The Book of Psalms

These notes are organized around our studies in the Psalms starting in 2017, but at the end of each Book we have inserted links to materials from earlier studies, including our Sunday School discussions in 2007.

For the overall organization, I am greatly indebted to O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2015.

Detailed study questions on the entire Book of Psalms are available. These were originally released week by week to help people prepare for each of the expositions recorded below.

Section
Notes
Audio
Introductory Material
Notes and Charts on Habakkuk 3, A Model Psalm
Habakkuk 3
Book 1, Pss 1-41: Confrontation

Notes and Charts on Pss 1-2, The Law and the King
Notes and Charts on the Five Books of Psalms and Psalms 14 and 53
Charts on Psalms 3-14, and in particular Psalms 3 and 4
Charts on Speech Attacks in Psalms 5 and 12
Charts on Chastisement in Psalms 6 and 13
Charts on David's encounters with Saul in Psalms 7 and 11
Charts on Psalm 9-10
Charts on Psalm 8
Notes on Psalms 3-14, God Delivers the Weak
Charts on Psalms 15 and 24
Charts on Psalms 16 and 23
Charts on Psalm 17
Charts on Psalm 22
Charts on Psalm 18
Charts on Psalms 20 and 21
Charts on Psalm 19
Notes on Psalms 15-24
Notes and Charts on Psalm 25
Charts on Psalms 26-27
Charts on Psalms 28-30
Charts on Psalms 31-32
Notes on Psalms 26-32
Charts on Psalm 33
Notes on Psalm 33
Charts on Psalm 34
Charts on Psalms 35 and 36
Charts on Psalm 37
Charts on Psalms 38-39
Charts on Psalms 40-41
Notes on Psalms 34-41
Charts on Overall Summary of Book 1
Notes on Overall Summary of Book 1
Pss 1-2
The Five Books and Psalms 14 and 53
The Structure of Psalms 3-14, and Psalms 3-4 in detail
Psalms 5 and 12: Dealing with Speech Attacks
Psalms 6 and 13: God's Chastisement
Psalm 8: David's praise in the face of moral paradox
Psalm 8: God exalts himself through the weak
Psalms 15 and 24: Who shall be God's guest?
Psalms 16 and 23: God's comfort and care
Psalm 17: God hears the righteous and protects from the wicked
Psalm 22: The righteous sufferer cries to God, then praises him for deliverance
Psalm 18: God is the hero of the afflicted and the helper of the righteous
Psalms 20 and 21: David prays for and receives the Lord's victory
Psalm 19: God's Revelation in Nature and Scripture
Psalm 25: Trusting God for Direction and Forgiveness
Psalms 26-27: Introducing the Royal Dwellingplace
Psalms 28-30: The Oracle, the Lord of Creation, and the Temple
Psalms 31-32: Chastisement and Forgiveness over Bathsheba and Uriah
Psalm 33: Praising God for Creation and Salvation
Psalm 34: Thanking God for Deliverance from Saul and Achish
Psalms 35-36: Dealing with Pervasive Wickedness in the World
Psalm 37: Fret Not but Trust
Psalms 38-39: Under God's Chastening Hand
Psalms 40-41: David's History, and Closing Summary to Book 1
Overall Summary of Book 1, Psalms 1-41
Earlier Studies
Comparison of Pss 14 and 53
Psalm 21 and the Resurrection (Easter 1990)
Ps 1 (Herb Parunak, 3 August 2014)
Ps 27 (Ross Leavitt, 22 August 2010)
Book 2, Pss 42-72: Communication


Charts on Book 2 and Psalm 42-43
Charts on Psalms 44 and 45
Charts on Psalms 46 through 48
Notes on Psalms 42 through 48
Charts on Psalms 49-50
Charts on Psalms 51-52
Notes on Psalms 49 through 51
Charts on Psalms 52 through 53
Charts on Psalms 56 through 58
Charts on Psalms 59 and 60
Notes on Psalms 53 through 60
Charts on Psalms 61 through 64
Charts on Psalms 65 through 67
Charts on Psalm 68
Charts on Paul's citation of Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4
Charts on Psalm 69
Charts on Psalms 70-72
Notes on Psalms 61-72
Book 2 and Psalm 42-43: Dealing with Depression
Psalms 44 and 45: From Defeat to Victory
Psalms 46 through 48: Victory of the Divine Messiah
Psalms 49 and 50: Summons to Face God
Psalms 51 and 52: Response by David and (in absentia) Doeg (recording not available)
David's Enemies, Psalms 53, 54, and 55: Nabal, the men of Ziph, and Ahithophel
David's Enemies, Psalms 56-58, the Al-Taschith Psalms: Gath, Saul in the Cave, and Judges
David's Enemies, Psalms 59-60, Saul and the Edomites
Psalms 61-64, Laments from Exile under Absalom
Psalms 65-67, Praise from the Sanctuary
Psalm 68, David Conquers in order to Build
Paul's Citation of Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4
Psalm 69, Sufferings of the Anointed King
Psalms 70-72, A Father's Prayer and a Son's Commitment
Earlier Studies Notes on Psa 57
Introductory Questions on Ps 69
Questions on Ps 69:1-15
Questions on Ps 69:13-19
Questions on Ps 70
Questions on Ps 71
Questions on Ps 72
Notes on Ps 72 and the Lord's Prayer

