Introduction to the Psalms

The Five Books of the Psalter

1. Psalms 1–41
2. Psalms 42–72
3. Psalms 73–89
4. Psalms 90–106
5. Psalms 107–150

Genres of Psalms

Genre	Examples
Individual laments	3–7; 9–10; 13; 14; 17; 22; 25; 26; 28; 31; etc.
Community laments	12; 44; 58; 60; 74; 79; 80; 83; 85; etc.
Penitential psalms	6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143
Thanksgiving psalms	9; 21; 30; 32; 34; 40; 65; 66; 67; 92; etc.
Songs of trust	11; 16; 23; 27; 62; 91; 121; 125; 131
Torah psalms	1; 19; 119
Enthronement psalms	24; 29; 47; 93; 95–99
Narrative psalms	78; 105; 106; 135; 136
Hallel psalms	113–118
Songs of ascent	120–134
Royal / Messianic psalms	2; 16; 18; 22; 40; 45; 69; 72; 110
Hymns of praise	66; 92; 100; 103; 111; 113; 146–150

Superscriptions and Life Context

Psalm superscriptions often indicate the life context of a psalm.

Examples include Psalms 18 (= 2 Sam. 22), 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, and 63. Many Davidic psalms originated during the period narrated in 1–2 Samuel.

The Christological Focus of the Psalter

David wrote not merely as a private individual, but as the Lord’s anointed (Pss. 22:22; 35:27; 69:6–9).

There is also a corporate dimension, including Jonathan, Abigail, Ahimelech, Abiathar, and David’s mighty men.

Christ’s Sufferings in the Laments

• David’s trials were ordained by God as a picture of Christ’s trials.
• David’s psalms in those trials were ordained by God to be taken up on Christ’s lips.

The Cycle of Praise

Lament → Thanksgiving → Praise

This cycle is founded on:

Christ’s Sufferings → Resurrection → Praise

We pray the psalms in union with Christ.

Pray specific psalms that express what you are going through or feeling. Calvin called the Psalms “an anatomy of all the parts of the soul,” since every emotion—grief, sorrow, fear, doubt, and anxiety—is represented here “as in a mirror.”

Messianic Psalms: “The Sufferings and the Glory of Christ”

See Luke 24:25–27, 44; 1 Peter 1:10–11.

Psalm	S/G	New Testament Quotations
2:1–2	S	Acts 4:25–26
2:7	G	Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5
2:8–9	G	Rev. 12:5; 19:15
16:8–11	S/G	Acts 2:24–31; 13:35
22:1	S	Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34
22:7–8	S	Matt. 27:39, 43; Mark 15:29; Luke 23:35
22:16–18	S	Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24
22:22	G	Heb. 2:12
31:5	S/G	Luke 23:46
40:6–8	S	Heb. 10:5–7
41:9	S	John 13:18
69:4	S	John 15:25
69:9b	S	Rom. 15:3
69:21	S	Matt. 27:34, 48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36; John 19:28–29
110:1	G	Acts 2:34–35; Heb. 1:13; and many more
118:22–23	S/G	Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:4, 7
118:25–26	G	Matt. 23:39; Luke 13:35
Key: S = sufferings; G = glory.