The Psalms
I once said to a friend, “I’m reading the Psalms.” He replied, “I am living the Psalms.” He was going through deep waters and was finding comfort in the Psalms. David the main contributor to the Psalms wrote many of the Psalms out of great affliction, such as, when he was fleeing as a fugitive from jealous King Saul or dealing with the rebellion of his son Absalom.
Jesus referred to the “Book of Psalms” in Luke 20:42. Jesus at least six times quoted the Psalms.
1. The Title of Psalms
A. The Hebrew title means Songs of Praise as in Psalm 145
B. The Greek title means “Pluck with the fingers.”
2. The Authors of the Psalms
A. David wrote 73 of the Psalms according to the inscriptions
1. One hundred Psalms have ascriptions
2. Psalm 3 has a historical notation; Psalm 4 has musical notations; Psalm 32 is a Maschil
B. Asaph, David’s chief musician (1 Chronicles 15:17), wrote 12 Psalms (50, 73-83)
C. The sons of Korah are associated with 11 Psalms (42-49; 84, 85, 87, 88)
D. Solomon wrote 2 Psalms (72 and 127)
E. Moses wrote 1 Psalm (90)
F. Heman wrote 1 Psalm (88) (Heman and Ethan were among the wise men, 1 Kgs 4:31)
G. Ethan wrote 1 Psalm (89)
H. 49 Psalms are called “Orphan Psalms” (The NT credits two of these to David: Acts 4:25 says David wrote Psalm 2 and Hebrews 4:7 says David wrote Psalm 95)
3. The Division of the Psalms
A. The Holy Spirit divided the Psalms into 5 Books. Each begins with a preface and ends with a doxology (Book 1 is Psalms 1-41; Book 2 is 42-72; Book 3 is 73-89; Book 4 is 90-106; Book 5 is 107-150)
B. The Psalms is a collection of collections (Psalm 72:19-20) covering 1000 years
4. The Different Types of Psalms
Messianic (2) Nature (19) Praise (150) Confession (51) Pilgrim (120-134) Imprecatory (137) Complaints (88 Prayers (139) The Hallel (115-118).
5. Jesus and the Psalms
Jesus’ mother had memorized the Psalms (Luke 1:46). Jesus quoted Psalms (6:8; 8:2; 110:1; 22:1; 31:5)