"The Psalms are traditionally divided into five “books,” possibly to reflect the five books of the Torah—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Psalms 1 through 41, which make up the first book, emphasize how God is beside us.
....example is found in Psalm 23:
The second book consists of Psalms 42 through 72. Here attention is given to how God goes before us.
David confesses his sin in Psalm 51 and pleads with the Lord to wash away his transgression and to create in him a clean heart.
Book Two closes with this expression of praise found in Psalm 72:19:
The third book (Psalms 73–89) reminds us that God is all around us. Asaph recounts the history of God’s people in Psalm 78, showing us that God has been at work the whole time.
Book Three closes with this simple doxology in Psalm 89:52:
The fourth book (Psalms 90–106) focuses on how God is above us.
Psalm 90 is the one psalm credited to Moses. In it, he speaks of how our lives on this earth are brief, so we need to number our days aright. God, on the other hand, is eternal, and He will reign forever and ever.
Book Four closes with these words in Psalm 106:48:
In the fifth book (Psalms 107–150), the spotlight is on how the God is among us. Psalm 128 paints a beautiful picture of a man who fears God. He is happy and blessed. His wife is like a fruitful vine within the home, and his children are like olive plants around the table.
Book Five closes with the doxology found in the Psalm 150:1–6:
Book 1 (Ps 1 – 42) – Genesis: The blessed man-Genesis is the book of life
Book 2 (Ps 42 – 72) – Exodus: Deliverance- Exodus is the book of redemption
Book 3 (Ps 73 – 89) – Leviticus: Sanctuary-Leviticus is the book of sanctification
Book 4 (Ps 90 – 106)–Numbers: Wandering in the wilderness- Numbers is the book of testing
Book 5 (Ps 107 – 150 )–Deuteronomy: coming home-Deuteronomy is the book of divine government
Books I and II—Davidic Psalms: Books I and II of the Psalms are songs composed exclusively by King David.
It is interesting that the number of Davidic Psalms are 72 (24 x 3). Since David arranged the Levitical singers into 24 “wards” (1 Chron. 25:8–31), it is likely that these 72 psalms were established to be sung by the Levites in their 24 divisions.
Focus on Book III of Psalms: —chapters 73 to 89—frequently refers to the temple at Jerusalem and its defilement or destruction.
Focus on Book IV of Psalms:— Psalm 90 introduces the contextual subject by mentioning “a thousand years” (verse 4)—a millennium of time. Indeed, the general theme of Book IV is the millennial reign of Christ. Psalm 92 is about the Sabbath—which also pictures the millennial “rest” of God.
Focus on Book V of Psalms: —chapters 107–150 is associated with Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is called “the second law”—a summary of the earlier parts of the Law. Book V describes how God will accomplish Israel’s salvation.
It had long been recognized that the collection bore the imprint of an underlying message but that this message remained concealed, as Augustine of Hippo said, "The sequence of the Psalms seems to me to contain the secret of a mighty mystery, but its meaning has not been revealed to me."
Psalms 1 through 41, which make up the first book, emphasize how God is beside us.
....example is found in Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
David goes on to say that there’s no reason to fear any evil because God is always with us.
Book One closes with this doxology in Psalm 41:13:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Listen to Key Psalms of Book 1 (click on Links)
Psalm 1
Psalm 23
Psalm 22
The second book consists of Psalms 42 through 72. Here attention is given to how God goes before us.
David confesses his sin in Psalm 51 and pleads with the Lord to wash away his transgression and to create in him a clean heart.
Book Two closes with this expression of praise found in Psalm 72:19:
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!
Listen to Key Psalms of Book 2 (click on Links)
Psalm 51
Psalm 49
The third book (Psalms 73–89) reminds us that God is all around us. Asaph recounts the history of God’s people in Psalm 78, showing us that God has been at work the whole time.
Book Three closes with this simple doxology in Psalm 89:52:
Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
Amen and Amen.
Listen to Key Psalms from Book 3 (click on Links)
Psalm 73
Psalm 77
The fourth book (Psalms 90–106) focuses on how God is above us.
Psalm 90 is the one psalm credited to Moses. In it, he speaks of how our lives on this earth are brief, so we need to number our days aright. God, on the other hand, is eternal, and He will reign forever and ever.
Book Four closes with these words in Psalm 106:48:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, Amen!
Praise the Lord!
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, Amen!
Praise the Lord!
Listen to key Psalms from Book 4 (click on Links)
Psalm 90
Psalm 99
In the fifth book (Psalms 107–150), the spotlight is on how the God is among us. Psalm 128 paints a beautiful picture of a man who fears God. He is happy and blessed. His wife is like a fruitful vine within the home, and his children are like olive plants around the table.
Book Five closes with the doxology found in the Psalm 150:1–6:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Listen to key Psalms from Book 5 (click on Links)
Psalm 145
Book 1 (Ps 1 – 42) – Genesis: The blessed man-Genesis is the book of life
Book 2 (Ps 42 – 72) – Exodus: Deliverance- Exodus is the book of redemption
Book 3 (Ps 73 – 89) – Leviticus: Sanctuary-Leviticus is the book of sanctification
Book 4 (Ps 90 – 106)–Numbers: Wandering in the wilderness- Numbers is the book of testing
Book 5 (Ps 107 – 150 )–Deuteronomy: coming home-Deuteronomy is the book of divine government
Books I and II—Davidic Psalms: Books I and II of the Psalms are songs composed exclusively by King David.
It is interesting that the number of Davidic Psalms are 72 (24 x 3). Since David arranged the Levitical singers into 24 “wards” (1 Chron. 25:8–31), it is likely that these 72 psalms were established to be sung by the Levites in their 24 divisions.
Focus on Book III of Psalms: —chapters 73 to 89—frequently refers to the temple at Jerusalem and its defilement or destruction.
Focus on Book IV of Psalms:— Psalm 90 introduces the contextual subject by mentioning “a thousand years” (verse 4)—a millennium of time. Indeed, the general theme of Book IV is the millennial reign of Christ. Psalm 92 is about the Sabbath—which also pictures the millennial “rest” of God.
Focus on Book V of Psalms: —chapters 107–150 is associated with Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is called “the second law”—a summary of the earlier parts of the Law. Book V describes how God will accomplish Israel’s salvation.
It had long been recognized that the collection bore the imprint of an underlying message but that this message remained concealed, as Augustine of Hippo said, "The sequence of the Psalms seems to me to contain the secret of a mighty mystery, but its meaning has not been revealed to me."
Psalms is the most-read book of the Bible,
and it’s the one Jesus quotes most often."
TheFaithfulVersion/Apologia/BibliaBlog