The Aspen Grove

Seeking Overall Shape and Structure of the Book of Psalms

Note Planted:
15 min read

The Big Idea

Since the main goal of my study of the psalms has been Memorizing the Psalms having a handle on the overall structure of how the Psalter holds together will make it easier to keep things in memory as a dynamic unit and not a million individual unrelated chunks or a huge rote memorized list that I cannot access except at the beginning and end.

That goal is much easier said than done and what follows are collected notes of what I have seen and found so far. I have come to start thinking of the Psalter more like the sinews and muscles that hold a body together. There are so many inner and outer connections between things that it is impossible to claim there is one defined shape. So here are some of the connections so far.

Big Picture Features of Psalms

  1. Psalter as a Unified Whole - I believe that the whole psalter is meant to work together and puts forward a coherent prayer life, as well as teaching us a full bodied grammar and language in which to pray faithfully. This is inline with many early church Fathers who treated it as a kind of manual for Christian living. Some related thoughts: Psalms-The Language of Our Heart
    1. Opening and Closing - Treating Psalm 1 and 2 as an overall introduction and 146-150 as the overall conclusion. I think this will be important to identify important themes and how they start and all lead toward the final praise of God.
  2. Book Division - The five books offer the most clear division of the psalms and will serve as the next step down in organization. I think that it will help keep things in a nicely memorable packet. Therefore I will look for how Psalms relate within each book especially the start end and chiastic middle of each book.
  3. Superscriptions - The next major clue to how things fit together and work together are the superscriptions. Not all Psalms have them but they can be found across all five books and offer a lot of information about how to group psalms and what they are helpful for.
  4. Textual Structure - many psalms (and even between psalms as in 9 and 10) have specific structures to them. The most obvious being the Acrostic. I need to research and learn more about other structures like chiasms and how to identify them better.
  5. Thematic Phrases and Words - There are many repeated phrases or ideas and using these to see how themes are developed and carried through the psalter by book but also as a whole.
  6. Number Symbolism - Numbers are everywhere in the Psalms from the given number of a psalm to the grouping of psalms in specific sets (songs of accent being in 15, etc.). I want to look at the coherence and picture these numbers can help teach and the memory aid they can be. This is especially interesting when looking at numbering differences between the Masoretic numbering and the Septuagint numbering.

Book Division

Master Overall Structure Attempt 1 (kind of chaotic lol)

Book 1 Structure overview

  • Book 1 breaks into 7 main sections:
    • 1-2 (2 Psalms),
    • 3-14 (12 Psalms),
    • 15-17 (3 Psalms),
    • 18-24 (7 Psalms),
    • 25-31 (7 Psalms),
    • 32-33 (2 Psalms),
    • 34-41 (8 Psalms)
  • Three of the larger collections break down into smaller units:
    • 3-6, 7-10, 11-14 (3 sets of 4)
    • 25-28, 29-31 (one set of 4 and one of 3)
    • 34-37, 38-41 (2 sets of 4)

