OUTLINE
A. Psalms 73–83: Crisis for the Community (Asaph Psalms)
1. Psalm 73 The Wicked Prosper
2. Psalm 74 A Communal Prayer for Help
3. Psalm 75 Thanksgiving for the Coming Judgment of God
4. Psalm 76 God’s Divine Rule from Zion
5. Psalm 77 An Individual Prayer for God’s Aid
6. Psalm 78 A Recollection of God’s Work in History
7. Psalm 79 A Communal Prayer in Light of National Disaster
8. Psalm 80 A Communal Plea for God’s Faithfulness
9. Psalm 81 A Call for Covenant Renewal
10. Psalm 82 God’s Commitment to Justice
11. Psalm 83 A Plea for Deliverance from National Enemies
B. Psalms 84–89: A Focus on Zion
1. Psalm 84 Longing to Return to Zion
2. Psalm 85 A Plea for God to Restore His People
3. Psalm 86 A Plea for God to Act on Behalf of the Psalmist
4. Psalm 87 A Celebration of Zion
5. Psalm 88 Anguish over God’s Apparent Abandonment
6. Psalm 89 Anguish over the Loss of the Davidic Monarchy
A. Psalms 90–92: Introduction to Book 4
1. Psalm 90 A Communal Plea for Deliverance from God’s Wrath
2. Psalm 91 Acknowledgment of God as Refuge
3. Psalm 92 Declaration of God’s Just Rule over the World
B. Psalms 93–99: The Enthronement Psalms
1. Psalm 93 God’s Kingship over the World
2. Psalm 94 The Divine Judge of the World
3. Psalm 95 The Divine King in History
4. Psalm 96 The Coming Judgment of the Divine King
5. Psalm 97 The Appearance of the Divine King
6. Psalm 98 The Celebration of the Divine King
7. Psalm 99 The Divine King Rules from Zion
C. Psalms 100–106: Responses to the Kingship of God
1. Psalm 100 Invitation for All Creation to Praise God
2. Psalm 101 A Prayer to Walk in God’s Ways
3. Psalm 102 A Prayer for Healing and Restoration
4. Psalm 103 A Celebration of the Goodness of God
5. Psalm 104 A Celebration of the Creative Power of God
6. Psalm 105 The Faithfulness of God to His People
7. Psalm 106 The Faithlessness of God’s People
A. Psalm 107: The Return from Exile
B. Psalms 108–110: A Davidic Collection
1. Psalm 108 Communal Prayer for Deliverance from the Enemies
2. Psalm 109 Prayer for Divine Judgment Against the Enemies
3. Psalm 110 Assurance of God’s Divine Rule in the World
C. Psalms 111–112: Calls to Praise God
1. Psalm 111 In Praise of God’s Wonderful Acts
2. Psalm 112 A Description of the Righteous Life
D. Psalms 113–118: The Egyptian Hallel
1. Psalm 113 God’s Concern for the Needy
2. Psalm 114 Israel’s Deliverance out of Egypt
3. Psalm 115 A Celebration of the Sovereignty of God
4. Psalm 116 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death
5. Psalm 117 A Call for All Nations to Praise God
6. Psalm 118 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from the Nations
E. Psalms 119: A Meditation on the Torah’s Centrality for All of Life
F. Psalms 120–134: The Songs of Ascent
1. Psalm 120 A Prayer for Deliverance in a Warring World
2. Psalm 121 A Song of Confidence in God’s Protective Care
3. Psalm 122 A Celebration of Zion
4. Psalm 123 A Communal Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
5. Psalm 124 A Communal Thanksgiving for Deliverance
6. Psalm 125 A Communal Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
7. Psalm 126 A Community Petition for Divine Aid
8. Psalm 127 A Reflection on Home and Family
9. Psalm 128 A Meditation on the Blessings of God
10. Psalm 129 A Community Prayer Against National Enemies
11. Psalm 130 A Plea for Personal Deliverance
12. Psalm 131 A Confession of Trust in God
13. Psalm 132 A Celebration of Zion and the Davidic Dynasty
14. Psalm 133 A Celebration of the Unity of God’s People
15. Psalm 134 A Concluding Blessing upon the Pilgrims
G. Psalms 135–36: An Appendix to the Songs of Ascent
1. Psalm 135 In Praise of God’s Work in History
2. Psalm 136 In Praise of God’s Steadfast Love in History
H. Psalm 137: An Imprecation against the Enemies of Israel
I. Psalms 138–45: A Final Davidic Collection
1. Psalm 138 Thanksgiving for God’s Steadfast Love
2. Psalm 139 A Reflection on the Presence of God
3. Psalm 140 A Prayer against the Enemies
4. Psalm 141 A Prayer to Resist the Ways of the Wicked
5. Psalm 142 A Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution
6. Psalm 143 A Prayer for Deliverance from the Enemies
7. Psalm 144 A Royal Prayer for Divine Help from Foreign Powers
8. Psalm 145 A Hymn Praising the Divine King
9. Psalms 146–50: The Final Hallel
10. Psalm 146 A Hymn Praising the Divine King
11. Psalm 147 A Hymn Praising God for his Governance of the World
12. Psalm 148 An Invitation for All of Creation to Praise God