by Five of the major psalm genres/groups found in the Book of Psalms include Descriptive Praise Psalms, Declarative Praise Psalms, Nature Psalms, Lament Psalms, and Enthronement Psalms. There are more genres, and some scholars separate them differently into different categories. Westermann proposed that there are only two basic genres, 1) “psalms of lament” by the people or the individual, and 2) “psalms of praise” of a declarative or descriptive kind. He does acknowledge minor types as liturgical, royal, psalms of Yahweh’s kingship, and wisdom or didactical psalms.[1] There are two basic features of people; they are either pouring sorrow out to God or they are praising Him!
Descriptive Praise Psalms revel in God’s general attributes and deeds in all times and in all places. They summarize his activity in its fullness and praise God in the totality of his dealings with men and of his being.[2] There are approximately twenty descriptive psalms and each of them employs a simple threefold form (call to praise, cause for praise, and conclusion).[3] Psalm 19 is an example as David is adoring the greatness of the Lord in various ways such as His laws being perfect, His commandments are pure, and His judgements are just.
Declarative Praise Psalms emerge out of deep appreciation for God’s greatness and goodness. It is a response to an experience of how God has done something specific for the psalmist.[4] There are at least eleven declarative psalms and they have three components (proclamation, report of deliverance, and appreciation for the fulfillment of the vow). Psalm 138 is an example as the first component of proclamation is found in verses one and two, where he praises Yahweh at the temple. The second component, the report of deliverance, is shorter than usual, but it is found in verse three. The last two verses is where the psalmist provides his confession of trust by recognizing that God’s past protection fortifies him for future contingencies.[5]
Nature Psalms are not a separate genre, but a subgroup of the Descriptive Praise Psalms.[6] These are marked by their praise of God as the creator and sustainer of the physical world. They indicate that nature reveals the greatness and goodness of God. They reflect the reality that the God must sustain the world that He has made lest it be swallowed up by chaos.[7] Psalm 8 is an example where the psalmist, David, talks about God’s creation of heaven, the moon, the stars, sheep, oxen, birds, and fish.
Lament Psalms are normally petitions by individuals as they approach God with their needs.[8] The psalmist does not just vent emotions; he expresses his supplication in the context of praise. By doing this, the psalmist typically confesses his trust in him and states his confidence in God’s attributes and honor, as they create a firm foundation for his faith.[9] Praise is the final element in nearly every lament psalm.[10] Estes states, “Lament and declarative praise serve as mirror images of each other, with lament looking ahead in faith to God’s answer, and declarative praise looking back in appreciation to what God has already done.”[11] Psalm 13 is an example of a Lament Psalm as it moves from crisis to calm as the psalmist takes his problem to God.
Enthronement Psalms have a high concentration of royal imagery and language. They illustrate images of God as King, not just of Israel but of all people.[12] There is also a characteristic phrase that marks these psalms (“The LORD reigns,” “the LORD is king,” “the LORD has become king”).[13]
Psalm 47 is an Enthronement Psalm as it has a large percentage of the psalm providing royal imagery of God ruling over the created order with both national and cosmic dimensions. It also contains the characteristic phrase, “He is a great King” in verse two and, “God is the King” in verse seven. In verse eight, God is illustrated as ruling over nations and on a Holy throne. Some consider Psalm 47 to also be considered a Messianic Psalm because of the emphasis on the coming kingdom and the ascension.[14]
It is the Psalms structure, their physical verbiage that identifies the different types of genres, each one has its own unique features. There are two types of Psalms – praise and sorrow (laments), I think many of the praise psalms are responses to the laments since we don’t have much historical documentation.
The theological truth from Psalm 47 is that God is the king and ruler of the whole earth. The first half of the psalm gives homage to the sovereign King while the second half focuses on the reigning of the sovereign King. It also prophetically portrays the coming kingdom of God.
Bibliography
Biblical Research Institute. Perplexing Doctrinal Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2020.
Estes, Daniel J. Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Worshipful. 1st ed. “Be” Commentary Series. Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004.
[1] Biblical Research Institute, Perplexing Doctrinal Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2020).
[2] Daniel J. Estes, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005), 156.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid., 162.
[5] Ibid., 165.
[6] Ibid., 159.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid., 165.
[9] Ibid., 167.
[10] Ibid., 168.
[11] Ibid., 168–169.
[12] Ibid., 185.
[13] Ibid., 186.
[14] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 175–176.