Psalms 1
1:2 a The law (Hebrew torah) of the Lord is the full revelation of God’s instructions (see study note on Deut 4:44).• Meditating is a process of inner reflection that can be positive (Pss 1:2 b; 63:6 c; 77:12 d; 143:5 e) or negative (see 2:1 f; 38:12 g). The Lord’s word is the object of godly meditation (119:48 h).
• Day and night includes all times, whether one is walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping (see Deut 6:7 i).
Summary for Ps 1:3-5: 1:3-5 j The future belongs to the godly. 1:3 k Well-watered trees endure and bear abundant fruit (cp. Jer 17:8 l).
1:4 m The coming time of judgment (1:5 n) will carry off the wicked and their deeds (35:5 o; 83:13 p; Isa 17:13 q; see study note on Jer 13:24).
1:5 r The wicked cannot abide the scrutiny of the Lord’s judgment; they are already condemned (see 5:5 s; 7:6 t; 101:7 u).
1:6 v The Lord’s care for the righteous and the demise of the wicked both demonstrate the Lord’s principle of retribution (see Gal 6:7-10 w). The brief and futile lives of the wicked will end, whereas the Lord and his saints will triumph (see Pss 9:5 x, 6 y, 18 z; 10:16 aa; 37:20 ab; 73:27 ac; 92:9 ad; cp. 142:4 ae; Isa 57:1 af).
• The godly (see Pss 5:12 ag; 14:5 ah) are joyful (1:1 ai) because the Lord protects and cares for them, hears them when they cry out for justice, and secures their future (see 121:3-4 aj).
• A person’s path is their life and character.
Psalms 2
Summary for Ps 2:1-12: Ps 2 ak This royal psalm pertains to the Lord’s appointment of a king descended from David. It celebrates the mission of all the kings in David’s line, and it introduces the hope of an ideal ruler who will accomplish the Lord’s goal of bringing all nations into submission (2:11 al) or to destruction (2:9 am). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this descendant (see Acts 13:33 an; 1 Cor 15:25-27 ao; Heb 1:5 ap; 5:5 aq; Rev 19:15 ar).Summary for Ps 2:1-3: 2:1-3 as Their futile paths lead to death (1:4 at, 6 au), but fallen human beings unite in opposing the true God and his Messiah. 2:1 av plans: The Hebrew verb rendered “meditate” in 1:2 aw here suggests an attitude of opposing the Lord in speech (Isa 59:13 ax) or in thought (Ps 38:12 ay; Prov 24:2 az).
2:2 ba The kings hate the Lord’s established order in the world, so they desire to be independent of him (see 36:4 bb). They scheme about dominating the Lord’s people (31:13 bc; see 83:1-4 bd). Their goal is to subvert the Lord’s rule in the world by overthrowing his anointed one (or his messiah); the Lord chose the kings of David’s dynasty to establish his kingdom throughout the earth. The New Testament confirms that Jesus, the appointed and anointed Son of God (Acts 4:26 be; 13:33 bf; Heb 1:5 bg; 5:5 bh), fulfills the role in which these earlier kings failed.
2:3 bi break their chains: These kings believe that acknowledging the true God and his chosen ruler will result in their enslavement (Isa 28:22 bj; 52:2 bk; cp. Lam 3:7 bl; Rom 1:1 bm; 1 Cor 7:22 bn; Titus 1:1 bo).
Summary for Ps 2:4-6: 2:4-6 bp The Lord finds the human threat insignificant. He provided a solution long before their rebellion. He will end their agitation through the appointment of a human agent, a descendant of David’s line who will rule the nations. 2:4 bq rules in heaven: The Lord’s place in the universe is so certain that he scoffs at humans who boast that they can rebel against his power and authority (see 37:13 br; 59:8 bs).
2:6 bt my chosen king: The Lord establishes his anointed ruler.
Summary for Ps 2:7-9: 2:7-9 bu The Lord adopted the king of David’s dynasty to conquer rebellious nations by force (see 89:26-27 bv). 2:7 bw Today I have become your Father: People in the ancient Near East commonly accepted a father-son relationship between gods and kings. In Israel, the Lord adopted kings as his sons. God set David apart as his most excellent and exalted son (89:27 bx). All descendants of David were the Lord’s representatives or agents. As an eternal member of the Godhead (John 1:1 by) and a descendant of David (Acts 13:33 bz; Heb 1:5 ca; 5:5 cb), Jesus is the true Son of God.