Book 3, Pss 73-89: Devastation

Charts on Book 3 and Psalms 73-74
Charts on Psalms 75-76
Notes on Book 3 and Psalms 73-76
Charts on Psalms 77-78
Charts on Psalms 79-80
Charts on Psalms 81-83
Notes on Psalms 77-83
Charts on Psalms 84-86
Charts on Psalms 87-88
Charts on Psalms 89
Notes on Psalms 84-89
Intro to Book 3; Psalms 73 and 74, Dealing with Adversity
Psalms 75-76, Messiah's Purpose and God's Victory
Psalms 77-78, What to Remember and Why
Psalms 79-80, God's Honor; the Son of Man
Psalms 81-83, End of the Discipline Section
Psalms 84-86, The Blessings of Obedient Trust in God
Psalms 87-88, The City of God and the Depths of Despair
Psalm 89, The Sure Mercies of David
Earlier Studies
Questions on Ps 73
Structural Display of Ps 73
Questions on Ps 74
Questions on Ps 75
Questions on Ps 76
Questions on Ps 77
Questions on Ps 78
Questions on Ps 79
Questions on Ps 80
Questions on Ps 81
Questions on Ps 82
Questions on Ps 83
Questions on Ps 84

Book 4, Pss 90-106: Maturation

Charts and Notes on Book 4 and Psalms 90 and 91
Charts on Psalms 92-94
Charts on Psalms 95-97
Charts on Psalms 98-100
Notes on Psalms 92-100
Charts on Psalms 101-103
Charts on Psalms 104-106
Notes on Psalms 101-106
Intro to Book 4: Psalms 90 and 91, the Answer to a Short Life
Psalms 92-94, God's Works, Majesty, and Judgment
Psalms 95-97, The Lord is King over All Gods
Psalms 98-100, Principles of Worship
Psalms 101-103, The Return of David Psalms 104-106, Hallelu-Yah
Earlier Studies
Notes and charts on Isaac Watts' hymn "Joy to the World," based on Pss 96, 98 (Christmas 2016) Pss 96 and 98 in Joy to the World
Book 5, Pss 107-150: Consummation

Charts on Book 5 and Psalms 107-108
Charts on Psalm 109
Charts on Psalm 110
Notes on Book 5 and Psalms 107-110
Charts on Psalms 111 and 112
Charts on Psalms 113, 114, and 117
Charts on Psalms 115 and 116
Notes on Psalms 111-117
Charts and Notes on Psalm 118
Charts on Psalm 119:1-48
Charts on Psalm 119:49-120
Charts on Psalm 119:121-176
Notes on Psalm 119
Charts on the Psalms of the Steps and Psalms 120-124
Charts on Psalms 125-134
Notes on the Psalms of the Steps, 120-134
Charts on Psalms 135-137
Notes on Psalms 135-137
Charts on Psalms 138-139
Charts on Psalms 140-143
Charts on Psalms 144-145
Notes on Psalms 138-145
Charts on Psalms 146-147
Charts on Psalms 148-150
Notes on Psalms 148-150
Intro to Book 5: Psalms 107 and 108, the God who Reverses Fortunes
Psalm 109, Praise in Persecution
Psalm 110, The Coming King-Priest
Psalms 111-112, The Works of God and of the Godly Man
Psalms 113, 114, and 117: Hymns at the Last Supper (1) Psalms 115-116, The Sovereign God and Calling on Him
Psalm 118, the Righteous Israelite claims Access to the Temple
Psalm 119:1-48, Introduction to Psalm 119 Psalm 119:49-120, Impact on Others and Facing Eternity Psalm 119:121-176, True Righteousness and the Triumph of the Word Psalms of the Steps and Psalms 120-124 Psalms 125-134
Psalms 135-137, Transition Psalms 138-139 and the Final Davidic Cluster
Psalms 144-145, Confidence and Praise
Psalms 146-147, The Final Hallelujahs Psalms 148-150, The Final Hallelujahs (part 2)
Earlier Studies
Charts on Ps 118:1-18 (Easter 2015)
Charts on Ps 118:19-29
Notes on Ps 118
God's word and his name in Psa 138:2
Ps 118:1-18
Ps 118:19-29
Summary Materials
Charts on Final Summary of Books 1-2
Charts on Final Summary of Books 3-5
Notes on Final Summary of the Psalms
Final Summary of Books 1-2
Final Summary of Books 3-5

Return to CyberChapel home