What is the background of Psalm 20?
The superscription states that this is A Psalm of David, or perhaps more accurately, “for” or “concerning” David. It is a prayer for the king’s protection and victory over enemies in battle. The king, after all, was fighting for the welfare of the nation. Verses 1-5 record the nation’s Godspeed to the king. Verses 6-8 record either the king’s or the worship leader’s reply. Verse 9 is a final prayer for the king.

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20:1  May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
20:2  May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And support you from Zion!
20:3  May He remember all your meal offerings,
And find your burnt offering acceptable!                       [Selah]
20:4  May He grant you your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your counsel!

These verses are a prayer asking the Lord to answer and assist the king “in the day of trouble.” The “day of trouble” is a day of impending battle as suggested by the reference to chariots and horses in verse 7. The pronoun “you” is singular in these verses and refers to the king, the Lord’s anointed (see verse 6). The petitioner asked the Lord to remember the king’s acts of religious devotion and grant success to the king’s plans. The petitioner prayed that God would “answer,” “set,” “send,” “support,” “remember,” “find,” “grant,” and “fulfill.”

Practical Consideration: No person is exempt from troubles. We are not exempt from troubles. We often experience dark days and sorrowful nights. We often grow weary from the constant and unrelenting pressures of life. It seems that there is always something to threaten our welfare and security. It seems that there is always something bent on defeating and destroying us. Like the psalmist, we too should seek the Lord’s help in the day of trouble. We should look expectantly to God for help and assistance. We should put our trust in Him.

20:5  We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

This verse anticipates God’s answer to the prayer. It is an “Amen” to the prayer. The people looked forward to cheering the king’s success in a triumphal procession.

Practical Consideration: We should remember God in our hour of victory and triumph as well as in our hour of need. It is easy to remember God when we are in great and desperate need. It is easy to look to heaven when we are threatened on every side. It is easy to earnestly voice our petitions when problems close in. We should be careful, however, to remember God in our hour of victory and deliverance. We should not be so elated by triumph as to forget to give thanks. We should not allow success to cause us to forget the source of our help.
 
20:6  Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven,
With the saving strength of His right hand.

This verse further accentuates the assurance of the deliverance and victory requested in the prayer. The words express the firm conviction that God has heard and will answer the prayer of the king.
 
20:7  Some boast in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.
20:8  They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stood upright.

The confidence of the king was in the Lord (verse 6). The confidence of his enemies was in their chariots and horses, which represented formidable military strength. Those who put their trust in anyone or anything other than the Lord will bow down and fall while those who trust in the Lord will remain standing in the midst of battle.

Practical Consideration: Confidence in God gives us courage for the battle. The king’s confidence in God gave him courage for the battle. He marched into battle with the conviction that God would grant him victory. He put his trust in the Lord rather than in armaments or coalitions. He remained standing while his enemies fell around him because he trusted in God.

20:9  Save, O Lord;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

This verse sums up the theme of the psalm.

Practical Consideration: We should pray for our leaders. Someone has commented, “The well-being of a people is suspended on the character and doings of the monarch. Prayer should be offered for him continually that he might be guarded from evil, that he may be wise, equitable, and prosperous.”

What is the background of Psalm 19?
According to the title, David is the author of Psalm 19. The theme of the Psalm is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. Verses 1-6 speak of God’s revelation through nature and verses 7-11 speak of God’s revelation through the Law. Verses 12-14 speak of what should be man’s response to the revelation of God. The Psalm is considered to be a masterpiece of poetic literature. C.S. Lewis wrote, “I take this [Psalm 19] to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.”

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19:1  The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Verses 1-6 speak of God’s general revelation of Himself through nature. There are numerous terms that have to do with the matter of communication: “telling,” “declaring,” “speech,” “words,” “voice,” and “utterances.” In these verses, David represents the universe as a cathedral in which the sun is the preacher bearing witness to the existence and glory of God.

According to verse 1, the “heavens” continually (as per the tense of the words “telling” and “declaring”) witness to God’s existence.

19:2  Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.

Verse 2 continues the thought of verse 1 by emphasizing that nature witnesses to the existence of God both day and night. The sun by day and the moon and stars by night constantly declare, “There is a God!” The words “pour forth” emphasize that there is abundant evidence of God’s power and glory.

19:3  There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.

The testimony of the heavens is silent, yet can be “heard” by men of any nation and understood in any language.

