Tag Archives: King David

Psalm 14

Posted on September 6, 2014 by ehurst

In Hebrew thinking, the concept of “fool” is someone devoid of moral perception. Almost every other human talent can be present in abundance, but without using God’s revelation as a reference point, you cannot possibly be acceptable to Him. The … Continue reading →

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Psalm 13

Posted on August 30, 2014 by ehurst

It’s not a question of whether the Psalmist is close to literal death, but that he faces an experience of death on a broader level. David could live without his crown, but was altogether worried that his situation signaled he … Continue reading →

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Psalm 12

Posted on August 23, 2014 by ehurst

Some days it feels like your world has tumbled into the pits of Hell. Hyperbole is a common feature of the dramatic and symbolic Hebrew narrative. David begins with a common cry equivalent to our modern “God help us!” Have … Continue reading →

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Psalm 11

Posted on August 16, 2014 by ehurst

David was born in a noble household, fully educated in Hebrew culture. It is preposterous to suggest he would have been so shallow as to have written these songs from a silly, Westernized literal mindset. We enter a series of … Continue reading →

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Psalm 10

Posted on August 9, 2014 by ehurst

As noted before, this continues the acrostic order of the previous psalm. However, in a sort of parallel, while the previous addressed external enemies, this one mourns over internal enemies. It is unlikely David failed to understand, at least in … Continue reading →

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Psalm 9

Posted on August 2, 2014 by ehurst

This psalm appears to have originally been published as the first half and Psalm 10 as the second half. Together the two form a Hebrew acrostic, each verse beginning with one of the 22 Hebrew letters in alphabetic order. At … Continue reading →

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Psalm 8

Posted on July 26, 2014 by ehurst

Not only do we have several modern songs taken from this, but it stands as a prophetic message. Not prophetic in the popular Western notion of literal meanings hidden in the words as if by magic, this hymn asserts fundamental … Continue reading →

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Psalm 7

Posted on July 19, 2014 by ehurst

People who don’t understand the Hebrew style of logic regard this psalm as wandering from one idea to another. They even imagine it might be several short bits thrown together, as if Hebrew scholars were no wiser than half-grown children. … Continue reading →

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Psalm 6

Posted on July 12, 2014 by ehurst

As always, Hebrew poetry beckons to a place above both emotions and mere intellect. Thus, it is not necessary to see in this penitent song a specific historical reference. It offers a broad and generic call to live in penitence. … Continue reading →

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Psalm 5

Posted on July 5, 2014 by ehurst

This is a morning song. The context is clearly David as King, perhaps in a warm-up to more formal worship. In the quiet of his first rising, David appeals to God as a king beset by a royal court loaded … Continue reading →

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