CHILDREN in the BIBLE
© Original material and text. 2019.

Section Seven

Psalms

Here are three Psalms that have parts in them that talk about God at work in the earliest stages of life. Psalm 22 One of David’s Psalms, he relays his current experience of feeling far from God and yet trusting that God is in control. As part of this he declares that God has ‘brought me out the womb’. He then says that God has been his God right from birth and that God made David trust him from birth as well. Psalm 51 Another one of David’s Psalms. This one is specifically about David asking God for forgiveness after his adultery with Bathsheba is condemned by Nathan. When reflecting on his sin, David says that God ‘desired faithfulness even in the womb’ and that he was taught wisdom there. Psalm 71 The psalmist describes how they have had confidence in God since their youth, and they have relied on God since their birth.

The Psalms

The passages mentioned can be found at: 1. Psalm 22 verses 9 and 10 2. Psalm 51 verse 6 3. Psalm 71 verses 5 and 6

Chiasm

Psalm 51 uses a literary technique found commonly in the Bible called a chiasm. A chiasm is a tool that is used to emphasise points by repeating ideas around a central point. Psalm 51 verses 5 to 7 is one example. In this case, verse 6 acts as the central point, where David talks of faithfulness in the womb and about being taught wisdom in the womb. There are also parallels between verses 3-4 and verses 8-9, meaning that verses 3 to 9 could be taken as one block.
CHILDREN in the Bible
© 2019

Section Seven

Psalms

Here are three Psalms that have parts in them that talk about God at work in the earliest stages of life. Psalm 22 One of David’s Psalms, he relays his current experience of feeling far from God and yet trusting that God is in control. As part of this he declares that God has ‘brought me out the womb’. He then says that God has been his God right from birth and that God made David trust him from birth as well. Psalm 51 Another one of David’s Psalms. This one is specifically about David asking God for forgiveness after his adultery with Bathsheba is condemned by Nathan. When reflecting on his sin, David says that God ‘desired faithfulness even in the womb’ and that he was taught wisdom there. Psalm 71 The psalmist describes how they have had confidence in God since their youth, and they have relied on God since their birth.

The Psalms

The passages mentioned can be found at: 1. Psalm 22 verses 9 and 10 2. Psalm 51 verse 6 3. Psalm 71 verses 5 and 6

Chiasm

Psalm 51 uses a literary technique found commonly in the Bible called a chiasm. A chiasm is a tool that is used to emphasise points by repeating ideas around a central point. Psalm 51 verses 5 to 7 is one example. In this case, verse 6 acts as the central point, where David talks of faithfulness in the womb and about being taught wisdom in the womb. There are also parallels between verses 3-4 and verses 8-9, meaning that verses 3 to 9 could be taken as one block.