Psalm
Book Type
The third book of Wisdom; a nineteenth book of the Old Testament; nineteenth book of the Bible.Introduction to the Book of Psalm
The book of Psalms in modern Protestant Bibles includes 150 poetic compositions meant to be sung or spoken by God’s people. The psalms are directed at Yahweh as listener and are intended to express the full range of human emotion for various individual and group settings, such as praise, thanksgiving, petition, and lament. Psalms was Israel’s book of worship and is meant to guide God’s people from generation to generation.The Lord Jesus and the apostles loved the book of Psalms and quoted from it; beyond that, they lived out of it. These ancient prayers and praises of Israel are also God’s inspired word. The psalms provide a bridge to cross between the Old and New Testaments, and the themes addressed in the psalms find further development in the NT. Jesus connects with the dynasty of David in its mission, its disappointments, and its failures. Where David’s dynasty has failed, Jesus gives hope. His sinlessness, his identification with the suffering of the members of David’s dynasty, his perfect obedience, and his exaltation open up new perspectives on the many questions raised in the Psalter. Yet we are still living by faith; the hope of the book of Psalms, that God’s people will completely fulfill his purposes and that all nations will submit to the Messiah, still remains for the future (see 1 Cor 15:25–27).The word for psalms in Hebrew is Tehilîm, which means “praise.” The English title is derived from the Greek translation (LXX) Psalmoi, which means “Songs of Praise.” Praise directed to the Lord, the God of Israel, is certainly the primary emphasis in the Psalms. Some have referred to the Psalms as Israel’s hymnbook, which is partially true but overall is insufficient to account for all that is in the Psalms. More than one-third of the collection is made up of prayers to God. Therefore, it contains both hymns and prayers that were used in the context of Israel’s worship.Theme & Overview
The book of Psalms contains ancient Israel's favorite hymns and prayers, which were used in their worship of God, the Great King. The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 ancient Hebrew songs and prayers. As the NIV Quest Study Bible says, psalms give voice to personal feelings; they are poetry, not doctrinal essays. The psalmists frequently were interested in how something felt more than what it meant. Think of the psalms as entries in a diary; they reflect people’s most intimate encounters with God. Watch for figures of speech, exaggerations, and repetitions. Poetic language requires that you read with your heart as well as your mind. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says the various psalms help us see that God responds to us in our emotional highs and lows.The psalms provide patterns of praise, worship, and lament for God’s people from generation to generation. As communal prayers, the psalms show worshipers how to articulate joyful praise and distressed cries—serving to teach believers and provide words for them to express their feelings to Yahweh. Hymns and temple liturgies prepare Yahweh’s followers to experience the presence of the cosmic king. Laments implore Yahweh for compassion. Petitions plead with Him to intervene in the world. These motifs illustrate the character of Yahweh, who involves Himself in the messiness of human affairs and acts mightily on His people’s behalf.The psalms directly address Yahweh while conveying truths about Him. No matter what we’re experiencing, these ancient compositions provide us with powerful words, inviting us to pour out our hearts before the God of the universe.The Hebrew label for the psalms, “Praises,” may have originally reflected the idea, readily found today, that adoration and thanks to God are the primary acts of worship; but it would be better to learn from the title of the entire Psalter that the whole range of the psalms—from adoration and thanks to the needy cry for help (even the desolate moan of Psalm 88)—praises God when offered to him in the gathered worship of his people.Author
Psalms is a book consisting of works by multiple authors. David's name is connected with seventy-three of the 150 psalms. Solomon wrote Psalms 72 and 127; Moses wrote Psalm 90; the family of Asaph composed twelve psalms; the sons of Korah wrote eleven psalms; Heman wrote Psalm 88; Ethan the Ezrahite wrote Psalm 89. The remaining fifty psalms are anonymous.Recipients
Though each psalm had particular audiences at their original time of writing, the collection of the psalms was published for the benefit of all Israelites. These songs formed the musical collection of the nation, becoming of great importance during the reigns of David and Solomon when Levites often used them to lead the Jews in praise. Christians likewise find much beauty and theology in the Psalms that remain the foundation for many of the enduring songs of the church.Date
