Psalm 88

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. A lament psalm. The psalmist cries out day and night in deep distress and desires that God save him.

v.1-2 Call for God to hear the psalmist’s prayer. He has been praying but with no answer. v.2 is his petition, incline your ear to my cry!
v.3-9a A description of his distress.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.

v.9b-12 Save me because I can't serve you if I’m dead.
v.13-14 Petition for God to act.
v.15-18 The psalmist’s distress.

18 You have caused my beloved and my friend
to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.

Darkness is his only companion.

This psalm is very sad. Perhaps the saddest in the Psalter. Every believer will go through trials of his faith. The psalmist’s response is a model for our own—persistent prayer (v.1,9b,13).

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Psalm 87

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A song. A celebration of Zion.

v.1-3 Praise for Zion, the city of God.

3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah

v.4-6 The nations will acknowledge God in Zion. The Lord registers the people born in Zion.

6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah

v.7 Worshipers in Zion will make music and sing. All their spiritual blessings flow from Zion.

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Psalm 86

A Prayer of David. Combined lament and praise psalm.

Lament
v.1 David’s urgent request for God to hear his prayer.
v.2-7 Petitions for God to be gracious.

Praise
v.8-13 Praise to God for his acts and character.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.

Lament
v.14 Poet’s crisis—a band of ruthless men seeks my life.
v.15 Confidence in God. (Quoting Ex 34:6b)
v.16-17 Petition for God’s grace.

It is mercy and grace that we should petition God for in our prayers. God will answer not because we deserve it, but because of his steadfast love.

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Psalm 85

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A lament psalm. Possibly written in the postexilic period.

Statement of the problem
Establish the precedent of God’s mercy.
v.1-3 The psalmist reminds God of the past when he forgave the sins of the people and restored their fortunes. We infer that God has withdrawn his favor in the present circumstances.

Petition for God to act
On the basis of v.1-3, petitions and rhetorical questions.
v.4-7 Petition for God to restore the people again (a plea for spiritual awakening) and grant his salvation.

Confidence that God will solve the problem
Anticipation of God’s answer.
v.8-9 God’s salvation and peace are near to those who fear him and do not turn back to folly.
v.10-13 The steadfast love of God and faithfulness go together, also righteousness and peace.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

Spiritual awakening is needed by every believer in every generation. Pray this psalm for today. See also Mt 6:25-33.

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Psalm 84

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A worship psalm on behalf of pilgrims to the temple in Jerusalem.

v.1 Statement of theme. The loveliness of worshiping God.
v.2-4 The psalmist longs to be at the temple of the Lord. The living God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

v.5-7 The pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

v.8-9 A prayer for the anointed king.
v.10 The supreme value of worshiping God. A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
v.11 The Lord bestows favor and honor on those who walk uprightly (with integrity).
v.12 A closing beatitude.

12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

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Psalm 83

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. A national lament. A military coalition has conspired against Israel and the people call on God to destroy them.

v.1 Call to action for God.
v.2-8 Description of the crisis. The nations are conspiring against Israel. Selah.
v.9-15 Petition to destroy Israel’s enemies (an imprecation).

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.

v.16-18 Petition to bring shame on the enemies.

18 that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.

When in a crisis, prayer is the mightiest weapon available to the believer.

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Psalm 82

A Psalm of Asaph. A wisdom psalm. God in his divine council.

v.1 (Poet) God takes his place in divine council.

¹God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the “gods” (v.1, NIV)

v.2-4 (God) God asks, How long will you show partiality to the wicked? — “Rescue the week and needy.”
v.5 (God) They (the “gods”) walk in darkness.
v.6-7 (God) “You are gods, ... nevertheless, like men you shall die.” v.6 is quoted in Jn 10:34.
v.8 (Poet) Appeal to God: “Arise, O God, judge the earth.”

All earthly powers are subject to God and he will make right every wrong.