2:8 cc In an example of the suzerain-vassal relationship between the Lord and Israel’s king (see Deuteronomy Book Introduction, “Literary Form”), the Lord invites the king to ask for favors (see Ps 21:2 cd, 4 ce).
• All nations will be subject to David’s descendant, the Messiah.
2:9 cf The Lord gives his anointed ruler the power to conquer the nations as his inheritance (Isa 11:4 cg; Rev 2:27 ch; 12:5 ci; 19:15 cj), breaking their rebellion, resistance, and independence.
2:10 ck It pleases the Lord when his people submit to him and seek his protection. The wise accept the Lord’s rebuke and desire to repent.
Summary for Ps 2:11-12: 2:11-12 cl rejoice: Rulers must welcome the Son as their true and only King.
• Submit to God’s royal son (or Submit to God’s royal Son, or kiss the son): Kissing was an expression of submission (Hos 13:2 cm).
• The Lord gives joy to all who fear him (Ps 1:1-2 cn) and trust him (18:30 co; 34:22 cp; 119:1-3 cq).
Psalms 3
Summary for Ps 3:1-7:17: Pss 3–7 cr This group of psalms moves readers from the orderly world of Pss 1–2 cs to a disoriented one. The Lord’s anointed cries out while facing enemies, ferocious opposition, evil schemes, and the Lord’s apparent distance.Summary for Ps 3:1-8: Ps 3 ct This psalm laments that the expectations raised by Pss 1–2 cu have not been met. But even when beset by enemies, godly people need not question the Lord’s just dealings. Rather, they can confidently trust his goodness and expect God to rescue them. 3:title cv This sad episode in David’s life (see 2 Sam 15–18 cw) helps readers keep the promises of Ps 2 cx in perspective. The Lord granted victory to his anointed king (Ps 2 cy), but the manner and timing of this victory remained in God’s hands.
Summary for Ps 3:1-2: 3:1-2 cz The psalmist’s many enemies speak brashly (4:6 da; 12:4 db; 40:15 dc) and question the Lord’s ability to rescue (10:11 dd; 22:7-8 de; 71:10 df). Their words haunt him because it seems that the Lord will not answer his prayer.
• These enemies wield great power (cp. 2:1-3 dg); unlike Ps 2 dh, this psalm does not resolve the crisis.
Summary for Ps 3:3-4: 3:3-4 di The psalmist’s eyes turn from his enemies to the Lord. 3:3 dj The psalmist contrasts the contention of his enemies (3:2 dk) with the Lord’s provision. The Lord is a shield for his people; he turns their defeat and shame into victory and glory.
3:5 dl By refocusing on the Lord (3:3-4 dm) in the midst of his crisis, the psalmist can rest, confident of his safety (see study note on 4:8). The Lord cares for his servant; he protects him and keeps his mind and heart from fear (37:17 dn; 54:4 do; 119:116 dp; 145:14 dq).
3:6 dr The psalmist’s peaceful confidence in the Lord’s protection and care shields him from evil and gives him a new sense of reality (23:4 ds; 27:1 dt, 3 du; 46:1 dv; 56:4 dw, 11 dx; 91:5-6 dy; 118:6 dz).
Summary for Ps 3:7-8: 3:7-8 ea The psalmist does not seek revenge; instead, he waits for the Lord’s vengeance.
• Arise: The psalmist calls upon the Lord to take action now.
Psalms 4
Summary for Ps 4:1-8: Ps 4 eb This individual lament includes a prayer for rescue (4:1 ec), a rebuke of the adversary (4:2-3 ed), an exhortation to the godly (4:4-5 ee), and an expression of confidence (4:6-8 ef). 4:1 eg Waiting for the Lord’s answer allows for growth in patience and for the refinement of living faith (38:15 eh).4:2 ei The opponents of the godly place their hope in delusions, treachery, and idolatry.
• my reputation (or my glory): The honor of the psalmist, or possibly of the Lord, is at stake.
4:4 ej Angry feelings are not sinful, but letting anger control you leads to sin (see 37:7-8 ek; cp. Eph 4:26-27 el, 31-32 em).