Master list

  • Book 1 Psalms 1-41 (41 Psalms)
    • Psalm 1 and 2 (2 Psalms) as introductions. No superscriptions
      1. Blessed is the Man
      2. Why do the Nations rage
        • Anointed, God’s King set on Zion/Holy Hill
    • Struggle Cycle 3-14 (12 Psalms): Dealing with Enemies inside and out.
      • Psalms 3-6 (4 Psalms) Psalms of David.
        • Psalm 3 Episode from David’s life.
        • Psalm 4-6 Psalm To the Choir director.
          • Psalm 5 God as King
            • Chiastic center of two surrounding string psalms.
      • Psalms 7-10 (4 Psalms)
        • Psalm 7 Shiggaion and Episode
        • Psalm 8-9 Psalms of David
          • Psalm 8 Lord over all the earth. Majestic Name in all the earth. Creational Praise
        • Psalm 10 NoSuper. Combined with 9 in Septuagint numbering. This would make 8 the center which does have a very unique creational praise theme in this collection.
          • God as King
          • Lament theme matching psalms after
          • Acrostic form matching Psalm before
      • Psalms 11-14 (4 Psalms)
        • Psalm 11 Of David. Lord in His Temple
        • Psalms 12-13 Psalm of David.
        • Psalm 14 Of David. Lord sees all have fallen away
    • Bridge/Summary Psalms 15-17
      • Psalm 15 Psalm of David.
      • Psalm 16 Miktam of David. Clinging to the Lord
      • Psalm 17 Prayer of David.
      • These Psalms all look back at the struggles before in familiarity with God (17) but also look forward to the idea of living in God’s presence in the temple but also contrasting this with the image of the fool from Psalm 14 (15)
    • King Cycle 18-24 (7 Psalms) Psalms of David
      • All to the Choir director except 23 and 24
      • Psalm 18 Episode and Long
        • Lord comes out of Temple to save
        • God Saves His King
      • Psalm 19 Creational praise, praising God for the Torah. Kind of the Heart of the King.
      • Psalms 20-21 symmetrical pair of Messianic king being the ultimate faithful one
        • Psalm 20 request to save God’s King
        • Psalm 21 is chiastic center of Book I
          • King rejoices in Lord’s strength, and he trust the Lord
        • Psalm 22 Cry to God
          • Lord as King
        • Psalm 23-24 non Choir director pair
          • Psalm 23 Shepherd
          • Psalm 24
            • Lord over all the Earth. Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof
            • Temple dwelling, gates opening for glory of the Lord to enter.
            • Lord King of Glory
    • Psalms 25-31 (7 Psalms) Journey to God’s Prescence
      • Psalms 25-28 (4 Psalms) Of David. Individual Lament
        • Psalm 25 is an acrostic
          • Seeking forgiveness
          • Waiting for the Lord
        • Psalm 27
          • Seeking Temple dwelling
          • Wait for the Lord
        • Psalm 28
          • far from temple
          • Seeking refuge
      • Psalm 29-31 (3 Psalms) Psalms of David.
        • Psalm 29
          • The Lord Shows up
          • Heavenly praise, Voice of the Lord
          • All cry Glory in the temple
          • Lord as King, heavenly temple
        • Psalm 30 Temple dedication
        • Psalm 31 Psalm and To the choir
          • Take refuge, wait for the Lord even in trouble
    • Bridge/Summary Psalms 32-33 - Psalm 32 first Maskil - Blessed man shows up again from Psalm 1 - Forgiveness has been granted description of how it happened
      • Psalm 33 No superscription. Kind of a hinge psalm or a summary Psalm
        • Praise God for Creation
        • Summarizes many themes from before
          • Bring nations counsel to nothing Psalm 2
            • Because of that there is a Blessed Nation
          • Looks down from Heaven on all people Psalm 14
          • Lord sees and knows way of the righteous Psalm 1
          • Steadfast love of the Lord
          • King not saved by own strength but God
    • Struggle Cycle Two 34-41 (8 Psalms): Dealing with Enemies inside and out.
