Psalms Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Psalms.

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• Authorship: David – 73; anonymous – 50; Asaph – 12; Moses – 1 (Psalm 90); Solomon 2 (Psalm 72; 127); plus other authors

Structure

• 150 Psalms in 5 books (collections); each collection ends with a concluding doxology
• Book 1: Psalms 1-41; 41:13
• Book 2: Psalms 42-72; 72:18-20
• Book 3: Psalms 79-89; 89:52
• Book 4: Psalms 90-106; 106;48
• Book 5: Psalms 107-150; 150:1-6

Wisdom Literature

• Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Solomon
• General interest in humanity and universal pronouncements (as opposed to the people of Israel)
• Grounded in a theology of creation
• Fear of YHWH as proper context for wisdom, sometimes explicitly stated, but often implicit
• Questioning attitude about the basic problems of life: why is there suffering, inequality, death, why do the wicked prosper, etc.

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Major Types of Psalms

Hymns of Praise

• Features: Call to Praise; Praise of the Lord’s deeds/attributes; Conclusion
• Occasion: Public worship in the temple during annual festivals and national celebrations
• Examples: Psalm 8; Psalm 29; Psalm 33; Psalm 46; Psalm 48; Psalm 65; Psalm 67; Psalm 68; Psalm 76; Psalm 100; Psalm 111; Psalm 113; Psalm 117; Psalm 135

Thanksgiving Psalms

• Features: Resolve to give praise or give thanks; description of distress faced; confession of Lord as Redeemer/deliverer; Vow of praise/assurance; Conclusion/lesson learned
• Occasion: an individual’s deliverance from acute distress
• Examples: Psalm 18; Psalm 30; Psalm 32; Psalm 34; Psalm 66; Psalm 92; Psalm 116; Psalm 118; Psalm; Psalm 136; Psalm 138.

Community Laments

• Features: Lamentation; petition; confession of trust; statement of praise
• Occasion: Used by the assembled congregation during national calamities or threats
• Examples: Psalm 12; Psalm 44; Psalm 58; Psalm 60; Psalm 74; Psalm 80; Psalm 83; Psalm 85; Psalm 90; Psalm 94; Psalm 123; Psalm 126; Psalm 129; Psalm 137.

Individual Laments

• Features; Complaint/lament; confession of trust; petition; vow or statement of praise
• Occasion: Experience of distress, sickness, flight from enemies, etc.
• Examples: ; Psalm 3; Psalm 4; Psalm 5; Psalm 6; Psalm 7; Psalm 10; Psalm 17; Psalm 22; Psalm 25; Psalm 26; Psalm 27; Psalm 28; Psalm 31; Psalm 35; Psalm 28; Psalm 39; Psalm 40; Psalm 41; Psalm 51; Psalm 52; Psalm 53; Psalm 54; Psalm 55; Psalm 56 ; Psalm 57; Psalm 61; Psalm 64; Psalm 69; Psalm 70; Psalm71; Psalm 77; Psalm 86; Psalm 88; Psalm 89; Psalm 102; Psalm 109; Psalm 120; Psalm 130; Psalm 139; Psalm 141; Psalm 142; Psalm 143.

Royal Psalms

• Features: Praise and celebration of the King; praise and celebration of YHWH as king
• Occasion: coronation of king; a petition of behalf of the king; praise for King’s success; praise to YHWH as king.
• Examples: Psalm 2; Psalm 18; Psalm 20; Psalm 21; Psalm 72; Psalm 93; Psalm 101; Psalm 110; Psalm 131; Psalm 144.

Minor types of Psalms

• Wedding Psalm: Psalm 45 for the king’s wedding
• Processional hymns for entering the temple: Psalms 15; Psalm 24
• For festival to celebrate YHWH’s kingship: Psalm 93; ; Psalms 95-99
• Recitation of great historical deeds: Psalm 78; Psalm 105; Psalm 106.
• “Song of Ascents”: for pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem; Psalms 120-134.
• Zion hymns: about the temple in Jerusalem on Mt Zion; Psalms 46; Psalm 48; Psalm 76; Psalm 84; Psalm 87; Psalm 122.
• Wisdom Psalms: Psalm 1; Psalm 19; Psalm 36; Psalm 37; Psalm 49; Psalm 73; Psalm 78; Psalm 112; Psalm 119; Psalm 127; Psalm 128.