19:4  Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
19:5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
19:6  Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The testimony of the created order is universal. Its witness “has gone out through all the earth,” even as the sun’s circuit covers all the earth.

Practical Considerations: God has not left Himself without a witness. The evidence for the existence of God is abundant. It is everywhere to be seen in the universe around us. Biblical scholar John Phillips comments, “It is significant that the Bible makes no attempt to prove that there is a God … The fact of God’s existence is self evident and taken for granted. The person who says differently is bluntly called a fool (Psalm 14:1 and 53:1). The root cause of atheism is traced in both these psalms to moral rather than to intellectual sources. It is not that a man cannot believe so much as that he will not.”

19:7  The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

David turned his attention from general to special revelation in verses 7-11. We need God’s special revelation. While nature can reveal the fact of God, it cannot reveal the way to God. While nature can reveal the glory of God, it cannot reveal the will of God. In each of the following verses he characterized God’s Word and its many benefits. This section of the Psalm has been called Psalm 119 in miniature.

The term “law” refers to all of God’s written revelation. Notice that the origin of Scripture is divine, for it is the law “of the Lord.” This law is described as being “perfect,” which means complete, whole, entire, and without flaw or defect. It is directed towards the well-being of man. It is able to “restore the soul,” or lead men to salvation and strengthen them in their walk with God. The “testimony of the Lord is sure,” or always true. It can make men wise. Only those who are open to God’s truth can ever hope to become wise.

19:8  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

God’s “precepts,” or moral rules, are “right,” or straight. Joy results in the hearts of those who keep God’s moral law (see Psalm 1:1-3). God’s Word is also able to enlighten men, opening their eyes to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong (see Psalm 119:104).

19:9  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.

The Scriptures are here referred to as “the fear of the Lord,” which is the impact they should have upon the heart of men. Mark Twain reportedly said, “It is not what I don’t understand about the Bible that frightens me; it is what I do understand.” God’s Word is “clean,” that is, without error or unrighteousness. God’s Word also endures forever (see Isaiah 40:8). It is stable, changeless, and everlasting. God’s “judgments,” or decisions, are always accurate and just.

19:10  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

God’s Word is better than the purest gold or the sweetest honey (see Psalm 119:103). There is nothing that compares to it. God’s Word can do more for man than fine gold.

19:11  Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.

2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching [God’s Word tells us the path to walk], for reproof [God’s Word shows us where we take wrong turns and stray from the path], for correction [God’s Word tells us how to get back on the path], for training in righteousness [God’s Word tells us how to stay on the path].” Proverbs 13:13 offers excellent commentary on Psalm 19:11. It states, “The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” One scholar has written, “The whole Bible is an exposition of this text.”

Practical Considerations: God’s Word can change people’s lives. God’s Word can lead men to salvation, can make men wise, can fill the heart with joy, can give men discernment, can warn men of danger, and can help them live meaningful and rewarding lives. We should commit ourselves to a consistent study of the Word of God. We should purpose to live our lives according to the truths of God’s Word. Those who fail to study and obey God’s Word miss out on the many benefits of so doing.

19:12  Who can discern his errors?
Acquit me of hidden faults.

Verses 12-14 set forth the appropriate response to the revelation of God in both nature and His Word. In verse 12 David asked to be forgiven of “errors” and “hidden faults,” or those sins committed in ignorance.

19:13  Also keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

David also asked that God keep him from “presumptuous sins,” those deliberate acts of rebellion against God. He did not want to be mastered by these sins. He did not want to become sin’s slave.

Practical Considerations: We should take sin seriously. David took sin seriously. He asked God to cleanse him of every sin committed in ignorance and to keep him from presumptuous sin (deliberate acts of rebellion against God). David understood the destructive power of sin. He did not want to harbor any sin lest he be destroyed from the inside out.

19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

David concluded the Psalm, which began with the universal glory and revelation of God, on a very personal note. His desire was to remain in a right relationship with God and live a life pleasing to God.

What is the background of Psalm 18?
This song of David, also found in 2 Samuel 22 (with minor variations), was sung by David in thanksgiving for his many victories over his enemies. Succeeding Davidic kings in thanksgiving over their victories in battle may also have sung this song. The psalm has a strong militaristic ring. Spurgeon called this Psalm, “The Grateful Remembrance.”

