A Study of Israel’s Hymn Book “ David … the sweet psalmist of Israel” 2 Samuel 23:1

A Study of Israel’s Hymn A Study of Israel’s Hymn BookBook

“ David … the sweet psalmist of Israel”2 Samuel 23:1

Psalm 16Psalm 16

Title: The Lord Is My AllAuthor and Date: David (see Acts 2:25)Key Verse: Psalm 16:2OutlineA. Preservation: the cry for God (verses 1).B. Prioritization: the communion with God (verses 2-4).C. Provision: the commitment to God (verses 5-8).D. Protection: the confidence in God: (verses 9-11).

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Psalm ClassificationsPsalm Classifications1 Chronicles 16:41 Chronicles 16:4

Name Meaning

Maskil (13 psalms) a contemplative poem (meditation, instruction)

Miktam (6 psalms) epigram, inscription poem

Mizmor (57 psalms) a song accompanied by an instrument (lit. to pluck)

Shir (29 psalms) song

Tepillah (5 psalms) a prayer (comp. Hab. 3)

Tehillah (1 psalm) a praise

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Psalm 16: Applications for TodayPsalm 16: Applications for Today

1. The Lord God is our refuge (verse 1). Why is God a good refuge (Heb. 6:18)?

2. We should have no good in life beyond the Lord (verse 2). What did another psalmist say about the Lord in Psalm 73:25?

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3. We should want to be with the Lord’s saints, not with those who worship false gods (verses 3-4). What does Paul write concerning the fellowship of worldliness (2 Cor. 6:14-18)? What does James write concerning worldliness (Jas. 4:4)? What does John write concerning worldliness (1 Jn. 2:15-17)? What is a modern idol that we must avoid (Col. 3:5)?

4. The Lord provides all that we truly need (verses 5-6). What will the Lord do for those who put him first in their life (Mt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19)?

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5. The Lord will give his saints counsel and instruction and we must be open to it (verse 7). What must we do concerning the Lord’s wisdom (Col. 1:9-10; Jas. 1:5)?

6. There is confidence and hope in the prospect of a resurrection (verse 10)? How do Peter (Acts 2:25-28) and Paul (Acts 13:35) apply Psalm 16:10 to Jesus? What does the resurrection of Jesus do for us (1 Pet. 1:3-4)?

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7. God shows his people the “path of life” (verse 11). Where is the path of life to be found today (Prov. 12:28)?

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Psalm 17Psalm 17

Title: Prayer for Protection from Wicked EnemiesAuthor and Date: DavidKey Verse: Psalm 17:8-9OutlineA. Prayer of the righteous: a cry for help based upon the Lord’s justice (verses 1-5).B. Persecution from the wicked: a cry for help based upon the Lord’s loving-kindness (verses 6-12).C. Protection from the wicked: a cry for help based upon the Lord’s vengeance (verses 13-14).D. Promise of the righteous: an expression of trust (verse 15).

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The Psalmist & His EnemiesThe Psalmist & His Enemies

The Psalmist The Enemies

Words: pure lips, guarded tongue (verses 1 and 3)

Words: speak proudly (verse 10)

Walk: kept me from the ways of the violent, held to God’s paths, feet not slipped (verses 4-5)

Walk: rise up against, oppress, compass about, lurking in secret places, set their eyes to cast down (verse 7-12)

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1. The Lord hears “the right” of people who are right. A righteous life gives confidence in prayer. Prayer needs to come from an honest heart and honest lips (verses 1-3). What prayer is effectual (Jas. 5:16)? What prayer does the Lord hear (1 Pet. 3:12)?

2. The world can be a violent and threatening place, but the righteous have the Lord’s providential protection (verses 7-13). What divine protection are Christians promised (Heb. 13:5-6)?

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3. The righteous can and should live an ethically pure and spiritually active life in the midst of violence and threats (verses 3, 5, and 15). How are Christians to live and what are they to do in a “crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15-16; Jas. 1:27; 1 Pet. 2:11-12)?

4. God keeps us as the “apple of the eye” (verse 8). What are we to keep as the “apple of the eye” (Prov. 7:1-4)?

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5. The wicked get the treasures of this life, but the righteous get to see God face to face (verses 14-15). What does Jesus say about seeing God (Mt. 5:8)? What does John say about seeing God (1 Jn. 3:2; Rev.22:4)?

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Psalm 18Psalm 18

Title: God Save the KingAuthor and Date: DavidKey Verse: Psalm 18:50OutlineA. Opening doxology (verses 1-2).B. The need for deliverance (verses 3-6).C. The description of deliverance (verses 7-19).D. The basis of deliverance (verses 20-31).E. The examples of deliverance (verses 32-45).F. Closing doxology (verses 46-50).

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1. We can say “I love you” to the Lord (verse 1) because the Lord shows his “loving-kindness” to us (verse 50). What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:37)?

2. Like the psalmist we can say, The Lord is “my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my shield, my salvation, and my high tower” (verses 1-2 and 46). What is the Lord to the Christian (Heb. 13:6)?

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3. In times of distress, we like the psalmist, can cry and call upon the Lord (verses 3-6). Who does the Lord hear (Psa. 34:15; 1 Pet. 3:12)? Who does the Lord not hear (Prov. 21:13; Ezek. 8:18)?

4. The Lord will always reward people “according to” their works (verses 20-27). What does Paul write about this (Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Tim. 4:14)? What does John write about this (Rev. 2:23; 20:12-13)?

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5. We can rely upon the Lord because his way is “perfect” and his word is “tried” (verse 30). What does Psalm 12:6 and Proverbs 30:5 say about the Lord’s word?

