The Story behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Whereas most semantic analysis focuses on discrete parts of a text such as the meaning of a word or phrase, Story Behind the Psalm considers the meaning of larger units of discourse, including the entire psalm. (Click 'Expand' to the right for more information.)
The goal of this layer is to reconstruct and visualise a mental representation of the text as the earliest hearers/readers might have conceptualised it. We start by identifying the propositional content of each clause in the psalm, and then we identify relevant assumptions implied by each of the propositions. During this process, we also identify and analyse metaphorical language (“imagery”). Finally, we try to see how all of the propositions and assumptions fit together to form a coherent mental representation. The main tool we use for structuring the propositions and assumptions is a story triangle, which visualises the rise and fall of tension within a semantic unit. Although story triangles are traditionally used to analyse stories in the literary sense of the word, we use them at this layer to analyse “stories” in the cognitive sense of the word—i.e., a story as a sequence of propositions and assumptions that has tension.
Story Behind Visuals for Psalm 33
Summary Triangle
The story triangle below summarises the story of the whole psalm. We use the same colour scheme as in Participant Analysis. The star icon along the edge of the story-triangle indicates the point of the story in which the psalm itself (as a speech event) takes place. We also include a theme at the bottom of the story. The theme is the main message conveyed by the story-behind.
Background ideas
Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.
YHWH used his control over the deeps to send and stop the Flood, which was an instrument of his judgment (Gen 7:11, 8:2).
YHWH saved his people at the Red Sea by piling up the waters as a heap (Exod 15:8; cf Josh 3:13-16); there he threw Egyptian horses and their riders into the sea (Exod 14:23; 15:1, 19, 21).
YHWH formed a covenant with his people, and if they keep it then he will be their god (Gen 17:7-8) and they will be his treasured possession (Exod 6:7, 19:6, Deut 29:13).
Background situation
The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.
Expanded paraphrase
The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation
The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions
Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.
v. 1
YHWH established his covenant with Abraham's offspring, and YHWH's covenantal word is upright. YHWH's people keep the covenant, so they become righteous and upright. They assemble for worship, and the leaders say:Shout for joy in YHWH, righteous peoplewho have kept YHWH's covenant! Praiseto YHWH, who keeps his covenant,is fitting for upright peoplelike you.
v. 2
As the people gather to worship, the leaders say to the musicians:Give YHWH praise with a lyre! Make a song for him with a ten-string harp!
v. 3
Sing a new song to him! Play skillfully with a blast!
v. 4
Here is a summary of the reasons we should praise him:Because YHWH’s word ismorallyupright, and all of his workin creation and in historyis [done] in faithfulnessfor the benefit of his covenant people.
v. 5
BecauseHe loves righteousness and justice,he ensures that this is what fills the earth. When sin fills the earth with violence, he responds with judgment and cleansing, so that, in the end, it’s always true thatthe earth is full of YHWH’s loyal-lovenot just in loyal-love to his own but also faithfulness to judge the wicked.
v. 6
Here is what we mean in more detail: YHWH has power over all of creation. On the first day of creation,the heavens were made by YHWH’s word, andon the fourth day,all their hosts(meaning the sun, moon, and stars)[were made] by the breath of his mouth.
v. 7
At creation, YHWH separated the waters above from the waters below, and he separated the water from dry land. Therefore,He is the one who gathers the sea water as a heap!Not only did this show his power to create, but the separation of water from dry land was a preview of YHWH's later saving acts for his people: At the Exodus, YHWH piled the water as a heap so that his people could walk through on dry land; and the same thing happened at the crossing of the Jordan. At the crossing of the Red Sea, the enemy Egyptians were destroyed by the collapse of the waters upon them. Therefore, the one who gathers the sea water as a heap is powerful and compassionate to save his people from military threats.YHWH caused the Flood by allowing the spring of the deep oceans to burst forth along with opening the windows of heaven, then stopped the Flood by shutting the deep oceans and the windows of heaven. So, we say thatHe is the one who places the deep oceans into storehouses!His control of the deep oceans saves righteous people like Noah but destroys YHWH's enemies, like the Egyptians.
v. 8
YHWH's power over creation and history to save and destroy means thatall the earth should be afraid of YHWH! All the dwellers of the inhabited world should be in dread because of him!
v. 9
Forwe should remember thathe spokesaying, "let there be..." on the seven days of creation, and it was; he commandedboth in creation and in history, such as at the Flood and crossing of the Red Sea, and it came about.
v. 10
Even though the nations have a plan to destroy YHWH's people and dishonor YHWH,YHWH has thwarted the nations’ plan; he has blocked the peoples’ intentionswhich have been evil from the time of the Flood.
v. 11
In contrast,YHWH’s planto bless his people so that they may bless the earthstands forever; the intentions of his heart [stand] forever and ever.
v. 12
YHWH chose us as a covenant people so that he "will be our god" and we will be his "people" or "treasured possession," and we will benefit from his blessing. So the people of YHWH can say:Happy is the nation whose god is YHWH, [happy are] the people [whom YHWH] chose as a permanent possession for himself.
v. 13
YHWH looked from heavenwhich is an elevated place, implying his power and authority over everyone on earth: from therehe saw all of humanitymuch like he did before the Flood, as an act of discernment that leads to acts of saving the righteous and punishing the wicked. So, YHWH is not blind to wickedness, but is actively discerning people right now to judge,
v. 14
He gazed from his dwelling placewhich is also his kingly throneat all the dwellers of the earth.
v. 15
and just as David said to Solomon that "YHWH searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought" [1 Chr 28:9], YHWH isthe one who forms all their heartsno matter whether they acknowledge him or not, andthe one who discerns all their worksas good or evil, no matter whether they believe in his rules or not.
v. 16
The nations believe that military might is what gives victory and salvation. Having a king is a sign of reliance upon military might and not YHWH, butA king is not saved by a great force; a warrior is not delivered by great mightbecause YHWH has proven that he can crush a great army without help.
v. 17
The surrounding nations rely on horses, but the people of YHWH should not. At the Exodus, the horse and its rider were thrown into the sea, so:A horse is a deceptive means for victory, and it will not rescue by its great force.
v. 18
Instead of relying on military strength like the nations do,Consider: YHWH’s eyeof concern and protectionis upon those who fear himas we do, who remember his previous acts; upon those who wait for his loyal-loveas we do, who are waiting for him to rescue us from our enemies.
v. 19
When YHWH's people suffer, as we are now, he will soon actto deliver their lives from death, and to keep them alive during famineas he has many times before, especially when he fed his people with manna after the parting of the Red Sea.
v. 20
We ourselves wait longingly for YHWH—he is our helpto rescue usand our shieldto protect us from military threats—
v. 21
therefore our hearts delight in himsince we are so happy that he is our god; because we trust in his holy namesince he is powerful to rescue us from military threats, as he has shown before in the Exodus.
v. 22
So now,YHWH, may your loyal-lovein other words, your acts of loyal-lovebe upon usto rescue us and judge our enemies, just as we have been waiting for youto save us from threats!
