Psalm 101
READ PSALM 101. This is one of David's two psalms in Book 4. The other one is Psalm 103. Psalm 101 provides warnings for the wicked while explaining the benefits the righteous will reap.
In Psalm 101, David determines to praise God, to be blameless in his own walk, and to rule in a godly way and drive out evil.
Notice how David witnesses about God in the first verse of this psalm.
Notice how David's walk with God is described in Verses 2-7.
Notice what David's vow is in Verse 8.
Psalm 102
READ PSALM 102. This anonymous psalm is one of the seven penitential psalms. Verses 25-27 are quoted in Hebrews 1:10-12 as an argument that Jesus is superior to the angels and making Psalm 102 in some sense both prayer to and praise concerning Jesus. The psalmist contemplates the Messiah's coming when the present heaven and earth will be destroyed and all things will be new.
Notice the psalmist's please in Verses 1, 2, and 24.
Notice how he mentions his body parts in Verses 3-5.
What bird is mentioned in Verses 6 and 7?
Even though the psalmist's heart is failing, he still has a testimony. Read about it in Verses 12-22 and 25-28.
Psalm 103
READ PSALM 103. This is the last of King David's psalm in Book 4. However, he has 15 psalms in Book 5. This psalm was written in David's later life, as seen by the psalmist's focus on the frailty of life. He praised the Lord himself and exhorts all of God's creation to do the same. David also recalls his blessings.
Psalm 103 is divided into three sections:
Verses 1–5: The psalmist's personal experience of God's compassion
Verses 6–19: The attributes of God as seen in his interactions with His people
Verses 20–22: The psalmist's call to all creatures to join him in blessing God.
The psalmist speaks to his soul because his mind isn't capable of comprehending something that deep. Then David itemizes God's benefits. READ the commentary on Psalm 103 by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Notice David says a lot about who God is in Verses 1-13 and 17-19. Also, notice God's benefits.
David concludes this psalm by itemizing who we are in Verses 14-16.
Notice the last verse in this psalm is the same as the first verse. This is called an "inclusio" because information is included between the first and last verses, which are the same.
Psalm 104
READ PSALM 104. Like Psalm 103, this psalm begins with the opening words, "Bless the LORD, O my soul." It is also an inclusion. Unlike Psalm 103, it is anonymous. This is one of the longer psalms with 35 verses.
Verse 2 describes the glory of God.
Verse 5 asserts that God has laid the foundations of the earth.
Verses 6-13 concern the ordering of the waters
Verses 14–18 speak about vegetation and animal life
Verses 19–24 mention the sun and the moon, and the cycle of day and night.
Verse 24 summarizes: "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."
Verse 26 mentions the Leviathan (sea monster).
Verses 27–30 emphasize how all creatures still depend on the ongoing attention and provision of the creator, and perish should he avert his attention.
Verse 30 reads "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth."
Verses 31–35 reiterate the power and glory of God.
The last verse ends the psalm as it began with "Bless the Lord."
Psalm 105
READ PSALM 105. Like Psalms 104 and 106, this psalm is also anonymous. The psalmist encourages the people to hope for deliverance similar to the times of Moses and Joshua.
Psalm 106
READ PSALM 106. This is a long psalm with 48 verses. In this anonymous psalm, the psalmist first talks about the present. Then he focuses on the past, and he encourages the people to do the same.
Notice the many things the psalmist asks the people to remember from the past in Verses 6 through 46.
THIS IS THE LAST PSALM IN BOOK 4.
Get ready for Book 5. That is the longest book of all with 44 psalms. There are 28 anonymous psalms and 16 psalms with known authors.
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