Psalms: An Anatomy of the Part of the Human Soul

Reference Interpreting the Psalms - Mark Futato

The structure of the Psalms

General structure of the Book of Psalms

Books

5 Books of the Psalms and an introduction

Intro: 1-2

1: 3-41

2: 42-72

3: 73-89

4: 90-106

5: 107-150

Always ends with a benediction.

Authors

David: 74

Asaph: 12

Sons of Korah: 12

Solomon: 2

Ethan the Ezrahite: 1

Heman the Ezrahite: 1

Anonymous: 48

Timeline of the Psalms

Because this is a collection of works, the Psalms were written from 1500-600 BC, and compiled sometime after (500-300 BCE possibly)

Literary Elements

Hebrew Poetry

Imagery: A poetic device using visually descriptive words.

Used to promote a concept, not an exact truth - Psalm 18: 2 (God isn’t actually a rock)

Can get confusing if we don’t know the picture Psalm 74:13-14 isn’t talking about a monster, but probably hippos and alligators, or a symbol that connects with ancient mythologies.

Parallelism: a correspondence of thought to further a point.

“the practice of saying the same thing twice in different words. (C.S. Lewis “Reflections on the Psalms pg. 3)

(Psalm 103:10)

Individual Psalms

Types

Hymns: Psalm 96

Hymns are songs for when everything is going well. It is supposed to be a response of praise for how great God has been in your life.

Laments: Psalm 13

These are for when everything is falling apart. They give permission to be sad and to cry out to God, but almost always end on a note of hope in God.

Thanksgiving: Psalm 107

These express gratitude to God for deliverance.

Confidence: Psalm 91

These Psalms acknowledge that things are not as they should be, but pronounce confidence that God will show up.

Divine Kingship: Psalm 2

These focus on the kingship of God, and point to the ruling and reigning of Christ over everything.

Wisdom Psalm 1

These explain how to live a happy and holy life based on old wisdom. They are not a guarantee, but they are a helpful way to order your life.

The purpose of the Psalms

When they were written/compiled

A book of worship

Both corporately and individually - Psalm 123

Ordered the life of the Israelites - Psalm 119

Recalled their history - Psalm 106

Now

Helpful prayers

Concepts to meditate on

Provides a helpful framework for worship

Not a book of doctrine

What must be said; however, is that the Psalms are poems, and poems intended to be sung: not doctrinal treatises, nor even sermons. (C.S. Lewis - Reflections on the Psalms pg. 2)

The message of the Psalms

God is all powerful, loving, and in control

We will experience a variety of circumstances and emotions (not all of them good), but God is still good throughout everything.

“I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, "An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul;" for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated. 19-20 Commentary on the Psalms - John Calvin.”

We need a Saviour