      • Psalm 34-37 (4 Psalms) Of David
        • Psalm 34 Episode and Acrostic.
          • When David acted cray cray before Abimelech.
          • Blessed man again
        • Psalm 35
        • Psalms 36 To the Choir
        • Psalm 37 is an Acrostic
      • Psalm 38-41 To the Choir and Psalm
        • Psalm 38 Psalm, Temple Memorial Offering
        • Psalm 39
        • Psalm 40
          • Blessed Man
        • Psalm 41
          • Blessed Man explained and ends with Doxology
  • Book 2 Psalms 42-72 (31 Psalms)
    • Psalm 42-43 hope for return to the temple
      • Psalm 42 Sons of Korah
    • Psalm 44-49 Sons of Korah
    • Psalm 50 Asaph
    • Psalms 51-65 Davidic Psalms
      • Psalms 51-64 (14 Psalms) Laments
        • Psalms 51-59 (9 Psalms) Individual lament
        • Psalm 60 communal lament
        • Psalms 61-64 (4 Psalms)
    • Psalm 58 is chiastic center of book
    • Psalms 68-70 Davidic Psalms
    • Psalm 72 Solomon written. future reign of messianic king over all nations. ends with Doxology
  • Book 3 Psalms 73-89 (17 Psalms)
    • Psalm 73-83 (11 Psalms) Asaph written
      • Psalm 73-74 individual lament
      • Psalm 78 chiastic center of group of Asaph psalms
      • Psalm 82 is chiastic center of book
    • Psalm 84-85 Sons of Korah (2 Psalms)
    • Psalm 86 Davidic Psalm
    • Psalm 87-89 Sons of Korah (and associates) (3 Psalms)
      • Psalms 87-88 Formal Sons of Korah Psalms
      • Psalms 88-89 Individual Laments
        • Psalm 88 Herman the Ezrahite by name.
        • Psalm 89 Ethan the Ezrahite by name. time of Solomon written. Reflect on God’s promise to David in midst of exile. mix of lament but ends with Doxology
  • Book 4 Psalms 90-106 (17 Psalms) possibly post exile collected?
    • Psalms 90-92 (3 Psalms) living with God
      • Psalm 90 prayer of Moses return to roots. the difficulty of dwelling well with the Lord.
      • Psalm 91 Lord as refuge and place of protection
      • Psalm 92 a sabbath psalm. thanking God for rest
    • Psalm 93-99 (7 Psalms) group that announces the Lord God as the true king of all creation.
      • Psalm 99 is chiastic center of book
    • Psalm 100 psalm of thanksgiving
    • Psalm 101 Davidic psalm
    • Psalm 102 prayer of the afflicted
    • Psalm 103 Davidic psalm
    • Psalm 104 bless the lord
    • Psalm 105 give thanks to the lord
    • Psalm 106 praise the lord. ends with Doxology
  • Book 5 Psalms 107-150 (44 Psalms)
    • Psalms 107-110 (4 Psalms) God hears the cry of his people and will one day send the messiah
      • Psalms 108-110 Davidic Psalms
    • Psalms 111-112 (2 Psalms) Praise the lord pair together form an acrostic
      • 112 opening verse reflection of what the blessed man does in Psalm 1
      • or they are individually really short acrostics?
    • Psalm 113-118 (6 Psalms) “Egyptian Hallel” or praise psalms focused around deliverance from Egypt
      • Septuagint combines 114 and 115 and splits 116 in two (verses 1-9) and (10-19). This places Hallelujah at the beginning of all six psalms
    • Psalm 119 (1 Psalm1) super long acrostic psalm
    • Psalm 120-134 (15 Psalms). 15 explicit Psalms of Ascent.
      • Same number as the number of steps up both the outer (8 steps) and inner (7 steps) gates combined.
      • Psalm 122 Davidic Psalm
      • Psalm 124 Davidic Psalm
      • Psalm 127 Solomon written
      • Psalm 131 Davidic Psalm
      • Psalm 133 Davidic Psalm
    • Psalms 135-136 descriptive praise. Sometimes included with 120-134 as the “Great Hallel” total 17 psalms.
    • Psalms 138-145 (8 Psalms) Final collection of Davidic Psalms
    • Psalms 135-136 (2 Psalms) pair of history psalms
    • Psalm 137 (1 Psalm) exile lament/ imprecatory psalm
    • Psalm 145 is an acrostic
    • Psalms 146-150 (5 Psalms) final conclusion to Psalms
      • Psalm 148 center of the five and says all creation is summoned to praise God
      • Psalm 150 Ends with Major Doxology

