Psalm 45

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Who - The sons of Korah write a choir song to the king and his bride.  

What - This love song appears to be for both the king and his bride.  It is also an expression of hope in the LORD’s blessing of their marriage and family.  

When - No indication who this king and queen are, nor when they existed.  

Where - Unstated

Why - On this joyous day with all of its attention on the king and bride, this song reminds them of the Lord's hand and purpose in their lives.

Psalm 38

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Who - David writes this psalm to God as part of his offering to God.

What and Why - The title says David writes this psalm to the LORD and it is connected/brought with a memorial offering.  The memorial offering was prescribed in Leviticus 2:1-15.  According to the ESV Study Bible notes, the memorial offering was to “remind” the LORD to look favorably upon the offerer with his purpose, whether praise or petition.  In this case David is making a petition to God while under attack from others and suffering the consequences of his own sins.  As the memorial offering usually accompanied a burnt offering, it is reasonable to think David has come before the LORD at the altar with a sin offering confessing his sins and asking for forgiveness and restoration.  Specifically David seems to be suffering from a physical disease that has resulted in alienation from his friends.  So ultimately this psalm is David’s confession and petition to the LORD for physical, relational and spiritual healing, David’s desire is to be restored relationally with the LORD and other humans.

When - No specific events mentioned, but this could fit many different moments in David’s life.

Where - Unstated, but most likely at the temple.

Psalm 36

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Who - David writes a choir song to be sung to the LORD.  

What - David writes this song as a corporate choir song to be sung at some event.  It is a song describing the goodness of the LORD’s steadfast love and a request that the LORD deliver his people from evil doers.  

When - No specific event is mentioned.  It is general enough to be at many times in David’s life.

Where - Unstated

Why - As this is written as a choir song, it seems David is wanting the people to remember the errors of the wicked and the blessings of the LORD’s steadfast love to the righteous.  Then David requests that the LORD preserve them.

Psalm 33

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Who - Unstated, no indication who wrote this psalm.  The psalmist is speaking to the people; he ends with a request to the LORD.

What - This is a psalm of praise and reminder of God’s steadfast love.  The psalmist tells us of God's power over all things, His goodness to those He loves and God's deliverance of His people in times of distress.

When - Unstated. However, the wording indicates a time of national distress such as an attack from a powerful enemy (vs 10, 16 and 17) or a famine (vs 19).

Where - unstated

Why - The psalmist seems to want his hearers to remember God’s steadfast love for them and the promises that come with God’s steadfast love, so they will take hope in the LORD and his deliverance from their situation.  

Psalm 32

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Who - David writing a poem to the people and to the LORD.  

What - A poem describing God’s forgiveness to those who confess and repent.  David is describing to us how blessed is the person the LORD forgives, the conditions for forgiveness and the distress that comes from unrepentance.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - It appears to come at a time David is acutely aware of his sin.  He feels his guilt and his remorse.  David expresses for us the promise of the LORD’S forgiveness to those who confess and repent.  He does so to give hope and encouragement to us to seek the LORD’S forgiveness.  

Psalm 29

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Who - David writing a praise song about God, to the gathered people and the heavenly beings.

What - David writes this praise song about the LORD, describing the LORD’s majesty and might through just His voice.  He also describes how all the creatures, both earthly and heavenly, sing praise to the LORD and acknowledge His might (vs 9).  David makes a request to the LORD for strength and peace to be given to the LORD’S people.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - To praise the LORD, describe the might and majesty of His voice to the hearers and to ask for peace.  

Psalm 23

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Who - David writing to the LORD.  

What - David is writing a song of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD.  David is acknowledging the LORD’S deliverance from danger as well as provision for peace and all his needs.

When - Unstated, but could fit many points in Davids life.

Where - Unstated

Psalm 21

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Who - David writing a song of praise to God.

