PSALMS

 

A STUDY OF THE PSALMS Dr. Jim Eckman INTRODUCTION • Title: The Hebrew title for this biblical book is Tehillim (“Praises”), songs of praise to God in public worship. The English title, Psalms comes from the Greek term psalmos, which translates song or praise. • Authors: David is the most common author of the 150 psalms (73-75), with other authors being the sons of Korah (11), Asaph (12), Solomon (2) and Moses (1). • As a hymnbook: The Psalms take the fundamental themes of Old Testament theology and turn them into songs of worship and praise. 1. There is one true God 2. The creation of the world and the fall of humanity 3. The Covenant of God with His people—to save them and through them to bring His light to the rest of the world. 4. Covenantal loyalty and obedience of God’s people 5. Eschatology—the coming Messiah, son of David, and His ultimate rule over all things. • Curses: The Psalms are filled with the call for curses on the enemies of God. These are to be understood as calls for God to avenge Himself, His name and His people. They are just and they are righteous, never vengeful. • Literary figures of speech: 1. Metaphor—a comparison. “The Lord is my shepherd. 2. Simile—a comparison using the words like or as. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water.” 3. Personification—human attributes are given to something nonhuman (e.g., animals, objects). “Light and truth” in Psalm 43. 4. Hyperbole—language of exaggeration. “My tears have been my food day and night.” • Structure: The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five books. 1. Book 1—Psalms 1-41 2. Book 2—Psalms 42-72 3. Book 3—Psalms 73—89 4. Book 4—Psalms 90-106 5. Book 5—Psalms 107-150. Psalm 1: The Life That is Blessed I. The Way of the Righteous, 1-3 • The righteous lead an untarnished life, v. 1 • The righteous love to meditate on God’s Word, v. 2 • The righteous have success in life, v. 3 II. The Way of the Ungodly, vv. 4-6 • The life of the ungodly is worthless, v. 4 • The ungodly will not survive the judgment, v. 5 III. The Judgment: The righteous and the ungodly, v. 6 PSALM 2: The Coronation of God’s Son I. The source of the Rebellion, vv. 1-3 II. The response to the Rebellion, vv. 4-6 III. The King’s decree, vv. 7-9 IV. The call to Wisdom, vv. 10-12 PSALM 3: Confident Faith in the Midst of Adversity I. Adversity (and adversaries) cause the believer to focus on God’s plan, vv. 1-3 II. Confidence in God results from God’s present protection through answered prayer, vv. 4-6 III. Praying to the LORD produces deliverance from adversity, 7-8 PSALM 4: Safe and Secure in God’s Love I. God brings relief to His people, v. 1 II. Faith in God brings enablement to deal with antagonists, vv. 2-5 III. The faithful find joy in God’s provision of peace and security, vv. 6-8 PSALM 5: Deliverance from Deception I. The righteous pray and watch with confidence, vv. 1-3 II. The righteous pray with confidence as God deals with wickedness, vv. 4-7 III. The righteous pray with confidence that God will deliver them and judge the wicked, vv. 8-12 PSALM 6: A Prayer for Deliverance I. The chastened believer can only appeal to God, vv. 1-7 • The prayer for relief, vv. 1-3 • The appeal to God’s loyal love, vv. 4-5 • The expression of grief to the Lord, vv. 6-7 II. The confessing believer can expect deliverance from chastening, vv. 8-10 PSALM 7: Confident Trust in the LORD I. Those who trust in the Lord can expect deliverance, vv. 1-2 II. The righteous must be innocent to appeal for God’s vindication, vv. 3-9 III. Confidence in God is renewed when God foils the wicked, vv. 10-16 IV. The righteous sing praises to the Lord, v. 17 PSALM 8: The Majesty of the LORD I. Praise for the LORD’s majesty, v. 1b II. Praise for the LORD’s power and grace, vv. 1b-8 III. Praise for the LORD’s majesty, v. 9 PSALM 9: Confident Praise to God I. Praise to the Sovereign and Eternal Judge of the world, vv. 1-12 II. The Sovereign LORD will judge the wicked and fulfill the hopes of the oppressed, vv. 13-20 PSALM 10: God Defends the Helpless I. The faithful live in a world of oppression, vv. 1-11 II. The faithful can pray to God for help, vv. 12-15 III. The faithful have confidence that God will vindicate them, vv. 16-18 PSALM 11: Holding Fast to Faith in God I. God’s people hold fast to their faith, even when the social order is threatened, vv. 1-3 II. Their faith is in a God who is sovereign and who loves righteousness and hates wickedness, vv. 4-7 PSALM 12: Truth in a World of Deception I. In a time of deception and fraud, God’s people can only turn to Him, vv. 1-4 II. The LORD promises to deliver in times of tyranny, v. 5 III. The words of the LORD are faithful and a source of truth and comfort. vv. 6-8 PSALM 13: The Cry of the Afflicted I. Oppressed believers who feel abandoned by God must cry out to Him, vv. 1-2 II. Oppressed believers pray to God so that things do not get worse, vv. 3-4 III. Oppressed believers pray to God with confidence (in His loyal love), vv. 5-6 PSALM 14: The Folly of the Fool I. Humanity denies God and follows its perverse and corrupting ways, vv. 1-3 II. Perverse humanity persecutes the righteous, not knowing that God will defend them, vv. 4-6 III. The righteous long for that day of deliverance, v. 7 PSALM 15: The Worthy Worshipper I. God’s people examine their lives before worship, v. 1 II. God wants righteousness for His people, vv. 2-5