Has the Old Testament Psalter been purposefully arranged? Does this arrangement convey an overall message? This book enters into the growing discussion regarding the canonical arrangement of the Psalms by examining Book IV (Pss 90-106) and considering the book's overall theological and thematic message within the literary context of the Psalter.

In summary, the main suggestion of this work is that Psalms 90-106 have been purposely arranged as a rejoinder to the previous three books, in response to the rise and fall of Davidic kingship charted in Books I-III. This hypothesis is tested by examining how Psalms 90-106 may have been purposely organized as a collection. Also, the theological and thematic emphases that dominate the book are considered, which appear to offer a holistic understanding for what has happened to Israel in the exile and why. In particular, this study focuses on the employment of the three key figures of Moses, King YHWH and David in Book IV. These psalmic, literary voices each “speak” to the crisis of exile in their own way and this study highlights how each voice addresses different aspects related to Israel's exile. It is proposed that Book IV is intended to re-align the post-exilic audience’s worshipping response to their position as the covenant people of God after exile. Thus, this study seeks to provide further reason for seeing a broad editorial hand behind the final redaction of the Psalter.