Chapter: Book 2

Book 2, Psalms 42-72

Categories

Psalm 58 Profile

Toni’s Title

Surely the Righteous Still Are Rewarded

ESV Title

God Who Judges the Earth

Literary Type

This is a community lament.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Acts 17:26-31; Ro. 1:18-32

Superscription

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David.

Categories

Psalm 57 Profile

Toni’s Title

The Exaltation of Yahweh in the Midst of Alienation

ESV Title

Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth

Literary Type

This is an individual lament.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Matt. 7:7-14

Superscription

o the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

Categories

Psalm 56 Profile

Toni’s Title

Walking in Darkness With God’s Light

ESV Title

In God I Trust

Literary Type

This is an individual lament.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

John 16:33

Superscription

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

Categories

Psalm 55 Profile

Toni’s Title

God Sustains the Righteous!

ESV Title

Cast Your Burden on the LORD

Literary Type

This is an individual lament.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7

Superscription

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

Categories

Psalm 54 Profile

Toni’s Title

Surely God Is My Help!

ESV Title

The Lord Upholds My Life

Literary Type

This is an individual lament.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Eph. 6:10-20

Superscription

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Categories

Psalm 53 Profile

Toni’s Title

God Deals with Foolish Evildoers

ESV Title

There is None Who Does Good

Literary Type

This is an individual lament, and is the same as Palm 14.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Matt. 5:11-16

Superscription

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

Categories

Psalm 52 Profile

Toni’s Title

An Uprooted and a Sprawling Tree

ESV Title

The Steadfast Love of God Endures

Literary Type

This is an individual lament, a mix of types.

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

Phil. 2:12-16

Superscription

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

Categories

Psalm 51 Profile

Toni’s Title

Forgiveness and the Community

ESV Title

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

Literary Type

This is an individual lament, a penitential psalm

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

NT Prayer Guide

1 John 1:8-9

Superscription

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Categories

Psalm 50 Profile

Toni’s Title

A Heart of Gratitude

ESV Title

God Himself is Judge

Literary Type

This is covenant renewal liturgy.

Covenant Renewal Liturgy

In their early history, before the time of David, the Israelites probably had a special time in the autumn of each year to renew their conditional covenant with God, the Mosaic covenant. “If you will obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…” (Exodus 19:5) The saving deeds of God in Israel’s history were proclaimed and the people were asked to reaffirm their allegiance to God.

Examples: Psalms 50 and 81

NT Prayer Guide

Ro. 14:14-20; 1 Cor. 4:20

Superscription

A Psalm of Asaph.

Categories

Psalm 49 Profile

Toni’s Title

The Folly of Riches Without Wisdom

ESV Title

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

Literary Type

This is a wisdom psalm.

Wisdom Psalms

Some Psalms reflect the wisdom movement in Israel which taught that the foundation of wisdom is faith in God and reverence for him. Wisdom psalms are meditations on the good life, the blessings of living the wise way of life of dependence on God as opposed to the way destruction which the foolish live who rely on themselves to work out their own destiny.

Examples: Psalms 37, 49, 73

NT Prayer Guide

1 Tim. 6:6-16

Superscription

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.