bible-study:

Psalms

One of my goals, as I study the scriptures, is to try to view the bible through the words and actions of Jesus. And Jesus quotes a lot of psalms, so I figure I should pay careful attention to this book.

This page is a high level overview of the book so that I can better understand the individual psalms.

Here is a brief list of a few of those quotes (and other references):

Psalm 23: While not directly quoted, Jesus's teaching of Himself as the "Good Shepherd" strongly echoes the imagery of the Lord as a shepherd in this beloved Psalm. John 10
Psalm 78:2: Matthew's Gospel notes that Jesus spoke in parables to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world". Matthew 13:35
Psalm 118:22-23: When teaching in the temple, Jesus refers to Himself as the cornerstone, quoting, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, and Luke 20:17
Psalm 110:1: Jesus challenges the Pharisees' understanding of the Messiah's identity. He quotes, "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'" Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42-43
Psalm 82:6: In response to accusations of blasphemy, Jesus defended His divinity by quoting, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?" John 10:34
Psalm 118:26: During His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and again when lamenting over the city: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39
Psalm 22:1: From the cross, Jesus quotes: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34
Psalm 31:5: In His final moments on the cross Jesus commits His spirit to the Father, quoting, "Into your hand I commit my spirit." Luke 23:46

The Psalms are also frequently quoted in other places in the New Testament:

Psalm 2: Quoted to establish Jesus as God's Son and King.
Psalm 16: Used by Peter to argue for Jesus's resurrection.
Psalm 22: The "Psalm of the Cross," quoted by Jesus in his moment of agony.
Psalm 110: The most quoted psalm, used to identify Jesus as both King and High Priest.
Psalm 118: The source for the "rejected cornerstone" and the "Blessed is he who comes..." greeting at the Triumphal Entry.

Beyond direct quotations, the life and teachings of Jesus are filled with allusions and references to the Psalms, which would have been deeply meaningful and easily recognized by His Jewish audience.

The Five Books

The Psalter is structured into five smaller books, likely as a mirror of the five books of the Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy). Each book ends with a doxology (a short concluding praise, e.g. 41:13).

Book 1 (Psalms 1-41): Primarily psalms of David. Dominated by personal laments and cries for help, but always resolving in trust.
Book 2 (Psalms 42-72): Continues with Davidic psalms but also introduces psalms from the "Sons of Korah." Still many laments, but a growing focus on the king.
Book 3 (Psalms 73-89): The darkest and most corporate book. It grapples with national disaster and the exile. It contains many community laments questioning God's promises.
Book 4 (Psalms 90-106): The editorial answer to the crisis of Book 3. The theme is that God is the eternal King who reigns, even when earthly kings fail. It begins with the only psalm of Moses (Psalm 90).
Book 5 (Psalms 107-150): The book of return and praise. It begins by celebrating God gathering his people and builds through the Psalms of Ascent to the final, glorious Hallelujah of Psalms 146-150.

Groups

There are many psalms that are so closely linked that they are often studied and read as one. As well as small groups of psalms that are thematically and liturgically connected.

Psalms 1 & 2: The Gateway. These two form the thematic introduction to the entire Psalter. Psalm 1 focuses on the individual's choice to follow God's law (Torah), while Psalm 2 shows this same conflict playing out on the world stage with God's Anointed King (the Messiah).
Psalms 9 & 10: The Broken Acrostic. These two psalms appear to form a single acrostic poem (where each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet). Psalm 9 gets about halfway through the alphabet, and Psalm 10 seems to pick up where it left off, sharing themes and language.
Psalms 42 & 43: The Separated Soul. These two share the powerful and memorable refrain: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." If you study one, you must study the other.
Psalms 111 & 112: The Twin Acrostics. These are a beautiful matched set. Both are shorter Hebrew acrostic poems. Psalm 111 describes the character of the awesome God. Psalm 112 describes the character of the blessed person who fears that God. They mirror each other perfectly.
The "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118): This collection was traditionally sung during major festivals, most notably Passover. Reading them with the Exodus story in mind is incredibly powerful. They were the hymns Jesus would have sung with his disciples at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30).
The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134): As mentioned before, these are the "songs for the road." They form a mini-story of a pilgrim's journey to Jerusalem, filled with trust, anticipation, and joy.
The Final Hallel (Psalms 146-150): The grand, five-psalm doxology that concludes the entire book with a crescendo of praise.
Royal (or Messianic) (Psalms 2, 18, 20, 45, 72, 89, 110): These psalms focus on the king of Israel but have been interpreted by both Jews and Christians as pointing toward a future, ideal King---the Messiah. They are not sequential, but they form a powerful thematic group.
Torah (or Wisdom) (Psalms 1, 19, 119): These psalms celebrate the beauty, goodness, and life-giving nature of God's instruction.

Genres

The psalms fit into a range of different genres, recognizing the genre can help you understand its purpose and emotional context.

Lament/Complaint: Crying out to God in distress (most common type). Psalms 13, 22, 51, 137...
Praise/Hymn: Praising God for who He is. Psalms 100, 103, 117, 145...
Thanksgiving: Thanking God for a specific act of deliverance. Psalms 30, 34, 107, 118...
Royal/Enthronement: Focusing on the king of Israel or on God as the ultimate King. Psalms 2, 45, 72, 93...
Wisdom: Teaching about the righteous life, like the Book of Proverbs. Psalms 1, 37, 49, 73...
Imprecatory: Asking God to bring judgment upon enemies. Psalms 58, 69, 83, 109, 137...

Decoding the Titles (Superscriptions)

Many psalms have introductory titles with technical terms.

"To the choirmaster": A note for use in temple worship.
Authorship: Attributed to David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses.
Selah: A musical or liturgical instruction, likely meaning a pause for reflection.
Maskil: Likely means an instructive or skillful poem.

A "Psalm Finder" for Your Needs

A quick guide to finding the right psalm for a specific emotional or spiritual need.

Anxious or afraid: Psalm 27, Psalm 91.
Need to repent: Psalm 51.
Joyful and want to praise God: Psalm 100, Psalm 103.
Feeling abandoned: Psalm 22, Psalm 88.
Need guidance: Psalm 25, Psalm 119:105.
Angry at injustice: Psalm 10.
Want to give thanks: Psalm 30, Psalm 107