Psalms
Background
Authorship
and date of compilation.
Many of the psalms include direct statements of authorship (though the lamed
of authorship is debated). These indications are included with the message
statements below. The earliest seems to be number 90, attributed to Moses (c.
1410). The greatest number (73) are from David (1010-971). The latest are
postexilic (e.g., 137).
The
tradition that Ezra performed the final compilation is certainly a possibility,
though there is little concrete evidence to suport
it. It is highly likely that numerous compilations were made throughout the OT
years, perhaps by David, Solomon, Hezekiah (Micah and Isaiah), and Jeremiah.
Historical
setting. Obviously the history behind the psalms varies greatly,
since their composition spanned about a millennium. Many of the psalms have
specific historic references either in the text itself or in the superscription
(the validity of which is supported by the MT).
Poetry
and music.
Being a type of song a psalm is necessarily
poetic. The genius of Hebrew poetry, which occurs in many OT books beside the
Psalter, is the feature known as parallelism, which has been described as the
rhyming of thought. Its main forms are synonymous, in which one line says more or less the same thing as the preceding one but in
different words, and antithetical, in which the second line repeats the thought
of the first but from the opposite perspective. In addition to the parallelism,
Hebrew poetry, as that of any language, relies heavily on picturesque language,
figures of speech and symbolism.
The
Psalter also has many musical directions and indications. (See BKC or
any standard OT introduction.)
Types. One of the keys to interpreting the Psalms
is the recognition of the particular type a given
psalm is. The most common type of biblical psalm, and also
perhaps the most foreign to the western 21st century mind, is the Lament, most
of which are individual laments (about 43), the rest community laments (14).
The next most important types are the Thanksgiving psalm (or Declarative
praise) and the Hymn (or Descriptive praise). Other types include Wisdom,
Pilgrim, Royal, and Enthronement psalms. (For details see especially
Westermann, POGIP, and Ross, Psalms, in BKC.)
Outline. The MT divides the Psalter into five books:
Book 1: 141; Book 2: 4272; Book 3: 7389; Book 4: 90106; and Book 5:
107150. The first three books are set off from the following ones by the
concluding expression, Amen and Amen; and the fourth concludes with, Let all
the people say, Amen. Hallelujah.
The
most common attempt to explain this is to say that these five divisions
correspond to the books of the Pentateuch. However, no one has satisfactorily
demonstrated any such correspondence. It remains to be shown what is the
significance of this division.
Messages
and Types
BOOK 1
1 The Lord loves and blesses the
righteous, while he destroys the wicked.
Type Torah / wisdom
2 Yahwehs vice-regent advises the
nations to bow to Yahweh and himself.
Type Royal
Author David
(according to Acts 4:25)
3 The faithful one trusts Yahweh to
deliver him from his deadly enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
4 The Lord is to be sought to give
peaceful rest in the face of scoffers.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
5 The Lord is to be sought for
protection from the wicked.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
6 The Lord is to be sought to rescue the
godly before their plight becomes irredeemable.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
7 The Lord is to be sought for righteous
judgment of the wicked and defense of the innocent.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
8 The Lord is to be praised for his
majesty demonstrated by the exalted role he has given to man.
Type Hymn
Author David
9 The Lord is to be sought to render
ultimate judgment against the wicked.
Type Lament
(individual; alphabetical acrostic with #10)
Author David
10 The Lord is to be sought to bring down
the wicked who defiantly afflict the vulnerable.
Type Lament
(individual; alphabetical acrostic, continuation of #9)
Author David
11 The Lord can be trusted to see and
recompense the wicked while delivering the righteous.
Type Trust
Author David
12 The Lord is to be sought to overrule the
devices of the wicked and preserve the godly.
Type Lament
(community)
Author David
13 The Lord is to be sought for deliverance
from enemies power generally.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
14 The Lord is to be sought to deliver his
people from those who deny God.
Type Lament
(individual; see also #53)
Author David
15 God requires comprehensive righteousness
for citizenship in Zion.
