Genesis and the Psalms
Most people are aware of the fact that the Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, comprised of 150 chapters. They might also know that within its pages are the longest and the shortest chapters in the Bible—Psalm 119, with its 176 verses, and Psalm 117, with only two. Many know that the middle verse of the Bible is Psalm 118:8. (No, that is not the middle chapter, which would be a coincidence anyway, since chapter divisions were added by human beings centuries after the text was written.)
The point is that the Psalms cover a great deal of spiritual territory. Furthermore, they refer to many of the events in the Old Testament. For that reason, one ought not be surprised to find references to the things that occurred in the first book of the Bible—Genesis. In fact, the very first reference in the Book of Psalms hearkens back to the very first verses of the Bible.
What does the Bible begin with? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). The first psalm to mention God creating anything is Psalm 8, which refers to the heavens, the moon, and the stars, which God ordained (v. 3). Verses 6-8 cover some of the things God made on the earth, all of which were placed under man’s dominion. This same theme is repeated in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Many of the psalms refer to God as the Creator. There are too many to comment on all of them, but consider a few of these majestic verses.
O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions (104:24).
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created (148:3-5).
Other passages could be cited, but these are sufficient to show that the psalmists gloried in the creation that God had wrought. They did not write that one day all these things would come into existence by themselves. They knew better. The Creation reflected God’s handiwork. Every star, every animal, and every man was a testament to the greatness of God’s power and wisdom.
The Fall of Man
Although there is no direct reference to Adam and Eve sinning in the garden, the effects of sin are seen throughout the Psalms. David refers to himself as a sinner on more than one occasion. Who can forget his moving plea for forgiveness in Psalm 51 after his sin involving Bathsheba? “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (v. 3).
David also realized the value of being forgiven, which he wrote about in Psalm 32:1-2:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
David knew the difference between being guilty of sin and being forgiven of it. He had experienced both conditions. Psalm 14 (and 53) describe the sinfulness of humanity. Psalm 14:2-3 is cited by Paul in Romans 3:10-12 to prove that all have sinned. The effects of the fall of man are seen throughout the entirety of the Scriptures. The whole point of the gospel is to redeem man from the fall.
The Flood
The Flood that occurred in Genesis 6-8 is alluded to in Psalm 29:10: “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever.” This verse affirms God’s sovereignty over the entire creation, including the judgment of the Flood. God did not just create the world and then ignore it (as the Deists claim). He has always been involved in the affairs of mankind.
The references to God’s involvement with His creation are too numerous to mention. The point is that the Psalms verify the events recorded in Genesis. The two books may seem far apart in the canon of the Scriptures, but they confirm one another. He who wishes to deny the historicity of Genesis must also deny the validity of the Psalms.
Abraham
God called Abraham (then Abram) in Genesis 12, and his descendants are mentioned in Psalm 105:6-9:
O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
The covenant God made with Abraham is fundamental to understanding the rest of the Old Testament. The promises made to Abraham (a great nation, a great name, and a great blessing to all nations) are tracked throughout the Scriptures. The fulfillment of these promises is seen in the nation of Israel and ultimately in Jesus the Christ, through whom all nations are blessed.
CONCLUSION
The connection between Genesis and the Psalms is undeniable. The psalmists understood the events of Genesis to be historical, and they referred to them as such. They praised God for His creation, acknowledged the sinfulness of man, recognized the judgment of the Flood, and celebrated the covenant with Abraham. To deny the truth of Genesis is to deny the inspiration of the Psalms.