| PSALMS - OVERVIEW, PART ONE |
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The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center |
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The Book of Psalms is part of the Wisdom Books or Writings along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.
The Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible with 150 chapters, 2,351 verses, and 43,051 words. It is a collection of prayers, poems, and hymns with thoughts on God in praise and adoration. Many parts of the book were used as hymnals in the worship services of ancient Israel. The musical heritage of the psalms is demonstrated by its title that comes from the Greek word that means "a song sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument." The psalms are musical poems. That's why Rev. Margaret Minnicks fondly called the book "Hymns About Him."
One chapter is a psalm. Two or more chapters are called psalms. For instance, it is Psalm 23, but they are Psalms 146-150. The P is capitalized when it is a specific psalm, but when the general word is used, it begins with a small p.
The Book of Psalm is probably the best known and most loved portion of the Old Testament. If you know the background of the psalms and the correct word to read them, you will be enriched. When you want to read the Bible and you don't know what to read, default to reading one of the psalms. That's because you can pick one of the chapters because they stand alone without having to read a chapter before it or a chapter after it to understand its meaning.
The psalms are divided into five books of praise. Each book is parallel to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. Each book ends with a doxology.
Doxology: a short hymn of praise with the following characteristics:
praise, reference to God, creation language, eternal language (forever, everlasting, etc.), and ends with "Amen."
Book 1 represents Genesis
Psalms 1-41
Doxology 41:13
Book 2 represents Exodus
Psalms 42-72
Doxology 72:18-19
Book 3 represents Leviticus
Psalms 73-89
Doxology 89-52
Book 4 represents Numbers
Psalms 90-106
Doxology 106:48
Book 5 represents Deuteronomy
Psalms 107-150
Doxology 150:1-6 (entire psalm)
Themes of the Psalms:
God (with 15,000 references)
God's creation
war
worship
wisdom
sin
evil
judgment
justice
coming of the Messiah
Keywords
Hallelujah (13 times in Psalm 150 in just 6 verses)
Praise
Worship
Key Chapter: Psalm 100 because of the twin themes of praise and worship.
Most Universal Psalm: Psalm 23 is the most universal psalm that is often read at weddings and funerals.
Longest Chapter: 119 with 176 verses. All except three verses (90, 122, and 132) contain the word "word" or a synonym for "word."
Shortest Chapter: Psalm 117 with only two verses. This chapter is in the middle of the Bible.
Psalm 1: Introduction to the psalms
Psalm 150: Conclusion to all the psalms
Psalm 150 is the doxology to Book 5.
Psalm 150 is a doxology to all 150 psalms.
Psalm 150 ends the "Hallelujah Psalms" or "Praise Psalms." (Psalms 146-150). That's because the first and last line of each psalm is an invitation to "praise the Lord."
Psalmists
Most people make the mistake and give David credit for all the psalms. However, he was one of seven writers, known as psalmists. Fifty of the psalms are anonymous. The psalms were written over a period of a thousand years.
Psalmists
David: 73
Asaph: 12
Sons of Korah: 10
Solomon: 2
Moses: 1
Ethan: 1
Heman: 1
Anonymous: 50
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| Last updated 2025/09/04 18:07:40 EDT | Hits 176 |
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