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THE BOOK OF PSALMS – Chapters 45 through 67
Psalm 45 – The king’s marriage. The wedding of one of Israel’s kings, but with higher spiritual application to Jesus Christ (cf. v. 6,7 and Hebrews 1:8,9). The royal bridegroom (1-9). The royal bride (10-15). Conclusion (16,17).
Psalm 46 – God our refuge and strength. This psalm has come to be known as Luther’s psalm, as likely the inspiration for his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The protection of God (1-3). The presence of God (4-7). The power of God (8-11).
Psalm 47 – God, king of all the earth. Verses 8 and 9 offer a preview of the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3) – the inclusion of Gentiles as children of Abraham (Galatians 3:13,14,29).
Psalm 48 – Zion, city of our God. Verse two is a puzzle for us: “Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.” But the Mount Zion we usually think of is situated at Jerusalem! “Heathen nations situated the mountain of the gods in the far north…. By thus placing Zion inthe far north, the psalmist subtly claims sole and ruling deity for his God” (McCaw and Motyer).
Psalm 49 – The foolishness of trusting in riches. Solving a riddle (1-4). The limitations of wealth (5-9). Death, the equalizer (10-12). The fate of those who trust in wealth (13-14). Man can’t pay the ransom (7-8) but the psalmist believes that God will pay the ransom for his soul! Somehow “God’s care will go beyond present existence” (Ash)(15). Final exhortation (16-20). We know that the day would come when God would indeed pay the ransom through his Son Jesus Christ!
Psalm 50 – God: Owner and Judge. God is the true judge (1-15). Hypocrisy rebuked (15-21). The conclusion (22,23). So did the prophets teach: sacrifice (worship) is no good without a clean life and a thankful, pure heart.
Psalm 51 – A psalm of penitence. The background of this psalm is found in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12: David’s adultery with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and David exposed and convicted. Now he must struggle with his sin and an assurance of forgiveness. Conviction and confession of sin (1-5). All sin is ultimately against God. Take note of the strong sense of personal responsibility in these verses. But what about verse 5? Does this mean “original sin” – that we have inherited sin and are born enemies of God? So some think. But after David’s strong expression of personal responsibility, doesn’t it seem strange that now he would try to shift the blame to heredity? The rest of the Bible does not teach the inheritance of sin: see Ezekiel chapter 18; John 9:41, sin is related to the ability to understand; 1 John 3:4, sin is lawlessness or the breaking of law; James 4:17, sin is to know to do good and not to do it; Matt. 18:3,4,10, infants are not pictured as depraved, cut off from God. How do we explain verse 5, then? This is POETRY, a language which is often highly figurative and graphic. Note the parallelism in this verse. This is HYPERBOLE, a “figure of speech in which the expression is an exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed.” Compare verse 8b, Psalms 58:3, and 22:6, 14. David is saying, “I live in a sinful world, sin is all around me, and I am too much a part of it.” Compare Isaiah 6:5. This is not an excuse but an admission! David longs for holiness (6-12). True worship (13-19). A vow to testify to God’s deliverance (13-15). What does God want of us (16,17)?
Psalm 52 – Contrast of sinner and saint. The background of this psalm is likely the events of 1 Samuel 22:18,19 – the slaughter of 85 priests and all the inhabitants of the city of Nob.
Psalm 53 – The folly of wickedness. The same as Psalm 14 except for the substitution ofElohim (God) for Yahweh (LORD).
Psalm 54 – A cry for help. Perhaps the context is found in 1 Samuel 23:19ff and 26:1-4.
Psalm 55 – A ballad of betrayal. Perhaps this has to do with the betrayal of Ahithophel at the time of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:12,13). Distress (1-8). The treachery of a friend (9-15). Confidence in God (16-23).
Psalm 56 – Trouble and trust. A petition for help (1-3). The malice of his enemies (5-7). His trust in God (8-11). Gratitude for deliverance (12,13). Compare the thought of v. 11 to Romans 8:31-34.
Psalm 57 – Peril and thanksgiving. Could be referring to 1 Sam.22:1 or 24:1-7. Prayer and a complaint (1-6). Praise and thanksgiving (7-11).
Psalm 58 – Against the wicked. A call for God’s action against those who pervert justice.
Verse 1 – spoken to literally “you gods” – meaning those who sit in God’s place, exercising judgment – thus in some translations “you rulers”(NIV, NEB) or “you judges”(Berk.).
Psalm 59 – Prayer for deliverance. A call for God to act against those who threaten him. Note the very figurative refrain (6, 14).
Psalm 60 – After losing a battle. Israel’s distress (1-5). Claiming God’s promise (6-8). A plea for aid (9-12). Verses 5-12 (this is Book II) are found in Ps 108:6-13 (Book V).
Psalm 61 – The prayer of a troubled heart. “…the rock that is higher than I”(2b) – literally “too high for me,” thus a security he could not attain by his own efforts.
Psalm 62 – God alone is my rock.
Psalm 63 – The soul thirsts for God. On v. 1-8 – “this is OT religion at its best” (Purkiser).
Psalm 64 – Plot and punishment. The form of attack here seems to be “malicious slander.”
Psalm 65 – A song of harvest. God in His house (1-4). God among the nations (5-8). God in the harvest – God’s abundant provision (9-13)
Psalm 66 – A psalm of thanksgiving. Corporate worship (plural) (1-12). Personal worship (singular) (13-20).
Psalm 67 – A missionary psalm. Note: “among all the nations” and “all the peoples.”
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