What are the Psalms of Praise? (how many Psalms of praise are there?)

My best friend likes to seek my knowledge of the Bible as a theologian to help him better understand the Bible and draw closer to God.

Recently he has been reading the book of Psalms and came across Psalm 145, which is a Psalm of Praise. He approached me wondering what the Psalms of praise are and how many there are in the book of Psalms.

I based my response to him on the years of experience I had studying the Book of Psalms. After our discussion, I was inspired to write this article to enlighten others who have similar questions regarding this topic.

So, what are the Psalms of Praise?

I invite you to join me in this article as we look at why they are called Psalms of Praise, how many Psalms of Praise exist, the Psalms for praising in the morning, and much more!

Why are they called Psalms of Praise?

Psalm is a divinely inspired songbook that the Israelites used in corporate worship. Psalms of Praise are given this name because they are poetic expressions written to praise God.

These Psalms acknowledge the power of the Lord and praise him for his wonderful attributes.

For instance, some of the Psalms praise God for delivering his people, like Psalm 11:9, while others praise God for his hard work in nature, like Psalm 19:1: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”

Psalms of praise are referred to as hymns, and the authors of these books show a direct admiration for God.

How many psalms of praise are there?

Biblical scholars suggest that praises are found throughout each book of Psalms. They, therefore, imply that the Psalms of Praise are 150.

However, scholars further speculate that only one book of Psalms is specifically designed as a psalm of praise in the Bible.

This book is Psalm 145. It recognizes the greatness of God and describes his attributes like compassion and mercy.

With that said most theologians believe that the rest of the Psalms of Praise fall under two categories: The declarative type and the descriptive type.

The declarative type of Praise Psalms are referred to as the thanksgiving Palms and involve a proclamation to praise God, a report of deliverance, and a renewed vow or praise.

On the other hand, the descriptive type of Praise Psalms contains more details as to why the praise is given. This type includes elements like a spontaneous expression of praise, a call for others to praise, the cause for the praise, and a renewed call to praise.

6 Psalms for giving praise to God

Psalm 18:4-19

In this Psalm, Davis is praising God for rescuing him from his enemies. He says that when he cried out to God, God heard his cry and saved him.

Therefore, this is a great passage to read when you want to praise God for deliverance.

Psalm 116:12-14

In these verses, the Psalmist begins with a clear intention to praise God. He acknowledges the fact that God has done so much for him and says that all that he can offer God in return is praise.

This is a great Psalms to read when you want to praise the Lord for his benefits.

Psalm 145

This is a powerful Psalms of Praise which describes the author’s admiration for God. In this book, David says that he will exalt God and praise Him forever because he is worthy of praise.

You can read this verse when you want to proclaim God’s faithfulness in your life.

Psalm 138

In this book, the author describes exactly how he will praise the Lord. He says that he will not only praise God by singing but also by bowing down before His temple.

This is a great Psalm to read when you want to know how to praise the Lord.

Psalm 95:1-7

In these verses, the Psalmist praises God for his great work of creation. He declares that the Lord is the King and the creator of man. You can read this Psalms of Praise when you want to praise God for creating you.

Psalm 28:6-9

The Psalmist in the verses praises the Lord for being his refuge. He says that the Lord is his strength who hears the sound of his pleading.

This is a great psalm of praise to read when you are feeling discouraged and want to be reminded of who you should put your trust in.

What psalms are for praising in the morning?

Psalms 51:11-15 is a great Psalm for praising in the morning since it reminds you where you should put your hope. The Psalmist in these verses tells God to unseal his lips so that his mouth can praise God.

This Psalm of Praise can lift your spirit as you start your day.

Psalm 100:1-5 is also a good psalm to read in the morning because it reminds you that the Lord is God and that he is your creator.

This is also an encouraging verse to read in the morning since the Psalmist reminds us of God’s unfailing love and his faithfulness that lasts forever.

You can also begin your day with praise by reading Psalm 97. In this book, the Psalmist encourages you to be godly and says that as a godly person, you should praise His holy name.

Reading this verse at the beginning of the day gives you a sense of direction.