Genre: Understanding Hebrew Poetry

Psalms of Lament: Their Form

Psalms of Thanksgiving: Their Form

Psalms of Praise: Their Form

Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

• Ray Stedman: Overview of each Book
• John MacArthur – Introduction to Pslams
• Biblehub: Timeline of Psalms
• ESV: Introduction to Psalms
• ESV: The Global Message of Psalms
• NIV: Introduction to Psalms
• NIV: Wisdom Literature
• James van Dine: Analysis of Psalms
• Charles Swindoll: Book of Psalms Overview
• Psalms quoted in the New Testament
• David Malick: An Introduction to Psalms on www.bible.org
• Overview of the 5 Psalms, types, terms and purposes
• A list of Psalms by Theme
• Read through the Psalms in 30 days
• Probable occasion when each psalm was written

Section 2: Maps

Maps

• Old Testament Maps (BibleHistory.com)
• The Ancient Near East
• Biblical Regions
• Modern States and the Ancient Near East
• Mesopotamia: Homeland of Abraham
• Egypt: Land of Bondage
• Syria and Lebanon
• International Routes, The King’s Highway
• Geography and Trade Routes of the Middle East
• National Regions of Ancient Palestine
• Physical Geography of Palestine
• Topography of Palestine; Cross Sectional Views of Longitudinal Zones
• Northern Coastal Plains
• Plain of Dor, Plain of Sharon, Samaria, et al.
• Philistine Plain, Shephelah, Judah, and the Dead Sea
• Arabah, Negeb, Wildernesses of Zin and Paran
• The Old City of Jerusalem Today  
• Modern Political Divisions of Ancient Palestine
• Climate Patterns of Ancient Palestine

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words

• varies with Psalm

Section 4: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

• Psalms, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• American Tract Society Psalms, the Book of
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Psalms, book of
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Psalms, the Book of  Psalms
• Holman Bible Dictionary Psalms, Book of   Psalms of Solomon   Imprecation, Imprecatory Psalms
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Psalms, Book of  Psalms
• Smith Bible Dictionary Psalms, Book of,
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Psalms, Book of
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Psalms, Book Of,
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia Psalms, the Book of
• American Church Dictionary Proper psalms  Penitential psalms
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Psalms
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Psalms of Solomon  Psalms
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT  Psalms  Psalms (2)  Psalms of Solomon
• Hawker’s Poor Man’s Dictionary Psalms
• Watson’s Theological Dictionary Psalms
• 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of Psalms
• Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Degrees psalms of  Psalms book of
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Psalms, Book of,  Alleluiatic Psalms  Special Psalms  Selections of Psalms Abecedarian Hymns or Psalms Metrical Psalms And Hymns  Penitential Psalms  Proper Psalms
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia Penitential Psalms

Alfred Edersheim – The Golden Diary of Heart Converse with Jesus in the Book of Psalms

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Psalms by Keith Mathison
• Best Commentaries on Psalms – Tim Challies
• Best Commentary on Psalms
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Psalms
• Matthew Henry: Psalms
• Albert Barnes Notes: Psalms
• Reformation Study Bible Notes: Psalms
• Geneva Study Bible: Psalms
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Psalms

