Psalm 44: Why Have You Cast Us Off?

December 29, 2022Posted inPsalms 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,…

Psalms of the Incarnation

December 23, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
The Psalms are songs about Christ as the God of our salvation in all their praise of Yahweh, the Most High and the Holy One of Israel. They are also about our Lord's life, suffering, resurrection and glorification in all their descriptions of our sufferings and the glory of our salvation. They talk about his…

Psalm 71: A Psalm for Old Age

December 15, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
David was an old man when he wrote this psalm. Do not cast me off in the time of old age (v.9). Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me (v.18). In it he faces the problems that go with old age: failing strength, unfinished business and unrelenting enemies.…

Psalm 119:97-104: Having, Meditating, Keeping

December 9, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
1. How I love your law! All the day it is my meditation. 2. Your commandment will make me wiser than my enemies, For it is mine forever. 3. I have more insight than my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation. 4. I will understand more than the elders, For your precepts I keep.…

Psalm 24: The King of Glory

December 3, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
The psalm has three distinct parts. Verses 1 and 2 are about the Lord’s universal rule. Verses 3-6 are about the necessity of holiness in those who ascend the hill of the Lord. Verses 7-10 are about the entry of the Lord into his dwelling place, or, to put it differently, about the ascension of…

Psalm 15: Who May Dwell in the Lord’s House?

November 17, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
This psalm asks a straightforward question - who may abide in the Lord's house? - and gives an equally straightforward answer - only one who is perfectly righteous. It is a detailed exposition of the truth expressed in Hebrews 12:14, Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.…

Psalm 32:1-5: A Series of Threes

November 10, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
We have here a series of threes. In verses 1-2 are three terms for justification: transgression is forgiven, sin is covered, and the Lord does not impute iniquity. In verses 3-4 David gives us three descriptions of his spiritual condition: "my bones grew old through my groaning," "your hand was heavy on me," and "my…

Psalm 30: Centered on Verse 7

November 3, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
Psalm 30 is a difficult psalm for especially two reasons. The first reason is that the heading is rather mysterious: A Song at the dedication of the house of David. The second reason is that there is a dramatic change in tone in verse 7. That verse begins with a very positive statement: LORD, by…

Psalm 22:22-31: Praise of the Anointed in His Deliverance

October 27, 2022Posted inPsalms Commentary
In the first part of this psalm, we see the sufferer forsaken and in anguish. In the second part we see him delivered and rejoicing. The contrast between the two sections is very great, and the transition from one to the other extremely abrupt. The change takes place in the last sentence of verse 21,…