The Themes of Exile and Return Are Seen Throughout 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 supply 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 ebook function thematic “seams” that sew the in any other case numerous psalms collectively.³ Thus a discernable sample emerges that matches the narratological circulate of the whole Outdated Testomony, emphasizing exile and hope for return.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 revolt of the nations towards God (Ps. 2). David’s ascension is a troublesome one, nevertheless. He’s a struggling king, usually on the verge of dying (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 ebook 1. Psalm 41 concludes with these traces:

By this I do know that you just enjoyment of me:
     my enemy won’t shout in conquer me.
However you’ve got upheld me due to my integrity,
     and set me in your presence eternally.
Blessed be the LORD. (Ps. 41:11–13)

The conquer the “enemy” and the enjoyment of the Lord’s “presence eternally” reveals David’s function in bringing Genesis 3:15 to completion and reopening the door to Eden.

But Psalm 42, the primary psalm of ebook 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 ebook 1 and first psalm of ebook 2 convey collectively the tip objective 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 larger by the tip of ebook 2. Psalm 72 is the head of the Psalter the way in which 1 Kings 8–10 is the head of the historic books of the Outdated Testomony, capturing the total 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 (significantly gold) and obeisance are introduced by the nations (Ps. 72:10–11, 15; allusion to Gen. 49:10). The outcome, due to this fact, is that “the entire earth [is] stuffed with [the Lord’s] glory” (Ps. 72:19). Briefly, what David noticed from afar on the finish of ebook 1, his son Solomon realizes in a climactic method on the finish of ebook 2.

But identical to 1 Kings 11, ebook 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 almost slipped” (Ps. 73:1–2). It will seem that this psalm doesn’t pertain on to exile, however its placement on the head of ebook 3, proper after the triumphant near ebook 2, reminds us of Moses’s warnings in regards to the coronary heart, particularly how Solomon’s coronary heart is described in 1 Kings 11. And certainly, ebook 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 eternally?” (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 ebook 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 by way of the good end-times sacrifice of the approaching Davidic priest-king.

E book 4 is then the ebook 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, ebook 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), comprises 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 due to your holy title
     and glory in your reward. (Ps. 106:47)

That’s the place ebook 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 truth, all humanity) are within the mud of dying.

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

The Poetic Return from Exile

The Psalter has the identical wonderful imaginative and prescient. Once we left off with the Psalms, we heard Israel’s plea on the finish of ebook 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 due to the Lord, for he’s good,
     for his steadfast love endures eternally!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
     whom he has redeemed from hassle
and gathered in from the lands
     from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

Thus, ebook 5 is the ebook of return from exile. And whereas psalms attributed to David decreased over books 3 and 4, his psalms are again in power in ebook 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 ebook 3 (Ps. 89:39), David is now literarily again from the grave.

A very powerful 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 additionally it is a priestly psalm (“You’re a priest eternally”; Ps. 110:4).¹⁰ The upshot is that by way of 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, have a good time 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, bushes, 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 tip is that “the whole lot 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 by way of 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 People by Nicholas G. Piotrowski.

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