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• James Frazer: The Authenticity of the Psalm Titles,” Grace Theological Seminary, 1984.
• Psalm 15 – Maloney, Les. “A Portrait of the Righteous Person,” Restoration Quaterly   45.3 (2003) 151-164. 
• Psalm 22 – Gren, Conrad R. “Piercing the Ambiguities of Psalm 22:16 and the Messiah’s Mission,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 48.2 (2005) 283-99. 
• Psalm 22 – Heineman, Mark H. “An Exposition of Psalm 22,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147 (July 1990) 286-308. 
• Psalm 22- Patterson, Richard D “Psalm 22: From Trial to Triumph,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47.2 (2004) 213-33. 
• Psalm 22, Psalm 41 (et al) Derek Tidball – Songs of the Crucified One: The Psalms and the Crucifixion SBJT V11 N2.4
• Psalm 32, 51 – Barentsen, Jack. “Restoration and Its Blessings: A Theological Analysis of Psalm 51 and 32,” Grace Theological Journal 5.2 (1984) 247-269. 
• Psalm 45 – Patterson, Richard D. “A Multiplex Approach to Psalm 45,” Grace Theological   Journal 6.1 (1985) 29-48. 
• Psalm 47- Perdue, Leo G. “‘Yahweh Is King over All the Earth’: An Exegesis of Psalm 47,” Restoration Quarterly 17.2 (1974) 85-98. 
• Psalm 49 – Estes, Daniel J. “Poetic Artistry in the Expression of Fear in Psalm 49,” Bibliotheca Sacra 161 (Jan.-Mar. 2004) 55-71.
• Psalm 51 –Harrison, Everett F. “A Study of Psalm 51,” Bibliotheca Sacra 92 (1935) 26-38. 
• Psalm 62 – Bland, Dave. “Exegesis of Psalm 62,” Restoration Quarterly 23.2 (1980) 82-95.
• Psalm 67 –Bosma, C. J. and Eep Talstra. “Psalm 67: Blessing, Harvest and History: A Proposal for Exegetical Methodology,” Calvin Theological Journal 36 (2001) 290-313. 
• Psalm 73- Smith, Terry L. “A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73,” Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162-184.
• Psalm 77- Graham, Pat. “Psalm 77: A Study in Faith and History,” Restoration Quaterly 18.3 (1975) 151-158. 
• Psalm 72, 89 – Grisanti, Michael A. ” The Davidic Covenant,” The Master’s Seminary  Journal 10.2 (1999) 233-250.
• Psalm 87 – Allen, Ronald B. “Psalm 87: A Song Rarely Sung,” Bibliotheca Sacra  153 (April-June 1996) 131-140. 
• Psalm 91 – Knight, Leonard C. “I Will Show Him My Salvation: The Experience of  Anxiety in the Meaning of Psalm 91,” Restoration Quarterly 43.4 (2001) 280-292.
• Psalm 98 – Longman, Tremper. “Psalm 98: A Divine Warrior Victory Song,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 27.3 (1984) 267-74.
• Psalm 105 –Hildebrandt, Ted. “Psalm 105: A Davidless/Zionless Song of Our Father Abraham” 
• Psalm 104 –Barker, David G “The Waters of the Earth: An Exegetical Study of Psalm 104:1-9,” Grace Theological Journal 7.1 (1986) 57-80. 
• Psalm 110 – Bateman, Herbert W. “Psalm 110:1 and the New Testmaent,” Bibliotheca Sacra 149 (Oct. 1992) 438-53. 
• Psalm 110 – Davis, Barry C. “Is Psalm 110 A Messianic Psalm?” Bibliotheca Sacra  157 (April-June 2000) 160-73.  
• Psalm 113 – Zemek, George, J. “Grandeur and Grace: God’s Transcendence and Immanence in Psalm 113,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 1.2 (1990) 129-137. 
• Psalm 121 –Barker, David G. “’The Lord Watches Over You’: A Pilgrimage Reading of Psalm 121,” Bibliotheca Sacra 152 (April-June 1995) 163-181. 
• Feinberg, Charles L. “The Date of the Psalms,” Bibliotheca Sacra 104 (Oct. 1947) 426-40. 
• Briggs, Charles A. “An Inductive Study of Selah” JBL (1897) 132-43.
• Laney, J. Carl. “A Fresh Look at the Imprecatory Psalms,” Bibliotheca Sacra 138 (1981) 35-45. 
• Luc, A. “Interpreting the Curses in the Psalms,” Journal of the Evangelical Society 42 (1999) 395-410. 
• Martin, Chalmers. “The Imprecations in the Psalms,” Princeton Theological   Review 1.4 (1903) 537-53. 
• Day, John N. “The Imprecatory Psalms and Christian Ethics,” Bibliotheca Sacra 159 (April-June 2002) 166-86. 
• Imprecations in the Psalms – Sam Storms 
• What is imprecatory prayer? ; Should Christians Pray for God to Judge their Enemies – Michael Horton
• Parsons, Greg W. “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Psalms,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147 (1990) 169-87. 
• Harmon, Allan M. “Aspects of Paul’s Use of the Psalms,” Westminster Theological Journal 32.1 (1969) 1-23
• Greg Herrick: Conceptions of Davidic Hope in the Greek Psalter and Apocrypha
• Gary Kukis: The Doctrine of the Messianic Psalms.
• Gary Kukis: The Four Types of Messianic Prophecy
• Paul van Gorder: OT Reflections of Christ – Psalms

