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By William Van Zyl (Published on 1 June, 2024)
Have you ever considered how a shepherd could write some of the most significant words we know? This shepherd lived around 1040–970 BC. How was he educated? Was he homeschooled? Did he perhaps read through the ancient Jewish scrolls (the first five books of the Holy Writ) while tending the sheep? His writing skills are amazing. I identify his writing techniques, list them, and provide some examples. Finally, I include one of my own written ‘Psalms.’ My first attempt to write spiritual poetry – don’t miss it. Then I ask AI to rewrite my psalm – a very interesting result. Read it for yourself. Let me share with you what I have discovered.
Here, David is a young shepherd making notes. He is writing a psalm about his enemies, who are relentlessly pursuing him. AI-generated (Midjourney – May 2024).
Imagine a shepherd sitting under a tree looking after sheep, reading an ancient scroll. After a while, he puts the scroll down and removes his musical instrument from his knapsack. He starts playing his harp. He then stops and makes notes in a small notebook made from a papyrus roll. He sits still, meditating; his lips are moving:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
As a young boy, were David’s parents teaching him the scriptures? Did he read the scriptures while shepherding the sheep in the field? Remember, good writers read.
Did the reading, praying, meditating, and songwriting flow because of his annointing? The answer is yes! God became his best friend as he read the scriptures, prayed, and opened his heart, laying his soul bare on paper.
David with Goliath’s head in his hand. See the stone embedded in Goliath’s forehead. A sketch from the old Holy Bible (Reverend Matthew Henry’s Commentary. Written between 1704 and 1714. It took Henry 10 years to write this commentary).
I have this commentary in my home. The book is huge and ancient, but all the pages are in tact. IMAGE: The first page of the old Holy Bible (Reverend Matthew Henry’s Commentary). Completed in 1714.
Table of Contents
Let us look at some research results.
Here is a detailed list to compare and contrast the top keywords used in Moses’s direct words in the Torah and the Psalms attributed to King David. Let’s start with Moses’s direct words in the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and then compare these to the words used in the Psalms attributed to King David.
Moses’s Most Used Words in the Torah (KJV)
Here are the top keywords used in Moses’s direct words:
- Lord – approximately 400 times
- God – approximately 200 times
- Command/Commandment(s) – approximately 100 times
- People – approximately 80 times
- Land – approximately 70 times
- Israel – approximately 60 times
- Thou – approximately 300 times
- Shall – approximately 350 times
- Children – approximately 50 times
- Law – approximately 50 times
King David’s Most Used Words in the Psalms (KJV)
Here are the top keywords used in the Psalms attributed to King David:
- Lord – approximately 270 times
- God – approximately 120 times
- Enemies/Enemy – approximately 75 times
- Heart – approximately 70 times
- Righteous/Righteousness – approximately 50 times
- Save/Salvation – approximately 40 times
- Mercy – approximately 45 times
- Wicked/Wickedness – approximately 30 times
- Trust – approximately 30 times
- Praise – approximately 25 times
Comparison and Contrast
Similarities:
- Lord and God: Both sets of texts frequently reference the “Lord” and “God,” highlighting the centrality of the divine in both Moses’s teachings and David’s psalms.
- People/Israel: Both emphasise the Israelites’ collective identity. Moses speaks to and about the people of Israel, while David frequently mentions the nation in his prayers and praises.
Differences:
- Command/Commandment(s), Law, Thou, Shall: These keywords are prominent in Moses’s words but absent in David’s Psalms. Moses’s focus is on conveying divine commandments and laws to the people.
- Enemies/Enemy, Heart, Save/Salvation, Mercy, Wicked/Wickedness, Trust, Praise: These keywords are more prominent in David’s psalms, reflecting personal pleas, emotional states, and praises. David’s writings are more personal and reflective, whereas Moses’s words are instructional and legislative.
- Context: Moses’s words often deal with laws, commandments, and instructions for the Israelites, whereas David’s psalms deal with worship, personal struggles, and praises to God.
In summary, Moses’ words contrasted with King David’s.
Moses’s direct words in the Torah emphasise divine laws, commandments, and guidance for the Israelites, focusing on collective instructions and obedience.
In contrast, David’s psalms are more personal and emotional, focusing on individual relationships with God, personal struggles, and expressions of worship and praise. This reflects their different roles: Moses as a leader and lawgiver and David as a king and psalmist.
Let’s Look at David’s Literary Techniques
- Parallelism:
- One of the most prominent features of David’s psalms is parallelism, where two or more lines reflect similar or contrasting ideas. This technique enhances the rhythm and reinforces the message.
