The

Flow

of the

Psalms

Discovering their Structure and Theology

O. Palmer Robertson

© 2015 by O. Palmer Robertson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations either are the author’s own or are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Poetic indentions are the author’s own.

Italics within Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.

ISBN: 978-1-62995-133-1 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-62995-134-8 (ePub)

ISBN: 978-1-62995-135-5 (Mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Robertson, O. Palmer.

The flow of the Psalms : discovering their structure and theology / O. Palmer Robertson. -- 1st [edition].

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-62995-133-1 (pbk.)

1. Bible. Psalms--Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.

BS1430.52.R63 2015

223’.206--dc23

2015001259

In memory of

Gwenette Phillips Robertson

1934–2014

With beauty outwardly and beauty inwardly, she displayed the grace of Christ through all her life. Her love of music, her love of singing, welled up from a heart filled to overflowing with the love of Christ.

Contents

Foreword by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

Editor’s Preface

Acknowledgments

Analytical Outline

1. Introduction

2. Basic Structural Elements in the Psalms

3. The Redemptive-Historical Framework of the Psalms

4. The Flow of the Book

5. Book I (Psalms 1–41): Confrontation

6. Book II (Psalms 42–72): Communication

7. Book III (Psalms 73–89): Devastation

8. Book IV (Psalms 90–106): Maturation

9. Book V (Psalms 107–150): Consummation

10. Concluding Observations

Select Bibliography

Index of Scripture

Index of Subjects and Names

Foreword

It is a real joy and a privilege to write the foreword to The Flow of the Psalms by O. Palmer Robertson, for here is a groundbreaking and innovative piece of research and study that will open up new vistas of study and preaching to the whole body of Christ from the beloved treasury of the Psalter. Many of us over the years have come to appreciate the numerous books and articles that have come from the labors of Dr. Robertson. Currently, he divides his time between Uganda, where he serves as Director and Vice Chancellor of the African Bible University, and Cambridge, England, where he spends the balance of his time in study and research of the Scriptures. His new project on the Psalms will introduce us to a whole new avenue of thinking and ministering for the glory of our God.

The book of Psalms has been one of the great sources of blessing to ...