Type Liturgy
(for admission to the cult, Anderson, OOTD)
Author David
16 He who trusts completely in the Lord is
blessed both in this life and in that to come.
Type Trust
Author David
17 The Lord is to be sought by the godly
innocent for protection from wicked, deadly enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
18 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for his powerful deliverance of the blameless.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual; Royal)
Author David
19 Gods self-revelation is perfect in its
effects in faithful men.
Type Torah
Author David
20 The Lord is to be praised for providing
victory for his people and their mediatorial king.
Type Royal
Author David
21 The Lord is to be praised for graciously
exalting his peoples king.
Type Royal
Author David
22 The Lord is to be sought because of his
intrinsic holiness by the faithful for relief from affliction.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
23 The Lord is to be trusted for provision,
preservation, and eternal blessing.
Type Trust
Author David
24 The Lord is to be acclaimed as the
glorious sovereign by his righteous subjects.
Type Liturgy
Author David
25 The Lord is to be sought for forgiveness
and defense according to his faithfulness.
Type Lament
(individual; alphabetical acrostic)
Author David
26 The Lord is to be sought by the innocent
for justification and salvation.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
27 The Lord is to be sought and trusted as
the only source of protection from trouble.
Type Lament
(individual) / Trust
Author David
28 The Lord is to be sought for recompense
of the wicked and merciful deliverance from their judgment.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
29 The Lord is to be praised for his
glorious power manifest in thunder.
Type Hymn
Author David
30 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for ultimate salvation even after temporary affliction.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
Author David
31 The Lord is to be sought as a hiding
place from the malicious devices of the ungodly.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
32 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for his forgiveness and restoration of the humble.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
Author David
33 Joyful praise is due Yahweh for his
righteous use of power.
Type Hymn
Author David
34 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for deliverance and provision for the righteous.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual; alphabetical acrostic)
Author David
35 The Lord is to be sought by his servant
to judge his tormentors.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
36 The Lord is to be sought by the
righteous for his faithfulness.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
37 The Lord blesses the righteous,
and judges the wicked.
Type Wisdom
(alphabetical acrostic)
Author David
38 The Lord is to be sought by the weak and
afflicted for relief.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
39 The Lord is to be sought for his care
and mercy to sustain man because of his frailty.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
40 The Lord is to be sought to deliver the
humble and obedient.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual; vv. 1-10) / Lament (individual; vv. 12-17)
Author David
41 The Lord is to be sought for the defense
of the merciful.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
BOOK 2
42 The Lord is to be sought for vindication
and restoration when faced with insults and despair.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author Sons of
Korah
43 The Lord is to be sought for defense
against oppressors.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author Sons of
Korah (? cf., 42:1, 5, 11; 43:5)
44 The Lord is to be sought for help
against present enemies as in the past.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Sons of
Korah
45 The Lord is to be praised as the
glorious and majestic Messiah.
Type Royal
Author Sons of
Korah
46 The Lord is to be magnified
as the saints sure defense at all times.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
47 The Lord is to be praised by all people
as the mighty king over all.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
Author Sons of
Korah
48 The Lord is to be praised for his glory
reflected in his city, Zion.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
Author Sons of
Korah
49 Man cannot, even with great wealth,
redeem himself; only God can.
Type Wisdom
Author Sons of
Korah
50 God hates formalism and hypocrisy
because of the low view of himself they imply.
Type Liturgy
(covenant renewal: Anderson, OOTD)
Author Asaph
51 The Lord is to be sought to forgive and
restore the saint who by humble appeal seeks the mercy of God.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
52 The Lord is to be sought to destroy the
wicked (Doeg), while blessing those who wait on him with enjoyment of his
presence forever.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
53 God is to be sought to deliver his
people from those who deny God.
(Elohistic version [for Book 2] of Psalm 14)
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
54 The Lord is to be sought to deliver his
servants from foreign enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
55 The Lord is to be sought to defend the
innocent and faithful one from the hand of the treacherous betrayer.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
56 The Lord is to be sought by the
afflicted faithful because of his sufficiency against all enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
57 The Lord is to be sought with joyful
confidence for refuge from malicious enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
58 The Lord is to be sought to avenge the
righteous by destroying the wicked.