another possible division of the book http://www.bible.literarystructure.info/bible/19_Psalms_e.html

Superscriptions

  • The next major clue to how things fit together and work together are the superscriptions. Not all Psalms have them but they can be found across all five books and over a lot of information about how to group psalms and what they are helpful for.
  • The obscure or hard to translate superscription names seem to signal shifts in the structure of the Psalms either at major beginning ending or chiastic middle positions.
  • Type and Author connected. I.e. Psalm of David, etc.
    • Secondary Description of Author. I.e Servant of the Lord
  • Secondary Type. I.e. A song, etc.
  • Secondary Author. I.e Heman the Ezrahite
  • Choirmaster setting
    • Musical Instument. I.e strings,
  • According to phrase
    • Does it matter if this is stand alone or connected with Choir setting?
  • David Life Episode
  • Occasion for use Congregational Praise group I: 95-100 7. Hallelujah group: 111-117 8. Songs of Ascent to Jerusalem: 120-134 9. Congregational Praise Group II: 146-150
  1. Subscriptions 2. Author 3. Details about author 4. Event or musical notation attached 5. Formal psalm structure 6. Name of god used 7. acrostic or not 8. Other notable characteristic (repeated word or theme etc)
  2. Egyptian Hallel - https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b3c443db-7da7-490a-a28f-a23f133d09e9/files/swd375x11k
  3. CPH Psalm Overview - https://blog.cph.org/study/the-psalms-an-overview 
  4. Hallel discussion - https://www.thetorah.com/article/hallel-how-many-psalms 
  5. Book IV. This consists of three series of consecutive psalms with internal coherence (Ps. 90–94, 95–100 and 101–106).

People References

  • Sons of Korah
    • Linage Numbers 4:4-15, Sons spared from Fathers rebellion Numbers 26:11
  • Jeduthun mentioned as a person
    • In Psalms Super: 39
    • Introduced 1 Chronicles 16:41-42
    • 1 Chronicles 9:16, 1 Chronicles 16:38, 1 Chronicles 25:3, 1 Chronicles 25:3, Nehemiah 11:17
  • Asaph
    • Introduction 1 Chronicles 6:39
    • 2 Kings 18:18, 2 Kings 18:37, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 9:15, 1 Chronicles 15:17, 1 Chronicles 16:5 and 7 and 37,
  • Heman
    • Introduction 1 Chronicles 6:33
  • Ethan the Ezrahite
    • Introduction 1 Kings 4:31
  • Heman and Ethan
    • 1 Kings 4:31, 1 Chronicles 2:6
  • Jeduthun, Heman
    • 1 Chronicles 16:41-42, 2 Chronicles 29:14
  • Jeduthun, Heman and Asaph
    • 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6, 2 Chronicles 5:12, 2 Chronicles 35:15
  • Heman, Asaph, Ethan
    • 1 Chronicles 15:17 and 19

Author/Musician across Books - Layer one

  • David (Psalm 73) -
    • Book 1 (37 Psalms): 3-9, 11-32, 34-41,
    • Book 2 (18 Psalms): 51-65, 68-70,
    • Book 3 (1 Psalm): 86,
    • Book 4 (2 Psalms): 101, 103,
    • Book 5 (15 Psalms): 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145
  • Sons of Korah (Psalms 11) -
    • Book 2 (7 Psalms): 42, 44-49,
    • Book 3 (4 Psalms): 84-85, 87-88
  • Asaph (12 Psalms) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 50,
    • Book 3 (11 Psalms): 73-83
  • Solomon (2 Psalms) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 72
    • Book 5 (1 Psalms): 127 - Song of Ascent
Author/Musician unique to a Book - Layer one
  • Ethan the Ezrahite (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 89
  • Moses (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 90
  • Afflicted One (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102
Author/Musician - Layer Two
  • Jeduthun (3 Psalm) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalm): “To” 39,
    • Book 2 (1 Psalm): “According to” 62
    • Book 3 (1 Psalm): “According to” 77
  • Heman the Ezrahite -
    • Book 3 (1 Psalm): 88

