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Jimmy Powell
Mrs. Hope
World Literature and Writers Workshop
9 November 2015
Analysis of Author's Craft Psalm 22
The Psalms, written over an extended period of time estimated between between 1060
BC and 586 BC, play a critical role in the beliefs of Judaism as well as Christianity. The Psalms
cover a large span of topics including God and His creations, worship, wisdom, sin and evil,
judgment, and the coming of the Messiah. The Psalms had multiple authors but the most
prominent is King David, who wrote about half of the psalms. The Psalms help followers of the
faith to carry out their lives properly and understand Gods intentions. Within the International
Standard version of Psalm 22 the authors use of parallelism and abstract imagery helps to
convey the theme that by following God and his rules ones prayers will be answered.
Parallelism is utilized throughout the text to portray the theme. One example is when the
text states, Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried out to
you and escaped; they trusted in you and were not put to shame (22:4-5). This demonstrates that
initially the author feels as if God is betraying him. Just like those who have come before him the
author has prayed and abided by Gods rules yet he is still going through a difficult time in his
life. The author used the structure of parallelism to emphasize the cause and effect. Since they
trusted in God, God delivered. Since they trusted in God, they were not put to shame. The author
wonders why. Why were they looked after but not him, when he too trusted in God. However,
later on in the text the authors prayers would be answered, again displayed through the form of
parallelism, All who fear the LORD, praise him! All the seed of Jacob, glorify him! All the seed

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of Israel, fear him! (22:23). The author now realizes that God was always listening, and that
following his beliefs has paid off. He then goes on to declare that everyone who believes in God
should praise and glorify him and know everything will be all right. Parallelism was used to
convey Gods greatness, and how God is the only one that people should worship, and if we do,
he will answer our prayers and lead his followers to everlasting life.
In addition to parallelism, abstract imagery helps to emphasize the theme that when
following Gods rules ones prayers will be answered. For instance the text states, Many bulls
have surrounded me; the vicious bulls of Bashan have encircled me. Their mouths are opened
wide toward me, like roaring and attacking lions (22:12-13). The author finds himself in a
difficult scenario where he is in much danger. The author uses abstract imagery to compare the
violent people in the town of Bashan to a herd of bulls ready to charge at him. During this time
the author sends out prayers to God hoping they will be heard. After God answers the author he
begins to glorify God proclaiming, All the prosperous people will eat and bow down in
submission (22:29). This example depicts how no matter how successful you are on Earth God
is still the most powerful being and that to be prosperous after life you must follow Gods law.
The author uses this imagery to show how although someone may have power on Earth there is
always someone higher that they must bow down to.
In conclusion, the theme in the Psalms that prayers will answered when following God
and his rules is reflected in the use of parallelism and and abstract imagery. Since the Psalms
were initially created to be hymns the parallelism, in addition to creating emphasis of the theme,
allows for the writing to be sung with more fluency and ease. The abstract imagery found in the
Psalms also reinforces the theme as well as allowing the writing to be still relevant today, as the

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imagery can be interpreted many ways. The Psalms with their beautiful use of parallelism and
abstract imagery allow for followers of faith to live their lives according to Gods rule.