Since the book of Psalms is a collection of songs by various authors, their dates vary greatly as well. Moses wrote the oldest psalm during his forty years in the wilderness, approximately 1440—1400 BC. Many of the psalms were written during the reigns of David and Solomon in approximately the tenth century BC. The latest psalms were completed shortly after the Jewish return from Babylon in about 537 BC.Background
The English title Psalms comes from the Greek word psalmos—the name for the book in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT). The psalms were collected over a long period and written by different people. Many include a heading, with the most common being translated as “of David.” While this could indicate that David is the author of these psalms, the original Hebrew text is ambiguous; these psalms could have been written about, to, for, or in honor of David.Outside of these tributes to specific moments in Israel’s history (at the beginning of some psalms), the psalms rarely mention a specific occasion affiliated with their composition. Instead, the psalms’ language is open-ended, reflecting their intended ongoing use in the community—in worship gatherings, coronations, festivals, and as individual prayers. Many psalms mention the specific liturgies or rituals in which they were to be used, and many contain clues that indicate they were likely used at the temple or for particular processions and sacrifices. The inclusion of musical terms in some psalms suggests that many were performed with musical accompaniment and even with particular instruments.The titles and content of the psalms shows that they were an ongoing part of Israel’s history. There are many that likely date to the united monarchy under David and Solomon (10th century BC), and some of the earliest psalms could date to the time of Moses (15th or 13th century BC; see Psa 90). There are also some that date to the Babylonian exile or a little later (sixth century BC; see Psa 137).Various groupings within the Psalter indicate that there were collections of psalms in existence prior to the current form of the collection—such as the psalms of the sons of Korah (Pss 42–49; 84–85; 87–88), the prayers of David (72:20), and the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120–134). By the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls (circa 250 BC–AD 50), Psalms as a collection had become part of one scroll, but the Psalms manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls show that the precise order and extent of the collection was still in flux. Jesus refers generally to “the Psalms,” showing the authority of the collection in the first century AD (Luke 24:44).The psalms, like all Scripture, are inspired and given by God (2 Tim 3:16). And yet, each psalm originated with a human author as a prayer or praise to the Lord. The psalms are diverse, composed as the responses of God’s people to him. The psalms include laments, psalms of praise, wisdom, thanksgiving, reflections on God’s mighty acts, celebrations of God’s revelation, and worship.The book of Psalms reflects a long process of collection. For a thousand years, poets wrote these poems while people recited and collected them. The Temple liturgy encouraged both the collection and the writing of psalms. Gradually editors incorporated smaller collections into larger collections, shaping five collections into the one book of Psalms.The Purpose & Audience (Reasons for the letter)
The psalms provide windows into the souls of the ancient saints who wrote them. Their theological reflections are not easy or simple-minded, but the psalmists’ faith, when tried, is purified. The psalms model depth of character, wisdom, honesty, and authenticity. They prepare God’s people for the coming of Jesus Christ as the perfect Adam (human) and as the king, the descendant of David who has absolute integrity.The prayers in the Psalter are more than models to be imitated: They are God’s instructions for righteous living, part of his torah (“instruction”; see Pss 1, 19, 119). God teaches who he is, what he has done, and what he expects from his people. The psalms are God-centered, instructing God’s people to be like God, to receive his correction, and to discern error in themselves. Through the psalms, God encourages his people individually and as communities to worship him vibrantly. The psalms and their musical accompaniments bear witness about God to the world.The psalmists reflected on the transitory nature of life, on suffering, and on the many kinds of adversity that human beings experience. As the psalmists faced alienation and pain, they longed for God’s presence, provision, and protection (e.g., Ps 23), and for a lasting glory. Even the psalms connected with David often reveal a humble, rather than a victorious, David—a humiliated David more often than a glorious and royal David. The psalmists lived in a world full of alienation, and they longed for redemption. They experienced shame, and they trusted in the Lord to vindicate them with his glorious presence.The Psalter illustrates the failures of Israel and of David’s dynasty. The best of the godly Israelites and of the Davidic kings were unable to bring in the condition of happiness and peace that Pss 1 and 2 speak of (see also Ps 72). The