Psalm 91

Read Psalm 91 ESV

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 61

Read Psalm 61 ESV

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 58

Read Psalm 58 ESV

Who - David talks to appointed human rulers, not fulfilling their office, but primarily he speaks to the LORD.

What - A Psalm challenging the unjust rulers and asking God to treat them with great disdain.  

When - Unstated.  The context does fit when Saul is unjustly pursuing David.  

Where - Unstated

The Lord Dealing Bountifully With Us

“I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6 ESV).

It is good for us to take the time on a regular basis to think about how God has dealt bountifully with us and express our thanks to Him. Just as David in Psalm 13 expresses his praise to God for dealing bountifully with him, so also we should remember when God has been good to us, contemplate God’s goodness to us and thank him for His blessings in our lives.

Set aside a few minutes today and do just this. Even if you are busy take just five minutes to think about God’s goodness to you and thank him for it. It is as simple as making a list of the ways God has dealt bountifully with you. If you are having trouble, think about these specific types of God dealing bountifully with you:
How has God dealt bountifully with you in your family?
How in and through your church?
How about the physical surroundings you are in now?

Some may be tempted to disregard this exercise because they are experiencing difficulty or hardship right now and therefore have very little to thank God for. David did not find difficulty and hardship as justifiable reasons for not thanking God for the way he has dealt with him. If you read the previous five verses of Psalm 13 you will see David was in distress over his current circumstances. Either from an actual enemy or from sickness David was being afflicted and pursed by his enemy with the concern and fear that his enemy would defeat him. Yet despite David’s unpleasant circumstances he still determined that meditating on the ways God had dealt bountifully with him was warranted and despite his circumstances he would sing to the Lord.

David’s example does not only serve to exhort us to be thankful when times are bad, it also reminds us that as difficult and painful as our current circumstances may be we can find ways and see how God has been and is being good to us even in our suffering.