Psalms in context

Some time ago during persoanl devotional reading of the psalms I tried to classify them under headings of the context in which they were written. I then recorded the first line of each Pslam grouped by my context assessment, together with the line which I think is the key thought in the Psalm. Here are the results. I think this is important because all of life is there in these Psalms; good days and seemingly bad days, mountain tops and the valley deep in shadow too.

Blessed , blessing 1,2,15,20,32,67, 84,127,128,

Under attack 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,11,12,13, 16,17,25, 27,28,31, 35, 36,37,38, 40,41,43,44,49,52, 54,55,56,57, 59 60,61,62,63,70,71,74,79.83, 86,89,91,94,102,106,108,109,119,120,121,123,,138,139,140.141,142,143,144

Rejoicing in the Lord 8,19,21,23,24.26,29,30,33,34, 46,47,48,65,66,68,73,75,76, 77, 78,87,92,93,95,96,97,98,99, 100,103,104,105,107,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,118,122,124,125,126131,133,134,135,136,145,146,147,148,149,150

Revival required 14,53,80.85,90,101,130,132,

Messianic 18,22,45,69,72,110

Depression & death 39,42,88

God rebukes Israel 50,81

Confession of sin 51

Imprecation 58,129,137

Injustice 82,101

Blessed , blessing 1,2,15,20,32,67, 84,127,128,
1 Blessed is the man
his delight is in the law of the LORD
2 Why do the nations conspire
Kiss the Son
15 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
He whose walk is blameless
20 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but
32 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven
the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
67 May God be gracious to us and bless us
May the peoples praise you
84 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty
I would rather be a doorkeeper
90 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations
Teach us to number our days aright
127 Unless the LORD builds the house
Sons are a heritage from the LORD
128 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
blessings and prosperity will be yours

Under attack 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,11,12,13,
16,17,25, 27,28,31, 35, 36,37,38,
40,41,43,44,49,52, 54,55,56,57
59 60,61,62,63,70,71,74,79.83,
86,89,91,94,102,106,108,109,119,120,
121,123,,138,139,140.141,142,143,144
3 O LORD, how many are my foes!
From the LORD comes deliverance
4 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God
greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound
5 Give ear to my words, O LORD
Listen to my cry for help
6 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger6
How long, O LORD, how long?
7 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
God is a righteous judge
9 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart
Those who know your name will trust in you
10 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why does the wicked man revile God?
11 In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a
When the foundations are being destroyed,
12 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more
O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us
13 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
But I trust in your unfailing love
16 Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
you will not abandon me to the grave
17 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea
Keep me as the apple of your eye
25 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul
Remember not the sins of my youth
27 The LORD is my light and my salvation
be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
28 To you I call, O LORD my Rock
The LORD is the strength of his people
31 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
My times are in your hands
35 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
36 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
37 Do not fret because of evil men
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
38 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
I am feeble and utterly crushed
40 I waited patiently for the LORD
I desire to do your will, O my God
41 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak
my close friend, .. has lifted up his heel against me.
43 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause
Send forth your light and your truth
44 We have heard with our ears, O God
Why do you hide your face
49 Hear this, all you peoples
But man, despite his riches, does not endure
52 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?
You love evil rather than good
54 Save me, O God, by your name
Surely God is my help
55 Listen to my prayer, O God,
I see violence and strife in the city.
56 Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
57 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
59 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
snarling like dogs
60 You have rejected us, O God,
you have raised a banner
61 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
62 My soul finds rest in God alone
you, O God, are strong
63 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you
my soul thirsts for you
64 Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint
protect my life from the threat of the enemy
70 Hasten, O God, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me
71 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
you will restore my life again
74 Why have you rejected us forever, O God?
But you, O God, are my king from of old
79 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance
Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name;
83 O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet
See how your enemies are astir
86 Hear, O LORD, and answer me
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
89 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever
O Lord, where is your former great love
91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
You will not fear the terror of night
94 O LORD, the God who avenges
Rise up, O Judge of the earth
102 Hear my prayer, O LORD
..you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever
106 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
We have sinned, even as our fathers did
108 My heart is steadfast, O God;
With God we will gain the victory
109 O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent
They may curse, but you will bless
119 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless
I have hidden your word in my heart
120 I call on the LORD in my distress
Save me, O LORD, from lying lips
121 I lift up my eyes to the hills
My help comes from the LORD
123 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.
our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy
126 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion
Those who sow in tears
138 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart
The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me
139 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me
Search me, O God, and know my heart
140 Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
141 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me
Set a guard over my mouth
142 I cry aloud to the LORD
When my spirit grows faint within me
143 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy
The enemy pursues me
144 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war
Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down

