Theological Themes of Psalms. Robert D. Bell

the context to suggest that God is speaking directly. (1) In the second psalm the concluding verses (vv. 10–12) appear to come from the psalmist, but what man has the authority to proclaim this threat and blessing? It makes more sense to say that although the

      Table 1.1 Direct Quotations of God in Psalms (29 Cases)

Psalm	Verses	Words	Introductory Words: Hebrew English (literal)
2:6	1	7	אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר	Then He will speak (v. 5)
2:7b–9	2.5	19	אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י	He said to me
12:5	.8	10	יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה	Yahweh says
27:8b	.2	2	[none]
32:8–9	2	21	[none]
46:10	1	9	[none]
50:5	1	7	יִקְרָ֣א	He shall call (v. 4)
50:7–15	9	63	[none]
50:16b–23	7.7	62	וְלָ֤רָשָׁ֨ע׀ אָ֘מַ֤ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים	And to the wicked God said
60:6b–8	2.7	25	אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ דִּבֶּ֥ר	God has spoken
68:22b–23	1.7	13	אָמַ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי	The Lord said
75:2–5	4	28	[none]
75:10	1	7	[none]
81:6–16	11	82	עֵ֤דוּת	a testimony (v. 5)
82:2–7	6	42	[none]
87:4	1	12	[none]
87:7b	.6	3	[none]
89:3–4	2	14	[none]
89:19b–37	18.6	121	אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן	Then You spoke in a vision
90:3b	.4	3	וַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶר	And You said
91:14–16	3	20	[none]
95:8–11	4	34	[none]
105:11	.9	7	לֵאמֹ֗ר	saying
105:15	1	6	[none]
108:7b–9	2.7	25	אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ דִּבֶּ֥ר	God spoke
110:1b	.8	8	נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה	the declaration of Yahweh
110:4b	.6	7	נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָ֨ה	Yahweh has sworn
132:11b–12	1.4	19	נִשְׁבַּֽע־יְהוָ֨ה	Yahweh has sworn
132:14–18	5	33	[none]
totals:	93.6	709	15	15

      psalmist writes the words the Holy Spirit speaks directly here.⁴⁰ (2) The words of 14:4 most likely are a quote from the One who looked down to inspect mankind (v. 2).⁴¹ (3) In Psalm 21 David begins by addressing and praising Yahweh (vv. 1–6); then he states a fact about his faith (v. 7). Another shift occurs in the following verses: we have what appears to be a divine oracle delivered to David (vv. 8–12).⁴² The last verse of the psalm shifts back to addressing the Lord (v. 13). (4) Some commentators have recognized 27:14 as a divine oracle that gives the Holy Spirit’s response to David’s prayer.⁴³ (5) The first five verses of Psalm 101 present David’s resolve to live righteously, but the remaining verses (5–8) of the psalm seem to go beyond what David himself could ever do: knowing about secrets and proud attitudes (v. 5), watching over all the faithful (v. 6), and quickly destroying the wicked (v. 8). Is this a psalm that moves from David to the divine Messiah and His knowledge and actions? On the other hand this may be a case of an oracle from Yahweh after David made his pledge.⁴⁴

      Table 1.2 Possible Additional Direct Divine Quotations

Psalm	Verses	Words	Hint
2:10–12	3	26	addressing kings (Who can do this?)
14:4	1	12	“My people” (Who can say this?)
21:8–12	5