The title in Hebrew means Praises or Book of Praises. The title in the Greek suggests the idea of an instrumental accompaniment. Our title comes from the Greek psalmos.
WRITERS:
Many writers contributed one or more psalms. They are as follows: David, 73; Moses, 1 (90th); Solomon, 2; Sons of Korah, 11; Asaph, 12; Heman, 1 (88th); Ethan, 1 (89th); Hezekiah, 10; “Orphanic,” 39. David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2Sa_23:1), has 73 psalms assigned to him (Psalm 2 is ascribed to him in Act_4:25; Psalm 95 in Heb_4:7). Also, he could be the author of some of the “Orphanic” psalms. He had a special aptitude for and was peculiarly endowed to write these songs from experience. He arranged those in existence in his day for temple use.
THEME:
Christ (the Messiah) is prominent throughout (Luk_24:44). The King and the kingdom are the theme songs of the Psalms.
KEY WORD: Hallelujah
KEY PSALM: Psalm 150. “Hallelujah” occurs 13 times in 6 verses.
FEATURES:
The Psalms record deep devotion, intense feeling, exalted emotion, and dark dejection. The Psalms play with all the stops pulled out upon the keyboard of the human soul.
They run the psychological gamut. This book has been called the epitome and anatomy of the soul and designated as the garden of the Scriptures. The place Psalms have held in the lives of God’s people testifies to their universality, although they have a peculiar Jewish application. They express the deep feelings of all believing hearts in all generations.
The Psalms are full of Christ. There is a more complete picture of Him in Psalms than in the Gospels. The Gospels tell us that He went to the mountain to pray, but the Psalms give us His prayer. The Gospels tell us that He was crucified, but the Psalms tell us what went on in His own heart during the crucifixion The Gospels tell us He went back to heaven, but the Psalms begin where the Gospels leave off and show us Christ seated in heaven.
There are many types of psalms. Although all of them have Christ as the object of worship, some are technically called messianic psalms. These record the birth, life, death, resurrection, glory, priesthood, kingship, and return of Christ. The imprecatory psalms have caused the most criticism because of their vindictiveness and prayers for judgment. (Christians are told to love their enemies.) These psalms come from a time of war and from a people who, under law, were looking for justice and peace on the earth. They look to a time coming on the earth when the Antichrist will be in power. We have no reasonable basis to say how people should act and what they should say under those circumstances. Other types of psalms include penitential, historic, nature, pilgrim, Hallel, missionary, puritan, acrostic, and praise of God’s Word.
OUTLINE:
(Corresponds to Pentateuch of Moses)
I. Genesis section, Psalms 1 — 41
Man in a state of blessedness, fall, and recovery (Man in View)
Psalm 1: Perfect Man (last Adam)
Psalm 2: Rebellious man
Psalm 3: Perfect Man rejected
Psalm 4: Conflict between Seed of woman and serpent
Psalm 5: Perfect Man in midst of enemies
Psalm 6: Perfect Man in midst of chastisement (bruising heel)
Psalm 7: Perfect Man in midst of false witnesses
Psalm 8: Repair of man comes through Man (bruising head)
Psalms 9 — 15: Enemy and Antichrist conflict; final deliverance
Psalms 16 — 41: Christ in midst of His people, sanctifying them to God
II. Exodus section, Psalms 42 — 72 Ruin and Redemption (Israel in View)
Psalms 42 — 49: Israel’s ruin
Psalms 50 — 60: Israel’s Redeemer
Psalms 61 — 72: Israel’s redemption
III. Leviticus section, Psalms 73 — 89 Darkness and Dawn (Sanctuary in View)
IV. Numbers section, Psalms 90 — 106 Peril and Protection of Pilgrims (Earth in View)
V. Deuteronomy section, Psalms 107 — 150 Perfection and Praise of the Word of God
Psalm 119, an acrostic in the heart of this section, refers to the Word of God in almost every verse. It is the longest chapter in the Bible.
COMMENT:
One of the more noticeable features about the Book of Psalms is the systematic arrangement. This reveals that they were not put together in a haphazard manner; there is definite organization.
The major divisions correspond to the Pentateuch (see outline). This is not an artificial division but follows rather closely the Pentateuch of Moses. In each major division there are lesser divisions of clusters and series of psalms which develop a particular subject.