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Psalm 81

Of Asaph. For the occasion see Lv 23:34 & Dt 31:10-13.
The psalmist calls on God’s people to rejoice in their God, remember past deliverance, and repent so they can see God’s blessings.

v.1-5 (Worship leader) A call to jubilant praise of God with singing, shouting, and music. (Eph 5:19-20)

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

v.6-10 (God's voice) A call to remember and be loyal to God. I am the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt.

10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

v.11-16 (God's voice) A call for the wayward people to repent. If only the people would listen to my voice.

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!

God calls his people to repent. This is to be an ongoing characteristic of the Christian life.

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Psalm 80

A Testimony. Of Asaph, A Psalm. A prayer for Israel’s restoration after having been ravaged by a foreign oppressor. See 2 Kgs 17:1-6.

v.1-2 Call for the God (Shepherd) of Israel to save the people (the flock).
v.3 Refrain: Restore us, O God. (Possibly a request for spiritual renewal.)

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

See Nm 6:22-27.
v.4-6 Lament that God has punished the people.
v.7 Refrain: Restore us, O God of hosts.
v.8-13 You brought us out of Egypt and planted us, like a vine, in the promised land. Now the walls are broken down and enemies ravage it.
v.14-18 Turn again and look at us, the stock your hand planted. They have cut it down. But turn and give us life, then we will call upon your name.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,

v.19 Refrain: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!

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Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph. A lament psalm.

v.1-5 The nations have destroyed Jerusalem. How long, O Lord?
v.6-12 Petition for God to act. Deliver us, O God. (v.6-7 see Jer 10:25)
v.13 Vow to give thanks and praise to God, forever.

Asaph asks God to deliver the nation for his name’s sake. Whatever we do should likewise be for God’s glory. (1 Cor 10:31)

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Psalm 78

A Maskil of Asaph. A historical psalm. Asaph surveys the repeated rebellion of Israel, despite God's goodness, and encourages us not to repeat the same sins.

v.1-8 Tell the coming generation the deeds of the Lord. Teach the children to not be like their fathers who were not faithful to God (Dt 6:6-9).

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.

v.9-16 The Ephraimites forgot God’s covenant and turned back in battle (1 Sam 4-6, 1 Sam 31, or 2 Kgs 17). (Ephraim’s sins represent the entire nation.) Even though: (1) God divided the sea and let the Israelites pass through it (Ex 14); (2) God split the rock in the wilderness to give them drink (Ex 17); (3) God led them through the wilderness with the cloud and fire (Ex 13:21-22).
v.17-31 They sinned still more against their God (can he give us meat?). Yet God rained manna down for them to eat. He rained meat on them (See Ex 16 and Nm 11). God’s anger rose against them. Note: Jesus is the bread of life—see Jn 6:30-40.
v.32-55 Yet in spite of all this they still sinned. When he killed them they repented (but it was a shallow repentance). God was compassionate and did not destroy them. They often rebelled in the wilderness. They did not remember his signs in Egypt (Ex 7-12). He lead his people out like sheep and guided them in the wilderness. He settled the tribes in the promised land.
v.56-66 Yet they tested God and turned away from God to idols. God gave his people over to the sword (See 1 Sm 4). Then he awoke and put his adversaries to rout (1 Sm 5).
v.67-72 God choose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion. He choose David his servant to shepherd his people.

72 With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand.

Each generation must teach God's word to the next generation and urge them to be faithful to him. (See also 1 Cor 10:5-12.)

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Psalm 77

A Psalm of Asaph. A lament followed by praise to God for past deliverance and hope for help in present distress.

v.1-2 Cry to God for help.
v.3-10 The psalmists complaint (doubt). Has his (God's) steadfast love forever ceased?
v.11-12 The deeds of the Lord.

12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.

v.13-20 Praise to God for past deliverance. (Ex 14:21-22)

13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

We can find encouragement in times of depression by meditating on the past miraculous actions of God on behalf of his people.

