OVERVIEW OF THE PSALMSOVERVIEW OF THE PSALMS

The Greek title of this book means “songs of praises.”

The Greek title of this book means “songs of praises.”

Key Words: Worship, praise, and prayer. Key Words: Worship, praise, and prayer.

Key verses:

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Key verses:

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 90:1 LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Psalm 90:1 LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Key Phrase: “For the Lord is good” (Ps. 100:5). Key Phrase: “For the Lord is good” (Ps. 100:5).

Key Psalm is 119, which is the longest Psalm and just about every verse praises the Word of God.

Key Psalm is 119, which is the longest Psalm and just about every verse praises the Word of God.

Authors:

• David wrote 73 • The Sons of Korah wrote 11 • Asaph wrote 12• Hezekiah possibly wrote 10• Solomon wrote 2• Moses, Ethan, Heman, Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra wrote 1 each• According to the Septuagint, Jeremiah wrote Ps. 137. • The author is unknown for the remaining 35 Psalms.

Authors:

• David wrote 73 • The Sons of Korah wrote 11 • Asaph wrote 12• Hezekiah possibly wrote 10• Solomon wrote 2• Moses, Ethan, Heman, Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra wrote 1 each• According to the Septuagint, Jeremiah wrote Ps. 137. • The author is unknown for the remaining 35 Psalms.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

There are five sections to the book of Psalms and each ends with a doxology such as:

Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

There are five sections to the book of Psalms and each ends with a doxology such as:

Psalm 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

The first book was complied by Solomon and belongs to the early period of the Jewish monarchy.

The second and third books are historical and devotional Psalms that correspond to the divided kingdom and were probably complied by the men of Hezekiah (Prov. 25:1; 2 Chr. 29:30).

The fourth and fifth books belong to the Babylonian captivity and the return of the Jews during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The first book was complied by Solomon and belongs to the early period of the Jewish monarchy.

The second and third books are historical and devotional Psalms that correspond to the divided kingdom and were probably complied by the men of Hezekiah (Prov. 25:1; 2 Chr. 29:30).

The fourth and fifth books belong to the Babylonian captivity and the return of the Jews during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

“Moses gave the Israelites the five books of the Law; and corresponding with these David gave them five books of the Psalms.”

“Moses gave the Israelites the five books of the Law; and corresponding with these David gave them five books of the Psalms.”

Book I (Ps. 1-41) – Corresponds with Genesis. With the exception of four, all were written by David. Subject: Man, his state of blessedness, fall and recovery (8:4; 10:18).

Book II (Ps. 42-72) – Corresponds with Exodus. Includes 18 written by David. Subject: The nation of Israel, her ruin (42-49); redeemer (50-60), and redemption (61-72). Note Solomon’s description of the reign of the righteous king in Ps. 72

Book III (Ps. 73-89) - Corresponds with Leviticus. It centers in time of Hezekiah. Subject: The Sanctuary is referred to in nearly every psalm of this book.

Book I (Ps. 1-41) – Corresponds with Genesis. With the exception of four, all were written by David. Subject: Man, his state of blessedness, fall and recovery (8:4; 10:18).

Book II (Ps. 42-72) – Corresponds with Exodus. Includes 18 written by David. Subject: The nation of Israel, her ruin (42-49); redeemer (50-60), and redemption (61-72). Note Solomon’s description of the reign of the righteous king in Ps. 72

Book III (Ps. 73-89) - Corresponds with Leviticus. It centers in time of Hezekiah. Subject: The Sanctuary is referred to in nearly every psalm of this book.

Book IV (Ps. 90-106) – Corresponds with Numbers. Contains two psalms of David and other psalms in the time of the exile. Subject: The earth, Ps. 90 was written by Moses during the wilderness wanderings.

Book V (Ps. 107-150) – Corresponds with Deuteronomy. Contains 15 of David’s psalms. This section may have been compiled in the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. Subject: The word of God (107:20). This is the theme of Ps. 119, the greatest Psalm.

Book IV (Ps. 90-106) – Corresponds with Numbers. Contains two psalms of David and other psalms in the time of the exile. Subject: The earth, Ps. 90 was written by Moses during the wilderness wanderings.

Book V (Ps. 107-150) – Corresponds with Deuteronomy. Contains 15 of David’s psalms. This section may have been compiled in the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. Subject: The word of God (107:20). This is the theme of Ps. 119, the greatest Psalm.

Out of the 283 direct quotes from the OT, 116 are from the Psalms.

Ps. 110:1 is quoted in Mat., Mk., Lk., Acts, 1 Cor., and Heb

Out of the 283 direct quotes from the OT, 116 are from the Psalms.

Ps. 110:1 is quoted in Mat., Mk., Lk., Acts, 1 Cor., and Heb

Luke 24:44 "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Luke 24:44 "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Psalm 66:13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats.

Psalm 66:13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats.

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?

Jesus is quoting from Ps. 82:6.

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?