Type Lament
(community)
Author David
59 The Lord is to be sought to humiliate
the vicious wicked in defense of the innocent.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
60 The Lord is to be sought for victory
over the enemies of Gods people.
Type Lament
(community)
Author David
61 The Lord is to be sought for refuge and
fullness of life.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
62 The Lord alone is to be trusted for
salvation because of his unique combination of strength and love.
Type Trust
Author David
63 The Lord is to be sought with passion
and praise for his bountiful provision and deliverance.
Type Lament
(individual) / Trust
Author David
64 The Lord is to be sought for protection
from the deadly wicked because of his intention to destroy them.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
65 The Lord is to be acknowledged publicly
for his covenant blessings of forgiveness and agricultural fertility.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
Author David
66 The Lord is to be acknowledged publicly
for gracious deliverance in response to the prayers of his people.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
67 The Lord is to be acknowledged publicly
to the end that the heathen might similarly own him and enter
into blessing.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
68 The Lord is to be acknowledged publicly
as triumphant sovereign, gracious to his dependent subjects, but deadly judge
of his enemies.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
Author David
69 The Lord is to be sought for deliverance
from the deadly devices of enemies and to pour out vengeance on them.
Type Lament
(individual) with Imprecation
Author David
70 The Lord is to be sought for timely
deliverance from deadly enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
71 The Lord is to be sought by his faithful
servant for present deliverance.
Type Lament
(individual)
72 The Lord is to be sought to endow his
royal son with righteousness for rule, and consequent blessing and honor.
Type Royal
Author Solomon
BOOK 3
73 God will reverse the fortunes of the
prosperous wicked and the downcast godly.
Type Wisdom
Author Asaph
74 The Lord is to be sought to restore
Israel from the exile in defense of his name, and in accordance with his
covenant.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Asaph
75 The Lord is to be acknowledged publicly
for putting down the arrogant and exalting the righteous.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
Author Asaph
76 The Lord is to be praised in his majesty
in Zion which he secured by conquest.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
Author Asaph
77 The Lord is to be sought for renewed
deliverance like that wrought through Moses.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author Asaph
78 The Lord is to be praised for his mercy
toward Israel, bearing with their many rebellions, and ultimately providing
righteous rule through David.
Type History
Author Asaph
79 The Lord is to be sought to avenge
exiled Judah on her destroyers.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Asaph
80 The Lord is to be sought to restore
exiled Judah to her former place of blessing.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Asaph
81 The Lord is to be sought by his people
anew to restore them to blessing.
Type Liturgy
(covenant renewal: Anderson, OOTD)
Author Asaph
82 Gods righteousness is vindicated in his
judgment on rulers for their injustices.
Type Liturgy
Author Asaph
83 The Lord is to be sought to avenge
himself on the enemies of his people as in the past.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Asaph
84 The Lord is to be praised for the glory
of Zion which he chose as his dwelling place. To love Zion is to love God.
Those who do are blessed.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
Author Sons of
Korah
85 The Lord is to be sought to restore his
people to righteousness and blessing.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Sons of
Korah
86 The Lord is to be sought for deliverance
and righteousness because of his covenant faithfulness.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
87 The Lord is to be praised for the glory
he will pour out on Zion.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
Author Sons of
Korah
88 The Lord is to be sought for
preservation of life by the one at the brink of death.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author Heman,
a son of Korah
89 The Lord is to be praised for his
faithfulness in his covenant with David, despite temporary abandonment of
Israel to trouble.
Type Royal
Author Ethan
BOOK 4
90 The Lord is to be sought by his people
during the few and passing days of their lives.
Type Lament
(community)
Author Moses
91 The Lord is to be trusted for protection
from danger.