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18:1   “I love Thee, O Lord, my strength,”
18:2   The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
18:3   I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.

This psalm begins in a beautiful way: “I love Thee, O Lord.” As David looked back over his life and many victories in battle, He gave God the credit and the glory. David’s great faith in God and understanding about God is seen in his seven metaphorical references to God: “strength … rock … fortress … deliverer … shield … salvation … stronghold.” Notice the use of the possessive pronoun “my,” which accentuates that David saw God as his personal deliverer. The “horn of salvation” in verse 2 is probably a reference to the horns of the altar, which guaranteed protection to any who grasped them. They symbolized protective refuge.

Practical Consideration: Our love for God should be greater than all other loves. The foremost object of David’s love was God. He loved God more than humanity. He loved God more than self. He loved God more than the world. God was the chief object of his love. David loved God with a boundless, intense, and affectionate love springing from the depths of his heart. Someone has noted, “Nothing must we love above God, or so much as God, much less against God.”

18:4   The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
18:5   The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
18:6   In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

David testified of a period when he was in great distress. The “torrents of ungodliness” threatened to destroy him (see also verse 16b). This is a reference to the great numbers of wicked men who sought to do David harm. He was terrified. Death was stalking him like a hunter with a cord and net. He was completely surrounded by danger. But he knew where to turn for help. He “cried to [his] God for help” and God heard his voice “out of His temple” (that is, out of heaven).

Practical Consideration: We should look up when things look down! When David was surrounded by danger and things looked down, he looked up. When David saw danger at every turn, he turned to God. When things were going wrong he looked in the right direction. He did not petition or look to any other deliverer but God. And God heard and responded to his cries for help. Someone has written. “In our dark days the door of hope is a door which opens to heaven; let us knock at that door, and wait for help which is never denied.”

18:7   Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
18:8   Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
18:9   He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
18:10   And He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
18:11   He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
18:12   From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
18:13   The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
18:14   And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightening flashes in abundance, and routed them.
18:15   Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world laid bare
At Thy rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.

Someone commented, “Our enemies may be too strong for us, but they are not too strong for Him.” God responded to David’s urgent cry for help in a swift and magnificent display of power that struck terror in the hearts of his enemies. God came to David’s aid in an earthquake (verse 7), fire (verse 8), and a storm and wind (verses 9-15) that laid bare the foundations of the world. Psalm 119:91 states, “For all things are Thy servants.” God can marshal the forces of nature to carry out His divine work (see Psalm 104:2-4).

Practical Consideration: God is bigger than anything or anyone that comes against us. We must always keep in mind the fact that God is bigger and stronger than anyone or anything that comes against us. We should always view the things that oppose us against the backdrop of God’s omnipotence.

18:16   He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
18:17   He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18:18   They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my stay.
18:19   He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

God delivered David. He rescued him “out of many waters,” that is, out of “the torrents of ungodliness” (verse 4b) that earlier threatened to destroy him. God delivered him from his strong enemies and those who hated him. God rescued him from the tight spot he was in and set him in “a broad place.” God’s presence also inspired him with confidence as evidenced in the phrase, “But the Lord was my stay” (verse 8). According to verse 19, the reason God rescued David is because God delighted in him (the following verses elaborate on this).

Practical Consideration: God makes the difference. When David found himself overwhelmed by his enemies he confidently declared that the Lord was his stay. The little conjunction “but” in verse 18b is the hinge on which the door of his confidence swung: “But God. . .” makes all the difference. It does not matter who or what is against us if the Lord is our stay.

18:20   The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
18:21   For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
18:22   For all His ordinances were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
18:23   I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
18:24   Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

These verses expound on verse 19. David saw God’s deliverance as a reward for his moral and ethical purity, faithfulness, and integrity. David honored God and God honored David.

Practical Consideration: Faithfulness honors God and God honors faithfulness. David honored God by living a faithful life. God in turn honored David by delivering him from the hand of the wicked. Faithfulness and integrity are important to God. He blesses the righteous man (see Psalm 5:12 and Psalm 84:11).

18:25   With the kind Thou dost show Thyself kind;
With the blameless Thou dost show Thyself blameless;
18:26   With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure;
And with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself astute.

These verses express that God gives measure for measure. He rewards the faithful and punishes the wicked. God deals with men as they deal with one another (see also Matthew 6:14-15). With the good, He is good. With the blameless, He is blameless. With the pure, He is pure. With the perverse, He can be very difficult!

