Psalm 16-20
All of these psalms are laments authored by David.
Psalm 16
READ PSALM 16. David rejoices in the Lord and recounts the blessings of following Him. This psalm also prophesies the relationship between the Messiah and God the Father.
----1. David finds confidence and security in the Lord (16:1-2 and 5-7).
----2. David looks up to his companions who are the godly of the land (16:3).
----3. David makes a commitment to never offer sacrifices to idols (16:4).
David predicts the future work of Christ.
---1. Jesus' reliance upon His Father (16:8)
---2. Jesus' resurrection by His Father (16:9-10).
---3. Jesus' reign with His Father (16:11)
Psalm 17
READ PSALM 17. David speaks about his sincere attempt to live a godly life. He asks God to hear his prayer and protect him from his enemies. This psalm can be divided into five sections. In each section, David asks the Lord for something.
----1. David asks God to hear his righteous plea (17:1-2 and 17:6).
----2. The psalmist asks God to vindicate him because he has not disobeyed God (17:3-5)
----3. David longs for God so he asks for His unfailing love (17:7).
----4. David wants to be hidden in the shadow of God's wings away from his enemies (17:8-12).
----5. David asks God to rescue him by overthrowing his enemies (17:13-14).
----6. The psalmist longs to see God face-to-face (17:15).
Psalm 18
READ PSALM 18. In this psalm for public worship, the psalmist praises God for deliverance from all his enemies, including King Saul. He regards his deliverance as God's reward for living righteously.
In the first three verses, David expresses his deep love for God. Then in Verses 4-6, David is threatened with death. He cries out to the Lord for help.
David's deliverance is outlined in Verses 7-49. The Lord helps David in Verses 16-49. In the last verse of the psalm, God shows His unfailing love to not only David but also to David's descendants (18:50).
Psalm 19
READ PSALM 19. David shows that the Creator of the universe is also the Giver of the law and is worthy of praise, worship, and obedience.
In 19:1-6, the heavens, including the sun, tell of God's glory. That is a natural revelation. In 19:7-14, David describes God's word as perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, and true. God's word revives the soul, makes the simple wise, brings joy to the heart, and gives insight to life.
The last verses (19:10-14) tell of David's desire for God's word. He says it is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. David knows that God's word can keep him from sin.
Psalm 20
READ PSALM 20. David expresses the hope that God will lead the king and answer his requests. The requests are in 20:1-5 and 9. Make sure you read them in your Bible.
The psalmist's reassurance and confidence in the Lord are expressed at the end of the psalm (20:6-8).
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