Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, September 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible Commentaries
Psalms

Scofield's Reference NotesScofield's Notes

Chapter 2
God's Anointed King Reigns Over Nations.
Chapter 4
Evening Prayer for Deliverance and Peace.
Chapter 5
Morning Prayer for Guidance and Protection.
Chapter 6
Prayer for Mercy During Illness and Distress.
Chapter 8
God's Majesty in Creation and Human Dignity.
Chapter 9
Praise for God's Justice and Deliverance of the Oppressed.
Chapter 11
Trust in God's Righteous Judgment.
Chapter 12
Prayer for Deliverance From Lies and Oppression.
Chapter 15
The Character of Those Who Dwell With God.
Chapter 16
A Song of Trust in God's Protection and Guidance.
Chapter 17
Prayer for Protection From Enemies and Vindication.
Chapter 18
David's Song of Thanksgiving for Deliverance.
Chapter 19
God's Glory in Creation and His Perfect Law.
Chapter 20
Prayer for the King's Victory in Battle.
Chapter 21
Thanksgiving for the King's Victories Granted by God.
Chapter 22
A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
Chapter 24
The King of Glory and His Righteous People.
Chapter 25
Prayer for Guidance, Forgiveness, and Deliverance.
Chapter 26
Declaration of Integrity and Trust in God.
Chapter 27
Confidence in God Amid Adversity.
Chapter 30
Thanksgiving for Healing and Deliverance From Death.
Chapter 31
Prayer for Deliverance and Confidence in God.
Chapter 33
Praise for God's Creative Power and Sovereign Rule.
Chapter 34
Praise and Exhortation to Trust in God's Deliverance.
Chapter 35
Prayer for Vindication and Protection From Enemies.
Chapter 36
The Wickedness of Man and the Lovingkindness of God.
Chapter 37
Exhortation to Trust in God and Do Good.
Chapter 39
Reflection on the Brevity of Life and Trust in God.
Chapter 40
Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Continued Help.
Chapter 41
Blessing on the Righteous and Prayer for Mercy in Sickness.
Chapter 42
Longing for God Amid Distress and Separation.
Chapter 44
Communal Lament Over Defeat and Plea for God's Help.
Chapter 45
A Royal Wedding Song Celebrating the King.
Chapter 46
God Is Our Refuge and Strength, Even Amid Trouble.
Chapter 49
Wisdom Psalm: The Folly of Trusting in Wealth.
Chapter 51
David's Prayer of Repentance After His Sin With Bathsheba.
Chapter 52
A Rebuke of the Wicked and Trust in God's Steadfast Love.
Chapter 53
The Fool Says There Is No God; God's Judgment on the Wicked.
Chapter 54
Prayer for Deliverance From Enemies.
Chapter 55
Prayer for God's Help Amid Betrayal and Fear.
Chapter 56
Trust in God Despite Persecution and Suffering.
Chapter 57
Prayer for Mercy and Confidence in God's Protection.
Chapter 60
Lament Over Defeat in Battle and Prayer for Victory.
Chapter 61
Prayer for God's Protection and Guidance.
Chapter 62
Trust in God Alone for Salvation and Security.
Chapter 66
Praise for God's Mighty Works and Deliverance.
Chapter 67
Prayer for God's Blessing and Rule Over All Nations.
Chapter 68
Praise for God's Power and Victories.
Chapter 69
A Cry for Deliverance and Reproach From Enemies.
Chapter 71
Prayer for God's Help Throughout Life's Trials.
Chapter 72
A Royal Psalm for the King's Justice and Righteousness.
Chapter 73
The Prosperity of the Wicked and God's Ultimate Justice.
Chapter 74
Lament Over the Destruction of the Temple and Plea for Help.
Chapter 76
Praise for God's Power and Defense of Jerusalem.
Chapter 77
A Lament and Meditation on God's Faithfulness.
Chapter 78
A Recital of Israel's History and God's Faithfulness.
Chapter 80
Prayer for Restoration of God's People.
Chapter 81
A Call to Listen to God and Avoid Idolatry.
Chapter 84
Longing for God's Presence in the Temple.
Chapter 85
Prayer for Revival and Restoration.
Chapter 86
David's Prayer for Mercy and Help.
Chapter 88
A Desperate Cry for God's Help Amid Suffering.
Chapter 89
God's Covenant With David and Lament Over Its Apparent Failure.
Chapter 90
Moses' Prayer for God's Mercy and Eternal Wisdom.
Chapter 91
Confidence in God's Protection and Care.
Chapter 95
A Call to Worship and Obedience to God.
Chapter 96
A New Song of Praise for God's Glory Among the Nations.
Chapter 102
A Lament for God's Mercy and Restoration of Zion.
Chapter 103
Praise for God's Compassion and Forgiveness.
Chapter 104
Praise for God's Creation and Sustaining Power.
Chapter 106
Confession of Israel's Sins and God's Mercy.
Chapter 107
Thanksgiving for God's Deliverance From Distress.
Chapter 108
A Psalm of Confidence in God's Help and Victory.
Chapter 110
The Lord's Promised Victory and Eternal Priesthood.
Chapter 111
Praise for God's Righteous Deeds and Faithfulness.
Chapter 112
Blessings of the Righteous Who Fear the Lord.
Chapter 115
Glory to God Alone for His Help and Protection.
Chapter 116
Thanksgiving for Deliverance From Death.
Chapter 118
Thanksgiving for God's Steadfast Love and Deliverance.
Chapter 119
A Meditation on God's Law and Its Blessings.
Chapter 120
Prayer for Deliverance From Lies and Deceit.
Chapter 121
Trust in God's Help and Protection.
Chapter 122
Joy in Going to the House of the Lord.
Chapter 123
Prayer for Mercy Amid Scorn and Contempt.
Chapter 124
Thanksgiving for God's Help Against Enemies.
Chapter 125
Trust in God's Protection and Peace for the Righteous.
Chapter 126
Joyful Remembrance of God's Restoration.
Chapter 127
Dependence on God for Life's Blessings.
Chapter 128
Blessings of the God-Fearing Family.
Chapter 129
Confidence in God's Justice Amid Persecution.
Chapter 130
A Cry for God's Mercy and Redemption.
Chapter 131
Humility and Trust in God's Care.
Chapter 132
A Prayer for God to Remember David's Devotion.
Chapter 133
The Blessing of Unity Among God's People.
Chapter 134
A Call to Praise God in His Sanctuary.
Chapter 135
Praise for God's Sovereignty and Deliverance.
Chapter 136
A Recital of God's Steadfast Love and Deeds.
Chapter 137
A Lament for Jerusalem's Destruction in Exile.
Chapter 139
Praise for God's Omniscience and Omnipresence.
Chapter 141
Prayer for God's Help and Guarding of Righteous Speech.
Chapter 145
Praise for God's Greatness, Mercy, and Kingdom.
Chapter 146
Trust in God, not Princes; His Care for the Needy.
Chapter 147
Praise for God's Restoration of Jerusalem and Care for Creation.
Chapter 148
Call for All Creation to Praise the Lord.

