About the Story Behind Layer

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 98

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 is KING is a root metaphor, especially in the Psalms (cf. Brettler 1989; Mays 1994).
Kings acted both as warriors, fighting battles for their people, and as rulers/judges, establishing and maintaining justice in their kingdom.
The inauguration of a king's reign was celebrated with a 'shout' (cf. 1 Sam. 10:24) and with musical instruments (cf. 1 Kgs. 1:39-40) (cf. Brettler 1989).
Singing a 'new song' is the appropriate response to victory over enemies (cf. Pss. 144:9; 149:1; Isa. 42:10).
Isaiah prophesied that YHWH would bare 'his holy arm' and rescue his people from exile, and that all nations would see the victory of Israel's God (cf. Isa. 52).

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

A psalm. YHWH has just won a great victory over our enemies! And, when someone wins a victory, we sing a 'new song' to them. Therefore, Sing to YHWH, the victorious warrior, a new song, for he has done wonderful deeds just as he did long ago when he brought our fathers out of Egypt. When we were in distress, in exile among the nations, we called to YHWH for help, and YHWH rescued us.His strong right hand and his holy arm have defeated our enemies and won for himself a victory.

v. 2

The nations have seen how YHWH has rescued us, how he brought us back from exile, and thus YHWH has made known his victory to the nations. He has revealed his righteousness, the quality by which he does right to us by his covenant, in the sight of the nations. YHWH's rescue is an expression of his covenant faithfulness to us.

v. 3

In rescuing us, He has remembered his loyalty and his faithfulness for the sake of the household of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God, just as the prophet Isaiah said it would happen (Isa. 52:7–10)).

v. 4

YHWH has become king over the whole earth! All the' people in the earth who have seen YHWH's great victory, shout to YHWH and say 'Long live the king'! And because it is appropriate to celebrate a king's reign with music, Burst into song, cry aloud, and sing!

v. 5

Sing to YHWH with the lute, with the lute and the sound of music!

v. 6

With trumpets and the sound of the horn trumpet which announces the reign of a king, shout before YHWH, the king!

v. 7

YHWH is not only the king over all the people of the earth, he is also the king over the natural world. So, Let the sea and its fulness celebrate YHWH's kingship and roar! And [let] the land and those who dwell in it [roar]! For YHWH is coming to rule, and thunder-like 'roaring' typically accompanies his glorious presence.

v. 8

YHWH's coming is also cause for great joy. So, Let the rivers clap their hands in joyful appreciation! Let the mountains cry aloud together for joy.

v. 9

Let everyone sing and celebrate before YHWH the king! For he is coming to carry out the function of a king: to rule the earth in such a way that justice is established and maintained. He will rid the land of injustice and rule the land with righteousness; and [he will judge] the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98 Story behind the Psalm

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