• Instead of acting on their emotions, the godly think about their circumstances overnight. They might be disturbed as they sleep, but silence opens their hearts to trust in the Lord (Ps 4:5 en).
4:5 eo Offer sacrifices in the right spirit: Redirecting emotions toward the Lord prevents a godly individual from doing too much self-reflection (40:6-8 ep; 51:17 eq).
4:6 er your face (or the light of your face): The psalmist seeks God’s favor and peace (Num 6:25-26 es), which can transform darkness into light (see Ps 27:1 et). Confident trust in the Lord is an antidote to anger, resentment, jealousy, and materialism.
4:8 eu Peace comes from God’s blessing and protection (4:6 ev; see 37:11 ew).
Psalms 5
Summary for Ps 5:1-12: Ps 5 ex This morning prayer (5:3 ey) expresses unwavering confidence in the Lord’s help and protection. The psalmist asks for and awaits God’s response (5:1-3 ez). He describes the schemes of the wicked in detail but does not get lost in his circumstances. The psalmist also knows that the wicked cannot coexist with God (5:4-6 fa, 9 fb; see 1:5 fc). He keeps returning to the Lord (5:7-8 fd, 10 fe; see 5:1-3 ff), and then he prays for the godly community (5:10-12 fg; see 3:8 fh).Summary for Ps 5:1-2: 5:1-2 fi The request hear me appears in several prayers as a call for God’s attention during a time of trouble (39:12 fj; 84:8 fk; 143:1 fl), as does pay attention (17:1 fm; 54:2 fn; 130:2 fo). The needy ask their God, “Are you listening?”
5:3 fp The psalmist begins and ends each day with prayer, awaiting new expressions of God’s fidelity and goodness (143:8 fq).
• wait expectantly: The psalmist does not demand God’s grace but places hope in it (see Mic 7:7 fr; Hab 2:1 fs).
5:5 ft the proud: Mockers (see study note on 1:1), the wicked (73:3 fu; 75:4 fv), and the arrogant (10:2 fw) use their mouths to twist truth and challenge the faith of the godly.
• The Lord allows only the godly into his presence (see 1:5 fx). His holiness and justice do not tolerate oppression or those who do evil.
• you hate: The Lord rejects proud sinners (see also 11:5 fy).
5:7 fz God promises his unfailing love—his covenant goodness and faithfulness—to his people (see 25:6 ga; 69:16 gb; Lam 3:32 gc).
• your house: The godly long to come into God’s presence with reverence and awe (see Heb 12:28 gd).
5:8 ge God guides those who are obedient, submissive, and patient in waiting for him to lead, provide, and protect them (27:11 gf; 43:3 gg; 143:10 gh), not those who expect God simply to endorse their own decisions.
• Following the right path of wisdom leads to the Lord (27:11 gi; 61:2 gj; 139:24 gk).
Summary for Ps 5:9-10: 5:9-10 gl The psalmist again describes the vile acts of the wicked, who cannot stand in God’s presence.
5:10 gm The psalmist prays for the justice and retribution that God promised against the wicked (1:6 gn)—those who have rebelled against the Lord.
• The wicked lay traps to kill (38:12 go) or deceive (140:4-5 gp).
5:11 gq A blessing rests on all who take refuge in God (see 18:30 gr).
• Joy and praise make good companions. The godly rejoice when they see evidence of God’s rescue. They sing joyful praises as a new song (see 33:3 gs). When the Lord restores peace to this world, puts down evil, and rewards the righteous, they will have lasting joy (9:2-4 gt; 53:6 gu; 90:14-15 gv; 118:24 gw).
• The children of God, who find refuge in him, love his name. To love his name is to love his very character.
5:12 gx The psalmist extends his concern beyond himself to all the godly.
• A shield, here an image of God’s protection, deflects spears and arrows from its bearer.
Psalms 6
Summary for Ps 6:1-10: Ps 6 gy The occasion for this lament might have been sickness or a mental or spiritual depression from which the psalmist sought healing.Summary for Ps 6:1-3: 6:1-3 gz The psalmist asks for God’s favor and restoration at a difficult time. 6:1 ha don’t rebuke me ... or discipline me: The psalmist does not explicitly connect God’s discipline with sin here (cp. 39:8-11 hb), but it might be implied.