18:27   For Thou dost save an afflicted people;
But haughty eyes Thou dost abase.
18:28   For Thou dost light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
18:29   For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

God exalts the humble and opposes the proud (see also 1 Peter 5:5). Those who find themselves in darkness should look to God for light. Verse 29 accentuates the fact that with God we can attempt and accomplish what seems impossible (see Joshua 6 regarding the conquest of Jericho). With God’s help we can deal with obstructions.

18:30   As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
18:31   For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
18:32   The God who girds me with strength,
And makes my way blameless?
18:33   He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
18:34   He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
18:35   Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation,
And Thy right hand upholds me;
And Thy gentleness makes me great.
18:36   Thou dost enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.

David gave God the credit for his victories in battle. It was God who was his shield (verse 30), girded him with strength (verse 32), and gave him stability (verse 33) and skill (verse 34) in battle. That is the reason why David was victorious in battle.

Practical Consideration: We should give credit where credit is due. David fought many battles and experienced many victories, yet he was careful to give God the credit and the glory for these deliverances and victories. He was not so proud or presumptuous as to forget to give God the glory after a victory. Learning to recognize God’s working in our lives and in our difficulties should prompt us to express our gratitude to Him.

18:37   I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
18:38   I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.
18:39   For Thou hast girded me with strength for battle;
Thou hast subdued under me those who rose up against me.
18:40   Thou hast also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
18:41   They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
18:42   Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.
18:43   Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people;
Thou hast placed me as the head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
18:44   As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners submit to me.
18:45   Foreigners fade away,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.

Although David did his part in battle (verses 37-38), the victory came from the Lord (verses 39-41). In desperation, his enemies even cried to the Lord for help, but to no avail. Spurgeon comments, “Prayer is so notable a weapon that even the wicked will take to it in their fits of desperation.” The only credit David took was that he trusted God. The defeated enemies acknowledged David’s sovereignty and paid homage to him (verses 43-45).

18:46   The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
18:47   The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
18:48   He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely Thou dost lift me above those who rise up against me;
Thou dost rescue me from the violent man.
18:49   Therefore I will give thanks to Thee among the nations, O Lord,
And I will sing praises to Thy name.
18:50   He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.

David expressed his gratitude to the Lord by praising Him (verses 46-48) and promised to sing God’s praises among the nations.



Note: This psalm is a prayer for God’s justice.

A prayer of David.

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A. Prayer of a Righteous Man
17:1 [note the psalmist’s triple appeal…] [1] Hear me, Lord [the God of the covenant], my plea is just; [2] listen to my cry [a desperate and intense call for divine help]. [3] Hear my prayer — it does not rise from deceitful lips.



17:2 [note twofold content of his prayer] [1 = vindication] Let my vindication come from you; [2 = investigation] may your eyes see what is right.

17:3 [a declaration of innocence] Though you [A] probe my heart, though you [B] examine me at night [a time when he was alone with God and away from all distractions] and [C] test me, [note the findings of the probing, examining, and testing…] you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

17:4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent [those who gave no consideration to God’s commands] through what your lips have commanded.

17:5 My steps have held to your paths [the way of godliness; “Lord, perfect what Thou hast begun in me, that I may not suffer shipwreck when I am almost at the haven.” (Beza)]; my feet have not stumbled [“When men speak ill of thee, live so that no one will believe them.” (Plato)].



B. Prayer for Protection

17:6 I call on you, my God [based on use of metaphors from Deut. 32:10-12 in verse 8, David called on the God of the Exodus and of Mount Sinai to act again on his behalf], for you will answer me [a bold confidence that God would hear and answer his cry for help]; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

17:7 Show me the wonders of your great love [an appeal to act on his behalf now by delivering him from those who would do him harm], you who save by your right hand [symbol of strength] those who take refuge in you from their foes.



17:8 [note two metaphors (cf. Deut. 32:10-12) for God’s love…] Keep me as [1] the apple of your eye [the precious part of the eye that should be carefully guarded]; hide me in [2] the shadow of your wings [as a hen or an eagle protect their young beneath their wings]

17:9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies [from Heb. phrase meaning “my enemies in soul” meaning “in greed” or who are intent on taking everything from him and destroying him] who surround me [David felt surrounded like a city under siege].