What - David is praising the LORD for for his kingship the LORD has brought about and blessed with success and safety.  David acknowledges it is by the LORD’S power he is enjoying this blessed and grateful moment.  David also makes an indirect request.  By stating his belief that God will defeat David’s enemies in the future, he is asking the LORD to continue to bless David’s kingship.  David has no hesitations to ask the LORD to take violent action against his enemies.  David sees his enemies as the LORD’S enemies.  Given the idolatrous religions of the nations around Israel it is easy to see why David believes so.  

As New Testament believers we can see how this song is completely fulfilled in Jesus, especially the last half of this psalm in Revelation.  

When - No specific time is mentioned, but it must have been in the glory days of his reign.  Probably in a time of blessing and prosperity.  

Where - Unstated

Why - David wants to praise the LORD for His blessing and prosperity on David’s kingship.  David also wants to ask God to continue blessing David’s kingship.  

Psalm 19

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Who - David sings a song to the LORD

What - David writes this choir song as a psalm of praise to the LORD.  It is also an instructional song.  It reminds the hearer and the singer that not only is God majestic and the whole universe displays His glory, but also that living in accordance to God’s law brings great blessing.  This song is also a petition to the LORD.  For it ends with David’s request that the LORD keep the singer from sin and give him heart of obedience.  As a choir song being sung in corporate worship, this psalm is meant for all faithful ones, who desire to live in covenant with the LORD.  

When - No specific time.  Possibly at or for a celebration.

Where - No specific location.  Most likely in Jerusalem.

Why - David’s motivation seems to be the desire to be obedient.  Also David wants to express thankfulness at how good and reliable God’s Word is.  Additionally David wants to praise the LORD for His goodness and majesty.

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Psalm 16

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Who - David is singing to the LORD.

What - David has written a song of praise and thankfulness.  David is singing about how the LORD has been good to him.  

When - No time is given, possibly after a recent illness or life threatening situation. (vs10).

Where - Unknown

Why - While David does make a specific request (vs 1), the purpose seems to be a personal praise and thanksgiving for God’s overall goodness and blessing.  

Psalm 13

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Who - David is speaking to the LORD.  He made it into a song for the choir to sing to the LORD.  

What - David writes a song for a difficult situation, a time of despair.  He indicates he is at his end and cannot go any further with this difficult situation.  Whether his exhaustion is physical, emotional, spiritual or all three is not clear and can apply to any of them.  He is expressing his feeling of desperation and asking the LORD to intervene.  He feels abandoned and forgotten by the LORD.  (It is important to distinguish between a psalm and a theological writing.  This is describing a feeling, not making a statement about God’s character or actual acts.)1  David is making the case that his enemy is not a covenant faithful person.  This is not just someone who he has a disagreement with, it is a person who has abandoned covenant faithfulness with the LORD or never participated in it.  

When - Unstated, but could fit any of a number of instances in David’s life.  

Where - Unstated

Psalm 10

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Who - The author is not stated but this psalm is among the songs of David.  So it is probably a psalm of David.

What - A poem seeking God's action against wicked men who deny God or do not fear God's justice.  The psalmist asks God to see the oppression of the weak by the wicked and to act.  

When - No time or event is given

Where - Unknown

Why - The psalmist does not state a specific crime against him or a particular group.  It appears as a general call against oppression and attack by the wicked.  However, it seems likely this poem was triggered by some event.  

Psalm 9

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Who - David writes this psalm as a song to be song in a public setting.  If not or originally written for a choir at the temple, then it was adopted for such.

What - It is a song that recounts God's deeds for David and by extension for Israel.  It ends with a request for God to judge the nations and put the fear of God in them (vs 20).  As David recounts the deeds of the LORD, he is focusing on God's actions for David against his enemies and the nations who have come against him. So this song appears to be a request for God to act against the idolatrous nations who are against Israel.

When - Unstated

Where - Most likely Jerusalem

Why - From the way this psalm progresses and the request David makes to the LORD it appears David, and all who sing/recite this psalm, is asking God to act on their behalf against the peoples/nations who are against them.  However, these nations have no fear of God or worship of Yahweh.

