Scofield Reference Bible Notes - Psa
Book Introduction - Psalms
The simplest description of the five books of Psalms is that they were the inspired prayer- and-praise book of Israel. They are revelations of truth, not abstractly, but in the terms of human experience. The truth revealed is wrought into the emotions, desires, and sufferings of the people of God by the circumstances through which they pass. But those circumstances are such as to constitute an anticipation of analogous conditions through which Christ in His incarnation, and the Jewish remnant in the tribulation (Psalms 1-, refs), should pass; so then many Psalms are prophetic of the sufferings, the faith, and the victory of both. Psalms 2 and 5 are examples. The former--the holy of holies of the Bible-- reveals all that was in the mind of Christ when He uttered the desolate cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" The latter is an anticipation of what will be in the heart of Israel when she shall turn to Jehovah again Deu 3:-. Other Psalms are directly prophetic of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glories which should follow" Luk 2:-; Luk 2:. Psalm 2 is a notable instance, presenting Jehovah's Anointed as rejected and crucified Psa 2:-; Act 4:- but afterward set as King in Zion.
The great themes of the Psalms are, Christ, Jehovah, the Law, Creation, the future of Israel, and the exercises of the renewed heart in suffering, in joy, in perplexity. The promises of the Psalms are primarily Jewish, and suited to a people under the law, but are spiritually true in Christian experience also, in the sense that they disclose the mind of God, and the exercises of His heart toward those who are perplexed, afflicted, or cast down.
The imprecatory Psalms are the cry of the oppressed in Israel for justice--a cry appropriate and right in the earthly people of God, and based upon a distinct promise in the Abrahamic Covenant
See Scofield - Gen 1:, but a cry unsuited to the church, a heavenly people who have taken their place with a rejected and crucified Christ. Luk 9:-.
The Psalms are in five books, each ending in a doxology:
1. Book I (Psalms 1-).
2. Book II Psalms (-).
3. Book III Psalms (Psalms 7-).
4. Book IV Psalms (Psalms 9-).
5. Book V Psalms (Psalms 1-).

Reference Bible Analyzer 4

Psalms 1: Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted

Psalms 4:Evening Prayer of Trust in God                                  

Psalms 7:LORD Implored to Defend the Psalmist against the Wicked 

Psalms 10:A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked 

Psalms 13:Prayer for Help in Trouble 

Psalms 16:LORD the Psalmist's Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death 

Psalms 19:Works and the Word of God                      

Psalms 22:A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise 

Psalms 25:Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon 

Psalms 28:A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer 

Psalms 31:A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise

Psalms 34: LORD, a Provider and Deliverer  

Psalms 37: Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity of the Wicked

Psalms 40: God Sustains His Servant                          

Psalms 43: Prayer for Deliverance                            

Psalms 46: God the Refuge of His People 

Psalms 49: Folly of Trusting in Riches                            

Psalms 52: Futility of Boastful Wickedness   ,

Psalms 55: Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous

Psalms 58: Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked

Psalms 78: God's Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness

Psalms 81: God's Goodness and Israel's Waywardness

Psalms 84:Longing for the Temple Worship

Psalms 87: Privileges of Citizenship in  Zion   .

Psalms 90: God's Eternity and Man's Transitoriness

Psalms 93: Majesty of the LORD                             .

Psalms 2:Reign of the LORDS Anointed         

Psalms 5:Prayer for Protection from the Wicked 

Psalms 8:LORDS Glory and Man's Dignity      

Psalms 11:LORD a Refuge and Defense           

Psalms 14:Folly and Wickedness of Men 

Psalms 17:Prayer for Protection against Oppressor                                                     

Psalms 20:Prayer for Victory over Enemies 

Psalms 23:LORD, the Psalmist's Shepherd     

Psalms 26:Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection 

Psalms 29:Voice of the LORD in the Storm   

Psalms 32: Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God 

Psalms 35: Prayer for Rescue from Enemies                                                  

Psalms 38: Prayer of a Suffering Penitent                                                                 

Psalms 41:Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends

Psalms 44: Former Deliverances and Present Troubles 

Psalms 47: God the King of the Earth 

Psalms 50: God the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked 

Psalms 53: Folly and Wickedness of Men                   .

Psalms 56: Supplication for Deliverance and Grateful Trust in God

Psalms 59: Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

Psalms 79: A Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help

Psalms 82:  Unjust Judgments Rebuked                  .

Psalms 85: Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation

Psalms 88:A Petition to Be Saved from Death

Psalms 91: Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD

Psalms 94: LORD Implored to Avenge His People

Psalms 3:Morning Prayer of Trust in God     

   Psalms 6:Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble 

Psalms 9:A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God's Justice 

Psalms 12:God, a Helper against the Treacherous 

Psalms 15:Description of a Citizen of Zion 

Psalms 18:LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance                                                         

Psalms 21:Praise for Deliverance                       

Psalms 24:King of Glory Entering Zion             

Psalms 27:A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God 

Psalms 30:Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death 

Psalms 33: Praise to the Creator and Preserver 

Psalms 36: Wickedness of Men and Lovingkindness of God                     

Psalms 39: Vanity of Life                                                                          

Psalms 42: Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile 

Psalms 45: A Song Celebrating the King's Marriage 

Psalms 48: Beauty and Glory of Zion 

Psalms 51: A Contrite Sinner's Prayer for Pardon

Psalms 54: Prayer for Salvation from Enemies

Psalms 57: Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors

Psalms 60: Lament over Defeat in Battle, and Prayer for Help

Psalms 80:God Implored to Rescue His People from Their Calamities

Psalms 83: God Implored to Confound His Enemies

Psalms 86: A Psalm of Supplication and Trust

Psalms 89: LORDS Covenant with David, and Israel's Afflictions

Psalms 92:Praise for the LORDS Goodness