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Psalm 76

A Psalm of Asaph. A song. A praise psalm. Who can stand before God's wrath? For occasion see 2 Kgs 18:13-19:37.

v.1-3 God's greatness and the defeat of his enemies.
v.4-6 God as a victorious warrior.

4 Glorious are you, more majestic
than the mountains of prey.

v.7-10 Praise God because He is to be feared and His justice is right.
v.11-12 Make vows to God and perform them.

May we give our God the fear and reverence due his name.

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Psalm 75

A Psalm of Asaph. A song. A praise psalm.
A thanksgiving hymn thanking God for his justice in the world.

v.1 Introduction: (Congregation's voice) We give thanks to God.
v.2-5 (God's voice) I will judge the earth in my appointed time.

2 “At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.

God's judgments are just—and he knows the secrets of the heart.
v.6-9 (Worshiper's voice) Praise to God for his acts of judgment. He brings some down and exalts others. See 1 Sm 2:1-10 and Lk 1:46-55.

9 But I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

v.10 (God's voice) The wicked will be brought down, but the godly will be uplifted.

Judgment is coming to all men. God will not fail, in his own time, to bring the arrogant to account.

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Psalm 74

A Maskil of Asaph. A lament psalm.

Israel mourns the destruction of the temple and calls on God to rise up and remember his people.

v.1-3 Call for God to remember his people, who have been defeated.
v.4-8 The enemy destroyed the temple. (See 2 Kgs 25:1-21)
v.9 The people are left without a prophet.
v.10-11 Call for God to answer by destroying the enemy.
v.12 God is king.

12 Yet God my King is from of old,
working salvation in the midst of the earth.

v.13-17 Picture of the God of creation. Remembering God's past actions.
v.18-19 Call for God to remember his people.
v.20-21 Call for God to remember his covenant and help the poor and needy.
v.22-23 Call for God to defend his cause amidst the clamor of his enemies.

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Psalm 73

This begins Book III (Psalms 73-89).
A Psalm of Asaph. The eternal and temporal view of the godly and wicked, a personal testimony.

Profession of Faith
v.1 Asaph begins with his conclusion. God is good to those with a pure heart.
Trial of Faith
v.2-3 The crisis (speaker was envious of the prosperity of the wicked).
v.4-12 Description of the prosperous wicked.

These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for. (v.7, NLT)

v.13-14 Speaker's discontent at having lived a godly life.
Renewal of Faith
v.15-17 Now the speaker sees rightly, having worshiped in the temple.
v.18-20 A second look at the wicked.
v.21-22 Speaker puts down his earlier attitude.
v.23-26 A second look at the godly life.

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (v.24, NLT)

v.27-28 Summary. The wicked perish and God rewards the godly.

This psalm reminds us to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal. We never need to doubt the goodness of God. Do you desire God more than your earthly possessions?

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Psalm 72

Of Solomon. A royal psalm. A petitionary prayer on behalf of the king.

v.1-17 Petitions for the king (Solomon/Christ)
- give the king justice and righteousness (1-2)
- request for prosperity for the people (3)
- prayer for the poor and needy (4)
- may the people fear God (5)
- may the people be blessed and the righteous flourish. (6-7)
- may the king have dominion to the ends of the earth (8-11) (See Phil 2:10-11)
- prayer for the poor and needy (12-14)
- may the king have long life (15)
- may the land and people be fruitful (16)
- may all nations call the king blessed (17)

v.18-19 Blessings toward God.

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

v.20 Concluding statement. This concludes Book II of the Psalms.

This psalm looks forward to the time when Christ will return and reign forever. We are reminded to remember the poor and needy in our society.

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Psalm 71

A lament psalm. A psalm for old age. The psalmist as an old man cries out for deliverance from his enemies. Note: Ps 70 and Ps 71 are sometimes considered a single composition with Ps 70 serving as the introduction. In this, case Ps 71 is also “Of David”.

v.1-4 Petition for deliverance. (See Ps 31:1-4)
v.5-8 Praise to God.
v.9-13 Petition and definition of the crisis.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.

v.14-24 A prayer in which the psalmist expresses commitment to God and vows to praise Him for deliverance.