Type Trust
92 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for his preservation and exaltation of the righteous.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
93 The Lord is to be praised as the all-powerful, and firmly established sovereign.
Type Hymn (Enthronement)
94 The Lord is to be sought to preserve and
avenge his people.
Type Lament
(community)
95 The Lord is to be praised for his
supremacy by humble reverence.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
Author David
(according to Hebrews 4:7)
96 The Lord is to be praised and worshiped
as the great God of the universe.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
97 The Lord is to be praised for his
incomparability as the God who is omnipotent and righteous.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
98 The Lord is to be praised exuberantly
for his righteousness in faithful salvation and coming judgment.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
99 The Lord is to be praised as the exalted
and righteous king whose word was delivered through men.
Type Hymn
(Enthronement)
100 The Lord is to be praised for his
faithfulness to his people.
Type Hymn
101 Theocratic rule demands blameless
integrity.
Type Royal
Author David
102 Gods immutability sustains the afflicted
believer.
Type Lament
(individual)
103 God is to be praised because of his
faithfulness in providing covenant blessings.
Type Hymn
Author David
104 God is to be praised because of his power
over and goodness in creation.
Type Hymn
105 God is to be praised for his faithfulness
to fulfill his covenant with Abraham.
Type History (Hymnic)
106 God is to be praised because of covenant
faithfulness in spite of Israels many failings.
Type History
(Penitential)
BOOK 5
107 God is to be praised because of many acts
of faithful deliverance of the humble.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
108 God is to be praised because of covenant
faithfulness to exalt Israel and subjugate nations.
Type Mixed
(composed of 57:7-11 [= 1-5] and 61:5-12 [= 6-13])
Author David
109 The Lord is to be sought to recompense
judgment against those who oppress the innocent.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
110 The Lord is to be praised for choosing his
Messianic King to rule the nations, and serve as Gods
priest.
Type Royal
Author David
111 The Lord is to be praised publicly for his
works of righteousness on behalf of his people.
Type Hymn
(alphabetical acrostic)
112 God blesses the righteous with security
and prosperity.
Type Wisdom
(alphabetical acrostic)
113 The Lord is to be praised for exalting the
humble.
Type Hymn
114 The Lord is to be praised for his mighty
deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.
Type Hymn
115 The people of God are to trust only in him
throughout their earthly lives.
Type Liturgy
(Anderson, OOTD)
116 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for his gracious deliverance of his children who call on him.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
117 The Lord is to be praised by all for his
faithfulness.
Type Hymn
118 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged in the day of salvation.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
119 Love for and adherence to Gods word
brings blessing.
Type Torah
(alphabetical acrostic)
Author Ezra
(according to LXX)
120 The Lord is to be sought for protection
from liars and warmongers.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
121 God can be trusted to protect ones soul.
Type Trust
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
122 Jerusalem is to be cherished because of
Gods choice of her.
Type Hymn
(Zion)
Author David
(Hezekiah, according to LXX)
123 The Lord is to be sought to relieve from
the contempt of the proud.
Type Lament
(community)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
124 God is to be praised because he rescues
his servants from mortal threats.
Type
Thanksgiving (community)
Author David
(Hezekiah, according to LXX)
125 Those who trust in Yahweh are secure in
him.
Type Trust
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
126 Those whom Yahweh restores are filled with
joy.
Type Trust (?)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
127 God blesses him who trusts in him with fertility.
Type Wisdom
Author Solomon
(Hezekiah, according to LXX)
128 God blesses him who fears him with
fertility.
Type Wisdom
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
129 The Lord is to be sought to recompense
Israels enemies in righteousness.
Type Lament
(community)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
130 The Lord is to be sought for forgiveness
and redemption.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
131 Israel is urged to trust Yahweh
implicitly.
Type Trust
Author David
(Hezekiah, according to LXX)
132 The Lord is to be praised for his election
of David and Zion for blessing.
Type Royal
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
133 Brotherly unity is precious.
Type Wisdom
(?)
Author David
(Hezekiah, according to LXX)
134 Special blessing attends those who serve
Yahweh faithfully.
