Outline of Headings with Explanation
1. Author & Purpose
- Who wrote this psalm (if known)? Why did he write it? A summary of the author’s intent in writing and the purpose the psalm serves will be offered.
2. Setting
- What (if any) might be the historical context (likely possibilities are suggested if nothing definite is known). Historical notes and unique terms in a superscription (if a psalm has one) will generally be explained here.
3. Type & Structure
- What is the psalm’s genre or what genres are contained therein (as the case may be)? What is the basic structure of the psalm? The structure will be outlined in a point form summary.
4. Poetic Elements
- In a summary fashion, the nature of the psalm’s poetry will be noted along with any stand-out elements (e.g. acrostic poetry, alliteration or assonance, various types of parallelism). Is there interplay between theme and artistry?
5. Placement within the Psalter
- How does this psalm fit within a) the particular Book (of the 5 Books within the Psalter) and b) the entire collection of 150 Psalms? Does it have a special function therein? Any connections to neighbouring psalms will be explained, e.g. verbal, thematic so that the reader comes away with a sense of its purpose in the final arrangement of the Psalter.
6. Key Words
- Words which are key to the main message of the psalm will be mentioned and explained within their context
7. Unusual Words or Expressions
- Any difficult or strange words or expressions which the average reader may find hard to understand will be listed and explained within their context.
8. Main Message
- What basic message is the author conveying? What is the meaning as the original author and audience would have understood it? What is the meaning for Christians today? Initial lines to the coming Christ will also be drawn in brief.
9. Christ Connection
- How does this psalm testify or relate to Jesus Christ? Connections to Christ are considered from different angles: through his Spirit Christ is the author of the Psalms and often also their subject; he is both singer and the one being sung about. As the Anointed One, he is King, High Priest and Prophet. Jesus is also true God and true man. One (and often more) of these lines will be explored on the basis of sound exegesis of the psalm.
10. Old Testament Links
- Any important connections to other parts of the Old Testament (e.g. to earlier Scripture such as the Pentateuch or any quotes/allusions in later OT Scripture such as the prophets) are brought forward and explained here.
11. New Testament Links
- Any citation of or allusion to the psalm in the NT will be explained here. Further, any substantial additional connections (themes, teachings) to the NT will also be noted for the reader’s further exploration.
12. Confessional References
- Are there any references to the psalm in the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort)? These will be explained in brief so as to point out what doctrine is taught or supported by the psalm text cited in the confession.
13. Scriptural Themes
- Each contributor will briefly comment on all of the following themes (see list below). This is a select list of the Bible’s main themes, well-known and appreciated by believers as being significant to bringing out the gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply. Many of these themes are often not commented on in other works. Authors will be careful not to shoe-horn a theme into a psalm but where a theme is genuinely present it is concisely pointed out and explained. The themes (with a short explanation) follow:
- Creator/Creation – God as the Maker of things and/or mention of created things themselves.
- God’s Sovereignty – evidence of the control of God over all things (i.e. providence)
- God’s Kingdom – mention of the royal rule of God, whether directly or through His servant on earth.
- God’s Covenant (of grace) – the covenant God established with Adam and renewed with Abram and later Moses. The contributor will bring forward references to its promises, demands or simply to it as the relationship framework in which the author is writing, singing or praying.
- God’s Grace – related to #4, evidence of God’s undeserved favour which he pours out within his covenant, ultimately on account of Christ.
- God’s Church – lyrics referring to the covenant community, the people of God, whether of the Old Testament or prophetically spoken of a future time (or: both).
- Antithesis – allusions to the enmity which God placed between the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman (Gen 3:15), present throughout history, which will ultimately result in the crushing of the former by the latter.
- Man’s Depravity – the fallen condition of man where he has become corrupted by sin in all his being
- Justification – the legal (forensic) declaration or acknowledgement by God that his people are righteous (or holy) in his sight (because of his covenant faithfulness ultimately shown in Christ).
- Sanctification – right alongside of being legally declared “holy” (justification), the process of God’s people becoming holy or developing a holy life in every-day life. This is the fight against sin and the drive to obey God’s law as worked in believers by God’s power and ultimately by the Spirit of Christ.
- Mission/outreach – the desire of God to bring salvation to peoples beyond the Israelites (i.e. Gentiles) and to have them join the covenant people to praise and worship Him.
- Other – And other significant biblical theme present in the psalm.
14. Application
- For Christians individually
- For Christians collectively as church
- Contributors will suggest points of application in line with 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” Application includes not just things Christians ought to do but also what we learn about God and the comfort, encouragement and enlightenment this brings. This in turn will often shape believers’ thinking and perspective on various situations facing them in this fallen world.
15. Occasions for Use
- Here you will find suggestions for appropriate times/occasions for how the psalm could be used by individual Christians and collectively as the church. There will be a variety of suggestions from the personal to the historical to the educational to the liturgical.
16. Questions for Students
- At least 5 questions have been developed to help extend the learning of the Bible study group or of students in a class room. These will endeavour to go beyond simple content-type questions to queries which get the group connecting dots within Scripture, drawing lines to the Saviour, and applying the truths of the psalm to their own life.