Page 95 - Advanced OT Survey Student Textbook

The Book of Job

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.
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.

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 with 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

94