The Book of Psalms stands as one of the most treasured collections in all of Scripture. These 150 songs and poems have been the prayer book of God's people for over three thousand years.
What Are the Psalms?
The Psalms are a collection of Hebrew poetry that express the full range of human emotion and experience before God. From the heights of praise to the depths of lament, the Psalms teach us how to bring our whole selves before the Almighty.
The Five Books of Psalms
The Psalter is divided into five books, mirroring the five books of Moses:
- Book I (Psalms 1-41) - Primarily Davidic psalms focusing on personal devotion
- Book II (Psalms 42-72) - Songs of national concern and corporate worship
- Book III (Psalms 73-89) - Contemplation during national crisis
- Book IV (Psalms 90-106) - Reflections on God's eternal reign
- Book V (Psalms 107-150) - Praise and thanksgiving
Types of Psalms
Psalms of Praise
These celebrate God's character and works. Psalm 145 declares: "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever."
Psalms of Lament
These express grief, sorrow, and complaint, yet always turning toward hope. Psalm 22 begins in despair but ends in praise.
Wisdom Psalms
These teach us how to live righteously, like Psalm 1 which contrasts the way of the righteous and the wicked.
Royal Psalms
These focus on the Davidic king and ultimately point to Christ, the King of kings.
How to Read the Psalms
- Read aloud - These were meant to be sung and spoken
- Pray them back to God - Let the psalmist's words become your own
- Notice the structure - Hebrew poetry uses parallelism and repetition
- Connect to Christ - Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other book
"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." — Psalm 34:8