Song/Type across Books - Layer one

  • A Psalm (58 Psalms ) -
    • Book 1 (23 Psalms): 3-6, 8-9, 12-13, 15, 18-24, 29-31, 38-41
    • Book 2 (12 Psalms): 47-51, 62-68
    • Book 3 (12 Psalms): 73, 75-77, 79-80, 82-85, 87-88
    • Book 4 (4 Psalms): 92, 98, 100-101
    • Book 5 (7 Psalms): 108-110, 139-141, 143
  • Maskil (13 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 32
    • Book 2 (7 Psalms): 42, 44-45, 52-55
    • Book 3 (4 Psalms): 74, 78, 88-89
    • Book 5 (1 Psalm): 142
  • A Miktam (6 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 16
    • Book 2 (5 Psalms): 56-60
  • A Prayer (3 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 17 - David
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 86 - David
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102 - Afflicted One
Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer One
  • A Shiggaion (Psalm 1) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 7
  • A Song of Ascent (15 Psalms) -
    • Book 5 (15 Psalms): 125-134
Song/Type across Books - Layer Two
  • According to Gittith (3 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 8
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 81, 84
  • According to Lilies (3 Psalms) -
    • Book 2 (2 Psalms): 45, 69
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 80
  • According to Mahalath - (2 Psalms):
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 53
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 88
  • According to Do not Destroy (4 Psalms) -
    • Book 2 (3 Psalms): 57-59
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 75
  • A Song (14 Psalms) -
    • Book 2 (6 Psalms): 46, 48, 65-68,
    • Book 3 (5 Psalms): 75-76, 83, 87-88,
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 92
    • Book 5 (2 Psalms): 108, 145
Song/Type Unique to a Book - Layer Two
  • According to Sheminth (2 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 6, 12
  • According to Muth-Labben “Death of the Son” (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 9
  • According to Doe of the Dawn (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 22
  • According to Alamoth (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 46
  • According to Dove (1 Psalm ) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 56
  • According to Shushan Eduth (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 60
  • A Love Song (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 45
  • A Song of Praise (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 5 (1 Psalms): 145 - David
  • Title for David: “Servant of the Lord” (2 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (2 Psalms): 18, 36
Occasion across Books
  • Memorial Offering (2 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 38 - David
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 70 - David
    • Memorial offering reference: Leviticus 2:2 and 6:15
Occasion unique to a Book
  • Temple Dedication (1 Psalm)-
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 30 - David
  • For Instruction (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 60 - David
  • For Testimony (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 3 (1 Psalms): 80 - Asaph
  • For the Sabbath (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 92 - Anonymous
  • For Giving Thanks (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 100 - Anonymous
  • Pours out ones Heart (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 102 - Afflicted one

Instruments across Books

  • Strings (5 Psalms) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 4
    • Book 2 (4 Psalms): 54-55, 61, 67
    • Book 4 (1 Psalms): 76
Instruments Unique to a Book
  • Flutes (1 Psalm) -
    • Book 1 (1 Psalms): 5
  • Far-off Terebinths (1 Psalm) - 56
    • Book 2 (1 Psalms): 56

Need to do this with Choirmaster and David life Episode

  • Notes from Jerome
    • psalm 5 superscripts are important Jerome
    • psalm 7 lot about 7 and 8 and superscriptions
    • p.26 Jerome superscripts as vestibules of the mansion of a psalm
    • P. 35 psalm 9 about Jesus
    • Also for him psalm 14 our 15 he makes the connection between sacrifice of the lamb and temple dwelling
    • Psalm 76 connects Salem when old title of Jerusalem and where Melchizedek rules
    • P 93 psalm 81 associated title for the wine presses with the three main festivals Passover, Pentecost and booths,

Textual Structure

  • Acrostics seem to always signal some kind of change in the collection as well
    • Psalm 25 and 34 seem to start complimentary groups of 8 psalms with 33 as the chiastic center.
    • Even Psalm 37 within one of those collections is on the “inner seam” of the eight with a special superscription in Psalm 38 immediately following.
  • Chiasms

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