Carefully Examining the Text

This psalm opens by addressing the wicked
58:1-2 An address to the unjust judges

58:3-5 A description of them and the evil they do

58:6-9 A plea to God to judge these wicked people

58:10-11 The rejoicing and celebration at the fall of the wicked

The translation of the Psalm is difficult. Compare several translations at vs. 1 and vs. 9 to illustrate some of the difficulties in the psalm.

Is it legitimate to pray such prayers today?

How does Jesus fulfill the Psalm?

Possible connections between Psalm 57 and the background of I Samuel 24
1. The word for "wings" in Psalm 57:1 is the same word "edge" for Saul's garment in I Sam. 24:4, 5, 11, 11
2. The "sons of men" use their tongues against David in Ps. 57:4 and David asks Saul why he is listening to man (same word) who tell him David is trying to kill him.
3. They prepare a net for David's soul or life in Ps. 57:6 and Saul seeks David's life in I Sam. 24:11.
4. While Ps. 57:6 expresses the idea of Lex talionis, in I Sam. 24 Saul who is pursuing David is helpless in David's hands. 

Psalm 57 and Jesus
57:1 Compare Matt. 23:37 and Luke 13:34. 
57:5, 11 The word "exalted" translated in the Septuagint is the same word for Christ being "lifted up" on the cross- John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32
57:5, 11 God's glory is displayed in the cross- John 12:23, 28; 13:31-32; 17:1, 5
57:3, 10 God's lovingkindness and truth are pre-eminently displayed in the cross
57:9 God is praised among all nations and peoples- Romans 15:9

Title of the Psalm- Compare different translation here.
56:1-2 David begs for mercy because of wicked foes
56:3-4 David places His trust in God
56:5-6 The viciousness of HIs foes
56:7-9 Prayer for judgment on foes and God's care for him
56:10-11 David's trust in God
56:12-13 Thanksgiving for God's deliverance


Jesus experienced the same mistreatment that David wrote of in this psalm
56:1-2, 5-6 Compare what Jesus experienced with David
Jesus puts His trust in God in the midst of terrifying circumstances
56:3-4, 10-11 Compare Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36
Jesus offered loud crying and tears
56:8 with Hebrews 5:7
God vindicated Jesus via the resurrection 56:13
One day God will eliminate all tears for HIs children- Revelation 7:15-17; 21:3-4

OT events seemingly alluded to in this psalm.
55:9 seems to allude to the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9.
55:9-11 The picture of the wickedness of the city is quite a contrast with Psalms. 46 and 48.
55:15 "Let them go down alive into Sheol" Numbers 16:30-33

NT and Psalm 55
55:22 Casting our care upon God is encouraged in I Peter 5:7.
55:23 God hurling the wicked to destruction is in Revelation 19:20-21 among other places.  

Jesus fulfills Psalm 55
55:2, 4 The word used in the main ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament translated "anguish" in vs. 4 is a word that is used to describe the feelings of Jesus in John 12:27; 13:21.
55:6-7 Jesus wishes He could flee from HIs burden- Luke 12:49-50.
55:12-14, 20-21 Jesus was betrayed by one who was close to Him- Psalm 41:9; John 13:18

This brief psalm calls on the LORD to save David from distress.

The historical situation is described in I Samuel 23:19-29; 26:1-25. The men of Ziph are from Judah which is David's own tribe. They twice betray David to Saul. Where else can David look for help except to God?

54:1-2 Pleas for God to save Him from distress

54:3 A description of violent men who seek HIs life

54:4-5 He looks to God as His helper and His strength

54:6-7 He offers thanksgiving to God for victory. 

This psalm is a twin to Psalm 14 but it is not an identical twin. 

The Psalms go separate ways in Psalm 14:5-6 and Psalm 53:5. I will argue that there is a slightly different emphasis in these psalms and that both fit into different contexts. 

One example that I do not point out on the podcast is that both Psalms use a Hebrew word that means shame.  The word is used in Psalm 14:6 to describe how the wicked seek to shame the afflicted but the LORD will be the refuge of the afflicted. Psalm 14 stresses the deliverance of the righteous. Psalm 53:5 uses the same term about how God will put to shame those who rejected Him. God judges the wicked in Psalm 53. 

This psalm shows a stark contrast between the wicked- 52:1-4- and the righteous- 52:6-9.

In vs. 5 four verbs are used to emphasize that God will bring the wicked down.  The wicked are broken down, snatched up, torn away, and uprooted.

52:1-5 speaks in second person and addresses the ungodly man.
52:6-7 speak in third person describing the ungodly.
52:8-9 David speaks in first person and describes his trust in God's lovingkindness.

The psalm contrasts the ground of the wicked's trust (vs. 7) with the ground of the trust of the righteous (vs. 8).
The psalm uses an agricultural image to describe the judgment on the wicked (vs. 5) with an agricultural image to describe blessings upon the righteous (vs. 8).

51:1-2 Plea for mercy

51:3-6 David confronts how horrible his sins are

51:7-9 He pleas for complete forgiveness

51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart

51:13-17 God wants a whole hearted repentance

51:18-19 He asks God build Zion

The things David requests: God's mercy, blotting out of sins, washing, cleansing, created anew all find their greatest fulfillment in Jesus

This is David's great confession after his sin with Bathsheba

The historical event is recorded in II Sam. 11-12. We read more of David's grief over his sin in this psalm. 

It will take us more than one podcast to cover it. 

This focuses on teaching man about God rather than praising God.
Asaph- I Chron. 6:39; 15:17 -19; 16:5; 25:1; II Chron. 29:30

50:1-6 The LORD God summons HIs covenant people to court

50:7-15 What is the true meaning of sacrifice?
Sacrifice does not provide God with something that He needs. God owns and possesses all and would not ask our permission if He needed anything.
Sacrifice itself is not rejected. Notice the mentions of sacrifice in 50:5, 8, 14-15, 23.
We are dependent upon God, and He is not dependent upon us.

50:16-23 Warning to the violators of the covenant
50:18 They rejoice in thieves and adulterers- Rom. 1:32
50:21 God kept silent, and they interpreted this as the fact that He was indifferent to immorality- Rom. 2:1-4

What does Psalm 50 teach us about God?
50:1, 4, 10-12 God is sovereign over everything
50:4, 6 He is judge of all
50:9-12 We are dependent upon God and He is not dependent upon us- Acts 17:24-28
50:18-21 God is not indifferent to immorality
50:15 He will rescue those who call to Him and in 50:22 tear in pieces those who forget Him.

How does Psalm 50 teach us about Jesus?
50:9-12 Man could not offer a sacrifice great enough to make atonement, and God offers the offering to bring  us into a right relationship with Him.
50:18 Men prefer thieves and adulterers. They even asked for a robber to be given to them instead of Jesus- John 18:40- but God provides the sacrifice to make us right with Him.