A selection of non-Davidic Psalms

A SAMPLING OF NON-DAVIDIC PSALMS
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

Psalm 45

For the director of music. To [the tune of] "Lilies."

Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song.

I. The psalmist extols the groom (Psalm 45:2-8).

A. He is a noble monarch (Psalm 45:2-5).

1. The king is politically successful (vv. 2-3).
2. The king is militarily powerful (vv. 4-5).

B. He represents a virtuous deity (Psalm 45:6-9).

1. The king is divinely supported (vv. 6-7).

2. The king is humanly regaled (vv. 8-9).

II. The psalmist extols the bride (Psalm 45:10-15).

A. She has forsaken her past (Psalm 45:10-12).

1. The bride is fully committed (v. 10).
2. The bride is physically comely (vv. 11-12).

B. She has embraced her future (Psalm 45:13-15).

1. The bride is majestically adorned (vv. 13-14a).
2. The bride is personally attended (vv. 14b-15).

III. The psalmist extols their offspring (Psalm 45:16-17).

• People anticipate a dynasty (Psalm 45:16-17).

1. There will be a smooth transition (v. 16).
2. There will be a stable succession (v. 17).

Psalm 72

Of Solomon

I. The poet petitions God for excellent leadership (Psalm 72:1-4).

II. The poet petitions God for enduring leadership (Psalm 72:5-7).

III. The poet petitions God for expansive leadership (Psalm 72:8-11).

IV. The poet petitions God for emancipating leadership (Psalm 72:12-14).

V. The poet petitions God for enriching leadership (Psalm 72:15-17).

VI. The poet praises God for ethereal leadership (Psalm 72:18-19).

Psalm 76

For the director of music. With stringed instruments.

A psalm of Asaph. A song.

I. God's place is among His people (Psalm 76:1-2).

II. God's provision is for His people (Psalm 76:3-9).

III. God's protection is over His people (Psalm 76:10-12).

Psalm 88

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music.

According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

I. God is the one who saves His people (Psalm 88:1-10).

A. The Lord seems to have abandoned the writer (vv. 1-7).
B. Close friends seem to have abandoned the writer (vv. 8-10).

II. God is the one who loves His people (Psalm 88:11-18).

Psalm 89

A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I. The LORD extends dominion over all (Psalm 89:1-13).

A. He is sovereign in the eternal realm (vv. 1-4).
B. He is sovereign in the ethereal realm (vv. 5-8).

C. He is sovereign in the earthly realm (vv. 9-13).

II. The LORD expects obedience from all (Psalm 89:14-37).

A. The pious realizes compliance (vv. 14-18).
B. The past recommends compliance (vv. 19-29).
C. The present rejects compliance (vv. 30-37).

III. The LORD expresses concern for all (Psalm 89:38-52).

A. The pious acknowledge His verdict (vv. 38-45).
B. The pious ask for His help (vv. 46-48).
C. The pious appeal to His character (vv. 49-52).

The five psalms in this study are some of those not by David, "Israel's singer of songs" (2 Sam 23:1) and the most prolific author in the psalter (credited with over seventy compositions).¹ There is one psalm by Solomon (credited with two compositions),² one psalm by (the sons of) Korah (who wrote eleven compositions), and one psalm each by three lessor-known characters, "the musicians Heman [who wrote one composition],³ Asaph [who wrote twelve compositions], and Ethan [who wrote one composition]" (1 Chr 15:19). Each of these selections has a superscription with the authorship and some background information (e.g., setting). There are several superscriptions in the psalter with no author (18) or psalms with no superscription (37) and, thus, by an unidentified author. ....

Because of its length (26 pages) the substance of the study can be found as a pdf here.