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

• Selah – What does “selah” mean in the Bible?
• Musical Terms in Psalms – To what do the various musical terms in the book of Psalms refer?
• Messianic Psalms – Which psalms predict the coming of Jesus Christ? 
• Imprecatory Psalms – What is imprecatory prayer?
• David’s Psalms – How many psalms did David write?
• David’s Psalms – Why do many of the psalms of David sound so sad?
• Authors – Who are the authors of the book of Psalms?
• Divisions of Psalms – Why is the book of Psalms divided into five books?
• Psalm 2:12 – What does it mean to kiss the son?
• Psalm 8:5 – What does it mean that Jesus was a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7)?
• Psalm 14 – Why are Psalms 14 and 53 nearly identical?
• Psalm 14:1 – What does the Bible mean when it says “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’”?
• Psalm 19:1 – What does it mean that the heavens declare the glory of God?
• Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 – Where do the Hebrew Scriptures prophesy the death and resurrection of the Messiah?
• Psalm 22:1 – Why did Jesus say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• Psalm 22:16 – What is the correct translation of Psalm 22:16?
• Psalm 23 – What does it mean that the Lord is my Shepherd? 
• Psalm 23:3 – How can I restore my soul?
• Psalm 23:4 – What does it mean to walk through the valley of the shadow of death? 
• Psalm 23:5 – What does it mean that my cup runneth over?
• Psalm 24 – What does it mean that God is the King of glory?
• Psalm 37:4 – What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord?
• Psalm 46:10 What does it mean to be still and know that I am God?
• Psalm 50:10-11 – What does it mean that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills?
• Psalm 51:17 – What does it mean that God will not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) 
• Psalm 56:8 – What does it mean that God collects our tears in a bottle?
• Psalm 66:1 What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord?
• Psalm 68:5 What does it mean that God is father to the fatherless?
• Psalm 62:1,5 – What does it mean to wait on the Lord?
• Psalm 82:6 – What does the Bible mean by “you are gods” / “ye are gods” in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34? 
• Psalm 89:26, 95:1 – What does it mean that God is the Rock of salvation?
• Psalm 90 – What can we learn from the prayer of Moses?
• Psalm 110:1 – What does it mean that “the Lord said to my Lord”?
• Psalm 119 – What should we learn from Psalm 119?
• Psalm 120-134 – What are the Songs of Ascent?
• Psalm 137:9 – What does Psalm 137:9 mean when it says, “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks”?
• Psalm 139:13-16 – Do the souls of aborted babies go to heaven?
• Psalm 139:14 – What does it mean that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)?
• Psalm 147:3 – How can I recover from heartbreak / a broken heart?

Bible Study Helps

• Bible Study 101
• Interpreting Narratives
• Study Software & websites
• More Maps & Charts
• Hebrew word studies by Precepts Austin
• Books on how to study the Bible

Section 8: Next

Next: Proverbs

Previous: Job

Resources: by Book of the Bible

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