- Example: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2).
- Imagery:
- David uses vivid imagery to convey his thoughts and emotions. He often draws from nature and everyday life to create relatable and impactful images.
- Example: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3).
- Metaphor and Simile:
- Metaphors and similes are frequently employed to draw comparisons illuminating God’s attributes and actions.
- Example: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2).
- Repetition:
- Repetition emphasises and creates a musical quality. Repeated phrases or ideas help reinforce key themes.
- Example: “His mercy endureth forever” is a recurring refrain in Psalm 136.
- Chiasmus:
The Concept of Chiasmus: Chiasmus is defined as a literary device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order. It comes from a Greek word meaning “crossing” or “X-shaped.” In practice, chiasmus is when you write a clause and then write a similar clause in reverse. Example: “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath”
- This literary device involves a reversal of structures to highlight particular points.
- Example: “O Lord, forgive me; blot out my transgressions / According to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (Psalm 51:1).
Themes
- Praise and Worship:
- Many of David’s psalms are songs of praise, extolling God’s greatness, mercy, and love.
- Example: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1).
- Lament and Supplication:
- David often expresses sorrow and pleads for God’s intervention in times of distress.
- Example: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).
- Thanksgiving:
- Psalms of Thanksgiving celebrate deliverance from trouble and acknowledge God’s blessings.
- Example: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 9:1).
- Confession and Repentance:
- David’s psalms include heartfelt confessions of sin and pleas for forgiveness.
- Example: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
- Trust and Confidence in God:
- Expressions of trust in God’s protection and provision are common.
- Example: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Emotional and Spiritual Depth
- Emotional Range:
- David’s psalms encompass many emotions, from joy and exaltation to despair and contrition. This emotional depth makes his psalms relatable and powerful.
- Personal Relationship with God:
- His writings often reflect an intimate and personal relationship with God, characterised by honest dialogue and profound trust.
Musicality
- Rhythm and Cadence:
- The structure of the psalms often includes rhythmic and repetitive elements that lend themselves to musical settings.
- Lyricism:
- The lyrical quality of David’s psalms has made them enduring components of worship traditions across millennia.
King David’s writing style in the Psalms is marked by its poetic brilliance, emotional depth, and spiritual fervour. His use of parallelism, imagery, metaphor, and other literary techniques, combined with his thematic focus on praise, lament, thanksgiving, and trust in God, creates a powerful and enduring legacy in Biblical literature.
My first attempt to write a Psalm:
PSALM 1 (a): ‘Bless God and His Wonderous Works.’
A Psalm of William.
On 11 August 2023, I closed my eyes and asked God to help me write my first Psalm. I talked to my computer. Voice to text, I wrote my intimate words on my computer screen. I share my original words with you.
*A Psalm – considering our skin, the skin of animals – their covering – and the hairs of animals, and the covering of plants. Written to proclaim the might of Jehovah.
- Your wind and your billows have gone over me. My skin and the hairs on my skin have sensed Your creation. When I consider the works of Your hands, how You have created the skins of animals, the covering of plants, and the hairs and follicles that sense movement, I glorify Your Name. You are Almighty.
- I have considered the skin of the crocodile. How wonderful You have made its skin. For hundreds of meters, it can sense everything in the water. Every movement, every scent, yes, everything that happens in the water, the crocodile senses. How wonderful are Your works?
- I also considered the skin of a horse and how you’ve created the muscles that respond as flies and insects touch the skin. Involuntary the horse’s muscles shake-shake – and vibrate – to vamoose away unwanted flies and unwanted visitors.
- As we investigate through science—your excellent work—we stand in awe of your design. Your intelligent design of the earth and the heavens leaves us with admiration and adoration. Bless your Name because you are Mighty.
- When I consider how I can determine and predict what touches my skin – as air and wind flows over me, and objects touches my skin – You have given me the ability to sense movement, shape, form, and pattern. I know that You are a Force that has to be respected.
- So today, I bring Glory and Honour to your Holy Name. I understand that you have designed and created the heavens and the earth. You have completed all the delicate details, the intricate components, the physiology of it all, the biological wonder, the molecular structures, the programmed DNA, the nerve channels, and all the related parts of our bodies, including the intricacies of the animals and the plants. Every living thing can sense your greatness. Receive our admiration – our veneration. Your Name is great throughout the earth.
- When we think of the goodness of God, we know that you have taken responsibility for your creation. You open Your right hand and You feed and sustain all living matter. When You open Your right hand – and your left hand – you balance every system in the universe. You provide an equilibrium in every ecosystem, including us – Your people.
- We pray that You may provide us with Your Equilibrium. Balance our body, soul and spirit so that we may be in harmony with Your Mighty Hand and your Mighty Deeds.
- Bless the Lord at all times. My soul gives honour to You, Yahweh.
- So today, we ask for your balance in our lives. We ask for the ultimate equilibrium – to be at peace with You. To receive your Word, Your messages and promises through Your Holy Spirit. Touch our hearts.
- When we think of our soul and our spiritual man, we know that You have created everything. As science searches out Your majesty – your hidden design secrets – we tremble in awe of your might.
- You are great; many of your works are unsearchable. We know that there is no council against God. We bless your Name. So, we commit and submit ourselves to You. You are the conductor of the cosmos. You have created every living thing. You have intricately worked out everything so that we may know that you are God.
- Blessing and honour to You, the Mighty Creator.
Sela (stop and calmly think about that).
Let’s ask ChatGPT to rewrite my psalm:
Psalm 1 (b) ‘Bless God and His Wonderous Works.’
A Psalm of William
A Psalm of Reverence for Jehovah’s Handiwork – Celebrating the Tapestries of Skin, Fur, and Foliage
- In the dance of wind and wave, I feel Your touch, O Jehovah. My skin, an intricate tapestry, tingles with the wonders of Your creation. As I contemplate the artistry of Your Hands, I am struck by the intricate skins of creatures, the veils of leaves, and the sentient tendrils that sway to life’s rhythm.
- I magnify Your name with exultation, for You are the omnipotent craftsman.
- Behold the crocodile, arrayed in a skin that defies description. Its scales, a testament to Your craftsmanship, span uncharted waters. For endless spans, it tastes the narratives of the aquatic realm – every nuance, every whisper, every tale woven in water. Your creations are wonders beyond measure.
- And consider, too, the horse’s hide – a canvas of muscle and responsiveness. With every brush of winged interlopers, its sinews shiver and shake, an involuntary dance that bids pests farewell.
- Such ingenuity bespeaks Your masterful touch.
- As we delve into the laboratories of knowledge, unlocking Your marvels, we stand agog at the intricacies of Your design. Earth and sky, fashioned with brilliance, evoke our wonder. Blessed be Your name, O mighty One.
- When I reflect upon the marvel of my senses, how I discern the caress of the breeze, the brush of zephyr, and the imprint of matter upon my skin, I realize You as an unyielding Power demanding reverence.
- Henceforth, my tribute ascends, a symphony of reverence for Your sanctified name. The universe’s blueprints, the choreography of life, all speak of Your intent. DNA scripts, nerve pathways, the poetry of anatomy – all bear Your mark, and all creatures great and small echo Your grandeur. They venerate Your magnificence; let my voice join their chorus.
- We recognise Your watchful hand in contemplating the benevolence woven into Your creation. In Your right palm, sustenance flourishes; in both hands, equilibrium resides, a cosmic ballet orchestrated by You. Ecosystems and galaxies harmonise in Your embrace, and we, Your people, seek that cosmic equilibrium.
- Grant us balance – spirit, body, soul – that we may be in concord with Your cosmic rhythm. Blessed be Yahweh eternally.
- Today, we beseech Your equilibrium, yearning for tranquil unity with Your sacred essence. Let our souls mirror the harmony of Your symphony. In the whisper of Your Holy Spirit, may we find solace and illumination.
- In contemplating the soul’s vast expanse, we glimpse Your artistry. Science, a humble seeker, unveils glimpses of Your hidden design, and in that revelation, we tremble before Your Majesty.
- You are immense, Your creations inscrutable. No counsel rivals Your sovereignty. We sing praises to Your name, pledging our devotion to You. The conductor of the cosmos, You sculpted life’s every form, orchestrating intricacies that announce Your divine sovereignty.
- Blessed are You, mighty Creator, recipient of our adoration.
Sela.
Now it is your turn to write a Psalm:
Have you ever endeavoured to write a psalm? Why not explore your inner self by jotting down your conversations with God? Analysing the themes you are writing about will reveal a lot about you. It will also show what is in your heart.
See the original article below – Writing a Psalm:
Link to the article: https://fivehousepublishing.com/crocodile-skin-reads-braille-in-the-dark/
Copyright © 2024 by William Van Zyl
How to Write Like a King.
All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion
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without the publisher’s permission, except for using brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, June 2024
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/
More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