22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

As we grow older, we need to faithfully teach the next generation the truths about God (v.18).

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Psalm 70

Of David. A lament psalm. David cries out for deliverance, saying: “O Lord, do not delay!” Ps 70 is almost identical to Ps 40:13-17.

v.1-3 A petition for deliverance from enemies who seek the psalmists life.
v.4 A prayer that God be praised.
v.5 A statement of confidence in God’s deliverance.

5 But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!

God is our helper—if we are the poor and needy. Note: The poor and needy throughout the psalms are those who are vulnerable to the manipulation and control of others [NIVAC]. That is, it speaks to spiritual needs rather than economic needs.

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Psalm 69

Of David. A lament psalm. A messianic psalm.
A prayer for God's mercy and deliverance from enemies. (The sufferings of the rejected Messiah.) Pss 69-71 are all pleas for deliverance and with Ps 72, a royal psalm, they end Book II of the Psalms.

v.1-3 Save me, O God! David describes his despair.
v.4-12 David describes his distress.
(v.4 quoted in Jn 15:25; v.9 quoted in Jn 2:16-17 and Rom 15:3)
v.13-18 Petition for God to deliver him.
(v.13 quoted in 2 Cor 6:2)
v.19-21 David returns to describing his despair.
(v.21 see Mt 27:48)
v.22-28 Petition for the destruction of his enemies.
(v.22-23 quoted in Rom 11:9-10; v.25 quoted in Acts 1:20)
v.29 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!
v.30-33 Vow to praise God with song and thanksgiving.
v.34-36 Call to praise. Confidence that God will save Zion.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.

Christ, who was perfect, was persecuted by evil men for doing God's will and God's work. Likewise, Christians who live godly lives will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12).

Read Psalm 69

Psalm 68

A psalm of David. A song. An exuberant praise psalm. A song of deliverance and victory, calling all nations to glorify God.

v.1-3 God will drive away his enemies, but the righteous will be joyful.

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!

(See Nm 10:35)
v.4-6 Call to praise God for protection of the defenseless (father of the fatherless).

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!

v.7-10 Psalmist recalls God providing for his people (abundant rain).
v.11-14 God’s enemies flee.
v.15-18 God ascends on high on Mount Zion.

18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may
dwell there.

(See Eph 4:8 were the verse is applied to Christ)
v.19-23 God will cause Israel to be victorious.

20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

v.24-27 A triumphant procession of Israel into Jerusalem.
v.28-31 God is seen as triumphant over the nations.
v.32-35 Call for all nations to praise God

35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

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Psalm 67

A Psalm. A song. A praise psalm. A prophetic psalm of the millennial kingdom.
Make your face shine upon us.

v.1-2 A prayer for God's blessing on the people.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

(See also Nm 6:24-26, except here applied to all nations.)
v.3-5 Praise to God.
v.6-7 God shall bless us.

What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. (Westminster Shorter Catechism)
This is also the chief end of missions and other ministry.

Read Psalm 67

Psalm 66

A song. A psalm. A praise psalm.
Come and see God’s awesome deeds—a psalm of praise for an answered prayer (delivering the people from a crisis).

v.1-4 Call to praise. “Shout for joy to God, all the earth.” Selah.
v.5-7 God’s praiseworthy acts. Selah.
v.8 Call to praise. “Bless our God, O peoples.”
v.9-12 God’s praiseworthy acts.
v.13-15 Worshiping God. Selah.
v.16 Call to praise. “Come and hear, all you who fear God.”
v.17-19 A personal testimony. (The occasion for the present psalm.)
v.20 A blessing on God.

20 Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

Unconfessed sin can block your prayers (v.18). Confess your sins and offer praise to God. When he answers your prayer, don't neglect to give him thanks.

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Psalm 65

A Psalm of David. A song. A praise psalm. A millennial psalm.
David praises God for his spiritual and physical blessings.

v.1-2 Call to praise God.

