Book Three of the Psalms, encompassing chapters 73 to 89, is the shortest of the five books with 17 psalms. It aligns thematically with the season of summer, reflecting the imagery of ripening fruit and the associated themes of judgment and destruction. This book parallels the themes found in Leviticus and Lamentations, focusing on offerings, priestly service, the sanctuary, holiness, affliction, and the blessings and curses tied to obedience or disobedience to God. The psalms in Book Three often speak of Zion, Jerusalem, the Temple, and the sanctuary, emphasizing God's presence and accessibility to a specific group of people. Many scholars suggest that this book reflects the historical context from the end of David's reign through Solomon's reign to the fall of Judah and Jerusalem, concentrating on Judah where the Temple resides. Most psalms in Book Three adopt a broad, communal, or national perspective, highlighting the collective impact of individual actions on the entire community of Israel, particularly Jerusalem. The nation rises or falls, rejoices or weeps together. Key contributors to this book include Asaph, who authored Psalms 73 through 83, and the sons of Korah, responsible for Psalms 84, 85, 87, and 88. Both groups, connected to Temple service, offer an insider's view of sanctuary activities. Asaph, a chief musician and possibly a choirmaster during David's time, and the sons of Korah, a Levitical division focused on Temple music, bring a professional perspective to these compositions. Only Psalm 86, attributed to David, presents an individual viewpoint, depicting personal suffering amid public persecution. The keynote psalm, Psalm 73, encapsulates the central themes of Book Three. It explores the paradox of the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer, a conundrum that challenges the psalmist's faith. Initially, the psalmist envies the apparent success and ease of the ungodly, feeling plagued by constant trials despite striving for righteousness. However, upon seeking God at the sanctuary, the psalmist gains a divine perspective, realizing that true Israelites are those pure in heart, set apart by God for holiness. This shift in viewpoint reveals the bleak future awaiting the wicked—destruction and desolation—while affirming God's continual guidance and ultimate promise of glory for the faithful. God is portrayed as the rock and portion forever for those who remain close to Him, ensuring that their inheritance and sufficiency lie in Him alone.

Book Three of the Psalms encapsulates profound themes of rebellion, forsaking God, judgment, exile, destruction, and death, mirroring the historical tragedies associated with the ninth of Av, a day of national mourning for the Jews. These psalms reflect the deep anguish and consequences of turning away from God, resonating with the repeated historical judgments faced by the people. In Psalm 73, the keynote psalm of Book Three, Asaph grapples with envying the wicked until he enters the sanctuary and gains a renewed perspective. By the end, in verses 25 through 28, he recognizes that there is no one like God, who is unique and trustworthy. Asaph understands that God is his rock, his reward, and his inheritance forever, transforming his outlook to one of faith and reliance on God's power to redeem, forgive, heal, and transform. Psalm 148, a summary psalm, flows naturally from the themes of praise in Psalm 73, emphasizing that God deserves unending praise from everyone and everything as Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all. It highlights that He has exalted the horn of His people, signifying the strength of His chosen ones, upon whom He has lavished His love and grace, drawing them near to Him. Psalm 74 shifts to a communal perspective, expressing the collective despair of God's people after the destruction of Jerusalem. It begins with a cry of abandonment, questioning why God has forsaken them forever in anger, leaving the sheep of His pasture without a Shepherd. The psalmist pleads for God to remember past redemptions and hasten back to save His house from the enemy's destruction. A hymn of praise in verses 12 through 17 reframes the perspective, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all creation and powers, suggesting a deeper purpose behind the allowed destruction. This leads to seven pleas for God to act, seeking remembrance of the enemy's blasphemy, deliverance, covenant promises, transformation of shame into praise, judgment on enemies, acknowledgment of insults against God, and recognition of the increasing hardship of His people. Though the tumult continues and God's intervention is yet to come, the psalm ends with a call to hope and wait in faith for His response.

In the collection of Psalms, Book Three is associated with summer themes, focusing on sin, apostasy, backsliding, neglecting God, and destruction. Within this context, Psalm 81 is placed in Book Three, not Book Four which relates to the fall festivals, because it addresses the spiritual state of the Israelites. It highlights their disobedience and rebellion, aligning with the themes of Book Three, even though the psalm references the fall feasts like the Day of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles. God uses this psalm to comment on Israel's attitudes and failures, emphasizing their persistent rejection of His ways, rather than the ultimate redemption and fulfillment that will come in the fall season as represented in Book Four.

