Psalms 65:1–65:8 David may have written this psalm to be sung annually when the harvest was brought to the
Lord. It is obviously a harvest
hymn
of praise, designed to be sung on an occasion of thanksgiving and not a ritual. The psalm begins
with a mention of man’s
preparation to praise God … Read more
Psalms 65:9–65:13 It seems that the psalmist is inspired to write about the abundant harvest and give thanks to
God. He summarizes the
generosity
of God’s care of the land (v. 9), and develops the theme of blessing on the land (vv. 10-13).God’s
rain showers prepare the land
for production (v. 10). … Read more
Psalms 64:1–64:6 This is another of David’s prayers for God’s judgement on his enemies. He prayed for protection
from those who conspired
against him. It seems that this psalm could have been written at the time of the Absalom
rebellion. The conspiracy against
David
was being carried forward by m … Read more
Psalms 64:7–64:10 David predicted that God would intervene and strike them (v. 7). Their tongues, like arrows, will
be turned against them by
God
and everyone who sees them will tremble with fear (v. 8). They will be afraid and say, “Look
what God has done” (v. 9). The
righteous shall be … Read more
Psalms 63:1–63:11 The faith expressed in Psalms 61 and 62 reaches a climax in this marvelous hymn of David,
written in the wilderness. He was
going through one of those rough times, which seemed to be his lot in life. He had been driven
from the throne by his son,
Absalom, and was headed out … Read more
Psalms 62:1–62:12 This Psalm reflects David’s trust in the Lord in spite of opposition. It contrasts the security of
trusting God with the
insecurity of
relying on human means. The theme of this Psalm is suggested in verse 1 when David wrote that
he waited in silence for
God. It
appears that it ma … Read more
Psalms 61:1–61:8 It is evident that David wrote this Psalm while he was undergoing some type of banishment. It
seems that he may have written it soon after Absalom’s rebellion had been crushed by Joab.
Absalom was dead and it looked like the way was now clear for David to return to Jerusalem. Ho … Read more
Psalms 60:1–60:5 The historical background for this Psalm can be found in II Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16 and I
Chronicles 18:12-13. King
David had inherited all the dreadful years of failure and defeat, apostasy and backsliding, misery
and woe under the judges
and
under Saul. He took o … Read more
Psalms 60:6–60:12 David surveys the land that will soon be his responsibility to govern as king. He wanted
everything that God had promised
to his
people. Shechem, was an important territory that had not yet yielded to David’s government (v.
6). The valley of Succoth
(Gen.
33:17) which was East of … Read more
Psalms 59:1–59:8 David became an old hand at dealing with danger. He was near death’s door time and time
again. As a teenage shepherd boy
in
the Judean Hills David had barely escaped the jaws of wild beasts. He had faced the threats of
Goliath in the valley of Eloh. But
the dangers he faced in th … Read more
Psalms 59:9–59:17 These next few verses of this Psalm may have been penned after David had escaped from his
enemies and he wanted the
people
to recognize God’s system of justice (vv. 9-10). David was hunted by those whose love had
turned to jealousy, and this was
driving them to try to murder him. … Read more
Psalms 58:1–58:5 Psalm 58 is a Psalm about injustice and the abuse of the system of justice. It is impossible to say
with certainty when David
wrote
this. Some think it was soon after he became king and discovered how corrupt the system of
justice really was in Israel. Others
think David wrote th … Read more
Psalms 58:6–58:11 The Psalmist gives a series of graphic pictures showing the certain fate of those who corrupt the
justice system:A disarmed
lion
(v. 6). David could picture himself as a shepherd tending the sheep when a lion would attack. He
would be helpless with
just his
shepherd’s staff … Read more
Psalms 57:1–57:6 This Psalm is made up of prayers in the midst of perils. It is thought that David wrote this when
he fled from Saul in the cave of
Adulham in the valley of the Philistines (I Samuel 22). Another possibility is that it was penned in
the cave of Engedi along the
limestone banks of … Read more
Recent commentaries
Awesome Deeds of God’s Power
Psalms 65:1–65:8
David may have written this psalm to be sung annually when the harvest was brought to the Lord. It is obviously a harvest hymn of praise, designed to be sung on an occasion of thanksgiving and not a ritual. The psalm begins with a mention of man’s preparation to praise God … Read more
