Survey of the Book of Psalm

Overview of Authors

The book of Psalms was written by multiple authors that include David who wrote seventy-three of the 150 psalms. Psalms 72 and 127 was written by Solomon. Psalm 90 was written by Moses. The family of Asaph and the sons of Korah wrote twelve (50 and 73-83) and eleven psalms (42; 44-49, 84; 85; 87; 88), respectively. Herman and Ethan the Ezrahite wrote Psalm 88 and Psalm 89, respectively. The authors of the remaining forty-nine are anonymous, but Psalm 2, is ascribed to David in Acts 4:25-26. 

Purpose of the Book of Psalm

Book of Psalms is a collection of prayers, poems, and hymns. It was written for the purpose of worshipping and connecting with God.  

Organization

It is organized into: Book 1: Psalms 1-41, Book 2: Psalms 42-72, Book 3: Psalms 73-89, Book 4: Psalms 90-106, and Book 5: Psalms 107-150. The arrangement of the books reflects the history of the nation, Israel and its Messianic hope. Books 1 and 2 are mostly set in the early monarchy of David. They are bounded by two royal psalms (2 and 72) that present the king as God’s anointed one and highlight the ideal monarchy of the early reign of Solomon.  Book 3 has a number of psalms with an exilic and post-exilic setting. Book 4 begins with a psalm by Moses that reminds the nation that God has been her dwelling place through all generations (90).  Two psalms of trust and thanksgiving (91 and 92) follow, then a collection of psalms about God’s power and dominion (93 to 100). The book ends with a series of praise psalms (101 to 106) and an appeal to God to re-gather the nation from the nations (106:47).  Book 5 opens with two psalms of praise and thanksgiving for the gathering of the exiles (107 and 108). There are royal psalms that anticipate the future dominion of the rejected king (110 and 118) and the psalms of ascent portray the present and future pilgrimage of God’s people to Zion (120 to 134).  The final five praise psalms focus on God’s sovereignty (146 to 150). Theological contributions: Foreshadowing of the Messiah is seen in many chapters of psalms. Psalm 2 is a royal psalm about the coronation of the Davidic king.  David and his heirs were chosen by God to rule the nation from Zion. This psalm is a foreshadow of Jesus the Messiah who will be the perfect Davidic king. His death and resurrection is portrayed in Psalm 16:8-11; a prophecy of His crucifixion and suffering on the cross in seen in Psalm 22; Psalm 45:6-7 illustrates the glory of the Messiah and His bride; Psalm 72:6-17, 89:3-37, 110:1-7, and 132:12-18 describe the glory and universality of His reign.