A major theme in Psalms, Book Three centers on the concept of judging. Several psalms within this book address God as the ultimate judge, emphasizing His righteous judgment. Additionally, there are sections that highlight the poor and unrighteous judgment of rulers, judges, and common people, underscoring their shared responsibility for unjust decisions. A recurring question posed in this context is whether it is not their duty to know justice, pointing to the deliberate nature of their actions despite having access to God's teachings. This theme culminates in the understanding that God, as the righteous judge, must act with punishment when necessary, standing to execute His will at the appointed time. Book Three also explores broader themes such as the ripening of fruit in summer, the sanctuary as a place of nearness to God, and the grief and suffering resulting from sin and God's punishment for the failure to repent. It calls for praise of God for His sovereign goodness, blessings, and the certainty of His promises, both of reward and consequence. This certainty provides comfort, affirming that the wicked will receive their due, allowing the faithful to move forward in trust. Overall, a central message of Book Three is that God means what He says and fulfills His promises accordingly. Focusing on specific psalms, Psalm 75 and Psalm 82 delve into the themes of judgment and justice. Psalm 75 begins with thanksgiving, acknowledging God's wondrous works that declare His nearness, proving His active involvement in the lives of His people. It portrays God responding to cries for help, promising to act at the chosen time to judge uprightly against the boastful and wicked who arrogantly oppose Him and His people. The psalm reassures that God steadies the earth when it sways, ensuring stability, and emphasizes that He alone decides the fates of men equitably. It depicts God offering a cup of judgment, fully mixed with bitterness, which the sinful must drink to the dregs, ensuring no escape from accountability. An individual's response in the psalm is to declare allegiance to God and praise Him forever, aligning with His righteous judgment that cuts off the wicked and exalts the righteous. Psalm 82 complements this by addressing unjust judges who reject God's knowledge and understanding, stumbling in darkness and destabilizing society's foundations through their poor decisions. It recounts God's declaration that these judges, once elevated by covenant as part of His family, have repudiated their status through their actions and will die like ordinary men as a result of their judgment. The psalm concludes with a plea for God to judge the earth with equity, looking forward to a time when He will inherit all nations, establishing true justice in His Kingdom.

Book Three of the Psalms carries a recurring theme of reflecting on the past to learn vital lessons. Several psalms within this book urge readers to recall God's wondrous works, the miracles He performed for Israel, and to understand the significance of these acts. These events were not merely historical; they were recorded to provide insight and instruction for future generations. The emphasis is on marking God's deeds and applying the lessons derived from them to strengthen one's relationship with Him and to avoid repeating past mistakes. Psalm 78, a notable composition by Asaph in Book Three, exemplifies this theme as a historical psalm. It recounts significant events from Israel's history, particularly during their time in Egypt and the wilderness, highlighting God's continuous deliverance. Despite His blessings, miracles, perfect law, good leaders, and tremendous promises, Israel consistently turned away from Him, rebelling and refusing to give their hearts to the Lord. This psalm, labeled as a "Contemplation of Asaph" or "maskil," suggests a reflective or teaching purpose, encouraging deep meditation to grasp its lessons. It puzzles over Israel's persistent rebellion, portraying God as good and righteous in all His dealings, while Israel fails to respond appropriately, forsaking the covenant and using God for their own purposes. Yet, He remains faithful, showing grace despite their shortcomings. The structure of Psalm 78 reinforces this message, beginning with an introduction in verses 1 through 11, followed by two recitals of events: wilderness events in verses 12 through 39, and events in Egypt and Jerusalem in verses 40 through 72. Each recital follows a pattern—God's acts, Israel's rebellion, God's response, and finally, God's grace—illustrating a consistent cycle of divine blessing met with human failure, followed by divine chastisement and mercy. The psalmist aims for readers to contemplate this pattern, to learn from Israel's errors, and to respond to God's works with gratitude and obedience, thus avoiding the destructive cycle of rebellion and punishment.