Two charts cover both the study approach in general (setting, meaning, and significance) and the specific task of classification (typical structure and themes of three kinds of psalms: Laments, Thanksgivings, and Hymns)

Approaching the Study of a Psalm

• Setting
  1. Original: Pre-temple, First Temple, or Second Temple Period
  2. Compositional: Instruments, tunes, and other musical directions
  3. Anthological: Place within Psalter as a whole, five Books, smaller collections
  4. Ritual/Occasional Liturgical use: festivals, offerings, Sabbaths, coronations, weddings
• Meaning
  1. Form and structure: Classification by form, its typical elements; variations of theme; actual structure by stanzas
  2. Poetry: Use of parallelism, words, images to evoke emotion, engage psyche; deeper studies of Hebrew words
• Significance for Jesus and the Church: The reading and explanation of the psalm by Jesus as well as the early and late Church

Approaching the Classification of a Psalm

• Laments
  • Typical structure
    • Cry of desperation
    • Trust
    • Petition
    • Vow to praise
  • Themes
    • Imprecatory Psalm
    • Confidence Lament
    • Plea of Innocence (justice)
    • Penitential Lament
    • Petitionary Lament
    • Wisdom Lament
• Thanksgivings (Declarative/Narrative psalms of praise)
  • Typical structure
    • Call to praise
    • Story of deliverance
    • Concluding praise
  • Themes
    • Deliverance Psalm
    • Victory Song (after battle)
    • Wisdom Thanksgiving
• Hymns (Descriptive psalms of praise)
  • Typical structure
    • General call to praise
    • Praise itself
    • Final call to praise
  • Themes
    • Hymn of Sovereign Majesty (God’s rule; God as Creator)
    • Enthronement Hymn (king/Messiah placed on throne)
    • Hymn of National Deliverance (faithfulness to covenant; realized when Messiah comes — but distinguish from the enthronement hymn)
    • War Song (before battle)
    • Pilgrim Hymn (Zion — as city or king, Ascent)
    • Wisdom Hymn