Book 2
Book 2 contains Psalm 42 through Psalm 72.
Authors
Psalm 42: Sons of Korah
Psalm 43: Anonymous
Psalms 44-49: Sons of Korah
Psalm 50: Asaph
Psalms 51-65: David
Psalms 66-67: Anonymous
Psalms 68-70: David
Psalm 71: Anonymous
Psalm 72: Solomon
Psalm 42-46
David is not the author of any of the psalms in this group. Four of them were written by the Sons of Korah and one is anonymous. Two of them are laments, one is a prayer for healing, one is a love song, and one is a psalm of ascent as the people marched up to Zion.
Psalm 42
READ PSALM 42. While the psalm is attributed to the "Sons of Korah." Who are the sons of Korah?
The Sons of Korah were the sons of Moses' cousin Korah. The story of Korah is found in Numbers 16. Korah led a revolt against Moses; he died, along with all his co-conspirators, when God caused "the earth to open her mouth and swallow him and all those who part of him." (Numbers 16:31-33). The children of Korah did not die.
People might think it was written by David because it is written in the first person singular, and the writing sounds like David's style. Some commentaries give David credit for writing this psalm claiming that David wrote it when he was prevented from returning to the sanctuary in Jerusalem either when he was hiding from Saul or because of Absalom's revolt against his father.
The psalm can be divided into two parts, each ending with the same line (verses 6 and 11). The psalmist bemoans all the troubles he has endured in his exile and prays for salvation. He laments his remoteness from the temple of God and expresses his desire for the renewal of the divine presence.
The psalmist longs to be in God's presence. He feels abandoned by God, but he hopes that God will come to him once again.
The psalmist's longing is compared to a thirsty deer panting for streams of water (verse 1-2). Not only the psalmist feels abandoned by God, but he also feels attacked by his enemies (verses 3; 8-10).
Notice that the psalmist remembers God's goodness in verses 4-8, and he rests in God's goodness he has experienced in the past (verse 11).
Psalm 43
READ PSALM 43. The author is unknown for this psalm. Look in your study Bible and see that it is an orphan, according to the superscription. It is one of the 50 anonymous psalms. We learned that some commentaries attribute Psalm 42 to David and also Psalm 43 because the two psalms seem to be combined.
The psalmist calls upon God to deliver him from his enemies (verses 1-2). He wants two things from God so he can worship God again (verse 3).
----1. God's light
----2. God's truth
Read the last verse in Psalm 43 and be able to answer this question on the quiz: "Who or what is the psalmist speaker to Verse 5?"
Psalm 44
READ PSALM 44. This psalm was written by the Sons of Korah. The psalmist recounts the great deeds God did for His people in the past and asks God why He is allowing His people to be humiliated now.
What had God done for Israel in the past? The psalmist praised God for past victories that came directly from God.
---- God led His people.
---- He drove the Canaanites from the land.
---- He directed the Israelites into the land.
---- God used to smile on His people and favor them.
What was Israel's present grief?
----Israel suffered physically.
----Israel was defeated and plundered by their enemies.
----They were slaughtered like sheep.
----They were scattered by the nations.
----They felt like they were of no value to God.
----The people also suffered psychologically.
----They felt rejected by God
----They felt like God no longer led them to battle.
----They were mocked by their neighbors.
Why did the people feel perplexed? They felt that they were innocent (verses 17-22).
What was the psalmist petition? The psalmist calls upon God to redeem His people.
Psalm 45
READ PSALM 45. This psalm was written by the Sons of Korah to praise a king on his wedding day. The wedding psalm was written to a king on the day of his marriage to a foreign woman. It is one of the royal psalms.
Be able to answer the following questions about the king.
1. How is the king described?
2. Why did God give the king a crowd?
3. Describe the king's clothes.
4. Describe the king's palace.
Be able to answer the following questions about the king's bride.
1. Did the bride come from near or far away?
2. Describe the bride's jewelry and clothes.
What two things did the psalmist instruct the bride to accept in verses 10 and 11?
What will the bride get from this marriage, according to verses 16 and 17?
Psalm 46
READ PSALM 46. This psalm was written by the Sons of Korah. The psalmist rests assured that God's people are safe and secure under God's mighty protection.
Be able to answer the following questions.
1. How many times is the word "selah" used in this short psalm?
2. What three metaphors does the psalmist use to describe God (verses 1-3)?
3. Recognize God's creation in the first four verses.
4. What Old Testament patriarch is mentioned in this psalm?
5. What is the good news in Verse 9.
6. Verse 10 is a familiar verse in this psalm. Read and meditate on it.
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