Jesus is quoting from Ps. 82:6.

At the heart of Hebrew poetry is parallelism and there are three different types: At the heart of Hebrew poetry is parallelism and there are three different types:

1.Synonymous parallelism, in which the thought of two members or lines express the same thought with different words.

An example would be:

Psalm 21:2 You have given him his heart's desire,

And have not withheld the request of his lips.

1.Synonymous parallelism, in which the thought of two members or lines express the same thought with different words.

An example would be:

Psalm 21:2 You have given him his heart's desire,

And have not withheld the request of his lips.

2. Antithetic parallelism, in which the basic thought of the first line is made more clear by contrasting that thought in the second line.

An example would be:

Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

2. Antithetic parallelism, in which the basic thought of the first line is made more clear by contrasting that thought in the second line.

An example would be:

Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

3. Synthetic parallelism, in which the second line explains or adds something the first one.

An example would be:

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

3. Synthetic parallelism, in which the second line explains or adds something the first one.

An example would be:

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Some things we learn about God is that He is:

• Our judge and defense (7:8-10).• The refuge of the poor (14:6). • A rock, fortress, strength, and high tower (18:2)• Our redeemer (19:14).• The king of Glory (24:10). • Our light and salvation (27:1). • Our shield (28:7).• Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (46:1). • A God full of compassion (86:15).

Some things we learn about God is that He is:

• Our judge and defense (7:8-10).• The refuge of the poor (14:6). • A rock, fortress, strength, and high tower (18:2)• Our redeemer (19:14).• The king of Glory (24:10). • Our light and salvation (27:1). • Our shield (28:7).• Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (46:1). • A God full of compassion (86:15).

The book of Psalms has a lot to say about Jesus:

• Ps. 2 talks about the coronation of Jesus. • Ps. 22 talks about His crucifixion.• Ps. 16 talks about His resurrection.• The reign of the righteous king from the seed of David is theme of Ps. 45, 72, 110, and 132. • Ps. 118 talks about how Jesus was the stone that was rejected by the builders, which was made the chief cornerstone. • He is marvelous in our eyes Ps. 118:23 • Jesus would be the one that the multitude would bless that came in the name of the Lord Ps. 118:26.

The book of Psalms has a lot to say about Jesus:

• Ps. 2 talks about the coronation of Jesus. • Ps. 22 talks about His crucifixion.• Ps. 16 talks about His resurrection.• The reign of the righteous king from the seed of David is theme of Ps. 45, 72, 110, and 132. • Ps. 118 talks about how Jesus was the stone that was rejected by the builders, which was made the chief cornerstone. • He is marvelous in our eyes Ps. 118:23 • Jesus would be the one that the multitude would bless that came in the name of the Lord Ps. 118:26.

The book of Psalms also tells us about Jesus’:

• Manhood Ps. 8:4-5• His Sonship Ps. 2:7• His Deity Ps. 45:6• His holiness Ps. 45:7• His priesthood Ps. 110:4• His kingship Ps. 2:6• His eternity Ps. 61:6-7• His universal sovereignty Ps 72:8; 103:19• His obedience Ps. 40:6-8• His zeal Ps. 69:9• His sufferings Ps. 69:4, 9• His betrayal Ps. 41:9• His death Ps. Ps 22:1-21• His resurrection Ps. 16:10• His ascension Ps. 68:18

The book of Psalms also tells us about Jesus’:

• Manhood Ps. 8:4-5• His Sonship Ps. 2:7• His Deity Ps. 45:6• His holiness Ps. 45:7• His priesthood Ps. 110:4• His kingship Ps. 2:6• His eternity Ps. 61:6-7• His universal sovereignty Ps 72:8; 103:19• His obedience Ps. 40:6-8• His zeal Ps. 69:9• His sufferings Ps. 69:4, 9• His betrayal Ps. 41:9• His death Ps. Ps 22:1-21• His resurrection Ps. 16:10• His ascension Ps. 68:18

The seven main subjects in the Psalms: 1. It teaches us about the everlasting, all-powerful,

all wise, ever present, all righteous nature of God.

2. We learn about praises to God’s infinite love, providence, and goodness.

3. We will see all forms of idolatry rebuked. 4. We will see prophecies about Jesus and His

redeeming work on the earth. 5. It teaches about the divine mercy and

forgiveness of God. 6. It teaches about the terrible nature of sin, God’s

hatred of sin, and His judgment on sinners. 7. It teaches us about repentance and obedience.

The seven main subjects in the Psalms: 1. It teaches us about the everlasting, all-powerful,

all wise, ever present, all righteous nature of God.

2. We learn about praises to God’s infinite love, providence, and goodness.

3. We will see all forms of idolatry rebuked. 4. We will see prophecies about Jesus and His

redeeming work on the earth. 5. It teaches about the divine mercy and

forgiveness of God. 6. It teaches about the terrible nature of sin, God’s

hatred of sin, and His judgment on sinners. 7. It teaches us about repentance and obedience.