Survey of the Book of Psalms

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Psalms were written by numerous authors, including David, Moses, Solomon, and the sons of Asaph and Korah, over centuries as expressions of worship, trust, sorrow, and hope. These 150 entries were composed in various contexts, reflecting the full spectrum of human emotion—from anguish and despair to joy and thanksgiving. They are divided into categories such as praise, lament, wisdom, thanksgiving, and royal psalms, and many contain prophetic insights about the coming Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus. Psalms is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament, revealing the lasting theological and devotional significance. The Psalms invite us to honestly bring our hearts before God, deepen our worship, and trust Him through every season of life.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Author: The psalms were written by many authors. David is listed as the author for seventy-three of them but not for the entire collection. Fifty of the psalms do not list a specific person as the author. Excluding David, Solomon, and Moses, the authors of the psalms were Levites or priests who were tasked with writing songs for sanctuary worship during the reign of David. Here are the authors we know from the chapter introductions:
• David: seventy-three psalms
• Solomon, David's son: two psalms (72 and 127)
• Moses: Psalm 90
• The Family of Asaph: twelve psalms (50 and 73–83)
• The Sons of Korah: eleven psalms (42; 44–49; 84; 85; 87; 88)
• Heman the Ezrahite: Psalm 88
• Ethan the Ezrahite: Psalm 89
• Date of writing: The book of Psalms was written by many authors over an extensive period of time—about one thousand years—and was most likely compiled by an unnamed editor after the Babylonian captivity ended, around 537 BC. The earliest known psalm ever written is Psalm 90, Moses's prayer, which compares man's frailty with God's eternity. The latest written psalm is, most likely, Psalm 137, a song of lament from when the Hebrews were enduring the Babylonian captivity from approximately 586 to 538 BC.
• Purpose: The psalms are songs and poems written for the purpose of worshipping the Lord and connecting with Him.
• Themes: Being the longest book in the Bible, Psalms contains many themes: praise, lament, war, creation, sin, repentance, and the coming Messiah. The psalms fall into five categories: praise, lament, wisdom, royal, and thanksgiving.
• Brief summary: The name "Psalms" is descended from a Greek word, meaning "a song sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument." Some of the psalms were used in a hymnal for ancient Israel to sing during their worship services. The psalms are songs, prayers, and poems that help us, as worshipers, to focus our attention on God in every situation we face—the highs and lows. The major themes in Psalms include praise and worship, where God's power, faithfulness, and holiness are exalted. Other psalms focus on lament and suffering, giving voice to sorrow, fear, and confusion while still turning toward God in trust. Many psalms express thanksgiving for God’s provision and deliverance, while others highlight His kingship and sovereign rule over all creation and nations. A significant number of psalms also contain messianic prophecies that point forward to the coming of Christ and His eternal reign. Some psalms offer wisdom and instruction, teaching the value of God’s law and the importance of living a righteous life.
• Together, the Psalms reflect the full range of human emotion and spiritual experience. They teach us that it is not only acceptable but encouraged to bring every part of our hearts before God. Whether in seasons of joy or sorrow, clarity or confusion, the Psalms invite us to draw near to the Lord, find comfort in His presence, and grow in faith and worship.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Psalm 2:7 is quoted in Matthew 3:17, Acts 13:33, and Hebrews 1:5 to affirm that Jesus is the Son of God, fulfilling the declaration, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”
• Psalm 110:1 is quoted in Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42–43, Acts 2:34–35, and Hebrews 1:13 to show that the Messiah (Jesus) is exalted at God's right hand, as it says, “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’”
• Psalm 118:22–23 is quoted in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10–11, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7 to describe Jesus as the rejected stone that became the cornerstone.
• Psalm 22:1 is quoted in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 when Jesus cries out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• Psalm 8:4–6 is quoted in Hebrews 2:6–8 to explain Jesus’s humanity and dominion over creation, asking, “What is man that you are mindful of him…?”
• Psalm 14:1–3 (also echoed in Psalm 53:1–3) is quoted in Romans 3:10–12 to support Paul’s teaching that no one is righteous on their own.
• Psalm 69:9 is quoted in John 2:17, to describe Jesus’s zeal for God’s house, and in Romans 15:3 to highlight how Christ bore reproach on behalf of others.
• Psalm 41:9 is quoted in John 13:18 to predict Judas’s betrayal: “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.”
• Psalm 69:21 is quoted in Matthew 27:34 and John 19:28–29 to describe how Jesus was given sour wine (or gall) to drink during His crucifixion.
• Psalm 109:8 is quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20 when selecting a replacement for Judas: “Let another take his office.”
• Psalm 95:7–11 is quoted in Hebrews 3:7–11 and Hebrews 4:7 as a warning to not harden our hearts, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness.
• Psalm 34:12–16 is quoted in 1 Peter 3:10–12 to instruct believers in holy and peaceful living.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The God who is worshiped in the psalms is the same triune God who is worthy of worship today. Like the psalmists, we can pour out our hearts to Him, expressing our feelings, seeking His direction, and praising Him for who He is. In Psalm 42, we see the fluctuation between human despair—"My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?'" (Psalm 42:3)—and confident hope in God's ultimate faithfulness—"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God" (Psalm 42:11). Though our circumstances often cause our emotions to fluctuate, our God, in whom we have hope, is still the same. He is our ultimate salvation, high and lifted up, the creator of the universe (Psalm 24:1–5). He is also our shepherd, protector, and friend who guides and walks alongside us each step of our lives (Psalm 23; 91). There is no joy and no burden that we cannot take to God.

Key verses:

Psalm 1:1–3: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

Psalm 22:16–18: "For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

UNDERSTAND

• The Psalms are 150 inspired songs and prayers written over 1,000 years by various authors for worship.
• The book of Psalms covers themes like praise, lament, wisdom, and messianic prophecy, many quoted in the New Testament.
• The Psalms invite honest expression before God and deepen trust in His character through every season.

REFLECT

• When have you turned to the Psalms in a moment of deep emotion, and how did God meet you through them?
• How do the Psalms encourage you to more fully express your thoughts and heart to God?
• How does reflecting on the Psalms deepen your understanding of who God is and how He responds to your circumstances?

ENGAGE

• How can we, as believers, better appreciate the full emotional range expressed in the Psalms and encourage others to do the same?
• How do the messianic prophecies in the Psalms shape our understanding of Jesus’s identity and mission?
• What can we learn about worship and authenticity from the honesty modeled in the Psalms?