The Tanakh Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Psalm 108 is a fusion of segments from Psalm 57 and 60!

What do we make of old texts being "recycled" to make new mizmorim?

Four situations necessitate thanksgiving to God.

This is a chapter that speaks of God's responsiveness to human distress, and the human thanks of God's salvation.

The heading - "Let the redeemed of God" - indicates that this distress, salvation and thanks are happening under the rubric of Redemption.

This is a chapter that we recite on the night of Yom Haatzmaut.

The nations all burst into song when they appreciate God's salvation of the Jewish People

Is humankind insignificant and lowly, or just a little lower than God?

What does a person do when they are falsely accused, pursued for no fault of their own?

This chapter is the text that we use for Tachanun, in the rabbinic phraseology, "Nefilat Apayim - falling on one's face."

As we shall see, this chapter tells a tale of intense dejection and sudden salvation.

Tehillim have fascinating and complex headings known as superscriptions.

But what do they mean? Do they denote authorship, musical notation or historical context?

What does a person do when they are falsely accused?

How do they cope with the emotional fallout?

Our chapter divides into two sections (with two inclusios)

v.1-4 prayer against those who defame

v.5-9 - sleeping soundly due to trust in God

David is pursued into exile by his son in a mutiny, and he cries out to God.

This psalm reassures the person in distress: "I lie down, and I sleep; I awake, for God supports me." Due to this verse, this chapter is included in the prayers before a person goes to sleep at night.

This "royalty psalm" underscores the intimate relationship between God and the king.