Summary for Ps 6:2-3: 6:2-3 hc In his longing for God’s response to his prayer, the psalmist grew physically weak (6:6 hd; see 77:3 he; 119:81 hf; 142:1-3 hg; see also Ps 101 hh). Fasting might have played a part in his agony, but this is not mentioned.
Summary for Ps 6:4-5: 6:4-5 hi The experience was so painful that the psalmist might as well have been dead, or perhaps he feared for his life.
6:5 hj from the grave? Hebrew from Sheol? In the Old Testament, Sheol is the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily associated with punishment.
Summary for Ps 6:6-7: 6:6-7 hk The psalmist is exhausted to the depths of his being from the anguish of his spiritual distance from the Lord (22:1 hl; 31:9-10 hm; 102:5 hn).
• When eyes dim, the body is failing (see 13:3 ho; 31:9 hp; 38:10 hq; Matt 6:22 hr).
Summary for Ps 6:8-10: 6:8-10 hs In a closing note of triumph, the psalmist reasserts his confidence in the Lord.
Psalms 7
Summary for Ps 7:1-17: Ps 7 ht This psalm consists of a lament (7:1-2 hu), an oath of innocence (7:3-5 hv), an appeal to God’s justice (7:6-9 hw), an affirmation of God’s just kingship (7:10-16 hx), and a concluding hymn of praise (7:17 hy).7:title hz Cush, an unknown person of the tribe of Benjamin, remained hostile to David.
7:1 ia Persecutors (a common term for “enemies”) intentionally seek out people in order to destroy them (31:15 ib; 56:1-2 ic; 71:11 id; 143:3 ie).
Psalms 8
Summary for Ps 8:1-9: Ps 8 if Psalm 8 ig opens the second segment of Book One (Pss 8–14 ih). The psalmist celebrates God’s creation and the dignity of the ideal human being (see Ps 1 ii). Instead of the world of enemies, wicked people, and distorted justice that is presented in Pss 3–7 ij, this psalm promotes an image of the world as God originally created it. A weary person can envision a place of dignity in God’s world. 8:1 ik The Lord (Hebrew Yahweh), the covenant God of Israel (Exod 3:15 il), also holds the title of Lord (Hebrew ’adonay), the king of the earth.• The word translated majestic (sometimes translated “mighty”) can describe kings (Ps 136:18 im), heroes (16:3 in), mountains (76:4 io), or waves breaking on the seashore (93:4 ip). While all are awe-inspiring and mighty, the created order pales in comparison with the Lord.
• A person’s name embodies their reputation.
• The earth and the heavens reveal the Lord’s splendor. All creation worships and praises the Lord (66:4 iq; 113:3 ir; 145:21 is).
8:2 it silencing: The loud noise of the oppressors contrasts with the praise of God. In the end, the praise of God will overwhelm the sound of evil (31:18 iu; 63:11 iv; 101:5 iw; 143:12 ix).
• Those who oppose God seethe with vindictive anger (2:1-3 iy; 44:16 iz; cp. 149:6-7 ja).
Summary for Ps 8:3-5: 8:3-5 jb In light of God’s awesome glory, it might seem that people would be insignificant to him. However, he has crowned them with glory and honor and placed them over all creation. 8:3 jc The nations around Israel worshiped heavenly objects as deities. The sun, moon, and stars are indeed immense and glorious, but they are merely the work of your fingers, a reason to praise the Almighty.
8:4 jd human beings (literally son of Adam): The Hebrew idiom son of man (or son of Adam) means a human being. Through the influence of Dan 7:13-14 je, it became a title with divine overtones in the New Testament. See Heb 2:6-8 jf, where this passage is quoted.
8:5 jg Yet you made them only a little lower than God: Humans bear God’s image; the Lord has endowed humans with dignity and charged them to rule (Gen 1:26-27 jh). Hebrews 2:6-8 ji applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.
8:6 jj gave them charge of everything: The psalmist is still referring to humans in general. Paul applies these words to Jesus as the perfect man who has made the created order—even death (1 Cor 15:25-27 jk)—subject to God and his glory. The New Testament connects these themes of creation and salvation with Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2 jl, 14 jm; Col 1:16 jn).
Summary for Ps 8:7-8: 8:7-8 jo Wild animals, including birds and fish, remind readers of God’s creation of the animal world in Gen 1 jp. Contrary to beliefs among Israel’s neighbors in the ancient Near East, animals are not sacred.
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