Book 1: Psalm 1-41 God’s presence beside us
Title: A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.
I. The righteous praise God for His goodness. (1-8)
A. Continual praise (1-2)
1. Continual praise is ongoing.
2. Continual praise is exalting.
B. Communal praise (3)
1. To magnify means to make large.
2. To exalt means to raise up.
C. Confident praise (4-8)
1. I sought the LORD and He saved me.
2. We sought the LORD and He favored us.
3. The LORD hears the prayers of His saints.
4. The LORD is good.II. The righteous seek God for His wisdom. (9-22)
A. Introduction to wisdom (9-10)
1. Fear the LORD and He will satisfy.
2. Seek the LORD and He will provide.
B. Invitation to wisdom (11-12)
1. Come, and learn to fear God.
2. Come, and desire life.
C. Instruction in wisdom (13-18)
1. Guard your tongue and depart from evil.
2. God rejects pride and saves the humble.
D. Invulnerability of wisdom (19-22)
1. The righteous will be delivered.
2. The wicked will be desolate.The title of this psalm explains the events in David’s life that led him to write this psalm. In many ways, this simple title is much like a hymn story. The events described here are found in 1 Samuel 21:10-15.
In a time of great despair and frustration, David turned to the Philistines for protection from King Saul. When he realized his error, he acted as if he were insane. God protected David and his men,and they were dismissed and saved from certain enslavement and death. David uses this psalm to give God the glory and praise for protecting him. “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”