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
Psalms Group

Parallel Psalms 14 and 53: What They Show Us about the Psalter and about Us

The repetition of Psalm 14 in Psalm 53 reminds us of the 1,000 years of time that Israel was writing and collecting their psalms. These Hebrew poems were evoked out of the life of Israel and used in their public and private worship.  In them, YHWH’s chosen people are sharing His way of life with one another and, ultimately, with all the people of the world.