Forms, Continued

Instructional – Also called Didactic Psalms, these are designed to instruct the reader. While many psalms have an educational purpose, they are mostly of another type. These psalms have the specific purpose of instruction. The two kinds most often found are:
   

• Torah – these are teachings based on the exposition of the law. These are Psalms 1, 19 and 119.
• Wisdom – Like the Book of Proverbs, these psalms demonstrate the two alternative ways of life: the folly of the man who bases everything on the present and rejects God, the wisdom of the man who sees life from God’s perspective and seeks to follow Him. Included among these psalms are: 1, 10, 14, 15, 23, 37, 49, 50, 52, 53, 62, 73, 81, 91, 92, 95, 112, 114, 115, and 119.