Monthly Archives: July 2012

52 posts

Psalm 55

Background: Probably written by David when the was King in Jerusalem (9-11). David wrote this Psalm after his son Absalom rebel against him. The companion and friend who betrayed him (13) was Ahithophel, who King David’s counselor (2 Sam 15:12). V3: The voice of the enemy and the pressure of the wicked are referred to Absalom and Ahithophel. David knew […]

Psalm 54

Ziphites are from the tribe of Judah, they lived about 15 miles southeast of Hebron. Twice they betrayed King David (1 Sam 23:19, 26:1), and both times the Lord delivered him. In the first time, when Saul was chasing David in the wilderness of Maon, a messenger came to Saul, and told Saul to return home to flight the Philistine […]

Psalm 53

This is Psalm 14 with some minor revisions. David wrote both of the Psalms. Mahalath could mean disease. This is indeed a song for the man’s disease: the mortal sin of rejecting God. David wrote Ps 14 at his early age, now advance in age, he found no difference in men. Men still reject God. The major change is the […]

Psalm 52

David was in anguish when he wrote this psalm because of what Saul did to the priests of God (1 Sam 21:1-9, 22:6-23). When David heard from Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech about what had happened to the priesthood family, he said in 1 Sam 22 “I have brought about the death of every person in your father’s household.” Doeg […]

Psalm 51

First of 15 (Psalm 51 to 65) consecutive psalms attributed to David in Book II. One of the seven penitential Psalms (Ps 6,32,38,51,102,130,143). It is David’s prayer of confession after Nathan the prophet confronted him with his sins (2 Sam 11-12) Cleanse Me (1-7) The law says who committed adultery should be put to death (Lev 20:10). David could appeal […]

Psalm 50

Background First Psalm with “A psalm of Asaph” in the title. The others are Psalms 73-83 in Book III. Many commentators believes this Psalm was written by Asaph. Asaph was a musician in David’s time (1 Ch 15:17-19, Nehemiah 12:46) Exposition Every seventh year, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests were obligated to read the law to the people […]

Psalm 49

1 Peter 1:18-19 is a great summary of what this Psalm is all about. [knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.] The author had a message for everybody in […]

Psalm 48

This Psalm is frequently grouped together with Psalm 46 and 47. The historical background is clear, but could be God defeated the Assyrians in King Hezekiah time (2 King 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37) Or God defeated Ammon and Moab and men from Mount Seir in King Jehoshapaht time (2 Ch 20) Emphasized on God and the city of God. Today’s […]

Psalm 47

The jews read this Psalm to their new year celebration known as Rosh Hashanah. God is referring as the King of all the earth in the Psalm (v7). This is a messianic Psalm referring to the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ. Celebration (1-4) May be written by Hezekiah to celebrate for how God had delivered Judah from the […]

Psalm 46

Martin Luther used this Psalm as the basis and wrote “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. Background probably God’s deliverance of Jerusalem from Assyrians in the time of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-19, Isaiah 36-37). King Hezekiah was may have written this Psalm, and Psalm 47 and 48. It will be helpful to read Hezekiah’s prayer in 2 King 19:14-19 and […]