Introduction to Psalms

A little about psalms in general

Jesus quotes from the psalms many times and the bible references the psalms in the New Testament. Psalms is a book of songs, praise, & poetry  done to instruments (like our hymnbooks today are sung to instruments in church) Sometimes the Psalms are prophetic and tell of Jesus’ birth, crucifixion, resurrection.

In biblehub.com you can read the different translations from the Bible to get a clearer picture and you can read the parallel bible portion which shows other verses in the bilbe that go along with the main verse you are studying.

Psalms were written by:  David wrote 73 of the psalms. Others were written by-Moses, Solomon, Sons of Korah, Asaph, Heman, Ethan ,Hezekiah, and Orphanic,

Psalms are Arranged in order of: the Pentaeuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviicus, Numbers & Deuteromonomy). They are also Arranged in Stropes (or parts) – Greek word “strophes” means “turn.” Used in Greek it means to debate-moving from one argument to another and also refers to theatre as one actor moves from one side of stage to another or a part is changed to another person. 

A common invocation in the psalms is asking God to hear us, to listen to us.

Psalms can be divided into Types or classifications (these are examples, but they vary)

  • Davidic Psalms  (1-41)– mostly psalms written by David that show his faith (a man after God’s own heart). He faced a lot of trials and stress yet he always turned to God in trust and reflected on how God cared for him in the past.
  • Historical Psalms (42-72)– prayers of lament and distress but there is history integrated in remembering and celebrating God’s acts in history.
  • Liturgical Psalms (73-89)– many written by Asaph. These songs come from a place of darkness yet there is still hope that all is not lost. They also contain history.
  • Pre-captivity Psalms & others (90-106) – Mostes wrote psalm 90=songs of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. There are referenceds to pre-captivity of Israelites
  • Psalms of the Captivity and Return (107-150– songs of God’s goodness. (146-150) are “hallelujah psalms).

B. Some Category/ Class of Psalms -very brief since there are many subcategories and different classifications

  • The Wisdom psalms-  practical guidelines for godly living. Point out the path to live a godly life. (ps 1, 37, 119)
  • The Messianic Psalms describe messianic rule of Christ as sovereign king. focus on two kings: (1) the human king of Israel (Psalms 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 132) and (2) God as king (Psalms 47, 98). There is also a messianic theme throughout the Psalms
  • The Lament psalms- prayers for divine intervention and deliverance in time of trouble. It’s one of the larger group of psalms with more than 60 psalms, including “penitential” psalms and trust psalms. Lamentations begin with a complaint, but often conclude with praise.( ps 3-7, 12-13, 22, 25-28, 35, 38-40, 42-44, 51, 54-57, 59-61, 63=64, 69–71, 74, 79=80, 83, 85-86, 88, 990, 102, 1-9, 120, 130, 140-143 (trust-is subcategory: ps. 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131
  • Thanksgiving psalms- These are similar to hymns, but particularly recount what God has done. They are closely related to laments, in that a thanksgiving psalm is often an answer to a lament.(Ps. 8, 18, 19, 29, 30, 34-34, 36, 40, 41, 66, 103-106, 111, 113, 117,, 124, 129, 135-136, 138-139, 146-148, 150)
  • Pilgrimage Psalms- recall goodness of God. Songs were song as they travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate Jewish festivals (Ps. 121)
  • Imprecatory psalms= asking for God’s judgment.This came from a time of war when God’s people were being attacked and looking for justice and peace. Some psalms speak of time when the Antichrist will come to power.
  • Enthronement psalms-describe God’s sovereign rule over all his creation and the care of his creation (ps  24, 29, 47, 49, 93, 96-99)
  • Liturgies psalms (catch-all) 15, 50, 68, 81 etc)

How Psalms were written:

English poetry manipulates sound, and emphasizes rhyme and meter. Hebrew poetry repeats and rearranges thoughts rather than sounds. Like the Hebrew language itself, Hebrew poetry uses vivid images, similes, and metaphors to communicate thoughts and feelings. There are several types of parallel arrangement of thoughts, with the first three listed below being the most basic.

  • Synonymous (echos)—the same thought of the first line is basically repeated in different words in the second line (2:4; 3:1; 7:17). The idea of the first line is reinforced in the second line. Here from Psalm 103.10
    • 1.”He does not treat us as our sins deserve
    • 2. or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)
  • Antithetical (contrasts)—the thought of the first line is emphasized by a contrasting thought in the second line (1:6; 34:10). They are often identified with “but.” this is common in Proverbs.
    • 1. “The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    • 2. but the righteous give generously.” (Psalm 37:21)
  •  Synthetic (completes)—the second line explains or further develops the idea of the first line (1:3;95:3).
  • Climactic—The second line repeats with the exception of the last terms (29:1).
  • Emblematic—One line conveys the main point, the second line illuminates it by an image (42:1; 23:1)
  • Imagery is used often in the psalms:
  • There are similes: -a comparison which is made explicit by the presence of the word “like” or “as.” For example: “As the deer pants for streams of water,So my soul pants for you, O God.” (Psalm 42:1).
  • There are metaphors-a comparison that is implicit, that is, a comparison without the mention of “like” or “as.” For example,”The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) A metaphor communicates a more vivid image than a simile because it is implicit and draws the comparison more closely.
  • Acrostic-A few psalms (9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145) are structured as an acrostic, each verse or section beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Exactly the function acrostics serve, we’re not sure. But the acrostics may be a way of reflecting the order of God in creation.

The Psalms are:

  • Inspired Scripture – truth revealed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. 2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
  • Instructive- They teach us about God’s character and how we respond to him.
  • Filled with human emotions . We can relate to what is being said 
  • Show us how to pray.  We are shown how to be honest with God, how to see our sin yet know he forgives us, how to praise God, how to voice our doubts & questions, how to turn to Him when we are in trouble as well as for all our needs.

HOW TO STUDY PSALMS

Read it-  Read it more than once. Read parts of it aloud.  You can listen to it (ESV Bible App).

Sing it- Put it to your own music or sing a worship song or hymn taken from the Psalms. 

Memorize it-pick your favorite verses that inspire and comfort and teach

Pray it-Pray the actual words over your circumstances and to our mighty God.

Meditate- Mull it over and be quiet and see God.

Teach it -to someone else.

Journal it- Use a Journal to write your thoughts. You can also use doodling or coloring or drawing to make points in your journal

Use other sources Commentaries or books written about psalms or online (use parallel verses to the  one you are reading

Make up index card: On one index card you can put all of God’s caracteristc with subcategories of verses that show that God is love, or God’ss sovereignty or control, etc. I learned so much about God when I did this and have a large collection of index cards.

Make a table with columns labeled: About God, What we’re called to do, Who we are in God, About the Wicked, etc. Label as you wish but yo learn a lot by breaking down bible chapters with a table.