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Psalms and Song of Songs

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Poetry
    31 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Poetic Structures
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    Praise and Lament
    24 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    The Diversity of Psalms
    28 Activities
  5. Lesson Five
    Song of Songs
    20 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 19

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Psalms and Song of Songs Poetic Structures In Front | Workbook: Psalm 151
Lesson 2, Activity 19

In Front | Workbook: Psalm 151

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Of all the differences in biblical canons among various traditions, Psalm 151 NRSV is one that’s often overlooked. If you’re Roman Catholic, Protestant or Jewish, you’ve probably never read it before. It goes like this:

This psalm is ascribed to David as his own composition (though it is outside the number), after he had fought in single combat with Goliath.

I was small among my brothers,
    and the youngest in my father’s house;
I tended my father’s sheep.
My hands made a harp;
    my fingers fashioned a lyre.
And who will tell my LORD?
    The LORD himself; it is he who hears.
It was he who sent his messenger
    and took me from my father’s sheep,
    and anointed me with his anointing oil.
My brothers were handsome and tall,
   but the LORD was not pleased with them.
I went out to meet the Philistine,
    and he cursed me by his idols.
But I drew his own sword;
    I beheaded him, and took away disgrace from the people of Israel.

Psalm 151 (NRSV)

  1. The most striking feature of this passage is its irony, as it emphasizes all the ironic aspects of the story of Goliath’s defeat at the hands of a shepherd boy. List some aspects of irony in your workbook.
  1. A number of parallelisms also appear in this hymn. Describe the parallelism that occurs in the first two verses.