From Lament to Praise (Pss. 3-9)
April 30, 2008 by Richard
I often try to find a narrative running through the Psalms. One thing I would point out concerning Pss. 8 & 9 is that they comes on the heels of five laments (Pss. 3-7). Look at Ps. 7 a little closer:
It begins with David crying out
“O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.”
It ends with David declaring:
“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”
Now what is this praise? What is this song? Well now look at how Ps. 8 begins:
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
I would argue that Psalm 8 is the praise of Psalm 7. Indeed, now turn to Psalm 9 which begins:
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”
So we have had 5 laments (Pss. 3-7) followed by two hymns of praise (Pss. 8 and 9).
