The Themes of Exile and Return Are Seen All through the Psalms

The Poetic Exile

Given the theological severity of the historic exile, it’s no shock that emblems of exile and the hope for return would seem all through the Bible. One thinks of the fixed risk of enemies in Judges, the loss and return of the ark in 1 Samuel, Ruth’s departure and return, and David’s flights from hazard.¹

The identical dynamic is powerfully at work within the Psalms. The Bible’s poetic literature “capabilities to offer a pause within the storyline to mirror on the tragedy of the exile, its causes and significance.”² That is principally seen within the Psalter’s group into 5 components:

E-book 1: Psalms 1–41
E-book 2: Psalms 42–72
E-book 3: Psalms 73–89
E-book 4: Psalms 90–106
E-book 5: Psalms 107–150

Gerald Wilson has argued that the psalms that start and finish every guide function thematic “seams” that sew the in any other case numerous psalms collectively.³ Thus a discernable sample emerges that matches the narratological move of all the Outdated Testomony, emphasizing exile and hope for return. The definitive turning factors are the rise of David, crowning of Solomon, descent into exile, and rising of Israel out of exile into a brand new creation.⁴ For our functions at this level in our research, books 1 to 4 inform the story of Israel’s exile out of the land.

E-book 1 begins in a backyard setting (Ps. 1:2–3) and describes the rise of the home of David as a response to the riot of the nations in opposition to God (Ps. 2). David’s ascension is a troublesome one, nonetheless. He’s a struggling king, typically on the verge of loss of life (Pss. 18:4; 22:1, 15; 23:4; 41:5). But he all the time comes out of the figurative grave to rule the nations (Pss. 16:10–11; 18:43; 22:19–21, 27; 23:5; 41:10).⁵ This brings us to the primary “seam,” the climax of guide 1. Psalm 41 concludes with these strains:

By this I do know that you simply enjoyment of me:
     my enemy won’t shout in conquer me.
However you’ve gotten upheld me due to my integrity,
     and set me in your presence without end.
Blessed be the LORD. (Ps. 41:11–13)

The conquer the “enemy” and the enjoyment of the Lord’s “presence without end” reveals David’s position in bringing Genesis 3:15 to completion and reopening the door to Eden.

But Psalm 42, the primary psalm of guide 2, seems to have been written from exile, when the temple—that place of God’s presence—is a ruined heap, and the “enemy” taunts by saying, “The place is your God?” (Ps. 42:9–10, cf. Ps. 42:3).⁶ Thus, the final psalm of guide 1 and first psalm of guide 2 deliver collectively the top purpose of David’s reign—conquer the enemy and entrance into God’s presence—and the ever-looming risk of exile. In different phrases, books 1 and a couple of are stitched along with a yes-but-more seam. “Hope in God!” comes the cry (Ps. 42:5, 11; cf. Ps. 43:5).

Such expectations construct greater by the top of guide 2. Psalm 72 is the top of the Psalter the best way 1 Kings 8–10 is the top of the historic books of the Outdated Testomony, capturing the complete imaginative and prescient of Genesis 3:15 and the nations’ return to Eden.⁷ Solomon is on the throne, ruling with justice and righteousness (Ps. 72:1–2). Solar, moon, and earth are invoked (Ps. 72:5–7) as this son of Judah has “dominion . . . to the ends of the earth” (Ps. 72:8; echo of Gen. 1:28) and victory over his “enemies” (Ps. 72:9; echo of Gen. 3:15), and tribute (notably gold) and obeisance are introduced by the nations (Ps. 72:10–11, 15; allusion to Gen. 49:10). The end result, due to this fact, is that “the entire earth [is] full of [the Lord’s] glory” (Ps. 72:19). Briefly, what David noticed from afar on the finish of guide 1, his son Solomon realizes in a climactic manner on the finish of guide 2.

But identical to 1 Kings 11, guide 3 of the Psalms begins with ominous phrases: “Really God is nice to Israel, to those that are pure in coronary heart. However as for me, my toes had virtually stumbled, my steps had practically slipped” (Ps. 73:1–2). It might seem that this psalm doesn’t pertain on to exile, however its placement on the head of guide 3, proper after the triumphant near guide 2, reminds us of Moses’s warnings regarding the coronary heart, particularly how Solomon’s coronary heart is described in 1 Kings 11. And certainly, guide 3 does finish with a dirge of exile in Psalm 89. The home of David is “solid off and rejected” (Ps. 89:38; cf. additionally Ps. 89:39, 44–45, 49). “How lengthy, O Lord? Will you disguise your self without end?” (Ps. 89:46) is a tragic question given what we noticed on the finish of books 1 and a couple of. Now the Lord’s and Israel’s “enemies” mock (Ps. 89:51). Thus, the plea on the finish of guide 3 is “Keep in mind, O Lord” (Ps. 89:50). Because the covenant God had as soon as “remembered” Israel in Egypt (Ex. 2:24), this new exile will necessitate a second exodus.

