“Music of the Lyre” (Greek: Psalmoi)/”Praises” (Hebrew: Tehillim)

Overall Book Division: 5 “Book” that parallel Moses’ Pentateuch

“BOOK I”: PSALMS 1-41

Authors: At least 1, potentially 3:

• David: 2-9, (10,) 11-29, (31,) 32, 34-41

• Key moments in David’s life:

• Psalms 3: As David fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 15)
• Psalm 7: Unknown event of the circumstance of “Cush the Benjaminite.

• 2 Major Views:

1. Cush = King Saul (from the tribe of Benjamin)
2. Psalm revolved around Absalom’s rebellion

• Psalm 18:  After Saul stopped chasing David (2 Samuel 22)
• Psalm 34: When running from Saul (2 Samuel 21)
• Anonymous: 1, (10,) 33
• Jeremiah: (31)

Dates of Authorship: ca. 11th (time of David) century BC  6^th (destruction of Jerusalem) century BC (except those where author is unconfirmed)

Notable Psalms:

• Psalm 1: The “Blessed” Man

• “Blessed” = “Happy” (Heb. `esher)
• Psalm 3: As David fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 15)
• Psalm 7: “Cush the Benjaminite”
• Psalm 9
• Psalm 18: After Saul stopped chasing David (2 Samuel 22)
• Psalm 23: The LORD, My Shepherd
• Psalm 24: Lift Up Your Heads!
• Psalm 32: Repentance
• Psalm 34: Taste and See
• Psalm 37: Righteous Never Forsaken
• Psalm 40: He Brought Me Out

“BOOK II”: PSALMS 42-72

Authors: Several:

• David: 51-65, 68-70  

• Key moments in David’s life:

• Psalm 51: After the prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba (and the resulting murder of Uriah and the child David conceived from the affair). (1 Samuel 11-12)
• Psalm 54: When the Ziphites had betrayed David’s hiding place to Saul (1 Samuel 26:1)
• Psalms 61: When David was either fleeing Saul or Absalom (1 Samuel 19-26 or 2 Samuel 15-18)
• Asaph: 50

• A chief musician to David
• Anonymous: 66, 67, 71
• Solomon: 72
• “Sons of Korah”: 42-49

• Assistants in the Temple

Dates of Authorship: ca. 11th (time of David) century BC  ?

Notable Psalms: 

• Psalm 51: Create in Me. . .
• Psalm 54: When the Ziphites had betrayed David’s hiding place to Saul
• Psalm 61: The Rock that is Higher than I

“BOOK III”: PSALMS 73-89

Authors: Several:

• David: 86
• Asaph: 73-83

• A chief musician to David
• Ethan: 89

• One of the leaders among the Levites
• “Sons of Korah”: 84, 85, 87, 88.

• Assistants in the Temple

Dates of Authorship: ca. 11th (time of David) century BC  ?

Notable Psalms: 

• Psalm 74: Lord, where are You?
• Psalm 78: Lessons from the Past
• Psalm 84: Joy of His Presence

“BOOK IV”: PSALMS 90-106

Authors: Several:

• Moses: 90

• Likely the oldest Psalm.
• Anonymous: 91-95, 97- 100, 102-104, 106
• David: (96,) 101, 105

Dates of Authorship: ca. 15^th (time of Moses) century   ?

Notable Psalms: 

• Psalm 91: Security in the Lord

• Shaddai (verse 1)

• Almighty, all powerful
• The protection that the Lord provides is sweeping.
• Psalm 100: Come into His presence

“BOOK V”: PSALMS 107-150

Authors: Several:

• Anonymous: 107, 111-119  (Maybe Ezra), 120 (Maybe Hezekiah), 121, 123, 125-130, 132, 134-137, 146-150
• David: 108- 110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145

Dates of Authorship: ca. 15^th (time of Moses) BC  ca. 7^th century BC (time of Hezekiah)?

Notable Psalms: 

• Psalm 110: Evidence of Jesus

• Peter quotes this passage in Acts 2:34-35.

• But He is following the very teaching that Jesus Christ gave in Matthew 22:41-45.
• Psalm 121: My Help!
• Psalm 150: Praise the Lord!

• “Praise” = Halel

• “Act like a madman”
• “Boast”