How Would You Draw Psalm 16?
We know how a 9th century artist would answer that question.
You may have never heard of the Utrecht Psalter. I had not until about 9:30 last night, then I spent nearly an hour down that rabbit trail. Let me take you down it as well.
The Utrecht Psalter was commissioned by the archbishop of Reims, Ebbo, around AD 820-835. It includes 166 illustrations of the 150 psalms. The style was the foundation of Anglo-Saxon art for the rest of the Middle Ages. This illustrated psalter was truly one of the most influential pieces of art for centuries in the West. Needless to say, it is worthy of us taking a brief look at it's drawing of Psalm 16. We will look at the illustrations in order of the text of Psalm 16.
You may have never heard of the Utrecht Psalter. I had not until about 9:30 last night, then I spent nearly an hour down that rabbit trail. Let me take you down it as well.
The Utrecht Psalter was commissioned by the archbishop of Reims, Ebbo, around AD 820-835. It includes 166 illustrations of the 150 psalms. The style was the foundation of Anglo-Saxon art for the rest of the Middle Ages. This illustrated psalter was truly one of the most influential pieces of art for centuries in the West. Needless to say, it is worthy of us taking a brief look at it's drawing of Psalm 16. We will look at the illustrations in order of the text of Psalm 16.
The depiction of the first part of the psalm shows the saints of the land being protected by Christ. I cannot determine, nor have I found other interpretters say, if Christ is protecting the saints from the angels or if the angels are aiding in the protecting. I would lean toward Christ and his angels protecting the saints. What a beautiful thought that we have a God who loves us and actively preserves us against all attacks.
The group of saints seem to be exchanging gifts, conversing, and laying hands on one another. This shows the family of Christ as brothers and sisters who live life together and take care of one another. I believe this illustration is to show that God also preserves his saints through other saints, too!
The group of saints seem to be exchanging gifts, conversing, and laying hands on one another. This shows the family of Christ as brothers and sisters who live life together and take care of one another. I believe this illustration is to show that God also preserves his saints through other saints, too!
Verse 4 promises "The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply..." These three characters depict a sorrow, sickness, infirmity, loss that is crippling. Those who worship a false god, whether it's an idol in the traditional sense or an idol in the modern sense, will end in despair and hopelessness. Their god cannot preserve them, and they simply have no good. Two of the characters are looking to the left toward something of seeming significance, which we will explore below.
Before we look at the climax of Psalm 16, we cannot overlook this guy. I think he is meant to be you and me. The artist wanted us to see ourselves in him. He's holding his left hand up to his mouth to not take the names of the other gods on his lips. Sometimes, you just have to put your hand over your mouth to keep yourself from saying things you don't need to!
"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup..." We know the Yahweh is not actually a cup, but the artist draws a literal cup here to juxtapose the sacrificial cup of blood that David had said he would not pour out. The Lord is an overflowing cup that provides all we need.
The rope wrapped around him and going down the hill is depicting the lines that have fallen in pleasant places. I don't want to make too much of this, though I'm tempted, so I'll just say that he is praising God for the land beneath his feet.
"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup..." We know the Yahweh is not actually a cup, but the artist draws a literal cup here to juxtapose the sacrificial cup of blood that David had said he would not pour out. The Lord is an overflowing cup that provides all we need.
The rope wrapped around him and going down the hill is depicting the lines that have fallen in pleasant places. I don't want to make too much of this, though I'm tempted, so I'll just say that he is praising God for the land beneath his feet.
This one is my favorite.
What a picture. What a savior.
He will NOT abandon me to Sheol! He will pull me out by his nail-scarred hands!
There is debate over who Jesus is standing on: death, Satan, Hades? I like to think it personifies all three. I like to think that the reason the artist chose to expose the buttocks of this conquered foe is in direct reversal of Jesus' naked and shameful crucifixion. Death, Hades, and Satan has been and will be exposed and shamed for the frauds they are.
Most interpretters understand the two being pulled out of the pit as Adam and Eve. This would add complexity to the fact that Satan is under Jesus' feet here. We have not only Psalm 16:10 illustrated here then; we also have Genesis 3:15. What adoration and worship Adam and Eve must have felt when Jesus showed up and declared that his promise had been kept!
What a picture. What a savior.
He will NOT abandon me to Sheol! He will pull me out by his nail-scarred hands!
There is debate over who Jesus is standing on: death, Satan, Hades? I like to think it personifies all three. I like to think that the reason the artist chose to expose the buttocks of this conquered foe is in direct reversal of Jesus' naked and shameful crucifixion. Death, Hades, and Satan has been and will be exposed and shamed for the frauds they are.
Most interpretters understand the two being pulled out of the pit as Adam and Eve. This would add complexity to the fact that Satan is under Jesus' feet here. We have not only Psalm 16:10 illustrated here then; we also have Genesis 3:15. What adoration and worship Adam and Eve must have felt when Jesus showed up and declared that his promise had been kept!
The last picture to discuss is this one: resurrection morning.
The first thing you might notice is that Jesus' body is still in the tomb. I'll be honest and say I'm sure why the aritst did this. Maybe the body is meant to be a part of the "sorrows of those who run after another god..." illustration. I don't know.
But it does seem intentional that the previously mentioned illustration has three characters looking over at the three women at the tomb.
It's as if they're saying, "Could it be true? Is there really hope?"
Our answer for them is a resounding "YES! In his right hand are pleasures forevermore!"
To check out the Utrecht Psalm for yourself, check out this interactive website.
The first thing you might notice is that Jesus' body is still in the tomb. I'll be honest and say I'm sure why the aritst did this. Maybe the body is meant to be a part of the "sorrows of those who run after another god..." illustration. I don't know.
But it does seem intentional that the previously mentioned illustration has three characters looking over at the three women at the tomb.
It's as if they're saying, "Could it be true? Is there really hope?"
Our answer for them is a resounding "YES! In his right hand are pleasures forevermore!"
To check out the Utrecht Psalm for yourself, check out this interactive website.
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