Psalms 61-62 Dear RTB’ers, Another two Psalms today, both ascribed to David, but neither pointing to any specific incident in his life – and he had a number of enemies! In both of these Psalms “the king” is specifically mentioned (Prolong the life of the king…, v. 61:6a) or suggested (They only plan to thrust …
Monthly Archives: August 2025
August 22 / Psalm 60
Psalm 60 Dear RTB’ers, David makes his plea (Psalm 60:1-5), the Lord answers directly (Psalm 60:6-8), then David continues his plea (Psalm 60:9-11a), and eventually expresses his confidence in the Lord’s deliverance (Psalm 60:11b-12). I can understand David pleading for the Lord’s deliverance, then the Lord’s response, almost like He has already delivered Israel, but …
August 21 / Psalms 58-59
Psalms 58-59 Dear RTB’ers, Two psalms today – unlike yesterday’s two psalms, these two are seemingly unconnected. In Psalm 58 David is attacking unrighteous judges, asking the Lord to restrain them and praying for deliverance for this unjustly tried. Then in Psalm 59 David is again praying for his own protection against his enemies. David …
August 20 / Psalms 56-57
Psalms 56-57 Dear RTB’ers, What can man do to me? (vv. 56:4b, 11b) David has the perfect perspective here. For us, on this side of the Cross, it’s an easier perspective because we can think eternally. But David did not have that level of assurance, although he did have events in Israel’s history (e.g., the …
August 19 / Psalm 55
Psalm 55 Dear RTB’ers, Not long ago one of you commented to me that s/he was “with me” in not understanding the Psalms. They were referring to my July 27 post wherein I spent more than a few sentences explaining the possible sources of my confusion with the Psalms. Today I am not alone in …
August 18 / Psalms 52-54
Psalms 52-54 Dear RTB’ers, Three psalms today, but they could easily be read as one. Try it. Move Psalm 52:8-9 and Psalm 53:6 to the end of Psalm 54 and the remaining verses are consistent as a prayer by David for deliverance from his foes and his recognition of their foolishness in not trusting/believing in …
August 17 / II Samuel 24
II Samuel 24 Dear RTB’ers, Today we leave II Samuel and in so doing, except for two chapters in I Kings we end our stories of David and his activities. And we leave him on a sour note – his desire for a census of the people of Israel and Judah and God’s resulting judgment …
August 16 / II Samuel 23
II Samuel 23 Dear RTB’ers, David is brimming with confidence as to his relationship with God: For does not my house stand so with God? For He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will He not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? (v. 5) …
August 15 / II Samuel 22
II Samuel 22 Dear RTB’ers, My Study Bible noted that this Psalm was probably written after David’s victories over Saul (and possibly other enemies), but before his sin with Bathsheba. Two sets of verses today confirm that likelihood. First, his victories, wherein he acknowledged the Lord’s hand in his deliverance: He rescued me from my …
August 14 / II Samuel 21
II Samuel 21 Dear RTB’ers, Having read about Absalom’s desire for revenge – and David’s reaching out with compassion instead of revenge – today we see another act of revenge, the Gibeonites demanding seven deaths in place of Saul’s rampage against them. Isn’t it strange that dying in battle is so different from execution? Saul …