Book 1: Psalms 1-41 – Crucifixion (22), Shepherd (23), King (24) Book 2: Psalms 42-72 – David’s Prayer of Repentance (51) Book 3: Psalms 73-89 – “I Will Sing the Mercies of the LORD Forever”(89) Book 4: Psalms 90-106 – Meditations on the Word of God (119) Book 5: Psalms 107-150 – Hallelujah (146-150)

Authorship David Moses Asaph The Descendants of Korah Solomon Heman the Ezrahite Ethan the Ezrahite “Orphans” # Attributed by Titles 73 1 (Psalm 90) 12 10 1 (Psalm 127) 1 (Psalm 88) 1 (Psalm 89) 2 (Psalm 126, 137)

Basic Outline: Psalm 1 What the Righteous Man Does Not Do (v. 1) What the Righteous Man Does Do (v. 2) What the Righteous Man is Likened To (v. 3) What the Wicked are Likened To (v. 4) What the Wicked Shall Not Do (v. 5) What the LORD Knows (v. 6)

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Neither Psalm 1 not Psalm 2 contains a superscription. Or you might want to call it a “title.”   The person who arranged Book One (possibly David) placed Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 together because of the framing device. Psalm 1 begins with “blessed,” and Psalm 2 ends with “blessed.”

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Cont’d While Psalm 1 fits into wisdom literature and Psalm 2 fits into prophetic scheme, they serve together as a foreword to an anthology of Psalms.   Psalm 1 is a psalm emphasizing the instructional value of the Psalter (teach YHWH’s word), while Psalm 2 is a prophecy, stressing Messianic themes.

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Cont’d Psalm 1 presents an “either/or” situation; you are either righteous or wicked. It reminds you of the Epistles of John. Psalm 1 is concerned for Torah itself; Psalm 2 is concerned for Torah in terms of the Son’s rule.

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Cont’d Psalm 2 is known as an “indirectly Messiah” psalm. The writer had in mind a current Israelite king first, and awaited final fulfillment in the ultimate King (cf. Psalm 45, 72).

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Cont’d Psalm 2 provides no explicit identification of historical background or authorship. Possible historical background: when kings were rebelling against Israel’s king. Israel’s king is styled as a son of Yahweh by the word of Yahweh.

Psalms 1 & 2 Compared and Contrasted Cont’d Acts 4:25—Spirit spoke through David; Acts 13:33—the “second Psalm”: David’s words of assurance to Solomon. Connection with 2 Samuel 7: son of the father.

Examples of Synonymous Parallelism Psalm 5:1 – “Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation.”   You can see how two synonyms appear in each of the sections of the parallelism: “Give ear” corresponds to “consider,” and “to my words” corresponds to “my meditation.”

Examples of Synonymous Parallelism Cont’d Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”   “earth” corresponds to “world,” and “fullness” corresponds to “they that dwell therein.”