Book 2 Psalms: Unexpected discord in the Psalms with key changes (Psalm 42 through Psalm 72)

1. Key changes in the Psalms
Unexpected discord laments turning to
praise with nations joining in, a model prayer of
salvation, the work of Jesus pointed to, and the prayers
of David answered in a ‘Psalm of Solomon’
Psalms book 2 Psalms 42-72
The myriad uses of musical dissonance: above, a
caricature of Arnold SchoenbergCredit...Ralph Steadman
See Musical Dissonance, From Schumann to Sondheim -
The New York Times (nytimes.com)

2. Book 1 ended with a man betrayed for the salvation
of the world, as Genesis ended with the account of
Joseph

3. Unexpected key changes and discord in book 2
include:
• A string of laments turning to praise with a ‘love song’
• The ‘Sons of Korah’ musicians, their forefather Korah opposed
Moses, but they survived and protect God’s holiness as psalm
writing bouncers in the temple.
• Like a relay race, the “sons of Korah will sing a series of Psalms,
Hand off to “Asaph” for one, then David for most of the rest
except for One from Jeduthun. (books 1 2 and 3 ) have 1 Psalm
from the choirmaster Jeduthun near end like this.
• The victory of God side by side with the sufferings of Christ

4. Taste and see
That the LORD is good!
Psalm
34
The word of God
Bookends
Inherit the nations
Bookends
The meek
will inherit
the earth
Show
me my
end
Betrayal by
an anti-
friend
pain
Psalm 41
quoted at the
last supper by
Jesus

5. The laments ending Book 1 continue in Book 2
As book 1 ends
‘the meek inherit
the earth’ in
Psalm 37
surrounded by
laments of Jesus
arrest and
sufferings.
Jesus even quotes
the final Psalm 41
At the last supper
about the
betrayal by Judas
As book 2 starts
With a lament ‘why are
you cast down oh my
soul’, preaching
encouragement to self.
Psalms 42,43 and 44 will
continue the laments
and intensify

6. A group of Psalm on judgement and redemption
In Psalm 49, the
sons of Korah as
‘Why should I fear
in times of
trouble?” to the
whole world.
And the answer is
Because of the
need of
redemption.
Everyone needs it.
They have it.
In Psalm 50, God
speaking through
the sons of Korah
summons his
people and
rebukes them for
wrong sacrifice
The sacrifices of
God are
thanksgiving.

7. • Laments start in 42 and 43
• Laments continue until a persecution Psalm in 44.
• Laments broken by a ‘love song’, ‘wedding
song’ in Psalm 45
• A women chorus singing after in Psalm 46
Sung in high voices
• The nations applause, clapping, rejoicing in 47, 48

8. A group of Psalm on judgement and redemption
In Psalm 45, a
love song, a
wedding song
This is quoted in
Hebrews 1:8 and
the King married
is Jesus.
In Psalm 46 a
songs for high
voices as if a
women’s chorus
after a wedding
singing the Psalm
which inspired ‘A
mighty Fortress is
our God’
And in Psalm 47
the nations clap
for joy.

9. A group of Psalm on judgement and redemption
In Psalm 49, the sons of
Korah will explain “why
they are not worried in
times of trouble”.
The answer concerns
the need of all men for
salvation from the
grave and they have it.
They literally have it
descended form Korah
who died swallowed by
the ground opening up
“not all the sons of
Korah died and some
wrote songs and were
bouncers at the temple
singing of their
salvation.
In Psalm 50, God
speaking through the
sons of Korah
summons not the
world in general but
God’s people and
rebukes them for
wrong sacrifice
The sacrifices of God
are thanksgiving.

10. • All people addressed in Psalm 49 about the need for redemption
• God’s people addressed in Psalm 50 about the need for
thanksgiving as a pleasing sacrifice
• The centerpiece a Psalm of David in Psalm 51
appealing to God’s attribute of lovingkindness. A
broken and contrite heart You will not despise
• The wicked judged in Psalm 52
• Poster boy is Doeg the Edomite who killed the priests in David’s
day
• The fool acts like there is no God leading to no one good no not one in
Psalm 53 (echo of Psalm 14)

11. A group of Psalm on judgement and redemption
In Psalm 51, the center
Psalm of judgement,
David appeals not to
the law but the
character of God.
David appeals not to a
heart with a band aid
on it but for God to
‘create in him a clean
heart’ in the center
verse.
In Psalm 50, God
speaking through the
sons of Korah
summons not the
world in general but
God’s people and
rebukes them for
wrong sacrifice
The sacrifices of God
are thanksgiving.

12. An important reminder to the world

13. A group of prayer psalms
• Save me Psalm 54 and 55
• Have mercy on me in 56 and 57
• A long view. God contrasted with godz and bad
judges Psalm 58
The son inherits the earth in Ps 2, the pure, the
humble the righteous in Psalm 25, the meek inherit the
earth in 37 and God inherits the earth in Psalm 58
• Deliver me Psalm 59 and a prayer to a God who feels like He
rejected us in Psalm 60
• A prayer for a safe refuge Psalm 61 and 62

14. Godward Psalms touching Zion and the whole earth
• I seek You and will be satisfied in You Psalm 63
• A prayer against secret plots Psalm 64
• A praise Psalm from Zion Psalm 65
• A praise Psalm from the whole earth Psalm 66
• May God be gracious to us AND let the nations in on it and be
glad Psalm 67

15. A group of Psalm on the work of God
In Psalm 68 the Psalm
begins with what the
priests said as the ark
moves “Let God arise
and his enemies be
scattered,”
The ark moves through
history, even up Mt Zion
And referred to in
Ephesians as pointing to
Jesus ascension.
In Psalm 69, Jesus’
betrayal and trial and
sufferings pointed to.
The works of God
made possible
becauce of the grace
poured out in the
work of Jesus on the
cross.

16. A dissonant pair of Psalms on the works of God
God victoriously moves with the ark in history and
ascends Mt Zion pointing to Jesus ascending Psalm
68
Jesus work on the cross makes victory possible
Psalm 69

17. Last please for help before the end of Book 2
Psalm 70 Make haste to deliver me
Psalm 71 In you I take refuge
And
In Psalm 72 God will fill the earth with His fruit

18. A Song of Solomon in 72
Ending book 2
God’s fruit reaching and filling the world with even
wheat growing on tops of mountains.
A subtle dissonance and prayer ‘May your glory fill
the earth” contrasts with the cherubim around
God’s throne claim “Your glory fills the earth’
(does it fill the earth but unseen/unrealized by eyes
unopen?)
Poetically and hyperbolically Solomon
More literally Jesus

19. Key changes in the Psalms
Unexpected discord laments turning to praise with nations joining
in, a model prayer of salvation, the work of Jesus pointed to, and
the prayers of David answered in a ‘Psalm of Solomon’
Psalms book 2 Psalms 42-72
fin’
The myriad uses of musical dissonance: above, a
caricature of Arnold SchoenbergCredit...Ralph Steadman
See Musical Dissonance, From Schumann to Sondheim -
The New York Times (nytimes.com)