Day 19: Psalms 1-50

Introducing the Psalms

​Introducing the Psalms
Here are some observations to keep in mind while reading the Psalms and especially for reading Psalms 1-50.

First, the Psalms are divided into five books: chapters 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150.

• Book One - Psalms 1-41
• Book Two - Psalms 42-72
• Book Three - Psalms 73-89
• Book Four - Psalms 90-106
• Book Five - Psalms 107-150

If you have never noticed this before, flip to the last psalm of the first four “books” and notice how each ends in a doxology (41:13; 72:18-20; 89:52; 106:48). Psalm 150 or perhaps Psalms 146-150 function as the doxology for the last book.

Second, virtually all the psalms in the first “book” of psalms (Ps. 1-41) are Davidic. Only three do not claim to be Davidic, and the New Testament confirms that one of those (Psalm 2) was written by David. It could be that all 41 are Davidic.

Third, reading Psalms is unique from reading other books of the Bible because each chapter, with only a few exceptions (such as Psalms 42-43), is a stand-alone composition. While in other books of Scripture, a flow of thought extends through the book from start to finish, each chapter in the Psalms has its own internal development. Thus, in each psalm, the author introduces a theme, develops that theme, and then concludes it, all within the framework of that psalm.

Fourth, in reading the Psalms you will feel, at times, like you are reading a Jewish book of prayer. You are! Thus, you will read of divine deliverances for Jacob (44:4), references to Jerusalem (Ps. 15, 46, 48), and encouragements for the Davidic king (Ps. 18, 20-21). Psalm 37 gives advice for dwelling in the land of Israel. “How happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh” may have some application to any nation, but it specifically applies to Israel—“the people He has chosen for His inheritance” (33:12). At the same time, the psalms are for all peoples because God is a great King over all the earth (47:2, 7, 8-9), and all peoples need to heed the advice given in the psalms (49:1). Think of it this way: Jacob’s God invites you to praise Him for what He has done for Israel and to discover in Him that same praiseworthiness for yourself.

Fifth, the psalms fall into at least five major kinds or types:

• praise
• thanksgiving
• lament 
• confidence
• wisdom

Identifying a psalm’s type is a guide to the kind of emotion being expressed in the psalm and gives an idea of how to use the psalm in your own communion with God. It is not uncommon for a psalms to be a mix, such as Psalm 22 which begins as a lament and ends in praise. A praise psalm extols God for who He is or what He has done. A thanksgiving psalm, like Psalm 34, thanks God for some specific deliverance or answer to prayer. In a lament psalm, the psalmist works through a difficult situation by taking his problem(s) to the Lord. Of the 61 lament psalms (by my count), 20 are found in the first “book” of the Psalms. Confidence psalms, of which Psalm 23 is a prime example, express a confident trust in God. Wisdom psalms reminds those listening of the blessedness of fearing God and what fearing God looks like (e.g., Psalm 1, 37). Virtually every possible human emotion is expressed in the psalms.

Sixth, the purpose of the psalms is communion with God. The psalms should be sung and prayed more than taught or preached. If reading the psalms does not move you to pray or sing, you have failed to appropriate what you read. After all, psalms are songs! Allow the psalm to move you to the kind of prayer or communion with God that it exemplifies. Lament psalms demonstrate how to commune with God when the bottom falls out of life. Praise psalms help you articulate the greatness of God. Wisdom psalms call you back to the way that leads to life. Let the psalmist’s words and emotions stir up similar responses of your own. Have none of your own? Pray the psalmist’s until you develop your own worship vocabulary.
​
Much of Scripture is an inspired record of God’s words to His people. The psalms are different in that many of them are an inspired record of God’s people’s words to Him. That should tell us something. If communion with God is important enough to preserve for us inspired patterns of it, God must greatly desire the prayers, petitions, praise, and thanksgiving of His saints. Jesus truly does stand at the door and knock, wishing for communion with any believer who will open the door to Him (Rev. 3:20).

---

​Review & Application:

1. What are the five books of the Psalms?
2. What does each book of Psalms end with?
3. Who is the author of most of Psalms 1-50?
4. How is reading chapters in Psalms different from reading other books of the Bible?
5. In what ways is reading the Psalms like reading a Jewish book of prayer? (How then is the Psalms still relevant to readers like you and me?)
6. List five basic types of psalms and explain the emotion (or situation) that each portrays. (Can you give an example psalm for each of the five kinds?)
7. What is the primary purpose of psalms?
8. Explain how the Psalms point to God’s great desire for communion with Him.

---

Go to Day 20: Psalm 51-100
​Back to the 40 Day Bible Reading Plan