INTRODUCTION TO THE PSALMS
The Book of Psalms, often described as ‘the Hebrew Hymn-book’ is the longest book in the Bible (150 chapters). It is a collection of songs, for accompaniment by stringed instruments, written by a variety of authors. Psalms is one of five Poetical books in the Old Testament – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.
- Job – the persecuted man.
- Psalms – the prayerful man.
- Proverbs – the prudent man.
- Ecclesiastes – the pleasure-seeking man.
- Song of Solomon – the passionate man.
As well as being poetical the psalms are lyrical, devotional, historical and prophetical.
THE DIVISIONS OF THE PSALMS
The Book of Psalms is traditionally viewed as having five Divisions – usually referred to as Book 1, Book 2, etc. These are natural divisions as each book closes with a doxology (41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:6).
Book 1 – Psalms 1-41
Book 2 – Psalms 42-72
Book 3 – Psalms 73-89
Book 4 – Psalms 90-106
Book 5 – Psalms 107-150
THE CATEGORIES OF PSALMS
The psalms may be classified into five main categories (Genres):
Hymns – (e.g. 8; 19; 29; 33; 65; 67; 68; 96; 98; 100; 103; 104; 105; 111; 113; 114; 117; 135; 136; 139; 145; 146; 147; 148; 149; 150).
Lament psalms – these may be further subdivided into communal (e.g. 44; 58; 60; 74; 79; 80; 83; 106; 125) and individual lament psalms (e.g. 3; 5; 6; 7; 13; 17; 22; 25; 26; 27; 28; 31; 35; 38; 39; 42; 43; 54; 55; 56; 57; 59; 61; 63; 64; 69; 70; 71; 86; 88; 102; 109; 120; 130; 140; 141; 142; 143).
Royal psalms – (e.g. 2; 18; 20; 21; 45; 72; 101; 110; 132; 144).
Thanksgiving psalms – these may be further subdivided into individual (e.g. 18; 30; 32; 34; 40; 41; 66; 92; 100; 107; 116; 118; 138) and communal thanksgiving psalms (e.g. 67; 124; 129).
Wisdom psalms – (e.g. 1; 37; 49; 73; 91; 112; 127; 128; 133).
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR MORE DETAILED STUDY OF THE PSALMS
The psalms of Asaph
The psalms of the sons of Korah
The Davidic psalms
The imprecatory psalms
The Messianic psalms
The Songs of Ascent
The authors of the psalms
Prophecies concerning Jesus in The Psalms
Quotations and allusions to psalms in the New Testament
The Titles of the Psalms
Biblical psalms outside the Book of Psalms.
Written Exposition 