The collection of Psalms are all unique in their own way. All 150 of them were divided into five books that have their own themes, formations, patterns, etc. Each one has its own particular purpose and creates a different kind of emotion.
The Psalter is from first to last poetry, even though it contains many prayers and not all Old Testament prayers and praise were poetic. However, Hebrew poetry lacks rhyme and regular meter. Its most distinctive and pervasive feature is parallelism.
The Psalms are impassioned, vivid and concrete; they are rich in images, in simile and metaphor. Assonance, alliteration and wordplays abound in the Hebrew text.
Effective use of repetition and the piling up of synonyms and complements to fill out the picture are characteristic. Key words frequently highlight major themes in prayer or song.
They are all used to offer different kinds of prayers to God. It speaks to God in prayer and praise and in professions of faith and trust. There are different authors and types of Psalms throughout the Book. Close study of the Psalms discloses that the authors often composed with an overall design in mind.
To see the first day of the Book of Psalms and an introduction, please visit Day 164, Psalms 1-5.
THE VARIETY IN THE PSALMS
Hymns: These psalms are simple songs of praise to God.
Examples: Psalm 8, Psalm 19, Psalm 33, Psalm 66, Psalm 95, Psalm 100, Psalm 103, Psalm 148
Lament Psalms: These express sadness and deal with the pain of life, calling for God to act on our behalf.
Examples: Psalm 3, Psalm 7, Psalm 25, Psalm 44, Psalm 55, Psalm 80, Psalm 123
Penitential Psalms: These are psalms of confession.
Examples: Psalm 6, Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, Psalm 102, Psalm 130, Psalm 143
Imprecatory Psalms: These call for God’s justice and intervention against our enemies.
Examples: Psalm 35, Psalm 69, Psalm 83, Psalm 88, Psalm 109, Psalm 140
Thanksgiving Psalms: These express thanks to God for what He has done.
Examples: Psalm 30, Psalm 32, Psalm 34, Psalm 67, Psalm 100, Psalm 124
Salvation History: Psalm 8, Psalm 105-106, Psalm 135, Psalm 136
Songs of Trust: Psalm 11, Psalm 16, Psalm 23, Psalm 27, Psalm 62-63, Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 125, Psalm 131
Wisdom Psalms: These are “teaching” psalms, expounding on the way of wisdom.
Examples: Psalm 1, Psalm 37, Psalm 49, Psalm 73, Psalm 112, Psalm 128, Psalm 133
Liturgical Psalms: These psalms were used for public worship.
Examples: Psalm 15, Psalm 24, Psalm 68, Psalm 82, Psalm 95, Psalm 115, Psalm 134
Royal Psalms: These were written to be used in the presence of kings and dignitaries.
Examples: Psalm 18, Psalm 29, Psalm 45, Psalm 93, Psalm 99
Covenant Songs: These discuss the agreement God made with his people.
Examples: Psalm 50, Psalm 78, Psalm 81, Psalm 89, Psalm 132
Songs of Zion: These psalms discuss the longing of the Jewish nation to see the hill of Zion and the city of Jerusalem.
Examples: Psalm 46, Psalm 48, Psalm 76, Psalm 84, Psalm 87, Psalm 122
Songs of Ascent: These psalms were sung by worshipers on their way up to Jerusalem.
Examples: Psalms 120-134
Sources Used
The NIV Study Bible
My Year in the Bible: a Memory Journal
“Types of Psalms” chart by Dennis Bratcher