1. A Study of Israel’s Hymn Book
“ David … the sweet psalmist of Israel”
2 Samuel 23:1

2. Book of Psalms
Psalms is the largest book in the Bible and the most quoted book in the New Testament
The book was known among the Jews as Sepher Tehillim or “Book of Praises”
The Septuagint (LXX = the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) uses the Greek word Psalmoi as its title, meaning a song of worship sung to musical instruments
The Latin title is Liber Psalmorum or “Book of Psalms”

3. Book of Psalms “Psalms” comes from the Heb. zamir meaning “song”
2 Sam. 23:1 – “the sweet psalmist of Israel”
Job 35:10 – “who giveth songs in the night”
Psalm 95:2 – “joyful noise unto him in psalms”
Psalm 119:54 – “thy statutes have been my songs”
Song of Solomon 2:12 – “time of the singing”
Isaiah 24:16 – “we heard songs”
Isaiah 25:5 – “the song of the terrible ones”

4. The Division of Psalms Division Number Doxology Book I Psalm 1 - 41
41:13
Book II
Psalm
72:19
Book III
Psalm
89:52
Book IV
Psalm
106:48
Book V
Psa
150:1-6

5. Numbering of Psalms Septuagint (LXX) Hebrew 1-8 9 9 and 10 10 – 112
11 – 113
113
114 and 115
114
116:1-9
115
116:10-19
116 – 145
117 – 146
146
147:1-11
147
147:12-20
148 – 150

6. The Author of Psalms 50 psalms are anonymous
73 psalms are attributed to King David, B.C. (two more, Psa. 2 and 95 are attributed to him in the NT: Acts 4:25 and Heb. 4:7)
12 psalms are attributed to Asaph, a priest who led the service of music (see Ezra 2:41)
10 psalms are attributed to “the sons of Korah”, a guild of singers and composers

7. The Author of Psalms
2 psalms are attributed to King Solomon (Psa. 72; 127)
1 psalm is attributed to each of the following:
Moses (Psa. 90)
Heman (Psa. 88; see 1 K. 4:31; 1 Chron. 15:19)
Ethan (Psa. 89)

8. The Time of Psalms
The “book of Psalms” (Lk. 20:42; Acts 1:20) is a compilation of writings; it is not the work of one author, but many authors
The time period covered in the psalms extends over a period of about 1,000 years, from Moses (Psa. 90; c B.C.) to the return from captivity (Psa. 126, 137; c. 500 B.C.)
The psalms were written to different audiences under different conditions; they reflect a multitude of moods, situations, problems, joys, etc.

9. References to Psalms in the New Testament
For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand (Lk. 20:42)
And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me (Lk. 24:44)
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take (Acts 1:20)

10. References to Psalms in the New Testament
that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee (Acts 13:33)
Because he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption (Acts 13:35)
What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying (1 Cor. 14:26)

11. References to Psalms in the New Testament
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God (Col. 3:16)

12. Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs
Title
Composer 19
Psalm 19: The Law of the Lord
Traditional 23
The Lord’s My Shepherd
Scottish Psalter, 1650
100
All People That On Earth - Dwell
William Kethe, 1560
148
Praise the Lord
J. Kempthorne, 1796

13. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Maskil (13 psalms)
a contemplative poem (meditation, instruction)
Miktam (6 psalms)
epigram, inscription poem
Mizmor (57 psalms)
a song accompanied by an instrument (lit. to pluck)
Shir (29 psalms)
song
Tepillah (5 psalms)
a prayer (comp. Hab. 3)
Tehillah (1 psalm)
a praise

14. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Acrostic (alphabetic)
the first letter of the first word in a verse contains successive letters in the Heb. alphabet
Psalm 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145
Didactic
a psalm that teaches or instructs
Psalm 1, 36, 49, 52, etc.

15. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Hallelujah
psalms beginning or ending with “praise Jehovah” (hallelujah)
Psalm 106, 111, 112, 113, 135,
Historical
psalms that review the history of Israel
Psalm 68, 74, 78, 79, 102, 105, 106, 126, 136, 137, 147, etc.

16. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Imprecatory
psalms that invoke evil upon one’s enemies; to curse
Psalm 35, 55, 58, 69, 83, 109, etc.
Lament: individual or national
a petition to rescue and defend from enemies
Psalm 3-7, etc.

17. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Messianic
psalms that contain prophecy of Jesus Christ
Psa. 2, 16, 22, 89, 110, 132, etc.
Penitential
psalms that contain penitent, remorseful statements about one’s sin
Psa. 6:1-2; 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143

18. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Praise (devotion)
psalms that praise God for his goodness and greatness
Psalm 8, 18, 19, 24, 31, 33, 40, etc.
Prayer (petition)
psalms that pray for specific petitions
Psalm 3-7, 10, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 35, 40, etc.

19. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Royal
psalms dealing with a description of the king
Psalm 45, 72, 93, 97, 101
Songs of Ascent (pilgrimage)
psalms sung on the way up to Jerusalem
Psalm

20. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Suffering
psalms that express suffering in life
Psalm 73, 102
Thanksgiving: individual or national
a show of gratitude for what God has done
Psalm 9, 21, 30, 48, 65, 66, 76, etc.

21. Psalm Classifications 1 Chronicles 16:4
Name
Meaning
Psalm
Trust
The psalmist places his trust in God in troubled times
Psalm 3, 4, 11, etc.

22. Hebrew Poetry: Parallelism
The emphasis in Hebrew poetry is not on word rhyme
One of the most distinctive elements of Hebrew poetry is parallelism; saying something more than once for emphasis, clarification or contrast (“rhyming” of thought, not of sound, attributed to Robert Lowe in 1753)
Synonymous parallelism: the thought in the first line is repeated in the second line with different words for clarification (see Psa. 8:4; 24:1-3)

23. Hebrew Poetry: Parallelism
Antithetic parallelism: the thought of one line is contrasted by a statement in the second line – “but” (see Psa. 1:6; 20:7; 37:9)
Synthetic parallelism: thought of one line is completed in the second (or third) line (see Psa. 1:2-3; 19:7)
Progressive (step) parallelism: the thought of one line is expanded in the lines that follow (see Psa. 1:1; 29:1)
Introverted parallelism: lines 1 and 4 are related; lines 2 and 3 are related (see Psa. 51:1; 91:14)

24. Hebrew Poetry: Figures of Speech
Another distinctive feature of Hebrew poetry is the use of figures of speech (non-literal speech) to produce vivid imagery
Allegory: describing one thing under the image of something else; an extended metaphor (Psa. 80:8-16)
Apostrophe: when inanimate things are address as if they were living (Psa. 114:3-7)
Hyperbole: exaggeration for the sake of emphasis; not literally so (Psa. 6:6)

25. Hebrew Poetry: Figures of Speech
Metaphor: describing one thing under the image of something else (Psa. 18:1-2; 23:1; 84:11)
Metonymy: one word is put for another on account of the actual relationship between the two (Psa. 128:2)
Personification: attributing characteristics of a person to inanimate objects (Psa. 114:3-4)
Simile: comparison using “like” or “as” (Psa. 1:3-4)

26. Hebrew Poetry: Figures of Speech
Synecdoche: a part of something is exchanged for the whole (Psa. 52:1, 2-4)
Theophany (God appearing): comparing God’s appearing to a great earthquake and storm (Psa. 18:7-19)

27. Hebrew Poetry: Chiasm
Another feature of Hebrew poetry is chiasm

28. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
1. The literary element – what poetic devises and figures of speech are being used in this psalm? Examples: Parallelism (see above) Figures of speech (see above)

29. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
2. The historical element – what historical references (people, places, events, etc.) are mentioned in this psalm? Examples: Psalm titles (Psa. 3, 7, 18, etc.) Creation of man (8:4) Flood (29:10) Abraham (47:9) Melchizedek (110:4) Isaac (105:9) Jacob (46:7)

30. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
2. Examples: Jacob (46:7) Joseph (77:15; 105:17-22) Jacob in Egypt (105:23-24) Israel’s bondage (105:25) Moses and Aaron (105:26) 10 Plagues (78:12, 43-51; 105:27-36) Crossing the Red Sea (74:13-14; 78:13; 81:6; 106:9-11; 136:13-15) Song of Moses (78:13, 53)

31. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
2. Examples: Wilderness wandering (47:7) Cloud and fire (78:14) Water from the rock (78:15-16) Manna and quail (78:24-29) Waters of Meribah (81:7; 95:8-9) Israelite murmuring (78:40) Fire of Taberah (78:21) Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (106:16-18) Golden calf (106:19-20)

32. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
2. Examples: Intercession of Moses (106:23) Sin of Baal-peor (106:28) Zeal of Phinehas (106:30) Defeat of Sihon and Og (136:19-20) Entrance to Canaan (105:44; 136:21-22) Israel’s disloyalty (78:55-58) Defeat of Sisera and Midian (83:9) Death of Eli’s sons (78:64) Appoint of King David (78:70-72)

33. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
3. The ethical/religious element: what moral & religious requirements are taught in this psalm? Examples: the righteous (Psa. 1:1-3; 5:12; 7:9; etc) the wicked (Psa. 1:4-6; 3:7; 7:9; etc.) sin (32:1-5; 38:3, 18; etc) transgression (5:10; 25:7; etc) judgment (7:8; 9:7, 8, 16; etc) upright (7:3-5; 8-10; 15:1-5; 17:3, 15; 18:23-24; 26:1, 11) clean hands, pure heart (24:3-6) sacrifices (20:3; 43:4; 51:19; 66:13-15) broken heart (51:17)

34. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
4. The prophetic element: what prophecies concerning the future of the Messiah (Christ), Israel, and the Gentiles are uttered in this psalm? Examples: All nations (Gentiles) – 2:1-5; 22:27; 65:2, 5; 66:4; 68:29-33; 86:9; 102:15, 22; 138:4 Israel – 126:1-6

35. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
4. Examples concerning the Messiah (Jesus the Christ): His humanity (8:4-5; Heb. 2:6-8) His Sonship (2:7; 110:1; Mt. 22:42-45; Heb. 1:5) His deity (45:6, 11; Heb. 1:8) His holiness (45:7; 89:18-19; (Heb. 1:9) His priesthood (104:4; Heb. 5:6) His obedience (60:6-8; Heb. 10:5-7) His suffering (69:9; Rom. 15:3) His betrayal (61:9; Lk. 22:48) His resurrection (16:10; Acts 13:33-36) His ascension (63:18; Eph. 4:8)

36. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
5. The theological element: what can be learned about God (names, characteristics, etc.) from this psalm? Examples: Adonai = Sovereign Lord (2:4; 8:1, 9; etc) Jehovah = Eternal One (1:2, 6; 2:2, 7, 11; etc) El = Mighty God (3:2, 7; 4:1; 5:2, 4, 10; etc) Elyon = Most High (7:17; 9:2; 18:13; etc) Shaddai = Provider Eternity (90:1, 2, 4) Omnipresent (139:1ff) Lovingkindness (136:1ff)

37. Six Things to Look For in the Psalms
6. The devotional element: what practical help (comfort, courage, hope, help, etc.) can I gain from studying this psalm? Examples: Protection / Help (5; 7; 13; 17; 18; 20-21) Guidance (23) God’s word (19; 119) Forgiveness (32; 51) Worship (95; 96) Family (127; 128) Trouble (142) Praise (148 – 150)