C. The Wicked

17:10 They close up [unlike the righteous whose hearts are open and obedient to God] their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.

17:11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.



17:12 They are like a lion [a symbol of strength] hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.



D. Prayer for Deliverance

17:13 Rise up, Lord [the psalmist asks God to confront the wicked in his stead], confront them, bring them down [an act of destruction]; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.


E. The Wicked

17:14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life [the wicked give little consideration to the next world; they receive their portion in this world]. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies [the psalmist asked God to give the wicked what they deserved for their wickedness]; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.


F. Hope in Righteousness

17:15 As for me [in contrast to the fate of the wicked], I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake [this may be an indication that this was an evening prayer], I will be satisfied [the wicked and the godly are not satisfied by the same things] with seeing your likeness [cf. 1 John 3:2].

A miktam [probably a literary or musical term] of David.

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A. Confidence in the Lord

16:1 Keep me safe [an appeal for help; an expression of trust; to guard as a shepherd protects his flock], my God [Heb., “El”], for in you I take refuge [the occasion for seeking refuge in God may have been the actions of “those who run after other gods” (v. 4) or sickness (v. 10)].

16:2 I say to the Lord [Heb., “Adonai’], “You are my [an expression of submission] Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

16:3 I say of the holy people [or “saints”, those consecrated to the Lord] who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

16:4 Those who run after other gods will suffer [suffering and disappointment are fruits of idolatry] more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood [a cultic practice that may refer to human sacrifices (cf. Isa. 57:5-6)] to such gods or take up their names on my lips [the psalmist will not even mention the idols by name, an indication of how much he hates and rejects them and the idolatrous practices associated with them].



B. The Experience of Faith
16:5 Lord, you alone [an expression of loyalty] are [note how the psalmist describes that the Lord is all he needs (the Lord is his food and drink)…] my portion [a metaphor for God’s sustenance] and my cup [a metaphor for God’s sustenance]; you make my lot [what God has allotted for him] secure.

16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant [a description of God’s benefits] places; surely I have a delightful [a description of God’s benefits] inheritance.


C. Confidence in the Lord

16:7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels [essential if we are to love God and live wisely] me; even at night my heart instructs me [through meditation on His word (cf. Ps. 1:2)].

16:8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord [cf. Heb. 12:2]. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.



D. The Experience of Faith
16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,



16:10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead [the psalmist was confident that his relationship with God will not end with death], nor will you let your faithful [or holy] one see decay [“a metaphor for total isolation and abandonment from God’s presence in the life hereafter or specifically in the resurrection of the body” (Expositor’s, Vol. 5, p. 158); see also Peter’s use of this verse in Acts 2:27,31 and Paul’s use of it in Acts 13:35].

16:11 You make known to me the path of life [“a wisdom term for the fulness of life that only the wise could achieve” (Expositor’s, Vol. 5, p. 159)]; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

A psalm of David.

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15:1 Lord, who [or what kind of person] may dwell [to have fellowship or communion with God; in terms of Near Eastern hospitality, the question could be phrased, “Who may be a guest in your tent?”; term synonymous with “live”] in your sacred tent [in the OT and in Jesus’ day, God’s presence was centralized in the temple]? Who may live [to have fellowship or communion with God; term synonymous with “dwell”] on your holy mountain [Mount Zion]?



15:2 [as pilgrims approached Jerusalem during the three great pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Firstfruits, Booths) they were responsible for examining themselves before setting foot in the courts of the sanctuary; note the following 10 conditions…] [1] [walk] The one whose walk is blameless [a person of integrity], [2] [work] who does [“…not that talks about, thinks about, or hears of, righteousness…” (Luther)] what is righteous [does what is right; lives according to God’s word], [3] [word] who speaks the truth from their heart;



15:3 [4] whose tongue utters no slander [does not gossip; “The tale-bearer carrieth the devil in his tongue, and the tale-hearer carries the devil in his ear.” (Trapp)], [5] who does no wrong [the wise do not purposefully hurt others] to a neighbor [not just the person who lives next door but those with whom we associate], [6] and casts no slur on others [the wise man guards his relationships and does not initiate anything that will hurt them];



15:4 [7] who despises a vile person [a reprobate or someone known for being and doing evil] but honors those who fear the Lord; [8] who keeps an oath even when it hurts [will not sacrifice his honor], and does not change their mind [the wise person keeps or is true to his word];



15:5 [9] who lends money to the poor without interest [without usury; cf. Lev. 25:35-36]; [10] who does not accept a bribe [a perversion of justice] against the innocent [or the hungry]. Whoever does these things will never be shaken [in spite of the adversities and challenges faced].

