Psalms

What makes Psalms special?

Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. It contains songs of praise, prayers for God's help, and poems that express trust in God. The psalms express every possible human feeling, including sorrow and joy, doubt and trust, pain and comfort, despair and hope, anger and contentment, the desire for revenge and the willingness to forgive. As models of prayer and praise, the psalms invite people to share every part of their lives with God.

Why was Psalms written?

Many of the Bible's main ideas are echoed in Psalms: praise, thankfulness, faith, hope, sorrow for sin, and God's loyalty and help. The individual psalms in the book were written and collected for use in worship. Psalms became the hymnbook or prayer book that was used first in the temple in Jerusalem, then in Jewish meeting places (synagogues), and later in Christian churches. In addition to being used in private devotion and public worship, Psalms has been read and studied by people who wanted to learn more about living as faithful believers in the one true God who created and cares for the whole world and who is interested in every part of human life. For a quick overview, see the chart called “Kinds of Psalms,” PSA 30.1.

What's the story behind the scene?

Psalms took shape over hundreds of years. Some psalms were probably written early in Israel's history, while others were written after the time of the exile in Babylon. The titles of seventy-three psalms mention Israel's King David, who ruled Israel from about 1010 to 970 b.c. David may have written some of these psalms, but others were probably written after David's time. The persons who collected the psalms put David's name in the titles of many psalms as a way of honoring Israel's greatest king. The titles of thirteen psalms mention situations in David's life (for example, see Ps 3). David is presented as a model of how a person can depend upon God in difficult times. This was meant to help worshipers imagine similar situations in their own lives and how they can trust in God.

Psalms is traditionally divided into five sections, or books (see below). Psalm 89, the final psalm in Book III, tells of God's agreement with David that one of his descendants would always rule Israel (89.1-36). But the second part of the psalm describes how God is angry and ends this agreement (89.38-51). This has led some scholars to suggest that Books I–III may have been formed in response to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 b.c., the exile of the Israelites from their land, and the disappearance of the line of Davidic kings. Book IV seems to respond to this crisis by announcing that God is Israel's true king and is indeed God of the whole world and all its people (see Ps 93–99). It is fitting that Psalm 90, the first psalm in Book IV, is given the title, “A prayer of Moses, the man of God.” It was Moses who led the people before they had a king, a land, or a temple.

Other psalms were said to have been written by various authors, such as Asaph (see the note at 50 Title) or the people of Korah (see the note at 42 Title). Still others have music notations (12; 22; 67; 76) or tell how and when the psalm is to be used (38; 92; 120–134).

Jesus used the psalms when he preached and taught, and they were often quoted by the writers of the New Testament. A verse from Psalm 118, for example, is directly referred to six times in the New Testament.

How is Psalms constructed?

Because Psalms is a collection of one hundred fifty separate songs, prayers, and poems, it may appear that the book has no meaningful structure. But there are smaller collections within the larger whole (see the note at 72.20). In addition, a similar concluding “amen” verse appears to divide Psalms into five smaller books (see 41.13; 72.19; 89.52; and 106.48). This five-book structure may have been meant to remind the people that the five “books” of psalms had the same purpose as the five books of Moses (Genesis—Deuteronomy), namely to teach them about God and what it means to follow God.

The five “books” that provide the outline of Psalms are: