Kind
|
General
Format
|
Variations
|
Description
|
Examples
|
Lament
(a cry of distress)
|
Address
to God
Complaint
Request
Expression
of trust
And
sometimes…
Vow
to praise, sacrifice & instruct others
Expression
of joy (if the complaint is resolved)
Curse
|
|
The
community addresses their complaint to God.
|
12,
44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129
|
|
|
Complaints
about one’s own thoughts, the actions of others about God
himself.
|
Psalms
3, 4, 5, 7, 9-10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 36, 39,
40:12-17, 41, 42-43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 69, 70,
71, 77, 86, 89, 120, 139, 141, 142
|
|
|
Involves
a confession of sin and a desire to change.
|
6,
32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143
|
|
|
An
expression of anger at others to God. Often calls for curses on
enemies.
|
35,
69, 88, 109, 137, 140
|
Gratitude
|
Announcement
of the intention to express gratitude
Explanation
of God's deliverance
Conclusion
|
|
The
community thanks God for what he has done.
|
65,
67, 75, 107, 124, 136
|
|
|
Usually
gratitude for God’s help or deliverance.
|
18,
21, 30, 32, 34, 40, 66, 92, 108, 116, 118, 138
|
Gratitude
for God’s acts in history
|
Reflects
on how God has acted in history to provide for and protect his
people.
|
|
|
|
The
psalmist asserts his trust and confidence in God.
|
11,
16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131
|
Wisdom
|
These
psalms are similar in form content to the wisdom books: Job,
Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes.
|
|
Argues
for the superiority of God and his ways.
|
1,
10, 12, 15, 32, 34, 36, 37, 49, 50, 52, 53, 73, 78, 82, 91, 92,
94, 111, 112, 127, 128, 139
|
|
|
Extols
God’s revelation and especially his Law.
|
|
Praise
|
Call
to praise God
Reason
for the praise, including God's attributes, actions in history,
creation, etc.
A
conclusion – often a repetition of the opening call to
praise
|
|
Songs
of exuberant praise to the Lord.
|
8,
19:1-6; 33, 66:1-12, 67, 95, 100, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 117,
145-150
|
|
|
Songs
about God’s covenant relationships with his people
|
50,
67, 72:17-19; 78, 81, 89, 132
|
Hymns
of Mount Zion/Temple
|
Praises
for Mt. Zion, where the temple sits, or the temple itself.
|
Mt.
Zion: 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122; The temple: 15, 24, 68, 82, 115,
134
|
|
Praises
a human king or King Yahweh for his protection and rule.
|
2,
20, 21, 29, 45, 47, 93:1-2; 96-99, 110, 144
|
|
|
Psalms
about the “anointed one.”
|
2,
16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 35, 40, 41, 45, 55, 61, 69, 72, 89, 102, 109,
110, 132
|