2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.

This looks forward in time to the millennial kingdom when all will come to worship God. (See Is 66:22-23)
v.3-13 God's praiseworthy acts.
Grace
- forgiveness of sin (3)
- satisfying the people with the goodness of his house (4)
Greatness
- awesome deeds of righteousness (5)

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;

- his creation (6-8)
God formed the world out of nothing and he controls all he created
Goodness
- he waters the earth and enriches it (9-10)
Israel had an agricultural economy and depended on rain.
- he causes overflows of blessing in nature (11-13)

Thank you, O Lord, for your bountiful provision and blessings today and every day. Amen.

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Psalm 64

A Psalm of David. A lament psalm.
A prayer for deliverance from an enemy.

v.1 Hear my voice, O God. An introductory plea for God to hear David's prayer.
v.2 Petition for deliverance.
v.3-6 Description of enemy (verbal) attacks.
v.7-8 The deliverance of God.

8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.

v.9-10 Praise to God. The godly will rejoice in the Lord and take shelter in him. (v.10a, NET)

Prayer to God was a refuge for David. He called on God and found the deliverance he needed.

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Psalm 63

A psalm of David. Occasion 2 Sam 16:14 or 2 Sam 17:2,29.
A prayer of intense longing for God in a time of need.

v.1-2 The psalmist longs for God.

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

(See John 4:7-15)
v.3-8 The psalmist has trust in God and praises him.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

v.9-10 The psalmist expresses confidence his enemies will be destroyed.
v.11 Vow to praise God.

David sought after God.

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Psalm 62

A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits. The occasion my have been Absalom's rebellion in 2 Sam. 15-18.
David trusts in God even as conspirators where planning to remove him from the throne.

v.1-2 God is my rock and my salvation.

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.

(See also Ps.33:20 and Ps. 4:4)
v.3-4 Psalmist laments his attackers. Selah.
v.5-8 Wait on the salvation of God. He only is my rock. See 1 Cor. 3:11.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

v.9-10 Do not set vain hope on riches. (See Prov. 11:28 and Luke 12:15)
v.11-12 Power belongs to God and he will “render to a man according to his work.”

No matter how bad the trial, put your trust in God alone.

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Psalm 61

Of David. A prayer of petitions.

v.1 Call to God to hear the prayer.

v.2-8 Petitions to God in three couplets:
(1) v.2-3 Petition for God to “lead me to the rock” (Jesus is the rock, see 1 Cor. 10:4). Psalmist calls from the ends of the earth.
(2) v.4-5 Petition to let the psalmist dwell in God's tent (a place of fellowship) and take refuge under God's wings.
(3) v.6-7 Petition to prolong the life of the king (looking forward to the Messiah). May he be enthroned forever.

v.8 A vow to praise God and to live in daily obedience to him.

Come to the rock (the Lord Jesus) in your time of trouble. Faith in Christ (alone) is our refuge in the storms of life.

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Psalm 60

A miktam of David. A lament psalm. Occasion 2 Sam. 8 and 1 Chr. 18.
A petition (prayer) for deliverance following defeat at the hands of an enemy.

v.1-4 Psalmist laments God rejecting the people. They were suffering defeat at the hands of an enemy.
[v.5-12 are almost identical to Ps. 108:6-13]
v.5 Petition for deliverance.

5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

v.6-8 God says: the nations are mine. “The acknowledgment that God is powerful and in control, even in the face of enemy threats, provides the readers with confidence in his ability to deliver and save.” (NIVAC, p.862)
v.9-12 Final appeal for deliverance.

11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!

David confesses that it is only through God's assistance that they will win victory over their enemies.

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Psalm 59

A miktam of David. Occasion 1 Sam. 19:11-17.

