Jensens survey of the old testament adam 162

that each group was compared with each
book of the Pentateuch. (See those
comparisons on the chart.) The old rabbis
are known to have called Psalms the
“Pentateuch of David.” There is no clear-cut
topical outline of these five parts of the book
of Psalms.6
2. Note on the chart that each of the ve
groups of Psalms ends with a doxology.
Read and compare the doxologies. G.
Campbell Morgan sees these as the clue to
the content of each of the ve divisions. He
says that an examination of the doxologies
“will reveal a certain conception of God, and
an attitude of the soul in worship resulting
from such conception.”7 His outline
centered on “worship” is shown on the
chart.
3. Scan the book of Psalms and observe
that most of the psalms have superscriptions


—sometimes referred to as titles.8 (Note: Do
not confuse the ancient superscription with
titles assigned by the publisher. For
example, the superscription of Psalm 14 is
“For the choir director. A Psalm of David.”
The title assigned by the NASB editors is
“Folly and Wickedness of Men.”) These were
not part of the original psalms, but were
added later, probably at least before 200 B.C.

In the superscription are words indicating
such things as (1) occasion of the psalm;9
(2) type of psalm (e.g., tepillah, “prayer”);
and
(3)
musical
instructions
(e.g.,
lammenasseah, “to the choir leader”). The
superscriptions do not have the weight of
dependability as does the inspired biblical
text itself, but the best rule of thumb is to
accept them as they stand.10
4. Scan each psalm individually, reading
the rst line of each stanza of each psalm.
This can be done in a short time if you are


using a version (such as NASB) which
clearly shows the stanza divisions. Such an
exercise will help you get the overall feel of
the book of Psalms. It will also help you
identify whether the psalm is a meditation, a
prayer, a hymn of praise, or a prophecy.
5. Read the New American Standard Bible
titles printed at the top of the psalms. List
these on paper. Then study the list from the
standpoint of subject matter (content).
Among other things, look for groups of
psalms, contentwise. Compare your studies

with the two outlines on Chart 70 about
“Worship” and “Topical Likeness to
Pentateuch.” Try making your own vepoint outline of the Psalms, identifying
content at least in a general way.
6. Compare the rst and last psalms. How
does each serve as the book’s introduction
and conclusion, respectively?


IV. PROMINENT SUBJECTS
A. DAVID

David, who wrote so many of the psalms,
has given the reader an insight into the rich
and varied experiences of his life with God,
to the extent that no other writer has done.
Anyone familiar with David’s life cannot fail
to be struck with this fact. He was, at
different times in his life, a humble shepherd
boy, a servant in the king’s palace, a
successful warrior, a fugitive, a great king,
an exile, an old man. He was sometimes
poor and sometimes rich, sometimes hated
and
sometimes
beloved,
sometimes
persecuted
and
sometimes

honored,
sometimes
obscure
and
sometimes
prominent,
sometimes
pro igate
and
sometimes penitent, sometimes sad and
sometimes joyful. But in all these varied
experiences, and under all these changing