The Psalms were probably all set to music, both vocal and instrumental. It must have been a thrilling experience to hear several thousand voices singing them to the accompaniment of a great orchestra. Psalm 150, probably the theme of the book, could well be the chorus of every psalm.
I. Genesis section, Psalms 1 — 41
Man in a state of blessedness, fall, and recovery (Man in View)
It has been well stated that the Book of Genesis is the entire Bible in miniature — all great truths of Scripture are germinal in Genesis. The first few psalms cover the entire Book of Psalms in the same way.
Jehovah and Elohim are the two names for God in this section, although Jehovah occurs more often:
Jehovah (Redeemer) — 272 times
Elohim (Creator) — 15 times
Psalm 1: Perfect Man (last Adam)
The Blessed Man is contrasted to the ungodly man. This psalm, which opens the Genesis section, begins with man instead of the material universe. The Blessed Man here is not the first Adam but the last Adam. He is not in an ideal Garden of Eden but is in the midst of the ungodly, sinners, and the scornful.
Psa_1:1-2 — Practice of the Blessed Man (Psa_1:1 negative; Psa_1:2 positive)
Psa_1:3 — Power of the Blessed Man (“Rivers of water” is the Word of God.)
Psa_1:4-6 — Permanency of the Blessed Man (Ungodly will perish; the Lord knows the way of the righteous.)
Two Men — Two Ways — Two Destinies
Psalm 2: Rebellious man
Drama of the ages: man’s rebellion against God. Another has termed it “the decisive declaration concerning the outcome of events and forces at work today.”
The truly messianic character of this psalm is revealed in the fact that it is quoted as such 7 times in the New Testament. Rebellion against God and Christ began at the arrest of Jesus (Act_4:23-26). It has gained momentum down through the ages and will finally break in a mounting and mighty crescendo.
This second Psalm can be seen like a television program with one camera on earth and another in heaven.
Psa_2:1-3 — The camera on earth comes on, showing the peoples and rulers raging against God and Christ.
Psa_2:4-6 — The camera in heaven comes on, revealing that God the Father is unmoved by this ridiculous rebellion of little man. He pursues His plan of putting His King on the throne of this earth.
Psa_2:7-9 — The camera in heaven shifts to the right hand of the Father. God the Son asserts His authority to carry through the decree because of His resurrection (Act_13:33). He will come to judge the nations.
Psa_2:10-12 — The camera on earth comes on. God the Holy Spirit invites men to accept the Savior. “Kiss the Son” is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Act_16:31).
Psalms 3 — 7: Sorrows of God’s remnant
These 5 psalms form a brief series which deals with the sorrows of God’s godly remnant. The reference is directly to the Tribulation (Psa_3:1).
Psalm 3: Perfect Man rejected
Morning prayer. The trials of the godly in Israel. Since trials are common to all of God’s people, the comfort is for all also.
Psalm 4: Conflict between Seed of woman and serpent
Evening prayer (to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments). This is the plea of the Son of man and those who plead in His name.
Psalm 5: Perfect Man in midst of enemies
Morning prayer (Psa_5:3). This is a cry of the godly in the time of great trouble. They seek a refuge (Psa_5:7-8).
Psalm 6: Perfect Man in midst of chastisement (bruising heel)
Darkness, distress, and death. The first penitential psalm. Trials produce a broken spirit. The plea of David is that God will judge him in mercy and not anger.
Psalm 7: Perfect Man in midst of false witnesses
Cry for revenge. Cush, the Benjamite, may be Saul. This is prophetically the cry of the remnant during the Great Tribulation. This concludes the first cluster of 5 psalms.
Psalm 8: Repair of man comes through Man (bruising head)
Messianic psalm. God’s Man (quoted 3 times in the New Testament). It emphasizes the humanity of Christ and His ultimate victory as Man (Heb_2:6-8; 1Co_15:27).
Psalms 9 — 15: Enemy and Antichrist conflict; final deliverance Most in this series of 7 psalms are written by David.
Psalm 9: Satan’s man (Psa_9:17). The title “Muthlabben” means “death of the son” and may refer to the death of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4-51). The Scofield notes suggest it refers to the death of David’s son by Bathsheba (2Sa_12:19-20).
It looks to the time of Jacob’s trouble and God’s deliverance from the “giant,” the man of sin (Psa_9:8-9, Psa_9:13).
