Several authors: David (73 psalms bear his name), Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, Ethan and many anonymous writers. Written: Composed over nearly a thousand years, from Moses (around 1400 BC) to the return from exile; the collection was probably completed around 450 BC

Poetry and wisdom · Old Testament · 150 chapters

The book of Psalms

The prayer and praise book of God’s people

Author: Several authors: David (73 psalms bear his name), Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, Ethan and many anonymous writers
Written: Composed over nearly a thousand years, from Moses (around 1400 BC) to the return from exile; the collection was probably completed around 450 BC
Time covered: From Moses (Ps 90) through David and Solomon, to the exile in Babylon (Ps 137) and the return of the captives (Ps 126)
Key word: Praise

The 150 psalms make up the Bible’s book of prayer and song, in five books each closed by a blessing. Psalm 1 opens with two paths, and Psalm 150 ends in an explosion of praise. In between come every form of prayer: cries of distress (13; 22), confessions (32; 51), songs of trust (23; 46), meditations on the Word (19; 119), retellings of history (78; 105-106) and hymns to the Creator and King (8; 93-99). Many announce the Messiah, the son of David, suffering and then glorified (2; 22; 110). The overall movement runs from lament to praise.

Main theme

150 inspired songs that teach God’s people to speak to him in every situation of life, and that announce the Messiah-King, the son of David.

Outline

Psalms 1-41 — Book I: the psalms of David
Almost all attributed to David, they blend personal distress with trust; the book closes with a blessing (41:13).
Psalms 42-72 — Book II: from the cry of the soul to the ideal king
It opens with the sons of Korah (“As the hart panteth after the water brooks…”, 42:1) and ends with Psalm 72, by Solomon, followed by the note “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended” (72:20).
Psalms 73-89 — Book III: faith in the face of national crisis
Asaph mourns the desecrated temple (74; 79), and Ethan wonders about the covenant with David, which seems broken (89:38-39).
Psalms 90-106 — Book IV: the LORD reigns
Opened by the prayer of Moses (90:1), it proclaims the kingship of God (93-99) and retells the history of Israel (105-106).
Psalms 107-150 — Book V: the praise of the redeemed
The Hallel, Psalm 119, the Songs of Ascents and the grand finale of praise (146-150): everything ends with “Praise ye the LORD!”

Key points

The book contains 150 psalms divided into five books; the first four end with a blessing followed by “Amen!” (41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48).
Psalm 1 contrasts two paths: that of the righteous man who meditates on the law, and that of sinners, which leads to ruin (1:1-6).
73 psalms bear David’s name, and several titles link them to an episode in his life: flight from Absalom (3:1), the cave (57:1), the wilderness of Judah (63:1).
The laments often move from complaint to praise: “How long…?” becomes “I will sing unto the LORD” (13:1, 6).
Psalm 51 is the model of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (51:10).
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses), is a tribute to the Word, “a lamp unto my feet” (119:105).
“Sit thou at my right hand” (110:1) is quoted by Jesus and by Peter to show that the Messiah is Lord (Matt 22:44; Acts 2:34-35).
The book ends in a crescendo: five psalms that begin and end with “Praise ye the LORD!” (146-150).

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 1:1–2 — The gateway to the book: the happiness of the one who meditates on the Word.

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Psalms 22:1 — The cry that Jesus would take up on the cross.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalms 51:10 — The prayer of the repentant sinner asking for a new heart.

Jesus in Psalms

Jesus said that everything written about him “in the psalms” must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). He prayed the psalms even on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (22:1; Matt 27:46), then “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (31:5; Luke 23:46). The Psalms announce him as the King and Son (2:7), the Risen One who does not see corruption (16:10), the Lord seated at God’s right hand and the eternal priest after the order of Melchizedek (110:1, 4; Heb 7:17).

Did you know?

Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible (2 verses), is also the central chapter of the Protestant Bible: 594 chapters come before it and 594 after.
The word “Selah” (rendered “Pause” in the French Segond Bible), whose exact meaning remains uncertain, appears 71 times in the Psalms.
Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical; the first says “the LORD” where the second says “God” (14:2; 53:2).

Quiz on Psalms

Which word opens the first psalm?

Which psalm begins with “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”?

Which psalm begins with “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name”?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.