the Psalms

An Experiment: Memorizing the Psalter

Foundational Texts for this Project

Suggestions from Dr. Joel Elowsky

Suggestions from Dr. Timothy Saleska

Other Possible Reads

Seeking Overall Shape and Structure

Psalter as a Unified Whole

Book Division

Master Overall Structure Attempt 1 (kind of chaotic lol)

Book 1 Structure overview

Master list

Superscriptions

People References

Author/Musician across Books - Layer one

Author/Musician unique to a Book - Layer one

Author/Musician - Layer Two

Song/Type across Books - Layer one

Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer One

Song/Type across Books - Layer Two

Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer Two

Occasion across Books

Occasion unique to a Book

Instruments across Books

Instruments Unique to a Book

Need to do this with Choirmaster and David life Episode

Textual Structure

Thematic Phrases and Words

First Word of Psalm

Number Symbolism

Memorization Methods

Athanasius’s Categories and Chain Method

Summary of First Sections

Teaching Contained in the Psalm:

Main movements of the soul:

Basic Categories of form or type:

Mainly Form Categories

Mainly Movements of the Soul Categories

Heavenly Temple Memory Palace

Description of overall setting:

Peg Method

Book I

Book II

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Closing Hallelujahs

Various Note fragments

Opening and Closing (The First Seven)

Psalm One and Two as portal of Prayer

Psalm 1

Psalm 2

Psalm 146-150 as Concluding Praise

Psalm 146

Psalm 147

Psalm 148

Psalm 149

Psalm 150

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