Psalm 10: Satan’s man, “man of the earth” (Psa_10:18) is closely identified with the 9th Psalm. “The wicked” are described: “pride” (Psa_10:2), “boasteth” (Psa_10:3), there is no God (Psa_10:4), self-sufficient (Psa_10:6), “cursing” and “mischief” (Psa_10:7), sin with impunity (Psa_10:11), no judgment to come (Psa_10:13).
Psalm 11: Testing of the righteous (Psa_11:5).
Psalm 12: The godly in the midst of the godlessness of the Great Tribulation.
Psalm 13: The desperate plight of David (1Sa_26:20) mirrors the plight of God’s people in the Great Tribulation (Psa_13:1, Psa_13:3).
Psalm 14: Depravity of man in the last days — atheistic (Psa_14:1), filthy and rebellious (Psa_14:3). He pleads for deliverance (Psa_14:7).
Psalm 15: Those who shall enter the kingdom. The question is asked (Psa_15:1) and answered (Psa_15:2-5).
Psalms 16 — 41: Christ in midst of His people, sanctifying them to God
Psalm 16: The resurrection of the Messiah (Psa_16:8-11; cp. Act_2:25-31 and Act_13:35-37; also Heb_2:13-14). Life of Christ (Psa_16:8), death of Christ (Psa_16:9), resurrection of Christ (Psa_16:10), ascension of Christ (Psa_16:11).
Psalm 17: Prayer of David when he is being pursued by Saul and his life is in danger. It also pictures the Messiah when He was in danger.
Psalm 18: Praise of David when God delivered him from the hand of Saul. It is repeated in 2 Samuel 22. Notice the picture of the Messiah (Psa_18:35).
Psalm 19: God’s message to man. The cosmos reveals the glory and power of God (Psa_19:1-6). The commandments reveal the wisdom and righteousness of God (Psa_19:7-11). Christ reveals the power and redemption of God (Psa_19:12-14).
Psalm 20: Plea of Israel for the success of the Messiah. “The king” is the Messiah (Psa_20:9).
Psalm 21: Messianic psalm. The ascension and coming again of Christ. “The king,” who is the subject of the psalm, is the Messiah. Psalms 20 and 21 present the same picture.
Psalm 22: X-ray of the cross (see author’s booklet by the same name). Eusebius called it “a prophecy of the passion of Christ.” It gives a new dimension of the cross.
Psa_22:1-21 — Humiliation - suffering - cross
Psa_22:22-31 — Exaltation - glory - crown
Psalm 23: Psalm of an old shepherd (see author’s booklet by the same name). One must know the Shepherd of Psalm 22 and have walked with Him in life to know intimately Psalm 23. “My sheep hear my voice” (Joh_10:27).
Psa_23:1-2 — Revelation of the sanctuary of the Shepherd’s soul.
Psa_23:3-4 — Record of the musings of the Shepherd’s mind.
Psa_23:5-6 — Reflection of the happiness and hope of the Shepherd’s heart.
Psalm 24: The coming of the Chief Shepherd. Tradition says it was composed by David and sung when he brought up the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Mt. Zion (2Sa_6:12-23).
Psa_24:1-6 — Companions of the King who enter the kingdom.
Psa_24:7-10 — Coming of the King to set up the kingdom.
Psalms 25 — 39: The future of God’s remnant
This series of 15 psalms primarily records David’s personal experience, but they also look to the future when the godly remnant is in trouble. For the comfort of believers today, they contain the balm of Gilead.
Psalm 25: Plea for forgiveness (Psa_25:11).
Psalm 26: Plea on the basis of personal righteousness. This could apply only to the Messiah. Written by David perhaps at the time of Absalom’s rebellion.
Psalm 27: Prayer of David.
Psa_27:1-6 — Preparation for prayer: triumphant praise in the presence of pressing problems.
Psa_27:1-3 — Foundation for prayer: God is salvation and strength.
Psa_27:4-6 — Meditation on prayer.
Psa_27:7-12 — Declaration of prayer proper: thankful prayer in pressure of painful prediction (cp. Psa_27:10 and 1Sa_22:3-4).
Psa_27:13-14 — Realization of prayer: patience.
Psalm 28: A cry in time of trouble. In the storm of wickedness David finds God to be a rock (Psa_28:1), strength, and shield (Psa_28:7).
