Page 64 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

Psalms

The Psalms are best looked at as ancient Israel’s prayer book.

The authors of the Psalms include but not limited to: David, Sons of
Korah, Asaph, Solomon, Moses, and Anonymous.

Date is unknown but possibly during the time when the listed authors lived. Themes include: Prayers
and Praise to God (Lament, Thanksgiving, Hymn, Wisdom/Torah) Message: Psalmists move from lament
over evil and enemies and prayers for God’s justice (1-3), to praise His person and work (4-5),
contemplating His wisdom and word.

Psalms 1-2 is a Prologue. As the few non-Davidic psalms in all of Book 1, Ps. 1-2 open with themes of
Torah and kingship: the righteous who meditate on God’s Law, are blessed, while wicked perish- both
now and not yet. Scoffing at ones who premeditate against Him and His king, YHWH causes wicked to
perish, while ones who fear and seek refuge in Him are blessed both now and not yet.

Book 1: Psalms 3-41 focuses on Lament over evil-enemies. Composed by David, with one exception (33),
Book 1 consists mainly of individual lament. Life in God’s creation and community is filled with much
suffering due to evil and enemies. Bracketed by blessing, this section contains subgroups w/ distinct
corner or center psalms: (a) cry for salvation, confidence in God (3-14) centers on His sovereign reign (8-
9) (b) call to covenant character, cry/praise for salvation, confidence in God (15-23)centers on His
revelation (19), (c) call to covenant character, cry/praise for salvation, confidence in God-temple (24-34)
centers on His rule (29) (d) cry for salvation, confidence in God (35-41) centers on confession of sin (38).

Book 2: Ps. 42-72 focuses on the Lament over evil. Beginning Elohistic Psalter (42-83), Book 2 consists
mainly of individual lament. The Korahites (42-49) begin with despair cut off and captured- God but shift
to praise victory and vindication by God and His king. Through Asaph (50), God stresses the covenant
priority of obedience over ritual. After his confession (51), David laments (52-64, 68-70) evil and
enemies, confident of God’s retribution defeating the wicked, defending His own! Anonymous psalms
(66-67) praise God as source of deliverance and blessing, calling all nations to Him. The final psalm (72),
dedicated to Solomon, requests universal rule of peace and prosperity.

Book 3: Ps. 73-89) With the psalms of Asaph and Korahites, Book 3 alternates praise and prayers for
help! Asaph (73-83) centers on crisis and community. With a focus on the ruin of Israel and Judah- Zion,
a major theme is hope in YHWH’s justice, praise of past rescue rebellion, lament over present ruin-
repent, pleas for retribution defeat the wicked and defend Your own! Korahites (84-89) focus on God’s
place Zion and His presence, seeking His rescue. Final two psalms are cries for help individual (88) and
community (89), lamenting God’s silence and appealing to covenant- David, a poetic theodicy shaped by
the exile.

Book 4: Ps. 90-106 focuses on praising God as the Creator King Bracketed by Moses, Book 4 shifts from
emphasis on David (Books 1-2) to the desert era, fitting for exile- land (106:47). Outside two laments,
communal (90) and individual (102), and a song of trust (91), the main form is the hymn. In the
enthronement psalms (92-99) YHWH reigns, praised as almighty king, righteous and just judge, loyal
suzerain, and sovereign creator, defeating wicked, defending His own reacting to failure of king,
theodicy (88-89) For His steadfast love and mercy, creation and provision, and rescue despite their
rebellion (100-106), psalmists call for all creation Israel to praise Him, reflect His character. Praise:
Works and Word
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