Psalm 58

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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

Psalm 14

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You may notice this psalm meditation seems out of sequence.  Because of the similarities between Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 I decided to publish them close to each other for the benefit of those who wish to compare them.

Who - David is the author.  Who he is speaking to is unclear.

What - David is lamenting the deeds of the evil-doers.  He is describing their heart attitude, which is no fear or concern for the LORD.  The content and message of this psalm is very similar to Psalm 53.   Read Psalm 53 Meditation here.

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

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 53

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Who - David writes a poem for the people to hear.

What and Why - David does not appear to be speaking to God in this psalm but to the people of Israel, and the righteous worshipers of the LORD specifically.  (Though he does make a request of God at the end.)  He seems to want to instruct his people that the evil people around them are not to be feared. Yahweh will take action against those who reject God and pursue evil.  This psalm is very similar in content and message as Psalm 14.  

When - No specific time is given, but it appears to be when a foreign nation that rejects God has come against Israel.

Where - Unknown

Psalm 51

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Who - David is talking to the LORD. Then he made it into a song for Israel to sing to the LORD.  

When - After Nathan confronts David about his adultery, abuse of power, murder and cover up (2 Sam 12:1-14) 

Where - David's palace, perhaps in his throne room

What and Why - David has been confronted by Nathan for his sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah.  David expresses in this psalm his guiltiness, remorse and repentance.  He acknowledges his wrongs and asks God to forgive him.  Yet David asks for more than forgiveness, David asks for restoration, restoration in his relationship with God and his role as instructor in the LORD’S ways.  

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 48

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Who - The sons of Korah write a song to be sung to the people.

What - A song about how God has blessed Jerusalem and the Temple Mount with His presence and revealed Himself there.  A song that praises God for his supernatural deliverance.  

When - Unknown, but after an invasion by a foreign army.

Where - Unknown, most likely Jerusalem.

Why - To acknowledge God's special favor on Jerusalem, thank God for his deliverance from enemies, praise God and ask for his continued blessing.  

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 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