The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs, prayers, and poems expressing the religious beliefs and experiences of ancient Israel. The psalms capture the full range of human emotion from joy to anger, praise to lament, trust to doubt. They serve as a model for how people of faith should relate to God through worship, praise, thanksgiving, confession, and petition. Though attributed to various authors like David, Asaph, and the sons of Korah, the psalms collectively represent the outpouring of the soul before God.
The psalms are divided into five books or collections, perhaps in imitation of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament). Each collection ends with a doxology or benediction (Psalms 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150). This was the hymnbook of ancient Israel, used in both public worship and private devotion. The psalms connect the worshiper with God through prayer, praise, and meditation on God’s law.
Major Themes
Some of the major themes of the Book of Psalms include:
- Praise and thanksgiving to God (Psalms 8, 19, 29, 33, 65, 103, 104, 111, 117, 135, 136, 145-150)
- Trusting God in times of trouble (Psalms 3, 16, 23, 27, 31, 46, 91, 121, 131)
- God as protector and refuge (Psalms 2, 18, 20, 59, 61, 62, 91)
- Justice and righteousness of God (Psalms 1, 9-10, 50, 58, 82, 94-99)
- Repentance and forgiveness from sin (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)
- God’s sovereignty and majesty (Psalms 47, 93, 95-99)
- Thanksgiving for God’s law (Psalms 1, 19, 119)
- Praise for God’s creation (Psalms 8, 19, 104)
- Lament over suffering and evil (Psalms 13, 22, 39-42, 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 85, 90, 94, 123, 137)
- Messianic prophecy (Psalms 2, 16, 22, 110)
- God as shepherd (Psalms 23, 28, 78, 80, 95, 100)
Types of Psalms
The psalms can be categorized by type or genre:
- Laments – expressions of sorrow, pain, or disappointment to God (Psalms 3-7, 12-13, 22, 25-28, 35, 39, 42-43, 51, 54-57, 59, 61, 63, 69-71, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85-86, 88, 90, 102, 109, 120, 123, 126, 137, 140-143). The lament usually moves from complaint to trust.
- Thanksgiving Psalms – songs of joy and gladness for God’s blessings (Psalms 8, 18, 19, 29, 30, 32-34, 36, 40, 41, 65-68, 75-76, 92, 103-106, 111, 113-118, 124, 129, 135-136, 138, 139, 144-145, 147, 148).
- Salvation History Psalms – focus on God’s acts in Israel’s history (Psalms 78, 105, 106, 135, 136).
- Enthronement Psalms – celebrate God’s kingship and sovereignty (Psalms 47, 93, 95-99).
- Pilgrimage Psalms – sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem and the Temple (Psalms 120-134).
- Royal Psalms – highlight the king as God’s anointed representative (Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144).
- Wisdom Psalms – offer instruction in wise living (Psalms 1, 34, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133).
- Imprecatory Psalms – prayers calling on God to judge one’s enemies (Psalms 35, 55, 58-59, 69, 83, 109, 137).
- Penitential Psalms – express repentance and desire for forgiveness (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).
- Praise Psalms – joyful exaltation of God’s glory and greatness (Psalms 8, 19, 29, 33, 47, 65, 66, 95-100, 103-106, 111-118, 134-136, 145-150).
Key Psalms
Some of the best known and most loved psalms include:
- Psalm 1 – The way of the righteous and wicked.
- Psalm 8 – God’s majesty and man’s dignity.
- Psalm 19 – God’s creation and law.
- Psalm 22 – Cry of anguish and messianic prophecy.
- Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd.
- Psalm 51 – Psalm of repentance.
- Psalm 90 – Prayer of Moses.
- Psalm 100 – Call to worship and thanksgiving.
- Psalm 103 – Bless the Lord, O my soul.
- Psalm 118 – Song for festival procession.
- Psalm 119 – Meditation on God’s law.
- Psalm 121 – The Lord watches over you.
- Psalm 137 – Lament of the exiles in Babylon.
- Psalm 139 – The omniscience of God.
- Psalm 150 – Let everything praise the Lord.
Messianic Psalms
Several psalms are considered messianic because their words and themes find fulfillment in the life and work of Jesus Christ. These psalms anticipate the coming Messiah who would deliver God’s people:
- Psalm 2 – God declares the Messiah to be His Son.
- Psalm 16 – The Messiah’s trusting abandonment to God.
- Psalm 22 – The suffering and crucifixion of the Messiah.
- Psalm 45 – The kingship of the Messiah.
- Psalm 72 – The reign of the Messiah.
- Psalm 110 – The priestly kingship of the Messiah.
- Psalm 118 – The rejected but victorious Messiah.
New Testament authors pick up on these psalms and apply them to the person and work of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44; Acts 2:25-28; 13:35; Hebrews 1:5, 8-9, 13).
Themes, images and structure in Psalms
In addition to different types and categories, the Book of Psalms display common themes, metaphors, similes and structural elements including:
- Zion – Mount Zion in Jerusalem where the Temple was located, representing God’s dwelling with His people.
- Torah – God’s law that brings wisdom, joy and light.
- Redemption – being saved and rescued by God.
- Rock, fortress, shield – God as a source of protection.
- Shepherd – God as a caring guide and provider.
- Evil men – the psalmist’s enemies and persecutors.
- Right hand – symbolic of strength, authority and honor.
- Soul thirsts, longs – intense desire and seeking after God.
- Selah – musical interlude inserted 71 times, perhaps as a pause or instrumental flourish.
- Acrostic – successive lines begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet (Psalms 9-10, 25, 34, 37, 111-112, 119, 145).
- Repetition – phrases and refrains repeated throughout the psalms.
These unifying elements help give the psalms a common structure, imagery and purpose in worship. The soul is directed Godward in a variety of moods, emotions and contexts.
Benefits of the Psalms
Why should people today read and study the Book of Psalms?
- They model heartfelt prayer, praise, confession and lament before God.
- They connect us with Christ as we read messianic prophecies.
- They teach theology as God’s attributes and actions are praised.
- They dig deep into the full spectrum of human emotion.
- They guide worship and instruction in righteous living.
- They provide comfort, strength and perspective in suffering.
- They anchor our faith in the testimonies of God’s mighty acts.
- They enrich our prayer and devotional vocabulary.
For millennia these songs and poems have given voice to prayer and praise. Though arising from ancient times and cultures, the psalms continue to resonate with the joys, fears, doubts, hopes and longings of humanity. We hear our own cries echoed in these inspired texts. The psalms are a guide to authentic communication with God and faithful living before Him.