Contextual Considerations for Interpretation

Interpretation does not happen in a vacuum.  Every action, every statement, every occurrence is interpreted behind filters.  These filters are cultural, familial, relational, economic, linguistic, and a slew of others that affect how we receive and comprehend the world around us.  For instance, think about when someone says, "Could you turn off the lights, please?"  We interpret that message and decipher its content through a litany of lenses that help us to make sense of what is actually being communicated.

Whether it is listening to the fall breeze blow outside your window, watching a television commercial, or discussing the plans for the weekend's events with a friend, interpretation is essential to life as a human.  In many cases, how accurately we can interpret any specific message or phenomena is dependent on how well we can be aware of the interpretive lenses we are using to interpret.

This is especially important when talking about the Bible.  The Bible is an ancient anthology of ancient literary pieces.  The various books of the Bible each were written at a specific time in a specific historical context with its own set of rules and its own way of writing that is firmly grounded within its own era and context.  However, we, as interpreters, inevitably live in a wholly different, modern context.  This means that the first step of biblical interpretation involves an intentional process of learning both about our context as well as the distinct context of the book under examination.

While this may sound abstract or conceptual in nature, the point is incredibly practical.  Our goal as interpreters of Scripture has been, is, and will always be to get the most accurate interpretations of Scripture that we possible can.  And one of the essential tasks to accomplish this is for us to look beyond our contextual lenses so that we can engage Scripture on its terms instead of trying to make Scripture contract to our terms.  Let us then take time when interpreting to understand where we are coming from so that we can understand where the Bible is coming from as accurately as possible.

Praise & Psalm 145

The Psalms are one of the ever-present soul-salves of Scripture.  Truly, in any state can one come to them for nourishment and edification, as well as exhortation and challenge.  It is the longest book of the Bible, at 150 chapters, and is a full-service anthology of prayers, songs, hymns, prophecies, laments, and liturgies, useful for nearly every possible occasion.

Among the many different types of psalms, the theme of praise rings clearly throughout.  In fact, many of the psalms either begin with or end with an expression of praise or the like.  And while it is difficult to point out single psalms to define a whole worship ideal of praise, chapter 145 offers a beautiful teaching on the nature of praise.  Disclaimer: the purpose of this discussion is to encourage an interpretive focus when dealing with the Psalter as well as to foster a love for the wealth within.  Psalm 145 will be interpreted verse-by-verse to accomplish this task and to point out the awesome profundity of the psalms.

For starters, believers praise the Lord for His name (145:2) and for His greatness (v. 3).  This is the starting point of praise, the lens by which praise is filtered through.  Once praise is asserted as an attitude of worshiping God for who He is, it is then to be taught and trained to each generation so that they will praise His glory, goodness, and righteousness (vv. 4-7).

The psalmist then praises the Lord for His grace, His mercy, His patience, and His love (vv. 8-9).  The psalmist decrees that all creation shall give thanks to God, a mandate of praise so that each generation will know of the glory of God and His everlasting Kingdom (vv. 10-13).  Again, the reason for such ardent and steadfast praise is because the Lord is faithful (v. 14), and He provides for all in need, even upon request (vv. 15-16, 19).

This psalm closes in continuity of the previous praises: God is righteous and kind (v. 17), He is near to all those who call on Him to provide and fulfill the desires of those who fear Him  (vv. 18-19), and He  preserves those who love Him but destroys the wicked for their wickedness (v. 20).  For the epilogue, the psalmist writes plainly, "My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever (v. 21)."

To be sure, this has been a purposefully brief interpretation of this psalm.  However, consider that in twenty-one verses, this psalm has covered so much of God's character: kindness, faithfulness, steadfast love, justice, awesomeness, majesty, mercy, providence, provision, goodness, greatness, righteousness, preserver, gracious, gloriousness, and His power.  Additionally, this psalm speaks to the mandate for believers to proclaim God's glory and His name throughout creation, particularly to the next generations.

Twenty-one short verses and yet so much theological weight and wonderful worth.  As believers who desire to know who God is, a practice of getting into the psalms is a great way to encourage that relationship with the Holy Lord.  A daily habit of taking one psalm and taking it apart, as shown above,  can be supremely beneficial for engaging with God's Word and, thus, with God.  One psalm is a reasonable amount of land to mine for the precious theological gold to be found within.  Praise be to God that He would reveal Himself to mankind through His immutable and lasting Word!