Fusion Psalms: Psalm 111 and 112
koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)
Kyungpook National University
Sangju Campus
South Korea
Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College
Australia
10 November 2009
Psalms 111 and 112 belongs to the genre that they are both written with the alphabet of Hebrew in mind. The composer of the Psalms probably used this technic as a didactic device [educational purposes] since it is easier to remember something that is written in chronological order with a string that is already well remembered and understood.
A fusion psalm is where two psalms are written not separate and isolated from each other but where the two alephs are linked dealing with the same or similar context. What actually happens here, is that we took scissors and cut and paste each letter of the Hebrew alphabet that appeared in the beginning of the sentence of Psalm 111 and paste it to the corresponding aleph letter in Psalm 112. They are then read related. A new interactive, reciprocative relationship then existed in which a new context emerge after the fusion. We wonder if this was the original intend of the composer of Psalm 111 and 112?
What gave us the key for this concept of fusion psalm, is the appearance of similar phrases in Psalm 111 and 112. In fact, sometimes exactly and sometimes, near exact.
What now happens in the new context attached after cut and paste, is that the fusion context leads to the conclusion different than what commentators may have concluded in the past of the meaning of these phrases. What now emerge, is that the Lord is the Righteous One, Christ is the Righteous One, and what is happening to the Remnant in one side is sometimes given an dark rendering to the wicked in the other side.
111:1 Praise the Lord (hallelu-yah)
112:1 Praise the Lord (hallelu-yah)
111:aleph I will extol the Lord in all my heart
112:aleph Blessed is the man who fears the Lord
111:beth In the council of the upright and in the assembly
112:beth In his commands finds great delight
111:2gimel Great are the works of the Lord
112:2gimel Mighty shall be His Seed [singular thus Messianic] in the land
111:daleth Seekers unto all who [find] them delight
112:daleth The generation of the upright will be blessed
111:3he Splendid and majestic is His work
112:3he Wealth and riches is in His house
111:waw and His righteousness stands forever
112:waw and His righteousness stands forever
111:4zayin He caused to remember work unto His wonders
112:4zayin Light sprout in darkness for the upright ones
111:heth Gracious and compassionate is the Lord
112:heth Gracious and compassionate and the Rigtheous [Saddiq]
111:5thet Food He has given unto those who fear Him
112:5thet Good is the man who is gracious and lends
111:yod He shall remember unto eternity His covenant
112:yod He will maintain His word/cause in the Judgement
111:6kaph So His works He has revealed unto His people
112:6kaph For unto eternity will He not be tired [see Psalm 121:3]
111:lamed In order to give [telic infinitive] them the heritage of [the] nations
112:lamed In order to remember, [telic infinitive] forever He shall be the Righteous
111:7mem The works of His hands are truth and judgement
112:7mem From evil tidings, He will not fear
111:nun Certain are all His precepts
112:nun Steadfast [is] His heart trusting in the Lord
111:8samek Upheld ones unto [unto + unto + unto (three prepositions concocted together)] eternity forever
112:8samek His heart is upheld, He shall not fear
111:ayin Doers in truth and uprightness
112:ayin Unto [eschatological term also used in Daniel
111:9pe Redemption He sends to His people
112:9pe Freely He has given to the poor
111:zade Ordained unto eternity His covenant
112:zade His rigtheousness stands unto eternity
111:qof Holy and bright [eschatological term referring to the Second Coming, see Maleachi
112:qof His horn [Warrior God in eschatological battle, see Little Horn or Antichrist of Daniel
111:10resh The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord
112:10resh The wicked will see it and be vexed
111:shin Good consideration unto all their doings
112:shin His teeth he will gnash and melt [final destruction is by fire or hell, see Revelation]
111:tau His praise stands forever
112:tau The desire of the wicked shall perish
End item