The door again into to our true Edenic house is opened via the good end-times sacrifice of the approaching Davidic priest-king.

E-book 4 is then the guide of exile itself. And proper on cue, it opens with the one psalm written by Moses, Israel’s first redeemer (Ps. 90). All through, it emphasizes that God continually “remembers” (Pss. 103:14; 105:8; 106:4) and continually describes humanity’s finish as “mud” (Pss. 103:14; 104:29; cf. Gen. 3:19) in addition to Jerusalem’s present situation as “mud” (Ps. 102:13–14). But withMoses as the primary writer, guide 4 generates the hope that Israel will return to the Lord and the Lord will return to them (Ps. 90:13). E-book 4 additionally echoes Genesis 3:15 (Ps. 91:11–13), incorporates a beautiful hymn of creation (Ps. 104), and concludes by recounting the primary exodus (Ps. 106). The ultimate phrases are

Save us, O Lord our God,
     and collect us from among the many nations,
that we might give because of your holy identify
     and glory in your reward. (Ps. 106:47)

That’s the place guide 4 leaves the individuals of God—calling out to be gathered from among the many nations as a result of the home of David and the home of the Lord (in reality, all humanity) are within the mud of loss of life.

To make sure, not each psalm revolves round exilic themes. However an aerial view of all the Psalter demonstrates this wider topography. Books 1 to 4 of the Psalter are struck within the mould of exile from Eden and exile from the land.

The Poetic Return from Exile

The Psalter has the identical wonderful imaginative and prescient. After we left off with the Psalms, we heard Israel’s plea on the finish of guide 4 to “collect us from among the many nations, that we might give thanks” (Ps. 106:47). E-book 5 then begins by repeating the phrases “collect” and “thanks.” Psalm 107:1–3 exults,

Oh give because of the Lord, for he’s good,
     for his steadfast love endures without end!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
     whom he has redeemed from bother
and gathered in from the lands
     from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

Thus, guide 5 is the guide of return from exile. And whereas psalms attributed to David decreased over books 3 and 4, his psalms are again in pressure in guide 5. Psalms 108–110, 122, 124, 131, 133, and Psalms 138–145 are all ascribed to David. The emphasis that emerges is that “the reply to the issue of exile is David.”⁸ Having been laid “within the mud” on the finish of guide 3 (Ps. 89:39), David is now literarily again from the grave.

Crucial chapter on this part is Psalm 110. It’s a kingly enthronement psalm (“Sit at my proper hand”; Ps. 110:1) harking back to Genesis 3:15 (“enemies your footstool”; Ps. 110:1).⁹ And it’s also a priestly psalm (“You’re a priest without end”; Ps. 110:4).¹⁰ The upshot is that via the reinthronement of the home of David and a brand new sacrifice, Israel comes out of exile.

Lastly, on the completion of this return from exile, creation itself breaks out in worship of God. The 5 psalms that conclude the Psalter, Psalms 146–150, rejoice a renewed earth singing reward to God within the language of return from exile and a brand new exodus. In Psalm 146:8, the “blind” see. In Psalm 147:2, the Lord “gathers the outcasts.” In Psalm 148:3–11, solar, moon, stars, creatures, mountains, timber, and “creeping issues” reward the Lord, as do the “kings of the earth.” In Psalm 149:1, a “new music” echoes Moses’s music after the parting of the Pink Sea (Ex. 15:1–2). And in Psalm 150:1, laud is given to God particularly “in his sanctuary . . . in his mighty heavens.” The top is that “every thing that has breath reward[s] the Lord” (Ps. 150:6). That time period “breath” comes proper out of Genesis 2:7. Thus, on the finish of the exile, the needs of Eden are achieved!

As an entire, the Psalter tells the story from Adam to Solomon and the temple, down into exile, and at last trying ahead to a brand new creation (identical to the prophets) and, due to this fact, the restoration of all humanity. The door again into to our true Edenic house is opened via the good end-times sacrifice of the approaching Davidic priest-king.

This text is customized from Return from Exile and the Renewal of God’s Individuals by Nicholas G. Piotrowski.

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