Psalms

[18]…”Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.” … [22] And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” [23] And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. [1Sam 16:18, 22-23 ESV]

[16] David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. [17] So the Levites appointed Heman… Asaph… Ethan… [22] Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it…
[29] And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating… [1Chron. 15:16-17, 22, 29 ESV]

1. Psalm = “a poem sung to musical accompaniment.” 2. The ________________ of the Jewish nation.

3. Written by many authors from the early monarchy until after the exile: David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Moses, Solomon, Ethan, Heman, and others.

4. Psalms express trust in and praise to the Lord for His greatness and goodness (who He is and what He has done). 5. The Psalms make it clear that the Lord is the sovereign ________________ of the universe and the nations.
6. There are five divisions in the Psalms, each concluding with a doxology, which reflect Israel’s ________________ 7. Book 1 (1-41), Book 2 (42-72), Book 3 (73-89), Book 4 (90-106), Book 5 (107-150)

8. Types of Psalms: Personal ________________, Personal ________________, Corporate praise, Corporate lament. 9. The book also includes wisdom psalms and royal psalms.
10. Psalm 22 – The crucified Savior. Psalm 23 – The ________________. Psalm 40:68 – The sacrifice, etc.

I. Three ways to interpret the Psalms:
A. Individual expressions of spirituality.
B. Interpreted and applied according to their literary type.

1. Hymn of praise
2. Royal Psalms
3. Individual thanksgiving psalms 4. Individual laments
5. Community laments

C. Reading the Psalms as a whole book II. Ten Types of Psalms

A. Laments
1. Four Types of Miseries

a. Facing Enemies, b. Facing Death, c. Facing Confinement, d. Facing Drowning

1

2. MaximumApplicability 3. Format

a. Address, b. Complaint, c. Trust, d. Deliverance Plea, e. Assurance, f. Praise 4. Individual or Corporate
5. Subcategories

a. Penitential Psalms, b. Imprecatory Psalms B. Thanksgiving Psalms

1. Format
a. Introduction, b. Misery, c. Appeal, d. Rescue, e. Testimonial

2. Individual or Corporate C. Hymns

1. Format
a. Summons, b. Reason, c. Recapitulation

2. Creator Hymns 3. Israel Hymns 4. History Hymns

D. Enthronement Psalms E. Royal Psalms
F. Zion Psalms
G. Wisdom Psalms

1. Format
2. Wisdom is making the right choice 3. Two Ways Literature

H. Trust Psalms I. Liturgies
J. Torah Psalms

[4] Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. [5] Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel… who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, [6] and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. [7] Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers. [8] Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! [9] Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! [10] Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! [11] Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! [1Chron 16:4-11 ESV]

2