The Sons of Korah Psalms
An article about the parallels between Psalms 42-49 and Psalms 84-88
Lord willing, this Sunday we will resume our sermon series through Book 3 of the Psalms. As we come to Psalm 87, we will also return to another pair of psalms that are given the title “A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
In today’s article I want to point out some striking similarities between the group of Korah psalms that are located at the beginning of Book # 2 and the group of Korah psalms that are located at the end of Book # 3.
Group # 1: Psalms 42-49
Psalm 42-43 — “To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: An Individual Lament
As I mentioned in a previous article, Psalms 42-43 were understood to be a single psalm. Psalm 43 not only lacks a title, but notice the repetition of a refrain that unites the two psalms together and provides a clear structure for reading Psalms 42-43 together.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (42:5)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (42:11)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (43:5)
Psalm 44 — “To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: A Communal Lament
Psalm 45 — “To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.”
Type of Psalm: A Royal Psalm (About the King of Israel)
Psalm 46 — “To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.”
Type of Psalm: Divine Response to the Laments (Reign and rule of YHWH)
Psalm 47 — “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: Divine Response to the Laments (Reign and rule of YHWH)
Psalm 48 — “A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: Divine Response to the Laments (Reign and rule of YHWH)
Psalm 49 — “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: An Individual Lament
Group # 2: Psalms 84-88
Psalm 84 — “To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: An Individual Lament
Psalm 85 — “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.”
Type of Psalm: A Communal Lament
Psalm 86 — “A Prayer of David”
Type of Psalm: A Royal Psalm (About the King of Israel)
Psalm 87 — “A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song.”
Type of Psalm: Divine Response to the Laments (Reign and rule of YHWH)
Psalm 88 —”A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite”
Type of Psalm: An Individual Lament
The Same Sequence Occurs in Groups 1 and 2
Individual Lament — Psalm 42-43 // Psalm 84
Read these two Psalms side-by-side and you will notice a similar tone and theme about an individual Israelite who is desperately longing to be in God’s house and near God’s presence. It is also worth pointing out that out of all the 150 psalms, “the living God” only appears in these two psalms.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. (Psalm 42:1–4)
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah (Psalm 84:1–4)
Communal Lament — Psalm 44 // Psalm 85
Read these two Psalms side-by-side and you should see similar communal complaints because of God’s judgment of Israel.
But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil. You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations (Psalm 44:9–11)
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? (Psalm 85:4–6)
Royal Psalm — Psalm 45 // Psalm 86
Read these two Psalms side-by-side and you should notice the similar theme of God’s reign over the nations through Israel’s king.
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king (Psalm 45:1) … Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness (Psalm 45:5-6) … Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him. The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people (Psalm 45:10-12)
All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.(Psalm 86:9) … O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Psalm 86:14–17)
Divine Response — Psalm 46-48 // Psalm 87
Read these psalms side-by-side and you should not only observe a parallel theme about the LORD’s reign and rule over all the nations of the earth, but Psalms 46 and 87 are the only two places in the entire bible (both Old and New Testaments) where “city of God” appears.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. (Psalm 46:4)
Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah (Ps 87:3)
Individual Lament — Psalm 49 // Psalm 88
Lastly, the final two psalms in both of these groups are written from the perspective of an individual who is facing the “trouble” of “Sheol.”
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me (Psalm 49:5) … Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah (Psalm 49:14-15)
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah (Psalm 88:3–7)
A Summary of the Sequence
Individual Lament (Psalm 42-43 = Psalm 84)
Communal Lament (Psalm 44 = Psalm 85)
Royal Psalm (Psalm 45 = Psalm 86)
Divine Response to Lament (Psalm 46-48 = Psalm 87)
Individual Lament (Psalm 49 // Psalm 88)
I think this collective sequence communicates that God responds to the cries and laments of His people by reminding us that He will keep the promises that he made to King David. There will be a king of Israel who will rule over all the nations of the world with God’s power, righteousness, and love.
These two groups of psalms both teach us that the deepest longing of our hearts should be for a Son of David to rule over all nations of the earth. In other words, our own prayers of individual or communal laments will be fully answered when Jesus, a Son of David, returns from heaven and establishes his kingdom on the earth.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come!