psalms are God’s exhortation to each person to cultivate wisdom, to trust in him, to live by grace, and to have hope in the coming one who would bring God’s blessings to a needy world.Jesus and the apostles understood Jesus’ life and ministry in light of the psalms (see Matt 13:34–35; 21:16, 42; 23:39; John 2:17; 15:25; 19:24, 28, 36; Acts 2:22–35; 4:11; 13:32–38; Rom 15:3; 1 Cor 15:25–27; Eph 4:7–10; 1 Pet 2:7). Jesus entered the world of humans and lived out the patterns found in the psalms, including humiliation, suffering, death, vindication, and glory. He is the only human being who has completely pleased God (Ps 1). He is the Messiah and King (Ps 2) who has become our means of redemption, happiness, and peace.There are myriad messages scattered through the 150 psalms, but overall, this record of the responses of God’s people in worship and prayer serves the purpose of teaching us how to relate to God in various circumstances of life. The psalms also demonstrate God’s sovereignty and goodness for his people in order to instill confidence in those who trust in him.CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLEThe relationship between God’s activities in the lives of his people and their responses to them is the most significant contribution of this book. God never spoke directly in any of the psalms, as he often did in the narratives and prophets. Therefore, they are written from the human perspective as authors work their way through various life situations. The struggle to understand how God’s attributes, particularly his sovereignty and goodness, relate to life experiences is a major theme in the collection. These words are from people who had not lost their faith in God, although they might have been tempted to at times (Ps 73). They wrestled with how God was dealing with them personally and as a community.Key Verses (ESV)
Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God, \ and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 22:16–19: "For dogs encompass me; \ a company of evildoers encircles me; \ they have pierced my hands and feet— \ I can count all my bones— \ they stare and gloat over me; \ they divide my garments among them, \ and for my clothing they cast lots. \ But you, O LORD, do not be far off! \ O you my help, come quickly to my aid!"Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."Psalm 29:1–2: "Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, \ ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. \ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; \ worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness."Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, \ and renew a right spirit within me."Psalm 119:1–2: "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, \ who walk in the law of the LORD! \ Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, \ who seek him with their whole heart."Structure & Outline 1
The psalms are often deeply personal and are intentionally crafted literary works, not impromptu expressions. The majority of the psalms reflect ancient poetic conventions, including intricate structures and literary allusions.As a whole, Psalms functions as an ancient book of prayers and hymns, with different kinds of songs or poetic compositions for different occasions. Liturgies were used for festivals in ancient Israel, such as Passover and the Feast of Weeks. Royal psalms celebrated the king’s coronation, while other psalms honored God’s kingship. There were songs of thanksgiving, as well as two kinds of laments—for individuals and for the community. Some psalms were written to be sung on pilgrimages to Jerusalem, and others were intended to celebrate Yahweh’s presence in Jerusalem. Many of the psalms recall Yahweh’s gracious actions toward Israel throughout its history, and some look forward to God’s messiah—finding their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.Psalms is organized into five sections called “books.” These probably were intended to mirror the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. These main sections contain smaller groupings of psalms, such as the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120–134).Outline • Book One (1–41) • Book Two (42–72) • Book Three (73–89) • Book Four (90–106) • Book Five (107–150)Outline 2
Psalms contains 150 chapters, out of 1,189 total in Scripture, making it the longest book in the Bible. Given the large amount of material, and the poetic nature, it has also become the most frequently quoted book in the Bible. The chapters are gathered into five "books" that each end with a doxology. Book 1 includes Psalms 1-—41, Book 2 includes Psalms 42—72, Book 3 includes Psalms 73—89, Book 4 includes Psalms 90—106, and Book 5 includes Psalms 107—150. Beyond this division into five sections, no particular outline provides a clear organization for all 150 psalms. Rather, each individual psalm should be studied in detail for further understanding and application.The first psalm offers important insight regarding the entire collection. Its first two verses note:Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. --Psalm 1:1–2 ESV