19 - Psalms

TLDR: The prayer and praise book of Israel: 150 psalms covering lament, thanksgiving, trust, wisdom, and royal/messianic themes. "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."

Overarching Storyline

Book 1 (1–41), Book 2 (42–72), Book 3 (73–89), Book 4 (90–106), Book 5 (107–150). Mix of individual and corporate, Davidic and other authors. Climax in the Hallelujah psalms (146–150).

Bible Project: Psalms overview.

Pegs for Memorizing This Book

• Person: David (many psalms), Asaph, sons of Korah, Solomon.
• Image: Shepherd, refuge, rock, king, lamp.
• Number: 150 (psalms), 5 (books), 22 (letters in Hebrew; Ps 119 has 22 sections).
• Phrase: "The LORD is my shepherd" (23:1); "Your word is a lamp" (119:105).

Highlights

• Psalm 1 — Two ways; delight in the law.
• Psalm 23 — The LORD is my shepherd.
• Psalm 51 — Create in me a clean heart.
• Psalm 119 — Longest; each section by Hebrew letter.
• Psalm 150 — Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

(Link to verse entries and meditations as added.)

Before and After

• Before: Job is wisdom and suffering; Psalms is the voice of the people in every season.
• After: Proverbs is wisdom for life; Psalms is worship and emotion.

Place in the Overarching Biblical Story

Prayer and praise. The psalms are quoted and alluded to constantly in the NT; Jesus prays from them (e.g. Ps 22 on the cross). They give words for every human experience before God.

Interesting Facts

• Psalm 22 — "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — Jesus from the cross; the psalm ends in praise and vindication.
• Psalm 119 — Acrostic (22 sections × 8 verses); Golden Palace uses it for Hebrew letter memory (alphabet sections).