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 8:14] which He will see on His enemies

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 3:23] is His name

112:qof His horn [Warrior God in eschatological battle, see Little Horn or Antichrist of Daniel 7:24-25] shall be exalted in glory

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