Songs of Thanksgiving and Praise
The Global Message of the Psalms
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms 1:1. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalms 12:1) and individual (Psalms 13:1) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8:1; Psalms 93:1; Psalms 145:1.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalms 9:1) and individual (Psalms 30:1) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalms 119:1).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1:1; Psalms 37:1), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs 1:1, Ecclesiastes 1:1, Song of Solomon 1:1).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalms 23:1).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalms 20:1), some are thanksgivings (Psalms 21:1). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20:1) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2:1; Psalms 72:1), or by focusing on the future (Psalms 110:1).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalms 78:1).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalms 81:1).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms 1:1 into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1:1 | Psalms 1:1 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10:1 and Psalms 33:1, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (Psalms 40:1). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1:1; Psalms 14:1; Psalms 19:1; Psalms 24:1; Psalms 26:1. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42:1 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (Psalms 42:1; Psalms 44:1; Psalms 50:1). There are also more psalms of David (Psalms 51:1; Psalms 68:1), including most of the “historical” psalms (Psalms 51:1; Psalms 54:1; Psalms 56:1; Psalms 59:1; Psalms 63:1). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73:1 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalms 73:1 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalms 88:1, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalms 89:1 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (Psalms 73:1), as well as another set of Korah psalms (Psalms 84:1; Psalms 87:1). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90:1 | Psalms 90:1 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalms 90:1, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103:1, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (Psalms 93:1) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalms 89:1. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107:1 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in Psalms 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (Psalms 107:1) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (Psalms 146:1). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (Psalms 110:1; Psalms 132:1; Psalms 144:1), two collections of Davidic psalms (Psalms 108:1; Psalms 138:1); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (Psalms 119:1); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (Psalms 120:1). |
The Global Message of Psalms
The Psalms are a resounding call for all God’s people and for all the world to sing! We are called to sing songs of confession and trust in God; to sing songs of thanksgiving and praise. The Psalms summon the global church to take up the cause of calling the world to join in such global and eternal songs of trust in, delight in, and worship of God for his magnificence—especially his magnificence displayed in his saving mercy.
Songs of Honest Lament
There is a surprising degree of honesty found in the prayers and songs of the Psalms 1:1. We find honest lament to God, with frequent repetition of questions such as “Why?” and “How long?” The psalmist asks in Psalms 42:9, “Why have you forgotten me?” Another psalm wonders, “Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1; see also Psalms 88:14). “How long, O LORD?” is a frequent cry to God in the Psalms 1:1 (see Psalms 6:3; Psalms 13:1; Psalms 79:5; Psalms 89:46).
Such prayers flow from desperately challenging situations, in which life feels overwhelming. Yet they also reflect the confident expectations of our honest cries to our compassionate and faithful God. The Lord invites his people worldwide to be boldly transparent before him—no masks, no pretense—even when the heart is breaking. He promises never to abandon those who belong to him.
Songs of Repentance and Trust
Songs of repentance are scattered throughout the Psalms 1:1. In such songs there are confessions of corporate sin—“Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness” (Psalms 106:6)—and individual songs of penitence (Psalms 6:1; Psalms 25:1; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 38:1; Psalms 51:1; Psalms 130:1; Psalms 143:1). These are not hopeless laments, but cries to a God who is a gracious deliverer (Psalms 6:4), who deals with us according to his great love and mercy (Psalms 51:1), and whose forgiveness flows from his goodness and not ours (Psalms 130:3).
There is abundant reason to trust such a God for every good thing and in every situation (Psalms 23:1). To such a God we turn in times of great trouble, when we are at an utter loss in this fallen world. When enemies surround us and there is no one to help, God is our hope for deliverance (Psalms 22:1). Whether the desperate individual (Psalms 13:1) or the destitute community (Psalms 12:1) is in view, God is faithful to his promises. His steadfast love endures. He is worthy of our songs!
Songs of Thanksgiving and Praise
The Psalms are a divinely orchestrated hymnbook of thanksgiving and praise for God’s people. The covenant people of God return thanks to God for his wonderful deeds of deliverance, justice, and defense (Psalms 9:1), and for his favor and mercies (Psalms 30:5, Psalms 30:7, Psalms 30:8, Psalms 30:10). All of this moves his people to burst into songs of joy and glad dancing (Psalms 30:11).
In the Psalms 1:1, the people of God rejoice in all that God is and all that he has done. These songs of praise exalt God for his unsearchable greatness, his glorious splendor, and his awesome deeds (Psalms 145:3). He is worshiped as the King over all creation (Psalms 93:1),the eternal King (Psalms 10:16), the King of glory (Psalms 24:8, Psalms 24:10), the King of all the earth (Psalms 47:7), and the great King above all gods (Psalms 95:3).
The Global Message of the Psalms
For all God’s people. The global message of the Psalms 1:1 is that in light of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness there is a song to be sung by all God’s people everywhere—whatever their circumstances, whatever their emotions, whatever their adversity. The song to be sung will be of varied themes: lament, confession, repentance, thanksgiving, or praise to God. All of these, however, are songs of worship, expressing the universal experiences of God’s people. This is worship of God by the individual and the community, local and global, young and old (Psalms 148:12), now and forever (Psalms 89:52). For a lost world filled with rebellion and sorrow, there is no greater remedy than a song that brings those who sing it to take refuge in God himself: a song for the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the sojourner, the widow, and the fatherless (Psalms 146:7).
A new song. The message of the Psalms 1:1 is a call to the whole world to “Sing a new song!” “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!” (Psalms 96:1). This is not a song of empty promises, but a song full of hope, a song exulting in the salvation of a covenant keeping and merciful God; not a song that fades, but an enduring, eternal song; a song of a God who lifts us out of mud and mire (Psalms 69:2, Psalms 69:14).
Celebrating salvation. The book of Psalms 1:1 opens with a picture of the two ways of life—the blessed and fruitful life of the one who delights in God, and the fleeting life of the wicked who (apart from God) stand condemned (Psalms 1:1). The world is called to set aside folly and to join in the life and song of the Redeemer, celebrating the salvation that is rooted in the sacrifice of the Savior (Psalms 22:1). This new song has been sung down through the ages; it continues today throughout the world; and it will one day be sung in the very throne room of God (Revelation 14:3).
Summoning the Nations
To the ends of the earth. The global church has a message for the world: join in this song! It is a celebration that will generate further praise—globally, generationally, and eternally. The church is to “declare his glory among the nations!” (Psalms 96:3). From Israel to the Christian church today to the global kingdom that will one day be known to the very ends of the earth, the redeemed of the Lord will come from every nation, tribe, people, and language, giving God thanks and celebrating his grace (Revelation 7:9).
For all nations. There is a message for the nations: “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” (Psalms 117:1). The Lord humbles the nations (Psalms 9:5, Psalms 9:19, Psalms 9:20), but he extends to all an offer of mercy and grace. One day, the nations will become Christ’s inheritance (Psalms 2:8). This song begins with us but it must not end with us. There is a glorious globalization of the worship of God that we are privileged to help advance. In Christ we have found fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalms 16:11). In turn we call the nations as well to be glad and sing for joy in him (Psalms 67:4).
Fulfilled in Jesus. The love and mercy of God that forms the heart of the Psalms 1:1 explodes onto history with the coming of Christ. It is in and through him that believers worldwide see God’s covenant faithfulness right before their eyes.
Spreading God’s glory. That glorious, global worship of God through Jesus Christ is not yet fully known or complete. Generating it is therefore our glad mission while on this earth. We will not rest till God’s glorious name is blessed forever and the whole earth is filled with his glory (Psalms 72:19).