Note:
• Spurgeon labeled this psalm: Concerning Practical Atheism.

• Compare also Psalm 53.

For the director of music. Of David.

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A. The Fool
14:1 The fool [term synonymous with “wicked” and refers to one who is morally deficient; not necessarily someone who is ignorant or an atheist but instead one who disregards and tries to live independently from God; one who does not feel accountable to God for his behavior (cf. Ps. 10:3-11)] says in his heart [indication that the “fool” has convictions; “On earth are atheists many, In hell there are not any.” (T. Brooks)], “There is no God [denies the importance of God’s existence].” They [the wicked or fools] are [1] corrupt [actions or behavior that is ruinous], their [2] deeds are vile [acts done with complete disregard for God and His expectations]; there is [3] no one who does good [summary statement; the sum of a life lived without regard for God].



B. The Lord’s Perspective
14:2 The Lord looks down [to witness and observe our actions; everything we do is in the sight of the Lord; we can never do anything behind God’s back] from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any [God is looking for those who are wise…] who understand [the wise understand and act according to their understanding of God’s revelation of Himself], any who seek [and live according to God’s standards] God.


14:3 [what God sees when He looks down…] [1] All have turned away [to become apostate], [2] all have become corrupt [meaning derived from Arabic, “to make sour” (as of milk)]; [3] there is no one [reinforces the previous use of the word “all” to define the scope of the problem] who does good, not even one.

C. The Prophetic Perspective
14:4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour [as they pursue their selfish interests; they do so with complete disregard for the rights of others; they have an insatiable appetite] my people [and their possessions] as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord [the evildoers do not care that God is looking down from heaven or will one day call them to account for their actions].



14:5 But [the day of reckoning will come] there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present [even when it feels as though He is not] in the company of the righteous.

14:6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their [refers to the “my people” of verse 4, “the company of the righteous” of verse 5, and “the poor” of verse 6] refuge [the shelter].



D. The Hope of the Righteous

14:7 [a prayer for the salvation of God’s people, possibly at a time of national disaster like the Exile] Oh, that salvation for Israel would come [the day when God will save His people from those who oppress them] out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice [because of God’s saving acts on their behalf] and Israel be glad!

Note: This psalm is classified as an individual lament. The situation that inspired these words is not known, although some suggest it may have been illness.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

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A. Expression of Despair
13:1 [note the fourfold repetition of “How long?”] [1] How long [the repetition of these words expresses the intensity or depth of emotions], Lord? Will you forget me forever [or “continually”]? [2] How long will you hide your face from me [an expression for alienation; suffering is intensified when we feel we are all alone]?



13:2 [3] How long must I wrestle with my thoughts [the psalmist is struggling to determine what has happened to cause his suffering; “wrestle with my thoughts” may also connote worry] and day after day [every day or day and night] have sorrow in my heart? [4] How long will my enemy [no indication of who the enemy is (perhaps death, unidentified oppressors, evil)] triumph over me [the smallest troubles seem huge when we feel that the Lord has forgotten us]?



B. Expression of Prayer

13:3 [note the threefold prayer] [A] Look [an indication of favor] on me [because he feels that God has hidden His face from him (cf. vs. 1)] and [B] answer [an indication of favor], Lord my God. [C] Give light to my eyes [our countenance reveals our inner spiritual condition], or I will sleep in death [may refer to a state of depression or suffering],



13:4 and my enemy [either adversaries or adversities] will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice [because of his fall and because of God’s failure to rescue him] when I fall [severity of troubles or weight of his burden is causing his feet to slip and his knees to buckle].

C. Expression of Hope

13:5 But [this conjunction introduces the difference that trusting God can make when we feel overwhelmed by troubles] I trust [an expression of faith in God; the answer had not arrived but the psalmist believed that it was on its way] in your unfailing love [Hebrew: ḥeseḏ]; my heart rejoices in your salvation.



13:6 I will sing the Lord’s praise [an appropriate expression of gratitude; “David’s heart was more often out of tune than his harp. He begins many of his psalms sighing, and ends them singing.” (Spurgeon)], for he has been good to me.