Psalms Commentary Archives - Page 3 of 6

Psalm 119: A Very Personal Prayer

August 26, 2023Psalms Commentary

We think of Psalm 119 as a psalm about the law, and it is that. What we don’t always recognize is that it is more than just an objective celebration of the beauty and value of the law. It is also a psalm about a very personal love for the law. By far the most…

The Law in Psalm 119

August 18, 2023Psalms Commentary

Everyone who knows anything about the Bible knows that Psalm 119 is a psalm about the law and that it is alphabetic, having twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each, every verse of each of the stanzas beginning with a particular letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Most also know that every verse contains at least one…

Psalm 119:113-120: Hope, Love, and an Undivided Mind

August 12, 2023Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

113. A mind divided I hate, And your law I love. 114. My hiding place and my shield you are. In your word I hope. 115. Turn aside from me, you who do evil, And I will keep the commandments of my God. 116. Uphold me according to your word and I will live, And…

Psalm 119:1-8: Blessed Are the Perfect of Way

August 3, 2023Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

1. Happy are the perfect of way, Those who walk in the law of Yahweh! 2. Happy are those who keep his testimonies! With a whole they will seek him. 3. Also, they do not do iniquity. In his ways they walk. 4. You command men To observe your precepts completely. 5. Oh, that my…

Psalm 119:81-88: Faithfulness in Affliction

July 26, 2023Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

There are two important words in Psalm 119:81–88 that appear more than once. The first is the word “fail,” and the second is the word “persecute.” “Fail” appears three times. For your salvation my soul fails (v.81). My eyes fail for your promulgation (v.82). Almost they made me fail on the earth…

Christ in the Psalms: Psalm 4

April 3, 2023Christology of Psalms, Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

To the Chief Musician, with Stringed Instruments, a Psalm of David 1. When I call answer me, O God of my righteousness. In distress you have enlarged me. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. 2. O sons of men, how long will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love…

Christ in the Psalms: Psalm 3

March 27, 2023Christology of Psalms, Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

A Psalm of David when he fled from the face of Absalom his son 1. Yahweh, how my adversaries increase! Many are those who rise against me! 2. Many are those who say about my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3. And you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, My…

Christ in the Psalms: Psalm 2

March 20, 2023Christology of Psalms, Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

1. Why do nations rage, And peoples meditate vanity? 2. Kings of earth take a stand, And rulers take counsel together Against Yahweh and against his anointed: 3. “Let us break their bonds, And cast off from us their cords.” 4. He who sits in the heavens will laugh. Yahweh will deride them. 5. Then…

Christ in the Psalms: Psalm 1

March 14, 2023Christology of Psalms, Psalm Translations, Psalms Commentary

1. Blest the man who does not walk in the counsel of wicked ones, and in the way of sinners does not stand, and in the seat of scoffers does not sit. 2. But in the law of Yahweh is his delight, And in his law will he meditate day and night. 3. And he…

Psalm 44: Why Have You Cast Us Off?

December 29, 2022Psalms Commentary

There are two things that are immediately obvious about this psalm. The first is that it was written in a time of military defeat and disaster for the people of God. The second is that the people were not, at the time of this defeat, in apostasy from God. It does not belong, for example,…