Deliver me from my enemies.

v.1-5 David asks for protection from his enemies. Selah.
v.6-7 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs. They have swords in their lips.
v.8-10 David waits for victory in God. (v.9 Refrain)

9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.

v.11-13 Consume them God. Selah.
v.14-15 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs. They wander around looking for something to eat.
v.16-17 David praises God who is his fortress. (v.17 Refrain)

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

God's love is our place of refuge in a wicked world. (See Prov. 18:10)

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Psalm 58

A miktam of David. A lament and imprecatory psalm.
A prayer for God’s justice.

v.1-5 David denounces ungodly rulers.

“Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?
Do you judge the people fairly?” (v.1, NLT)

v.6-9 David calls on God to judge the ungodly rulers.
- break their teeth
- tear out the fangs
- let them vanish like water that runs away
- when he aims his arrows, let them be blunt
- let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime
- like a stillborn child who never sees the sun
- may he sweep them away
v.10-11 The righteous will rejoice at the downfall of the wicked.

11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

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Psalm 57

A miktam of David. A lament psalm. Occasion: 1 Sam. 22:1-5 or 1 Sam. 24.
Let your glory be over all the earth!

v.1-3 David petitions God, in whom he takes refuge, for mercy.

2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

v.4 David's enemies, “whose tongues cut like swords,” lie in wait for him.
v.5 Refrain. Be exalted, O God.
v.6 David expresses confidence that his enemies will be destroyed by their own schemes. Selah.
v.7-11 David praises God. (See Ps. 108:1-5) (v.11 Refrain)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

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Psalm 56

A miktam of David. A lament psalm. Occasion 1 Sam 21:11-15.
In God I Trust.

v.1-4 Even though my enemies trample on me all day long, I will trust in God.
v.5-7 All day long they injure me, cast them down, O God.
v.8-11 In God I trust, what can man do to me?
v.12-13 Thank you for your deliverance.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Trust in God in the midst of your troubles. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)

Read Psalm 56

Psalm 55

A maskil of David.

David laments that one of his friends has betrayed him.

David's anguish because of his betrayal
v.1-3 In the face of oppression David asks that his prayer be heard.
v.4-8 David voices his fears. He is in anguish and wishes to flee. Selah.
v.9-11 Petition to the Lord to destroy the oppressors.
v.12-15 The oppressor is a friend. (The psalm anticipates the betrayal of Christ, Matt. 26:47-56)

David's assurance that God will save him
v.16-19 I will call on the Lord and he will save. Selah.

17 Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.

v.20-21 The enemy was as smooth as butter.
v.22 Cast your burden on the Lord. (See 1 Pet. 5:6-7 and Matt. 6:25)
v.23 God will destroy his enemies.

23 But you, O God, will cast them down
into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.

Read Psalm 55

Psalm 54

A maskil of David. Occasion 1 Sam. 23:19-20.

God is my helper.

David’s enemies
v.1-2 O God, save me.
v.3 Strangers have risen against me. Selah.
David’s trust in God
v.4-5 The Lord is my helper.

4 Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.

David’s deliverance
v.6-7 The Lord delivers and David gives thanks.

Read Psalm 54

Psalm 53

A maskil of David. There is none who does good (the human race is morally corrupt). Cf. Ps. 14. A wisdom meditation on the foolishness of the wicked.

Foolish of the wicked.
v.1-3 There is none who does good, not even one.

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.

Fools are people who reject God, the only one who can save them (LASB).
Divine judgment on the wicked.
v.4-5 God has rejected them.
Hope for deliverance.
v.6 Let God (via the Messiah) restore the fortunes of his people. (Hope for deliverance from evil people.)

All men are born in sin. The only way to change is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read Psalm 53

Psalm 52

A maskil of David. Occasion 1 Sam. 22:6-23

I trust in the steadfast love of God. God will judge the evil man.

v.1-5 A portrait of the arrogant evil man.
The evil man boasts in his sin (a type of the antichrist, TTB).

3 You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah

v.6-7 The righteous will taunt the evil man.
v.8-9 The reward of the righteous.

8 But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.

Olive trees live hundreds of years (recall picture in Ps. 1).

Read Psalm 52