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Psalms

The Complete Story25:53

Overview

The Psalms (Hebrew Tehillim, "praises") is a collection of 150 songs and prayers, the hymnbook of ancient Israel and the prayer book of synagogue and church. Its poems were written over roughly a thousand years, from Moses (Psalm 90) through David and the temple musicians to the exile and return (Psalms 126, 137). Seventy-three psalms are headed "of David"; others are linked to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan and Moses, and many are anonymous. The headings and their musical terms (like the frequent "Selah") are ancient, though scholars discuss how and when they were added.

The collection is arranged in five books, perhaps echoing the five books of Moses. Each ends with a doxology (a short blessing of God): Book One (Psalms 1–41), Book Two (42–72), Book Three (73–89), Book Four (90–106) and Book Five (107–150), with Psalm 150 acting as a closing doxology for the whole.

Across the books, the psalms fall into recurring kinds: hymns of praise; laments (individual and communal — the most common type); songs of thanksgiving for deliverance; royal psalms about the king and God's kingship; wisdom psalms on the two ways and God's law; and the songs of ascents, sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. The overall movement runs from lament towards praise.

Part 1 — Book One (Psalms 1–41)

The two ways (1). A wisdom psalm opens the collection: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly... his delight is in the law of the LORD." The righteous are "like a tree planted by the rivers of water"; the wicked "are like the chaff which the wind driveth away". The LORD's anointed (2). A royal psalm: the nations conspire against the LORD and his anointed, but God has set his king on Zion: "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Psalms 1 and 2 together form a gateway — the way of wisdom and the hope of God's king. Crowned with glory (8). A hymn of creation: "When I consider thy heavens... What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" Humanity is made "a little lower than the angels" and given dominion over the creatures. The heavens and the law (19). "The heavens declare the glory of God." The sun goes out "as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber". Then the psalm turns to God's word: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul", sweeter than honey. Forsaken (22). A lament of extreme suffering: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The sufferer is mocked, his bones out of joint, hands and feet pierced, his garments divided by lot. The psalm turns to praise and a vision of all nations worshipping. The Gospels apply it to the crucifixion. The shepherd (23). The best-known psalm: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Green pastures, still waters, "the valley of the shadow of death", a table prepared and an overflowing cup, ending "I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Other highlights. Psalm 24 ("The earth is the LORD's"), Psalm 27 ("The LORD is my light"), Psalm 32 on forgiveness, and Psalm 37 (a wisdom psalm, "Fret not thyself because of evildoers"). Book One ends: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen" (41:13).

Part 2 — Book Two (Psalms 42–72)

Thirsting for God (42–43). The sons of Korah open the book: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God", with the refrain, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? hope thou in God." God our refuge (46). "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Though the earth shakes and the mountains fall into the sea, "there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God". "Be still, and know that I am God." A clean heart (51). David's prayer after Nathan confronts him over Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12): "Have mercy upon me, O God... Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." God's true sacrifice is "a broken and a contrite heart". The ideal king (72). A royal psalm "for Solomon" prays for a king who defends the poor and rules "from sea to sea". Book Two ends: "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended."

Part 3 — Book Three (Psalms 73–89)

Envy and the sanctuary (73). Asaph almost slips, envying the prosperity of the wicked, "until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end". "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" National lament (74, 79, 80). Psalms mourn the destruction of the sanctuary and the nation's suffering: "O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance." Psalm 80 prays, "Turn us again, O God... cause thy face to shine." The covenant in question (89). A royal psalm celebrates God's covenant with David — "His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun" — then laments that God has "profaned his crown by casting it to the ground". "Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses?" Book Three ends on this unresolved cry, matching the experience of exile.

Part 4 — Book Four (Psalms 90–106)

From everlasting (90). The only psalm attributed to Moses: "from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God... a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday". Human life is like grass; "teach us to number our days". Shelter and kingship (91–100). Psalm 91 promises refuge "under the shadow of the Almighty". Psalms 93–99 proclaim "The LORD reigneth" — the answer to the loss of David's throne. Psalm 95 calls, "O come, let us sing unto the LORD", and Psalm 100 invites all lands to "make a joyful noise". Bless the LORD (103). "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." He forgives and heals; "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us". Like a father he pities his children. Creation and history (104–106). Psalm 104 is a great creation hymn: springs, cedars, wine, the moon for seasons, ships and Leviathan. Psalms 105–106 retell Israel's history from Abraham through Egypt and the wilderness, celebrating God's faithfulness and confessing Israel's rebellions.

Part 5 — Book Five (Psalms 107–150)

Thanksgiving of the redeemed (107). "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so." Wanderers, prisoners, the sick and sailors in a storm cry out and are rescued: "He maketh the storm a calm." Royal and festival psalms (110, 113–118). Psalm 110 ("The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand") is the psalm most quoted in the New Testament. Psalms 113–118, the "Hallel", were sung at Passover. The word (119). The longest psalm and chapter in the Bible, a wisdom psalm of 176 verses in 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, each verse praising God's law: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Songs of Ascents (120–134). Fifteen short pilgrim songs. Psalm 121: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills... My help cometh from the LORD... he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 122: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD... Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Psalm 126: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Psalm 133: "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity". By the rivers of Babylon (137). A communal lament from exile: "there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion". The captives hang their harps on the willows: "How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?" It closes with a raw, troubling cry for vengeance on Babylon — an honest prayer of the wounded, left in the hands of God. Searched and known (139). "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me." There is nowhere to flee from God's presence — "If I take the wings of the morning... even there shall thy hand lead me." "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." The final Hallelujah (145–150). Psalm 145 praises God's greatness and kindness. Psalms 146–150 each begin and end with "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah), calling on all creation — sun and moon, sea monsters, fire and hail, kings and children — to praise. Psalm 150 summons trumpet, harp, timbrel, dance and cymbals: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD."

Key themes, and the bridge to Proverbs

  • Honest prayer. The psalms give words for every situation — joy, guilt, fear, anger, grief — and bring them all to God.
  • From lament to praise. Laments dominate the early books; praise grows until it fills the end of the collection.
  • The LORD reigns. God is king over creation and history, even when David's throne falls.
  • The anointed king. Royal psalms celebrate David's line and nurture hope for a coming Messiah; the New Testament applies many of them to Jesus.
  • God's word and wisdom. Psalms 1, 19 and 119 commend meditation on God's law as the path of life.
  • Zion and worship. The temple, the pilgrim festivals and the longing for God's presence run throughout.

The Psalms end not with an argument but with an orchestra: everything that breathes praising God. Having learned to pray, the reader turns to Proverbs, where the "fear of the LORD" that the wisdom psalms praise becomes practical guidance for daily life, work, speech and family.