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Old Testament Survey


MAIN CHARACTERS: There are several people mentioned in Psalms, either in the Psalm itself or in the title of the Psalm:

-Abimelech (Achish): I Samuel 21:10-15
-Absalom: I Samuel 13
-Ahimelech: I Samuel 22:9-19
-Aram-naharaim: Armeans of northwest Mesopotamia
-Aram-zobath: Armeans of central Syria
-Asaph: Levite, family of singers: II Chronicles 5:12
-Bath-sheba: II Samuel ll
-Cush the Benjamite (Shimel): II Samuel 16:5-14
-Doeg the Edomite: I Samuel 22:9-23
-Ethan the Ezrahite (A wise man in Solomon's time): I Kings 4:31
-Heman the Ezrahite (Levite family of singers): II Chronicles 5:12
-Jeduthun (Chief musician in the temple): I Chronicles 16:41-42
-Korah (Levite, head of the temple musicians):I Chronicles 6:22
-Nathan (Prophet of God): II Samuel 12:1-14
-Sons of Korah (Musical Levite family): I Chronicles 6:22
-Ziphites: I Samuel 23:19

OUTLINE

It is difficult to outline the book of Psalms as each chapter focuses on different subject matter. Many of the Psalms have titles which either tell the occasion when the Psalm was written or the purpose of the Psalm. Some of the Psalms were not given titles so we can only speculate as to when and why they were written. The Harvestime International Institute course entitled "Creative Bible Study Methods" provides a special study form for outlining each chapter in Psalms. The general outline of this book consists of five major divisions:

Part One: Psalms l-41 
  
Number of Psalms:41
Summary of content:Concerns man, his state of blessedness, fall, and recovery.
Key word:Man
Final doxology:Psalms 41:13
  
Part Two: Psalms 42-72 
  
Number of Psalms:31
Summary of content:Israel, her ruin, her Redeemer
Key word:Deliverance
Final doxology:Psalms 72:18-19