Understanding Praise Psalms

by Krisan Marotta | Nov 9, 2020 | 04 Bible Study 101, Genre, Psalms

75% of Psalms are one of three main types: lament, thanksgiving or praise. And they follow a pattern. Here is the general form for praise psalms.

The Call to Praise

Prologue: Hallelujah

The Cause for Praise

Summary statement (e.g. His Greatness, Lord of creation; His Grace, Lord of History)
Specific illustrations

Conclusion

A renewed call to praise, exhortation or petition.
Epilogue

Examples: Psalm 33; Psalm 36; Psalm 105; Psalm 111; Psalm 117; Psalm 135; Psalm 136; Psalm 146.

Example of a Praise Psalm: Psalm 33

Call to Praise – vs 1

Psa 33:1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.

Summary Statement – vs 2-4

Psa 33:2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Psa 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Psa 33:4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Specific illustrations – vs 5-9

Psa 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Psa 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
Psa 33:9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Conclusion – vs 10-22

Psa 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
Psa 33:13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;
Psa 33:14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
Psa 33:15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
Psa 33:16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
Psa 33:17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psa 33:19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Psa 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

For more: Claus Westermann, The Praises of God in the Psalms (1965). You’ll probably have to track it down in a library.