Memorizing the Psalms

🪴Sprout 😁Strongly-Agree 🟢Conviction 📊Project 📓Journal 🥾SpiritualPractices-EmbodiedLiving

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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 think that focusing on individual books will help make things more manageable. I still need to figure out the large picture structure that I can use to help organize it all in my head. Pegs is one but that seems like i will get overwhelming quickly. I think that a story or image or memory palace is the way I want to go I just need to figure out how I want to plan that.I have decided to work toward memorizing the whole book of Psalms. But not just a rote memorization, actually having it functionally memorized for meditation and retelling. So that I can actually use what is memorized and not just have it recitable.

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

I am still trying to get my head around how I want to approach such a large memorization project. I have decided that I will undertake practicing memorization of things with the basic texts of the catechism and have started journaling about that here: Memorizing the Lords Prayer Memorizing the Ten Commandments

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

Similar Notes: Memory, the Things We Keep with Us Psalms-The Language of Our Heart Christian Meditation Embodiment of Community I Heard Them Singing Lament Epistle Series Meditation on Psalm 8 Quiet Muttering Reading Scripture Devotionally Reading Scripture for Familiarity Sacred Space Telescope of Scripture, the Law and Doctrine The Struggle to be in God’s Word The Chiasm or the Chasm

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Companion Project: Inhabiting the Place Where Heaven and Earth Meet

Foundational Texts for this Project

These are books the 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.”

Other Possible Reads

• Martin Luther. Selected Psalms. Luther’s Works, Vol. 11,13-14

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

1. 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. This looks at the overall structure of the whole book.
2. 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 and the start end and middle of each book.
3. 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.
4. Textual Structure - many psalms (and even between psalms as in 9 and 10) have specific structures to them. The most obvious being the Acrostic. Need to research and learn about other structures like chiasms and how to identify them better.
5. 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.
6. 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

Psalter as a Unified Whole

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:

1. Right Pillar (primary pillar like right hand is primary) and is the first to be erected. Named Jachin. Which translates to “He Will Establish.”
2. 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 -

Book Division

Master Overall Structure Attempt 1 (kind of chaotic lol)

Book 1 Structure overview

• Layer one: Breaks into 3 main sections: 1-7 (7 Psalms), 8-24 (17 Psalms), 25-42 (17 Psalms)
• Layer two: Breaks into 7 main sections: 1-2 (2 Psalms), 3-7 (5 Psalms), 8-24 (7 Psalms), 15-24 (10 Psalms), 25-32 (8 Psalms), 33 (1 Psalm), 34-41 (8 Psalms)
• Still need to think about layer three

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
  • Psalms 3-7 (5 Psalms) Davidic. Individual Lament or Cry for Help
    • Psalm 3 Psalm and Episode from his life.
    • Psalm 4-6 Psalm and To the Choir
      • Psalm 5 God as King
        • chiastic center of this collection of five
    • Psalm 7 Shiggaion and Episode
  • Psalm 8-24 (17 Psalms) Large collection? Begins and ends with Lord over all the earth
    • Psalm 8-14 (7 Psalms) Davidic. To the Choir (counting 10 as continuation of 9)
      • Note: this collection seems to have a very intricate organization.
      • Psalm 8-9 Psalm (3 Psalms) (10 tacked on)
      • Psalm 8
        • Lord over all the earth. Majestic Name in all the earth
        • Creational Praise
      • Psalms 9
        • Thanks to Lord
        • Note 9 and 10 one Psalm in Septuagint and form a full acrostic together
      • Psalm 10 no superscription kind of a hinge
        • God as King
        • Lament theme matching psalms after
        • Acrostic form matching Psalm before
      • Psalms 10-14 (4 Psalms) Individual Lament
        • Psalm 11 of David
          • Lord in His Temple
          • Chiastic center of this group of seven
        • Psalm 12-13 Psalm
        • Psalm 14 of David
          • Lord sees all have fallen away
    • Psalms 15-24 (10 Psalms) Open and close with calls to covenant faithfulness
      • Psalm 15 Psalm. Temple dwelling
      • Psalms 16-18 David as model of such faithfulness.
        • Psalm 16 Miktam
          • Clinging to the Lord
          • Chiastic middle of this collection of 17
        • Psalm 17 Prayer
      • Psalm 18-22 Psalm and To the Choir
        • 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
          • On the seam of this even collection of ten
        • 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 Psalm
        • 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
  • Psalm 25-41 (17 Psalms) A bigger collection? With 33 as chiastic middle. Both halves start with an acrostic Psalm
    • Psalms 25-32 (8 Psalms) Davidic. Journey of Forgiveness and 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 29-30 (2 Psalms) psalm.
        • Psalm 29
          • The Lord Shows up
          • Heavenly praise, Voice of the Lord
          • All cry Glory in the temple
          • Lord as King
        • Psalm 30 Temple dedication
      • Psalm 31 Psalm and To the choir
        • Take refuge, wait for the Lord even in trouble
      • 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
    • Psalms 34-41 (8 Psalms) Davidic
      • Psalm 34-37 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 Psalm, Temple Memorial Offering
      • Psalm 39-41 To the Choir and Psalm
        • 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

7. 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)
8. Egyptian Hallel - https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b3c443db-7da7-490a-a28f-a23f133d09e9/files/swd375x11k
9. CPH Psalm Overview - https://blog.cph.org/study/the-psalms-an-overview 
10. Hallel discussion - https://www.thetorah.com/article/hallel-how-many-psalms 
11. 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
      • 33:11, 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
    • 65:5
  • Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms) Shows up in 2 Psalms
    • 84:5 and 6,
    • 89:16,
  • 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,
    • 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

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

Footnotes

1. Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 81. ↩

2. Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, pp. 342–43. ↩

3. Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 211. ↩

4. Brown, Francis, et al. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, 1977, p. 852. ↩

5. Elliger, K., et al. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Electronic ed., German Bible Society, 2003, p. Ps 1-20 ↩