Psalm 8

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Who - David writes a song to God, but it is a corporate song, so it is the people to God.

What - This is a song of praise and worship to God.  This is a group song, the opening and closing pronouns of the singers are plural.  It is still right to sing this to the LORD as an individual act of praise, but it's original intent was a corporate praise song.  This song declares the LORD’S majesty and awe.

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Psalm 6

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Who - David speaking to the LORD and making his prayer into a song, with a specific tune.

What - David is calling out to the LORD while experiencing a deeply distressing time.  He is weeping every night.  It sounds like his trouble is a physical illness (vs 2) though these words may be metaphorical for his anguish.  He also may be experiencing this as a result of his own sin (vs 1).  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - David’s condition is so severe he believes only the LORD can save him and deliver him from this problem.  

Psalm 5

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Who - David writing a song to God for favor from God.

What - This song entreats the LORD to grant favor to David and all those who are righteous over wicked and rebellious enemies who have rebelled against God.  Whatever the specific event leading to its inspiration, David sees the need for the LORD to intervene and act.  David acknowledges he cannot solve His problem on his own.    

When - Unknown, though the context of this psalm could fit any of David’s conflicts recorded in Scripture.

Where - Unknown 

Why - The enemies of David and/or Israel are attacking him/them.  David is asking God to look on him and his enemies, to judge and then act for David.  If not originally then later made into a song to be sung in corporate worship (vs 7).  

Psalm 3

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Who - David speaking to the LORD when he was fleeing from Absalom.  

What - Ultimately it is David’s request for the LORD to rescue him.  David is fleeing, he is in danger of being overrun by Absalom’s attackers.  He has his wives and children with him, and only a small fighting force.  He is in a precarious situation, worsened by the number and who has betrayed him to Absalom’s coup (2 Sam 15 - 17).  David knows he is in need of God’s help against all the advisers, and leaders who have become his enemies.

When - At the time David is fleeing Jerusalem because of Absalom’s coup.

Where - Unstated, but from its context and 2 Sam 15-17 I speculate it was either ‘fords of the wilderness” (17:16) or Mahaniam (17:24).  David is not in his bunker or palace away from Jerusalem.  He is totally exposed.

Why - From 2 Samuel 15-7 we see David was greatly outnumbered and at a political disadvantage.  Absalom controls the government and many of the people are backing him.  David’s situation was as dire as when he was fleeing Saul.  Only God could save him.  

Back In The Saddle

After a very long time away from posting any meditations, I have renewed my commitment to both mediations on Scripture, and now, posting them in 2017.  It is fair to ask where have you been and why now?  The short answer to both of the questions is a bit of wilderness wondering.

In January of 2016 I stepped down from my role as Assoc Pastor at the church I was serving in here in Colorado.  The church went through a very painful decline and conflict (not that directly involved me).  The Lord just led me to see I needed to leave and let the rebuilding of that church begin.  During 2016 the Lord was showing me things about myself and Him He wanted and needed me to see before moving to my next place and phase of ministry.  2016 was a tough year.

Beginning with the New Year I started having more intentional time in the Psalms.  The Lord has met me there in these times and they have become very rich and joyful for me personally.  For the first

Psalm 4

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Who - David calling to the LORD during some time of distress.  David is also speaking to the hearers of this song.

What - David is calling to God in song during some time of trouble.  He is also speaking to those who hear this song to trust in the LORD and live in covenant faithfulness to God.  As a song meant for corporate worship (To the choirmaster) it is designed to exalt God and call the people to trust in the LORD.  

When - No specific event or time is given.  The wording of this song could fit any of the many distresses David faced.  

Where - Unknown

Why - David gives three reasons for this song.  First to ask God for relief from his distress 9vs 1).  Second to instruct his hearers to trust God (vs 5).  Third to praise and give adoration to God (vs 7 & 8).