Abundant Provision of Harvest
Psalms 65:9–65:13
It seems that the psalmist is inspired to write about the abundant harvest and give thanks to God. He summarizes the generosity of God’s care of the land (v. 9), and develops the theme of blessing on the land (vv. 10-13).God’s rain showers prepare the land for production (v. 10). … Read more
Prayer For Protection From Malicious Schemes
Psalms 64:1–64:6
This is another of David’s prayers for God’s judgement on his enemies. He prayed for protection from those who conspired against him. It seems that this psalm could have been written at the time of the Absalom rebellion. The conspiracy against David was being carried forward by m … Read more
The Prophesy of Divine Judgment
Psalms 64:7–64:10
David predicted that God would intervene and strike them (v. 7). Their tongues, like arrows, will be turned against them by God and everyone who sees them will tremble with fear (v. 8). They will be afraid and say, “Look what God has done” (v. 9). The righteous shall be … Read more
David Praises God in a Time of Distress
Psalms 63:1–63:11
The faith expressed in Psalms 61 and 62 reaches a climax in this marvelous hymn of David, written in the wilderness. He was going through one of those rough times, which seemed to be his lot in life. He had been driven from the throne by his son, Absalom, and was headed out … Read more
Trust in The Lord in Spite of Opposition
Psalms 62:1–62:12
This Psalm reflects David’s trust in the Lord in spite of opposition. It contrasts the security of trusting God with the insecurity of relying on human means. The theme of this Psalm is suggested in verse 1 when David wrote that he waited in silence for God. It appears that it ma … Read more
Assurance in God’s Enduring Promises
Psalms 61:1–61:8
It is evident that David wrote this Psalm while he was undergoing some type of banishment. It seems that he may have written it soon after Absalom’s rebellion had been crushed by Joab. Absalom was dead and it looked like the way was now clear for David to return to Jerusalem. Ho … Read more
Prayer For Deliverance
Psalms 60:1–60:5
The historical background for this Psalm can be found in II Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16 and I Chronicles 18:12-13. King David had inherited all the dreadful years of failure and defeat, apostasy and backsliding, misery and woe under the judges and under Saul. He took o … Read more
Confident The Lord Would Lead Them
Psalms 60:6–60:12
David surveys the land that will soon be his responsibility to govern as king. He wanted everything that God had promised to his people. Shechem, was an important territory that had not yet yielded to David’s government (v. 6). The valley of Succoth (Gen. 33:17) which was East of … Read more
Conspiracy Against The Innocent
Psalms 59:1–59:8
David became an old hand at dealing with danger. He was near death’s door time and time again. As a teenage shepherd boy in the Judean Hills David had barely escaped the jaws of wild beasts. He had faced the threats of Goliath in the valley of Eloh. But the dangers he faced in th … Read more
Anticipation of Praise
Psalms 59:9–59:17
These next few verses of this Psalm may have been penned after David had escaped from his enemies and he wanted the people to recognize God’s system of justice (vv. 9-10). David was hunted by those whose love had turned to jealousy, and this was driving them to try to murder him. … Read more
The Rebuke of Unjust Judges
Psalms 58:1–58:5
Psalm 58 is a Psalm about injustice and the abuse of the system of justice. It is impossible to say with certainty when David wrote this. Some think it was soon after he became king and discovered how corrupt the system of justice really was in Israel. Others think David wrote th … Read more
Swift Judgement on The Judges
Psalms 58:6–58:11
The Psalmist gives a series of graphic pictures showing the certain fate of those who corrupt the justice system:A disarmed lion (v. 6). David could picture himself as a shepherd tending the sheep when a lion would attack. He would be helpless with just his shepherd’s staff … Read more
The Need For Divine Intervention
Psalms 57:1–57:6
This Psalm is made up of prayers in the midst of perils. It is thought that David wrote this when he fled from Saul in the cave of Adulham in the valley of the Philistines (I Samuel 22). Another possibility is that it was penned in the cave of Engedi along the limestone banks of … Read more