This study of the psalms highlights the presence of Jesus in the psalms and helps us understand their meaning in light of the story of salvation.The Psalms are not doctrine or a form of teaching. To understand the Book of Psalms, we must recognize that they are an unveiling of Messiah and the eternal purpose of God. The Psalms are written in the form of praises and used as an Old Testament hymnbook. They are expressions of feelings, impressions, and experiences of godly men. There is a total of 150 psalms, 73 of which were written by David and others penned by psalmists such as Solomon, Ethan, Asaph, Moses, and others.
The Book of Psalms is centered on Jesus as the Messiah. He is the central focus of the Psalms (see Luke 24:13-31). The Psalms are grouped into five Books, or sections. Book One, 1-41, reveals to us that God’s intention is to turn us from trying to keep the law and turn us toward Jesus. Book Two, 42-72, reveals how we experience God and His house and city as the church through the Messiah. Book Three, 73-89, reveals that believers experience and enjoy the house and the city of God only by properly appreciating and exalting the Messiah. Book Four, 90-106, reveals that God can begin to recover His title over the earth only when we are truly joined to Jesus in oneness through His house and ultimately His city. Book Five, 107-150, the hallelujah book, reveals that the house and city of God become the praise, safety, and desire of God’s people and that Messiah comes to reign over the whole earth through the house and the city of God—the church.