Rejoicing in the Lord 8,19,21,23,24.26,29,30,3334,
46,47,48,65,66,68,73,75,76, 77,
78, 87,92,93,95,96,97,98,99,
100,103,104,105,107,111,112,113,114,115,
116,117,118,122,124,125,126 131,133,134,
135,136,145,146,147,148,149,150
8 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth
what is man that you are mindful of him
19 The heavens declare the glory of God
The law of the LORD is perfect
21 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength.
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
23 The LORD is my shepherd
I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
24 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it
Who is this King of glory?
26 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life
I have trusted in the LORD without wavering
29 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ... glory and strength.
the God of glory thunders
30 I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths
For his anger lasts only a moment
33 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD
34 I will extol the LORD at all times
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him
46 God is our refuge and strength
the God of Jacob is our fortress
47 Clap your hands, all you nations;
For God is the King of all the earth
48 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise
Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.
65 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion
You crown the year with your bounty
66 Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Come and see what God has done
68 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered
Summon your power, O God; show us your strength
73 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
75 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks
He brings one down, he exalts another.
76 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel
Surely your wrath against men brings you praise
77 I cried out to God for help
I will remember the deeds of the LORD
78 O my people, hear my teaching;
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD
87 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God
92 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
93 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty
the LORD on high is mighty.
95 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD
..he is our God and we are the people of his pasture
96 Sing to the LORD a new song
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name
97 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad
Light is shed upon the righteous
98 Sing to the LORD a new song
He will judge the world in righteousness
99 The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble
Great is the LORD in Zion
100 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
103 Praise the LORD, O my soul
forget not all his benefits
104 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
..the earth is full of your creatures.
105 Give thanks to the LORD
He remembers his covenant forever
107 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
111 Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart
..he remembers his covenant forever.
112 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright
113 Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD
From the rising of the sun
114 When Israel came out of Egypt
the mountains skipped like rams
115 Not to us, O LORD
not to us but to your name be the glory
116 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice
The cords of death entangled me
117 Praise the LORD, all you nations
wgreat is his love toward us
118 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good
The stone the builders rejected
122 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
124 If the LORD had not been on our side
Our help is in the name of the LORD
125 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion
the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore
131 My heart is not proud, O LORD
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
133 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head
134 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD
135 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD
The LORD does whatever pleases him
136 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
145 I will exalt you, my God the King
Great is the LORD
146 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
The LORD reigns forever
147 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
148 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens
Let them praise the name of the LORD
149 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song,
to bind their kings with fetters
150 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD

Depression & death 39,42,88

39 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin
let me know how fleeting is my life.
42 As the deer pants for streams of water
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
88 O LORD, the God who saves me
the darkness is my closest friend.

Revival required 14,53,80.85,90,101,130,132,

14 The fool says in his heart
there is no one who does good, not even one.
53 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Everyone has turned away
80 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
Restore us, O LORD God Almighty
85 You showed favor to your land, O LORD
righteousness and peace kiss each other
130 Out of the depths I cry to you
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
132 O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured.
arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place

Messianic 18,22,45,69,72,110

18 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The cords of death entangled me
22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD
45 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
I recite my verses for the king
69 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck
I looked for sympathy, but there was none
72 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
He will endure as long as the sun
110 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek

God rebukes Israel 50,81

50 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me
81 Sing for joy to God our strength
If my people would but listen to me

Confession of sin 51

51 Have mercy on me, O God
cleanse me from my sin

Imprecation 58,129,137

58 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
surely there is a God who judges the earth.
129 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth
Plowmen have plowed my back
137 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

Injustice 82,101

82 God presides in the great assembly
Rise up, O God, judge the earth
101 I will sing of your love and justice
I will set before my eyes no vile thing