The book of Psalms was written\u00a0by various writers.\u00a0 These chapters reflect\u00a0life in the community of Israel. These are, at times, a reaction to the circumstances God allows in our lives.<\/p>\n
Writers of the Psalms:<\/p>\n
A possible division of the Psalms can be in terms of the Pentateuch<\/a>. For example<\/p>\n Each of these divisions ends with a doxology, a blessing reflecting the theme of the previous chapters.<\/p>\n Types of Psalms<\/p>\n The book of Psalms was written by various writers such as David, and Moses even wrote a psalm. These chapters reflect life in the community of Israel. These are, at times, a reaction to the circumstances God allows in our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,114],"tags":[36,24,32,115,26,60],"class_list":["post-266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-daily-studies","category-psalms","tag-david","tag-god","tag-promises","tag-psalm","tag-remember","tag-research","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1916,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions\/1916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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![Pentateuch<\/a>. For example<\/p>\n\nPsalms 1-41 reflect the Sovereign God of creation in Genesis<\/li>\nPsalms 42-72 reflect the Redeeming God of Exodus<\/li>\nPsalms 73-89 reflect the holy God whom we worship in Leviticus<\/li>\nPsalms 90-106 reflect the God who is with us in our wanderings as in Numbers<\/li>\nPsalms 107<\/a>-150 reflect the God of the Word whom we praise as in Deuteronomy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEach of these divisions ends with a doxology, a blessing reflecting the theme of the previous chapters.<\/p>\n\nAltaschith<\/em> means “Do not destroy.” It occurs in Psalms 57-59 and 75 (see our study of Psalm 57, <\/span>58<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>59<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>75<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). Although the meaning is not clear, some have conjectured that it was a tune of a popular song. <\/span>Isaiah 65.8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> seems to reference it.<\/span><\/li>\nGittith<\/em>\u00a0may refer to a musical instrument created and used by the people of Gath.\u00a0 Since David stayed with them for a time, it seems plausible.\u00a0 This term is used in Psalms\u00a08<\/a>, 81<\/a>, 84<\/a>.<\/li>\nHiggaion<\/em> may refer to a musical interlude; a grand pause like Selah <\/em>(Psalm 9<\/a> and 92<\/a>).\u00a0 In Psalm 19<\/a>\u00a0the term is translated as “meditate.”<\/li>\nJeduthun, meaning praising<\/em>, refers to a Levitical family whose\u00a0duties were to organize the temple music service (1 Chronicles 15.17, 19;\u00a01 Chronicles\u00a016.41, 42; 1 Chronicles 25.1, 3, 6; 2 Chronicles 35.15<\/a>). Jeduthun\u2019s name is in the inscription found in Psalms\u00a039<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, 62<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>77<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>89<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 These Psalms were written by others and were probably written specifically for his choir.<\/li>\nLily of the Covenant<\/span><\/em> (Psalm 60 <\/a>and Psalm 88) might refer to a tune the psalm is to be sung to.<\/span><\/li>\nMahalath<\/em> is found in the title of <\/span>Psalm 53<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and Mahalath-Leannoth<\/em> is found in the title of <\/span>Psalm 88. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>The meaning of these words is uncertain as it seems with most of the superscriptions\u00a0in the Psalms. The thought is that mahalath\u00a0is a guitar, and that leannoth\u00a0has reference to the character of the psalm. Some see it as equivalent\u00a0to Ma\u00ebstoso, which is a direction for performers to play the passage in a majestic manner.<\/span><\/li>\nMaskil<\/em> (or Maschil<\/em>) is a term used to indicate\u00a0a psalm that was sung\u00a0at an annual festival.\u00a0 The NASB describes it as “Possibly Contemplative<\/em>, or Didactic<\/em>, or Skillful Psalm”<\/em>\u00a0term means skillful instruction.\u00a0 It is used in thirteen psalms (Psalm 32<\/a>, 42<\/a>, 44<\/a>, 45<\/a>, 52<\/a>, 53<\/a>, 54<\/a>, 55<\/a>, 74<\/a>, 78<\/a>, 88<\/a>, 89<\/a>, and 142<\/a>).<\/li>\n\u00a0A Miktam<\/em>\u00a0is\u00a0a Hebrew word meaning \u201cwriting\u201d or \u201cpsalm\u201d and could mean that it is an epigrammatic poem or atonement Psalm. \u00a0It is found in the superscriptions for Psalm 16<\/a> and \u00a0Psalms 56\u201360<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Psalm 16<\/a>, 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60).