May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasant before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)
Psalms is a book of poetry with 150 chapters. The Hebrew title of this book means “songs of praise,” while the Greek title, psalmoi, has come to mean “sacred songs sung to musical accompaniment.” the words of many beloved hymns and contemporary worship songs are taken directly from the psalms. Although David is credited with writing seventy-three of the poems, other contributors include Moses, Solomon, Asaph, and the sons of Korah. the entire collection is believed to have been compiled over a period of a thousand years.
You are reading: Themes of the five books of psalms
The Psalms are traditionally divided into five “books,” possibly to reflect the five books of the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. today I would like to point out two beautiful aspects of this organizing structure: first, our position in relation to the lord that predominates in each book, and second, the doxology (expression of praise) that concludes each book.
book one psalms 1 to 41, which make up the first book, emphasize how god is by our side. a good example is found in the first psalm where we read that the man who meditates on the word of god is like a tree planted by streams of water: he prospers in everything he does. another example is found in psalm 23: the lord is my shepherd; I will lack nothing. in green pastures he makes me rest. beside still waters he leads me. David goes on to say that there is no reason to fear any evil because God is always with us. book one closes with this doxology in psalm 41:13: blessed be the lord, the god of israel, from ever to ever! amen and amen.
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book two the second book consists of psalms 42 to 72. here attention is paid to how god goes before us. david confesses his sin in psalm 51 and pleads with the lord to wash away his transgression and create in him a clean heart. book two closes with this expression of praise found in psalm 72:19: blessed be his glorious name forever; May the whole earth be filled with his glory! amen and amen!
book three the third book (psalms 73-89) reminds us that god is all around us. Asaph tells the story of God’s people in Psalm 78, showing us that God has been at work all along. he exhorts the children of israel to tell the next generation, even the unborn children, of the great and mighty deeds of the lord. book three closes with this simple doxology in psalm 89:52: blessed be the lord forever! amen and amen.
book four the fourth book (psalms 90-106) focuses on how god is above us. psalm 90 is the only psalm credited to moses. in it, he talks about how our lives on this earth are short, so we must count our days well. God, on the other hand, is eternal, and he will reign for ever and ever. the fourth book closes with these words in psalm 106:48: blessed be the lord, the god of israel, from eternity and to eternity! and let all the people say: amen! praise the lord!
Book Five In the fifth and final book (Psalms 107-150), the focus is on how God is among us. psalm 128 paints a beautiful picture of a man who fears god. he is happy and blessed. His wife is like a fruitful vine within the house, and his children are like olive plants around the table. and he will see peace and prosperity in his nation. the fifth book closes with the doxology found in psalm 150:1-6: praise the lord! praise god in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! praise him for his prowess; praise him according to his excellent greatness! praise him with the sound of a trumpet; praise him with lute and harp! praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and flute! praise him with resounding cymbals; Praise him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! praise the lord!
Summary To summarize, here is a quick look at the emphasis of each of the five books of the Psalms: Book 1: God at our side Book 2: God goes before us Book 3: god all around us book 4: god above us book 5: god among us
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So, who or what controls the music of your life? Are you driven by the social pressures you feel from the culture around you? Or do you approach each day from the perspective of a biblical worship scripture or song that you have meditated on? God’s word is sweeter than honey and more desirable than gold or silver (Psalm 19:10). Go ahead and put some honey on your tongue today and sing a new song to the Lord!
Heavenly father, I want to reach your presence with songs. help me make a noise of joy for you! I enter your courts with thanksgiving and praise. you are my God. you are good. Blessed be your name forever and ever! In Jesus name, amen.
Walking by faith and enjoying the homeschooling adventure of a lifetime! 
Davis Carman © 2017 Davis Carman Apologia.com
if you enjoyed this devotional by davis carman, enjoy reading his wonderfully done and scary titled devotional.
Davis is the president of Apologia Education Ministries, the #1 publisher of biblical curriculum and creation-based science. He is the author of four children’s picture books designed to help children learn a biblical worldview. he believes that if ever there was a time for homeschooling, it is now! Davis’s four books include: Good Morning God, based on Deuteronomy 6, A Light for My Path, An ABC Book based on Psalm 119, In the Beginning, based on the creation account in Genesis, and Psalms to Know early.
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