Structure of Psalms

This month for my Bible reading plan, I have been reading through a number of Psalms. As I have been reading through I have come to realize that the book has a very unique and important structure to it. Knowing this structure has really helped the book become more alive to me as I read it. So I wanted to share a few important structural points that have made an impression in my mind.

First, Psalms is one large book but with an introduction, 5 chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction to Psalms as a book is, Psalms 1 and 2. Psalms 1 gives instructions for those who would delight in the law of the Lord. This Psalms is telling the reading that if they saturate themselves in the Word of God, they will be blessed. Psalms 2 tells of a coming messianic King will save His people one day when He arrives. This is a Psalms that points to Jesus and almost at times acts like a prophecy about His future coming. Then after this introduction 5 chapters unfold in the meat of the book (3-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-145). Each of these chapters deal with either the law of God and the worshipers relationships with God and His Word. Or the chapters and the psalms in them, focus on this coming messianic king and deliverer. The conclusion of the entire book of Psalms is the last 5 Psalms. These 5 closing Psalms point once more back to the introduction, but they do it in such a way that it is all about worship. These final 5 repeat much of the same truths as the rest of the book but do it in the context of corporate worship of the people of God. Finding this structure has not only lead me to cherish the first few Psalms better, but it has also lead me to understand in a greater way the connected nature that the entire book has.

The second important structure point that I found very helpful this month, is understanding the mood or type of psalm I am reading. There are many different moods of the Psalms. Some psalms are lament or grieving in mood, some Psalms are praise in mood, others are worship and glory type Psalms, and some psalms are thanksgiving in mood. The different types of Psalms go by different names. The list of types is; lament, thanksgiving, hymns of Praise, salvation-historical, celebration-affirmation, wisdom, and songs of trust. Knowing which type or mood the Psalm is helps me understand the Psalm in a great way. So this second structure tool does not help with the book as a whole, but it helps frame each Psalm better, which then in turn leads to me to understand the connected nature of the psalm to the whole.