\u00a0 These are Psalms written in the form of a prayer due to persistent danger.\u00a0 In Isaiah 38.9-20<\/span><\/a>\u00a0it is translated\u00a0as “writing.”\u00a0 Because the Septuagint translates it as “inscription,” it should be understood as “writing.”\u00a0 Since we do not have a clear understanding of the term, we should go with the interpretation found closest to the source itself unless the understanding contradicts other portions of Scripture.<\/li>\nMuth-Labben<\/em>\u00a0may refer to the death (\u05de\u05d5\u05ea) of a son of David (Absalom)\u00a0or the death of Goliath or the death of a fool (a play on Laban’s name).\u00a0\u00a0 It is only found in Psalm 9<\/a>.\u00a0 It could also be a musical term indicating that soprano boys should sing this tune.<\/li>\nNeginoth<\/em> means stringed instrument (Psalm 4<\/a>, 6<\/a>, 54<\/a>, 55<\/a>, 61<\/a>, 67<\/a>, and\u00a076).<\/li>\nNehiloth <\/span><\/em>or flute or other wind instrument with holes in it (Psalm 5<\/a>).<\/span><\/li>\nSelah<\/em>\u00a0is a musical term asking us to stop and pause in order to\u00a0reflect\u00a0on what has been said.<\/li>\nShemeninth<\/em> means “an eighth” and is unknown to us.\u00a0 It could mean an octave, a tune, or a pitch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTypes of Psalms<\/p>\n\nImprecatory (7<\/a>, 35<\/a>, 40, 55, 58, 59<\/a>, 69, 79,\u00a0109, 137, 139, 144).\u00a0 These psalms are cries to God to bring destruction on those who stand against God and God’s people.<\/li>\nIndividual Lament (3, 4, 5, 6, 7<\/a>, 12, 13, 22, 25, 26, 27<\/a>, 28, 35<\/a>, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 51, 54<\/a>, 55, 56<\/a>, 57, 59<\/a>, 61, 63<\/a>, 64, 69, 70, 71, 86, 88, 102<\/a>, 109, 120<\/a>, 130, 140<\/a>, 141<\/a>, 142<\/a>, and 143).\u00a0 These psalms are passionate pleas to God for help in personal situations.<\/li>\nNational or Community Psalms of Lament (12, 44<\/a>, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129).\u00a0 These are passionate pleas to God for national deliverance.<\/li>\nNature Psalms (8<\/a>, 19<\/a>, 29<\/a>, 33<\/a>, 65<\/a>, 104<\/a>). These relate to God\u2019s creative work, which inspires these poetic writings.<\/span><\/li>\nSong of Ascents or Pilgrimage\u00a0Psalms (43, 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 120<\/a>, 121<\/a>, 122, 123<\/a>, 124<\/a>, 125<\/a>, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133<\/a>, and 134).\u00a0 These are songs the pilgrims sung as they went to Jerusalem for the three major holy days of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Leviticus 23<\/a>).<\/li>\nRoyal Psalms (2<\/a>, 18<\/a>, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144).\u00a0 These relate to the reign of the king.\u00a0 These can also refer to the coming King, Jesus the Messiah.<\/li>\nMessianic Psalms (22, 102<\/a>,…..) relate to the coming Messiah.<\/li>\nPenitential Psalms (Psalms 6<\/a>, 32, 38<\/a>, 51<\/a>, 102<\/a>, 130<\/a>, and 143).\u00a0 When seeking to confess sins, these are great psalms to read as part of confession when asking God to restore our fellowship with Him (1 John 1.9<\/span><\/a>).<\/li>\nSongs (Psalm 65<\/a>, 66, 67, and 68<\/a>). These psalms all contain the word “Song” in their heading along with the regular word of Psalm. They begin with the phrase “Praise is due to You” and end with “Blessed be God.”<\/span><\/li>\nHistorical (Psalms 78<\/a>, 104<\/a>, 105, 106<\/a>, 136). \u00a0Reading these Psalms will provide\u00a0an historical\u00a0perspective on the nation of Israel.<\/li>\nThe Hallelujah or Hallel Psalms, i.e. Psalms 105, 106<\/a>, 107<\/a>, 111\u2013118, 135, 136, 146\u2013150.\u00a0 Most of these Psalms begin or end with the Hebrew word\u00a0\u00a0\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4, translated as “Praise the LORD”.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The book of Psalms was written by various writers such as David, and Moses even wrote a psalm. These chapters reflect life in the community of Israel. These are, at times, a reaction to the circumstances God allows in our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,114],"tags":[36,24,32,115,26,60],"class_list":["post-266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-daily-studies","category-psalms","tag-david","tag-god","tag-promises","tag-psalm","tag-remember","tag-research","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1916,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266\/revisions\/1916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Chart-of-the-Psalms-according-to-the-Torah.jpeg\"){kind=link}