Good morning! Welcome to Book V of the Psalms. Today, we will explore Psalms 107-112.
Scholars believe that the people of Judah wrote these psalms upon leaving Babylonian exile. However, Psalms 108-110 explicitly attribute authorship to David, often prompting scholarly debate, since David lived centuries before the exile.
Davidic Legacy and Historical Context
King David reigned over Judah from Hebron for approximately seven and a half years, and then over the united kingdom of Israel from Jerusalem for about thirty-three years. His approximate lifespan was c. 1040-970 BCE.
Three major deportations, not a single event, constituted the Babylonian exile. The first was in 597 BCE, which was three hundred seventy-three years after David had died. Eleven years later, in 586 BCE, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, marking the most devastating deportation. Zedekiah was king of Judah at that time. The final, smaller deportation happened in 582 BCE.
The return from exile began after Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE, leading to his edict in 538 BCE that allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland.
The Meaning of “Of David”
Given this timeline, we must ask: why do Psalms 108-110 say they are “of David”? The answer lies in the complex nature of the psalm superscriptions. Saying a Psalm is “of David” may mean David genuinely wrote it, composed it in his style, or it’s about him. It could also mean it comes from a collection associated with him.
Scholars consider Psalm 108 a composite psalm, incorporating verses from Psalms 57:7-11 and 60:5-12, which are attributed to David. Later editors compiled this psalm when they assembled the Book of Psalms after the exile, beginning around 538 BCE.
Therefore, those who compiled the Psalms drew them from David’s writings and legacy when constructing a group of worship songs for the returning exiles. These people had largely adopted Babylonian ways, and now they were called to remember who their God is and to worship Him in a distinctly “Davidic” manner, embracing their true heritage.
Sometimes, this meant including Psalms that were authentically written by David, such as Psalms 109 and 110. David’s authorship of Psalm 110’s extensive Messianic message is strongly asserted. He was a prophet who foresaw his lineage culminating in Jesus, who was the first from the line of David to be directly called “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2, et al.).
Jesus: David’s Lord and Our Salvation
Jesus himself references Psalm 110:1 when conversing with the Pharisees, highlighting its profound meaning:
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it, then, that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’
If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (Matthew 22:41-45, NIV).
Jesus was pointing out what we, who have the full revelation of the New Testament, now understand: He was indeed from the lineage of David, but even David recognized the Messiah was his Lord and would rule eternally.
Jesus was David’s Lord. Is He yours? Have you trusted Him by faith?
Psalm 107 describes various people crying out to the Lord in their distress and finding salvation.
“those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands,” (Psalm 107:2-4, NIV).
Many others, including myself—a sinner who resisted God in his heart—can testify that God heard the prayers of others and extended His grace to bring about conversion.
There is no one beyond the reach of God’s salvation. If you believe the things you have done are non-redeemable, you are mistaken. We are all vile sinners (Romans 3:23). God earnestly desires for you to trust Him.
Just as the people of Israel did when assembling the Psalms, you need to remember who God is and how powerful He is. Realize how much you need Him and recognize how immensely He loves you. He died for you, even when you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8, NIV). Will you trust Him today?
Tomorrow, we will read Psalms 113-118.
Citations:
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Bible Verses: All biblical citations refer to the New International Version (NIV).
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Historical Dates: Dates for David’s reign, the Babylonian Exile, and the return are approximate and widely accepted in biblical scholarship.
