The Psalms: A Book of Praises
A Look at the Book:
Name
Hebrew title = "Praises"
Septuagint title = "Songs of Praises" - (Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures)
Data
Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, containing over 40,000 words in 150 chapters.
Contains the Bible's longest chapter (119) and the shortest (117)
Of the 283 direct Old Testament citations found in the New Testament, 116 (41%) are from Psalms.
Authors - Majority written by no less than 15 men over 300 years from David to Hezekiah (excluding Psalm 90, written by Moses)
David credited with 73
Sons of Korah - 11
Asaph - 12
Hezekiah - 10 (?)
Solomon - 2
1 each by Moses (90), Ethan (89), Heman (88), Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra
Jeremiah credited with Psalm 137 (cf Lamentations)
Remaining 35 unknown
Major Divisions - The Psalms are divided into 5 Books
Chapters 1 through 41
Chapters 42 through 72
Chapters 73 through 89
Chapters 90 through 106
Chapters 107 through 150
Major Themes:
The Goodness of God - Psalm 107
The Deliverance of God - Psalm 18, 78
The Provisions of God - Psalm 23, 37:1-6, 25
The Word of God - Psalm 119 (This Psalm is an acrostic poem. It uses theentire Hebrew alphabet.)
Jesus in the Psalms:
His Sonship - Psalm 2:7 (cf Hebrews 5:8-9)
His Obedience - Psalm 40:6-8 (cf Philippians 2:8)
His Betrayal - Psalm 41:9 (cf John 13:18)
His Crucifixion - Psalm 22 (cf Matthew 27:46)
His Resurrection - Psalm 16:10
His Ascension - Psalm 68:18 (cf Ephesians 4:8)
His Reign - Psalm 72
His Exaltation - Psalm 110 (cf Philippians 2:9; Romans 14:11)
His Return - Psalm 96-98 (cf 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9)
Thoughts on the Book
5 divisions parallel the Pentateuch (R. Lee, The Outlined Bible)
Book 1 = Genesis - man's state of blessedness, fall, and redemption
Book 2 = Exodus - the nation, her ruin (42-49), redeemer (50-60), redemption (61-72)
Book 3 = Leviticus - the place of worship (sanctuary, etc.) is mentioned in several chapters
Book 4 = Numbers - theme: the wilderness wanderings (many Psalms in this section anonymous)
Book 5 = Deuteronomy - the word of God (107:20; 119)
Considered authoritative by:
the scribes and Pharisees - Luke 20:42
Christ - Luke 24:46
The apostles - Acts 1:20 (96-98)
Explores the gamut of human emotion