Psalm 60

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Who - David speaking to the LORD, then to the people as a choir song.  

What - This is a national lament.  It is a lament over a national crisis that has come upon Israel by the opposing armies threatening Israel.  It is a cry to the LORD for His help and deliverance.  

When - The title gives the occasion of this psalm when Aram, Syria, Edom and Ammon assembled together to battle David and Israel in 2 Samuel 8:3-14 and 10:1-19.  What we discover in those passages were multiple engagements with a very large fighting force arrayed against Israel.  Not only was David and the army out numbered, but the Syrians had chariots while the Israelites did not.  So it was both a technological and numerical disadvantage for David.  

Where - Where this psalm was written is difficult to determine.  Most likely it was written out in the field where David and his army were encamped in Ammon.  If so, David was in a foreign land, outnumbered and overpowered by his enemies.  

Why - David and the army were in a desperate situation.  They were in a foreign land outnumbered and under-armed.  All the advantages went to David's enemies.  David calls upon the LORD to deliver and save Israel from these threats.  If David and Israel lose this battle, the Davidic Dynasty never happens.  

Psalm 94

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Who - An unnamed psalmist talking to the LORD and then to the people.  

What -This is a psalm of thanksgiving and lament, it is also a wisdom psalm.  The psalmist is saying three things: 

1. The psalmist is thanking the LORD for his deliverance of the psalmist from danger and the wicked person.  
2. The psalmist is lamenting over the actions of the wicked people who oppress and abuse those around the psalmist. 
3. The psalmist is also instructing his hearers about the downfall of the wicked so they will resist the temptation to adopt their ways.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - Either a foreign group or a group of Israelites not living in covenant faithfulness have taken control of the land and are oppressing the people by wicked actions.  The psalmist is talking to the LORD for help and acknowledging the LORD'S previous deliverance.  He is also warning others not to fall for the temptation to adopt the methods and philosophies of the wicked.  Because despite the current prosperity of the wicked, the LORD sees and hears and will bring them to justice.  

Psalm 91

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Who - The author is unstated.  He is appealing to the LORD and speaking to his hearers.  

What - This reads like a deliverance psalm, as the author is asking the LORD to deliver him and his hearers from some trouble.  Is this an individual psalm or a corporate psalm?  I cannot tell from the words whether its original inspiration was an individual crisis or a national one.  It reads as if the priest was saying these words over the army as they go out to battle.  Yet it has a very personal “you” and “I” singular message.  Either way it is appropriate to apply in both cases today.  

Satan quotes verses 11 and 12 to Jesus at His temptation on top of the temple.  Which is stunning as verse 13 talks about the Messiah's victory over the lion and serpent!  Jesus’s response about not testing the LORD is a good warning about misuse of a psalm to justify careless and reckless actions.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - The author is facing a crisis in which his physical life is in danger.  He is asking the LORD to deliver him.  

Psalm 86

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Who - David writes a prayer to the LORD.  

What - David is asking the LORD to save him from a group of men pursuing him with the intent to kill David.  David also asks the LORD for more than escape and deliverance.  David asks for the LORD to perform a very public sign so that those pursuing him may “be put to shame.”  David is asking for vindication.  

When - Unstated, but could fit several instances in David’s life.  

Where - Unstated

Why - David is writing a prayer of deliverance because he is being pursued by men who want to take his life.  David believes that unless the LORD intervenes, these men will overtake him.  

Psalm 69

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Who - David is writing his song to the LORD to be sung by the choir.  

What - David is writing a lament to the LORD (this psalm has all seven of Longman's elements for a lament.)  David is asking for the LORD to intervene and take action against David's enemies, who have been very vocal and plotting against him.  David is very strong in his curse against his enemies.  The psalm does not give us any clues as to when or what events David is referring to, however, it must have been significant for David to ask for such a strong curse against his enemies.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - David is in despair and feels the weight of his situation.  He sees his plight as desperate and desperately needs the LORD to intervene.  David is asking the LORD to save him from these enemies as well as restore the joy of life to him.  David asks the LORD to enact severe punishment on his enemies for these attacks against him.  David does more than ask God to act.  He is asking the LORD to make their punishment public.  David is asking for vindication in the court of public opinion.  David's hope in the LORD gives him hope that the LORD will do this.  

Psalm 61

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Who - David writes a song to the LORD.

What - This song of petition asks for the LORD to lead David to a place of blessing.  David writes a song to be sung in public worship.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - David is requesting the LORD to be a refuge in times of distress.  He also asks God to lead David to the rock of safety and comfort.   David desires to know and experience the LORD’S protection and fellowship.  David is also asking for the LORD’S blessing over his kingship or possibly Solomon’s.  

Psalm 54

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Who - David talking to God, with his prayer made into a song for public worship.  

What and Why - David is writing a plea to the LORD.  Saul has pursued him into the wilderness after the Ziphites ratted him out for the second time (I believe this is in I Samuel 26:1-25, though it could be I Samuel 23:15-29.)  He is in great danger and no match for the army Saul has brought with him.  Without the LORD’S divine intervention David will be killed by Saul.  David's desperation leads to his pleading with God for help.  David's faith in the LORD leads to his praise and worship for what God did.  

When - Saul has pursued David in I Samuel 23:15 or 26:1.

Psalm 49

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Who - The sons of Korah sing a song to the people who will listen.

What - This is a choir song of wisdom.  The psalmist is trying to teach his hearers of the dangers of trusting in wealth, power and influence.  He is also warning them not to fear those who use their wealth, power and influence to take advantage of others.  The reason to not trust in or fear those with wealth, power and influence is those things cannot keep them from death and the hand of God's justice.  In the end they are like the beasts that perish.

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - The psalmist wants his hearers to resist the temptation to trust in wealth, power and influence and fear those who have it.  Instead he wants them to see the temporary life of those people and how God brings them all to the same place, the grave.  

Psalm 46

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Who - Sons of Korah write a choir song to God.  

What - This is a song for the people to sing to God.  A song to strengthen their faith in God during a crisis.  The crisis appears to be threats of war/violence from other nations.

When - Unstated, but it appears to be during threat of war.

Where - Unstated

Why - This song is meant to reduce fear and anxiety by strengthening the singers/hearers faith and trust in God’s deliverance.

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 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.