Type Liturgy
(?)
Author
Hezekiah (according to LXX)
135 The Lord is to be praised by his servants
for his election and historic protection of Israel.
Type Hymn
136 The Lord is to be praised for his
greatness in creation and his faithfulness to Israel throughout her history.
Type
Hymn/History
137 The Lord is to be sought to avenge his
humiliated people who are zealous for his city.
Type Lament
(community)
Author
Jeremiah (according to LXX)
138 The Lord is to be publicly acknowledged
for his faithful protection of the lowly.
Type
Thanksgiving (individual)
Author David
139 The Lord is to be sought as the one who
knows and cares for his servant to destroy his enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
140 The Lord is to be sought to protect his
innocent servant from and recompense the malevolent adversary.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
141 The Lord is to be sought to keep his
servant from sin and the power of sinners.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
142 The Lord is to be sought and trusted to
deliver from enemies.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
143 The Lord is to be sought and trusted to
deliver and guide his servant.
Type Lament
(individual)
Author David
144 The Lord is to be praised for his
authority to deliver his people.
Type Royal
Author David
145 The Lord is the best kind of king ruling
the best kind of kingdom.
Type Hymn
(alphabetical acrostic, lacking the nun,
with kingdom in the m-l-k verses)
Author David
146 The Lord is to be praised for his unique
power to bless and save.
Type Hymn
Author Haggai
(according to LXX)
147 The Lord is to be praised for his special
grace to the faithful.
Type Hymn
Author
Zechariah (according to LXX)
148 The Lord is to be praised by all creation for his wonderful work of creation.
Type Hymn
149 The Lord is to be praised for victorious
salvation of his people.
Type Hymn
150 The Lord is to be praised in every way for
his person and works.
Type Hymn
Classification
by Type
|
Lament of the
Individual (50) |
37, 910, 13,
14, 17, 22, 2528, 31, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42, 43, 5157, 59, 61,
63, 64, 69, 70, 71, 77, 86, 88, 102, 109, 120, 130, 139143 |
|
Penitential |
6, 32, 38, 51,
102, 130, 143 |
|
Imprecatory |
69, 109; plus
5, 6, 11, 12, 35, 37, 40, 52, 54, 56, 58, 69, 79, 83, 137, 139, and 143[1] |
|
Lament of the
Community (14) |
12, 44, 58,
60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 94, 123, 129, 137 |
|
Hymn
(Descriptive praise; 19) |
8, 29, 33,
100, 103, 104, 105, 111, 113, 114, 117, 135, 136, 145150 |
|
Hymns of
Enthronement (7) |
47, 93, 9599 |
|
Hymns of Zion
(6) |
46, 48, 76,
84, 87, 122 |
|
Thanksgiving
(individual; 10) |
18, 30, 32,
34, 40(:1-11), 66, 92, 116, 118, 138 |
|
Thanksgiving
(community; 6) |
65, 67, 68,
75, 107, 124 |
|
Trust (11) |
11, 16, 23,
27(:1-6), 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 126, 131 |
|
Wisdom (8) |
1, 37, 49, 73,
112, 127, 128, 133 |
|
Torah (2) |
19, 119 |
|
Royal (11) |
2, 18, 20, 21,
45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144 |
|
Liturgy |
15 (?), 24
(?), 50, 81, 82, 115, 134 |
|
History (3) |
78, 105
(Abraham), 106, 136 |
Classification
by Author
|
David |
341,
5172, 138145 (69) |
|
Korah |
4249,
8488 (13) |
|
Asaph |
50,
73-83 (12) |
|
Moses |
90 |
Up to 25% of this content without modification may be quoted. Notice of copyright must appear with the quotation as follows:
Quotations from "The Arguments of the Books of THE NEW/OLD TESTAMENT" by Dr. Gary Tuck. Copyright © 2021
This work is copyrighted. Right to reproduce the contents is restricted to written permission from the author.
[1] Also 149:6-9 May the saints be so filled with praise to go execute his judgment wrath on the wicked.