Psalm 29: The voice of the Lord. Written during a thunderstorm, Delitzsch labeled it the “Psalm of seven thunders.” “Voice of the Lord” occurs 7 times.
Psalm 30: A psalm-song at the dedication of the house of David (place of future temple). A song of deliverance and prospect for the future (Psa_30:5).
Psalm 31: Psalm of troubles and trials, followed by prayer for deliverance, and the deliverance that follows as an answer to prayer (Psa_31:1).
Psalm 32: “Maschil”: psalm of instruction. Written in connection with David’s sin and his confession (Psalm 51) and the restoration of the sinning saint (Psa_32:1-2).
Psalm 33: Praises of redeemed people. God is worshiped as Creator, as providential Ruler. He is praised for His majestic and matchless grace. Notice the method of creation (Psa_33:6) — God spoke into existence all of creation.
Psalm 34: A song of praise when Abimelech (a royal title; called “Achish” in 1Sa_21:10-15) drove David away, and he fled to the cave of Adullam. Compare Psa_34:15-16 with 1Pe_3:12. David’s experience is that of all God’s children (Psa_34:19).
Psalm 35: A plea for God to deliver David from the hand of Saul (1 Samuel 24) and to judge the wicked.
Psalm 36: A Psalm of David as the servant of Jehovah.
Psalm 37: A promise of future blessing to the remnant of Israel in the form of an acrostic. This psalm has refreshed all of God’s saints down through the ages — it is often quoted. (See Psa_37:1, Psa_37:4-5, Psa_37:7, Psa_37:11, Psa_37:23, Psa_37:35-36)
Psalm 38: Confession and physical sickness; David in deep distress prays that God will not judge him in anger (Psa_38:1). This is real conviction (Psa_38:2). His physical sickness is the result of sin (Psa_38:3). Disease, the result of his foolishness, is followed by mental anguish (Psa_38:5-8). Some dare to say that this refers to Christ and that He had a diseased body. They use Mat_8:17. Jesus, however, was holy, harmless and separate from sin. He could not be the spotless Lamb offered for our sin if He were diseased — disease is the result of sin. Death is also. Jesus did not have to die — He said, “No man taketh [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (Joh_10:18). On the cross He dismissed His spirit (Joh_19:30).
Psalm 39: A psalm for funerals. The vanity and feebleness of humanity. This is the last psalm in the series beginning with Psalm 25.
Psalm 40: Messianic psalm, quoted in Heb_10:5-7 as referring to Christ (Psa_40:6-8). It is the experience of David when he fled from Absalom.
Psalm 41: Messianic psalm. It opens with “blessed” and closes with “blessed.” Jesus quoted this reference to Judas (Psa_41:9) in John 13:18, and Peter referred to it in Act_1:16.
This is the last psalm in the Genesis section. It closes on the high hope of the resurrection (Psa_41:10). What a contrast to “a coffin in Egypt” which concludes the book of Genesis. David is the writer of 37 of these 41 psalms.
II. Exodus section, Psalms 42 — 72 Ruin and Redemption (Israel in View)
(David wrote 19 of these psalms.)
Psalms 42 — 49: Israel’s ruin
This series of 7 psalms by the sons of Korah are prophetic pictures of Israel in the last days.
Psalm 42: Heart cry of the remnant and applicable to the redeemed of all ages. It concludes with the heart cry of hope for deliverance (Psa_42:11). This is not redemption by blood which took place in Egypt at the death of the firstborn; it is redemption by power which took place at the Red Sea.
Psalm 43: A call to God to act on behalf of the remnant.
Psalm 44: During the Great Tribulation, Israel calls upon God to deliver them as He did in Egypt in the past. It closes with a cry to redeem.
Psalm 45: Reign of the Messiah King. Shoshannim (or lily) psalm, a love song.
Psa_45:1 — Introduction: psalmist can tell it better than he can write it.
Psa_45:2-5 — Messiah: His person and power.
Psa_45:2 — “Thy beauty, O King Messiah, is greater than the sons of men.” — Chaldean Targumim
Psa_45:4 — Truth, meekness, and righteousness are eternal principles of His kingdom.
Psa_45:6-8 — Messiah: His government and glory. (Heart of the psalm, Psa_45:6-7.)
