Book 19 - Psalms

Psalms is different from everything we’ve read so far.

There is no storyline. No timeline. No beginning-to-end arc. Instead, Psalms is a collection. One hundred and fifty individual pieces written over centuries by different people in very different circumstances.

The historical books showed us what happened, while Psalms is a kind of record of what people said while it was happening.

What kind of book is this?

Psalms is a collection of prayers, songs, and poems directed toward God.

Some were written for public worship. Some are personal. Some were likely sung with instruments. Others read more like private reflections that were later preserved.

It’s not a book of doctrine. It’s not a book of explanations.

It’s a record of human speech addressed to God.

Who wrote it?

Many of the psalms are attributed to David, but he is not the only author.

Others are credited to:

• Asaph

• The sons of Korah

• Solomon

• Moses

• Several unnamed writers

The psalms were written across a long span of Israel’s history. Some come from periods of stability. Others come from moments of danger, exile, or personal failure.

That range helps explain why the tone changes so sharply from one psalm to the next.

How is it structured?

Psalms is divided into five sections, sometimes called “books,” which roughly mirror the structure of the Torah.

Each section closes with a short doxology, a brief statement of praise.

Beyond that, there is no strict narrative order. Laments appear next to songs of confidence. Gratitude sits beside anger. Trust is followed by fear.

This is one reason Psalms does not function like a book meant to be read straight through from beginning to end.

What many people recognize

Even people who have never read the Bible are familiar with parts of Psalms.

• Psalm 23 - “The Lord is my shepherd…”

• Psalm 51 - David’s confession after his failure with Bathsheba.

• Psalm 22 - “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?…” Words later quoted during the crucifixion.

• Psalm 139 - Reflections on being fully known.

These psalms appear frequently in funerals, weddings, music, literature, and common language.

What Psalms is not trying to do

Psalms is not trying to resolve suffering. It does not present a consistent emotional state. It doesn’t tell the reader what to feel. It documents what people expressed.

Why Psalms continues to be read

Psalms has remained central because it preserves a wide range of human responses to God across many generations.

Rather than advancing a single argument, it gathers voices. That helps explain why it continues to be returned to in different contexts and circumstances.

Next up is Proverbs, basically a collection of sayings offering advice and wisdom.