- Psalms

by C.I. Scofield

Book Introduction - Psalms


Psalms 1:1

The simplest description of the five books of Psalms is that they were the inspired prayer- and-praise book of Israel. They are revelations of truth, not abstractly, but in the terms of human experience. The truth revealed is wrought into the emotions, desires, and sufferings of the people of God by the circumstances through which they pass. But those circumstances are such as to constitute an anticipation of analogous conditions through which Christ in His incarnation, and the Jewish remnant in the tribulation (Isaiah 10:21; Isaiah 10:21 refs), should pass; so then many Psalms are prophetic of the sufferings, the faith, and the victory of both. Psalms 22:0 and 50 are examples. The former--the holy of holies of the Bible-- reveals all that was in the mind of Christ when He uttered the desolate cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" The latter is an anticipation of what will be in the heart of Israel when she shall turn to Jehovah again (Deuteronomy 30:1; Deuteronomy 30:2). Other Psalms are directly prophetic of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glories which should follow" (Luke 24:25-27; Luke 24:44). Psalms 2:0 is a notable instance, presenting Jehovah's Anointed as rejected and crucified (Psalms 2:1-3; Acts 4:24-28) but afterward set as King in Zion.

The great themes of the Psalms are, Christ, Jehovah, the Law, Creation, the future of Israel, and the exercises of the renewed heart in suffering, in joy, in perplexity. The promises of the Psalms are primarily Jewish, and suited to a people under the law, but are spiritually true in Christian experience also, in the sense that they disclose the mind of God, and the exercises of His heart toward those who are perplexed, afflicted, or cast down.

The imprecatory Psalms are the cry of the oppressed in Israel for justice--a cry appropriate and right in the earthly people of God, and based upon a distinct promise in the Abrahamic Covenant ((See Scofield "Acts 4:24-44.4.28- :") ), but a cry unsuited to the church, a heavenly people who have taken their place with a rejected and crucified Christ. (Luke 9:52-55).

The Psalms are in five books, each ending in a doxology: Psalms 1-41. Psalms 42-72. Psalms 73-89. Psalms 90-106. Psalms 107-150.

 
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