Psa_45:9-17 — Messiah: His companions and church. (“The queen” is the church in type and figure, Psa_45:9.)
Psalm 46: God is our refuge. This psalm and the next 2 present a picture of the benefits of the setting up of His kingdom.
Psa_46:1-3 — Sufficiency of God
Psa_46:4-7 — Security of God
Psa_46:8-11 — Supremacy of God
Psalm 47: Praise and worship in the Millennium.
Psalm 48: Messiah’s victory which brings in the kingdom.
Psalm 49: Contrast of rich and poor. “Death shall feed on them” (Psa_49:14) should be “death is their shepherd.” God delivers the redeemed from death.
Psalms 50 — 60: Israel’s Redeemer
Psalm 50: Judgment. God judges His people (Psa_50:7-15). God judges the wicked (Psa_50:16-23).
Psalm 51: David’s great penitential psalm when Nathan pointed the accusing finger with the words, “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7).
Psa_51:1-6 — Pardon — repentance — sorrow
Psa_51:7-12 — Purity — remission — sigh
Psa_51:13-15 — Power — restoration — service
Psa_51:16-19 — Pleasure — reparation — song
Psalms 52 — 55: “Maschil” (instruction) psalms
This series of 4 psalms is all about the coming of Antichrist.
Psalm 52: Mighty man of mischief — Antichrist.
Psalm 53: Antichrist denies the existence of God.
Psalm 54: A cry of faith in the times of Antichrist.
Psalm 55: The darkest days under Antichrist. Notice the deception of Antichrist (Psa_55:21).
Psalm 56: Deep trouble. Souls of the saints are laid bare during the Great Tribulation.
Psalm 57: Cry for mercy (see title of psalm).
Psalm 58: Rebuke of unrighteousness (lawlessness).
Psalm 59: God’s people surrounded by enemies.
Psalm 60: Confession and victory for God’s people (see title).
Psalms 61 — 72: Israel’s redemption
Psalm 61: Cry and confidence of the godly. (Psalms 62 — 68 carry out the theme of Psalm 61.)
Psalm 62: The “only” psalm (see author’s booklet by the same name). Note the word “only” and the possessive pronoun “my.” It expresses great confidence.
Psalm 63: Thirst for the Water of Life (God). Chrysostom says that the early church sang this psalm every morning. It is a psalm of David, as also are 64 and 65.
Psalm 64: The wicked win, then God judges them.
Psalm 65: Song of the Millennium.
Psalm 66: Song (Psa_66:1) and prayer (Psa_66:18-19).
Psalm 67: Blessing and praise for the Millennium.
Psalm 68: Song of deliverance that ushers in the kingdom. A messianic psalm (cp. Psa_68:18 with Eph_4:8).
Psalm 69: The silent years in the life of Christ. Next to Psalm 22, the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. (Psalm 22: the death of Christ; Psalm 69: the life of Christ.)
Psa_69:7-12 — Dark days in Nazareth.
Psa_69:20-21 — Dark hours on the cross.
Psa_69:22-25 — Imprecatory: a cry for justice.
Psalm 70: Urgent cry for deliverance (duplication of the last 5 verses of Psalm 40).
Psalm 71: The suffering Savior. Jesus aged on the cross (Psa_71:9).
Psalm 72: David speaks to Solomon. The King and the kingdom are coming (Psa_72:11, Psa_72:17, Psa_72:19).
III. Leviticus section, Psalms 73 — 89 Darkness and Dawn (Sanctuary in View)
Tabernacle, temple, house, assembly, and congregation appear in almost every psalm.
Psalms 73 — 83: “Asaph psalms” (2Ch_29:30)
Psalm 73: Perplexity about prosperity. Why does God permit the wicked to prosper (Psa_73:3-9)? The answer is found in the sanctuary (Psa_73:17). The state of the wicked is temporary; they are brought down suddenly (Psa_73:18-19).
Psalm 74: A cry for deliverance when the temple is defiled by the enemy (Psa_74:7, Psa_74:19).
Psalm 75: God answers the plea of Psalm 74. Help comes from
God (Psa_75:6-7).
Psalm 76: Prophetic of the Messiah upon the throne, and the temple open for worship.
Psalm 77: Perplexity about the mercy and goodness of God (Psa_77:9). The answer again is in the sanctuary (