6. We can beat our spiritual enemies in war with the Lord’s help (verses 32, 35, and 39). What promise are Christians given concerning the winning of our spiritual warfare (Eph. 2:10-18)?

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7. We should bless the Lord and praise his name for all he has done for us (verses 46 and 49). What reason do we have to praise the Lord (Rom. 15:8-12)? What do we offer up to God and how do we do it (Heb. 13:15)?

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2 Samuel 22 :1 And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2 and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;

3 God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

5 For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:

6 The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

7 In my distress I called upon Jehovah; Yea, I called unto my God: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came into his ears.

Psalm 18:1 I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2 Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

3 I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5 The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

6 In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.

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2 Samuel 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

13 At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled.

14 Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them.

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Psalm 19Psalm 19

Title: God’s World, Word, and WorkerAuthor and Date: DavidKey Verse: Psalm 19:1, 7, 11OutlineA. God’s world: his revelation of greatness in the sky (verses 1-6).B. God’s word: his revelation of guidance in the scripture (verses 7-9).C. God’s worker: his revelation of grace in soul (verses 10-14).

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The Law of the LorThe Law of the Lordd(Psalm 19:7-9)(Psalm 19:7-9)

Synonyms Meaning

Law (Heb. torah) Teach, instruct, direct

Testimony (Heb. eduth)

Solemn charge, warning

Statutes (Heb. piqqud)

Special appointments

Commandment (Heb. mitzvah)

Code of law, rules

Fear (Heb. yirah) Respect, reverence, piety produced by God’s word

Judgments (Heb. mishpat)

Decision or sentence handed down by God

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The Law of the LordThe Law of the Lord

Term Description

Effect Target

Law Perfect (complete)

Restoring Soul

Testimony Sure (fixed)

Making wise

Simple (open)

Statutes Right (straight)

Rejoicing Heart

Command-ment

Pure (clean, innocent)

Enlightening

Eyes

Fear Clean (moral, ethical)

Enduring

Judgments True (firm) Righteous

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1. There is evidence for a divine Creator and Designer of the universe because the physical world around us declares it (verses 1-2). This evidence is accessible to all mankind (verses 3-6). What does Paul say could be known about God from looking at the physical world (Rom. 1:19-20)?

2. Every effect has a cause. The psalmist is reasoning from effect (the heavens) to cause (God) in verses 1-2. What does the writer of Hebrews say about God (Hebrews 3:4)? What does the writer of Hebrews say about creation (Hebrews 11:1-3)?

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3. The scientist studies the book of nature (verses 1-6) while the psychologist studies the book of human nature (verses 11-14). But, these two specialists often ignore the book of scripture (verses 7-10). The more we know about the Bible and obey it, the better we will understand nature and ourselves. What is important to know ahead of all other things that can be known (Jn. 8:32; 14:17; 1 Tim. 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:21; 4:6; 2 Jn. 1)?

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4. God’s perfect word provides all the necessary truth and guidance to make us complete in God’s sight (verses 7-9). What does Paul say about the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17)?

5. The psalmist highly valued the word of God (verses 10-11). What must our attitude be toward God’s word (Job 23:12; Psa. 119:72, 103, 127; Prov. 3:13-15; 8:10-11, 19; 16:16)?

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6. We need to be like the psalmist and have an attitude of wanting to be cleared and kept back from all sin (verses 12-13). What happens when a Christian sins willfully (Heb. 10:26-31)? What must a Christian do with his sin (Acts 8:22-24; 1 Jn. 1:7-10)?

7. The psalmist wanted to speak and think in such a way as to be acceptable to the Lord (verse 14). What must a Christian desire (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:5)? What must we let Christ control (2 Cor. 10:5)?

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Psalm 20Psalm 20

Title: Praying Before the BattleAuthor and Date: DavidKey Verse: Psalm 20:1, 6, 9OutlineA. The Lord answers in the day of trouble (verses 1-3).B. The Lord answers in the day of triumph (verses 4-6).C. The Lord answers in the day of trust (verses 7-9).

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1. Don’t wait until you get into trouble to pray. Always kneel before you fight. Pray before going into any battle (verses 1, 6, and 9). What is to be added to the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:18)?

2. Pray for the nation’s leader (verses 1-4). What did Paul say about praying for the nation’s leaders and rulers (1 Tim. 2:1-2)?

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3. Success comes after sacrifice. Prayer must be accompanied with the proper offerings and sacrifices (verse 3). What do Christians offer up to God (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5)?

4. There is confidence in prayer (verse 6). What gives the Christian boldness and confidence in prayer (1 Jn. 5:14-15)?

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5. Triumph, salvation, and strength come from the Lord, not from military might (verse 7). What did Jonathan say about the Lord’s salvation (1 Sam. 14:6)? How did David face Goliath (1 Sam. 17:45)? What did Isaiah say concerning Egypt’s might (Isa. 31:1-3)? What did Zechariah say about Zerubbabel finishing the temple (Zechariah 4:6)? What did Paul say about victory (Rom. 8:35-39)?

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6. Days of trouble (verses 1-3) can become days of triumph (verses 4-6) if we trust in the name of the Lord (verses 7-9). Who can and should be trusted each day (Psa. 9:10; 33:16-21)?

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Psalm 16-20: SummaryPsalm 16-20: Summary

Psalm Key Verse(s) Classification

16: The Lord is my all

16:2 Trust / Messianic

17: Protection from enemies

17:8-9 Lament / Trust

18: God save the king

18:50 Thanksgiving / Royal

19: God’s world, word, and worker

19:1, 7, 11 Didactict / instruction

20: Praying before the battle

20:1, 6, 9 Prayer (Petition) / Royal

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A Study of Israel’s Hymn Book “ David … the sweet psalmist of Israel” 2 Samuel 23:1