Psalm 51

Psalm 51 David wrote Psalm 51 after a moment of weakness lead to an affair with a married woman, he then had her husband killed so he could keep her for himself. Many have called David a man after God’s own heart, but this story of his failure proves his humanness and makes his story more relatable. The story in 2 Samuel 11-12 explains David’s mistakes, God’s unhappiness with him and the consequences that David suffered for his misdeeds. The story ends with what should be tragedy in the death of David’s son, but David instead goes to God in worship. “Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped” (2 Samuel 12:20, New International Version). I imagine Psalm 51 was David’s prayer when he went to the Lord. I wonder where we would be if in our times of tragedy, we went to the Lord in praise instead of complaint? Kidner describes the revelations behind Psalm 51, “It comes from David’s blackest moment of self-knowledge, yet it explores not only the depths of his guilt but some of the farthest reaches of salvation” (Kidner, 2008, p 206). David cries out, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). David recognized his…

How did David express his sorrow after sleeping with another man's wife? David is the man after the heart of God. He became king, and God even made a covenant with him. Even though all these things happened he fell into sin, so how did he repent? Psalm 51 is written when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had slept with Bathsheba. This is a passage was to ask for the forgiveness, and mercy of God for what he has done to God, Bathsheba and Uriah the hittite. Uriah the hittite was one of the…

Introduction This purpose of book is to increase readers’ understanding of Psalm and deepen readers’ love for the Lord. Dr. Longman seeks to equip today’s Christian to better read the Psalms based upon the historical context and literary genre. This book includes detail suggestions for interpreting the Psalms and exercises for further study and reflection. The Psalms were composed thousands of years ago, therefore they are distant to modern readers historically and theologically. The…

within the church for the book of Psalms. And Tremper Longman III accurately identifies in his Preface that the Psalms are both “familiar” and “foreign” to many people in the church. People in and outside of the church are constantly exposed to the Psalms. It is a common book for devotionals and laments. However, even with people’s daily exposure with the book it has not made the text much clearer in regards to the poetic idioms, expressions, and structures that people have struggled to…

Rigid Structure To The Laments of Psalms? "Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?" (Psalms 44:23-24 ESV). If many of us have been taught by our parents to put on a happy face, to let a smile be our umbrella, or to keep our complaints to ourselves, then the Old Testament offers a corrective to these teachings in the Psalms of lament. Matthew Schlimm believes that we sometimes…

The Fear of the Lord Shedrack Wike BIB314 Book of Proverbs September 15, 2015 The Fear of the Lord According to Proverbs 1:7 it says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Webster defines wisdom as accumulated philosophic or scientific learning; as in knowledge, judgment, and insight. In Proverbs the wisdom that is discussed there is the wisdom that only comes from God. There are different kinds of fear, and as…

The Psalms of Solomon are a series of 18 pseudonymous Jewish poems written in Greek and Syriac (It is assumed they were translated from Hebrew). These psalms explore various topics ranging from military attacks to halakik disputes. It is assumed that these psalms were written in the first century BCE. Psalm 1 introduces the theme of warfare, and transcends from a ‘women’s’ (Jerusalem) prayer for deliverance from foreign invaders, to God’s justification in attacking the inhabitants of Jerusalem…

Introduction The book of Psalms was a compilation of poems that were sung in worship sessions. Singing Psalms was one way that helped the reader to understand the message being spoken. The scriptures are the witnesses of people of the Old Testament. Among others, David was one of the authors of the Psalms. This book is identified as the wisdom book. We will all need wisdom at some point in our life’s journey and Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes can assist us with knowledge and understanding…

God declares all the glory and wants us to praise Him. We sing songs to worship His name. Psalms contains the hymns of the Bible. Christians are commanded by God to sing praises unto Him. This book has broadened my worldview and has given me clearer understanding of music philosophy in the Bible and Psalms. I chose an interesting debate on Chapter 3, “Applause: For Whom Are You Clapping?” Is clapping appropriate during the service? Personally, I would call myself a traditionalist, but I’m not…

Wisdom Psalms tend to share a common theme: 1. Blessing of righteous (may include the righteous observance of the LAW and its practical application) 2. Condemnation of the unrighteous (may include the wrong doing, hatred of God and His LAW) 3. Promoted positive reflections on the LAW and obedience Wisdom themes are not solely limited to the Psalms and the three other books. It is found throughout scripture in man practical ways, interwoven in the historical accounts and New Testament…