Psalms book 2: Ps 42 to 72 has Jesus flipping the script from his troubles more than the hairs of His head to a comfort the God knows the hairs on your head. Many key changes and contrasts explored here.

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. Jonah reflected on a Psalm near the start
of book 1, Psalm 3. David on the run
from his son for David’s own sin, Jonah
on the run for his own sin, ending
‘salvation is of the Lord’
Jonah also Psalm at the start of book 2
where God’s breakers are over Him.
Ironically in Psalm 42 starting as the
deer pants for water as he is
surrounded by water, water, water…

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

4. Just as God heard the cries of Israel in the beginning
of Exodus there are laments and cries to God at the
start of Book 2. Laments of book 1 continue.
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
Book 1 ends

5. 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

6. More Contrasts:
• The laments of Book 1 carry
over and continue is Psalms 42 43
44 to a love song a wedding song
in Psalm 45
• A song in high voices follows
sounding like something between
a mighty fortress is our God and
the women chorus singing after a
wedding
• Then the gospel to the nations

7. • Some reoccurring word pictures
in Book 2
• God as our fortress
• Come behold and hear the
works of God
• Tottering

8. 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.

9. • 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

10. • Contrasts:
• Psalm 46 contrasts with Psalm
45, the love song, being sung in
high voices like the women’s choir
after a wedding
• Psalm 46 has the power of
nature with mountains falling into
a roaring sea contrasted with a
river whose streams make glad the
city of God (other Psalms in Book 2
will also have a similar contrast)

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. There is a river whose waters make
glad the city of God
In contrast with forces of nature
Contrasts between powerful forces of nature and God’s
providential care is in Psalm 46, 48 and 65.
Psalm 46

14. • Like a Hello World ! All people addressed in Psalm 49 about the need
for redemption with a boast from the writer that “God will redeem me”
• God’s people addressed in Psalm 50 about the need for
thanksgiving as a pleasing sacrifice. A similar call the to
opening of The Song of Moses and the opening of Isaiah.
• 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.
(Creating a pure mouth is like Isaiah 57.)
• The wicked judged in Psalm 52 and asked what they have to
boast about.
• 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)

15. Some countermelodies :Man’s
fallen nature
• sinful from birth Ps 51
there is none righteous no not
one Ps 53
The sinless Jesus
I am a green tree in the house
of God, Psalm 51 sandwiched
between 51 and 53
You are my God from birth or
before birth said 4 times in Ps
22, fitting of Jesus more literally
than of David.

16. 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.

17. An important reminder to the world
Ps 14 is prelude to an important block
on redemption: Ps 15 through Ps 24
Ps 53 similar and at the end of an
important block on judgement: Ps 49 - 53

18. Ps 14 is prelude to an important block on
redemption: Ps 15 through Ps 24
(Starts block) If there is none righteous….
Who can climb mountain of God and dwell with Him?
Bookended in Ps 15 and 24
A literary hill with heaven and the law at top (Ps 19) and the
cross, the crook and the crown Psalms at end (Ps 22, 23, 24)
– The good shepherd who laid down his life, the king
An acrostic follows in Ps 15 signaling a new transition
Ps 53 similar (much word for word) and at the end
of an important block on judgement: Ps 49 – 53
Ps 49 Hello world! I don’t worry about being cheated. I don’t fear the super
rich. Why? God will redeem me from the power of death.
Ps 50 There are wrong ways to serve God. Right ways include thanksgiving
and ordering your ways aright.
Ps 51 David’s model Psalm appealing to mercy and to create in him a new
heart and teach in him truth from the inside out (as my sin nature goes back
to birth).
Ps 52 the judgement of those given over to wickedness. Contrasted with I
am a green tree in the house of God (pointing to Christ)
Ps 53. This need for redemption applies to all. There is none
righteous, no not one. (Ends block)

19. 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

20. God and I
• Some prayers for a group
• Some prayers for someone
speaking 1st person
• God will fulfill His purpose for
me
• God is for me

21. 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

22. Some countermelodies in Book 2
• Salvation from enemies
• Salvation from sin

23. • Some countermelodies in Book 2
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy Ps 65:8
Ps 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may
dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Personal salvation
Glory on global display to put men in awe

24. 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.

25. • Some striking contrast in Book 2
• God does a great work in Psalm
68 moving though the dessert as
the Ark and them up Mt Zion
• God rides through the dessert
• God rides through the sky
• In Psalm 69 there is the Passion
of the Christ making the
redemptive work possible

26. 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

27. Exodus also concerns building
the tabernacle with the ark
And the ascension of the ark
Up Mt Zion taken as the ascension of
Jesus in Ephesians
Psalm 68
Psalm 69

28. Jesus used the number of hairs on
your head in a comforting rather than
lamenting way
(On a psalm near the end of Book 1 also on a psalm near the end
of book 2. Both Psalms concern the betrayal, arrest and sufferings
of Christ)

29. Last please for help before the end of Book 2
Psalm 70 Make haste to deliver me ( being short
punches the message said 5 times to make haste to
deliver me)
Psalm 71 In you I take refuge
And lastly a rare ‘Psalm of Solomon’
In Psalm 72 God will fill the earth with His fruit

30. 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

31. Like Exodus , book 2 started with cries to God for
help.
Exodus ends with the glory of God with the
tabernacle and at the end of book 2 the glory of
God fills the world

32. 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)