A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. A lament psalm. The psalmist cries out day and night in deep distress and desires that God save him.

v.1-2 Call for God to hear the psalmist’s prayer. He has been praying but with no answer. v.2 is his petition, incline your ear to my cry!
v.3-9a A description of his distress.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.

v.9b-12 Save me because I can’t serve you if I’m dead.
v.13-14 Petition for God to act.
v.15-18 The psalmist’s distress.

18 You have caused my beloved and my friend
to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.

Darkness is his only companion.

This psalm is very sad. Perhaps the saddest in the Psalter. Every believer will go through trials of his faith. The psalmist’s response is a model for our own—persistent prayer (v.1,9b,13).

Read Psalm 88

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A song. A celebration of Zion.

v.1-3 Praise for Zion, the city of God.

3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah

v.4-6 The nations will acknowledge God in Zion. The Lord registers the people born in Zion.

6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah

v.7 Worshipers in Zion will make music and sing. All their spiritual blessings flow from Zion.

Read Psalm 87

A Prayer of David. Combined lament and praise psalm.

Lament
v.1 David’s urgent request for God to hear his prayer.
v.2-7 Petitions for God to be gracious.

Praise
v.8-13 Praise to God for his acts and character.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.

Lament
v.14 Poet’s crisis—a band of ruthless men seeks my life.
v.15 Confidence in God. (Quoting Ex 34:6b)
v.16-17 Petition for God’s grace.

It is mercy and grace that we should petition God for in our prayers. God will answer not because we deserve it, but because of his steadfast love.

Read Psalm 86

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A lament psalm. Possibly written in the postexilic period.

Statement of the problem
Establish the precedent of God’s mercy.
v.1-3 The psalmist reminds God of the past when he forgave the sins of the people and restored their fortunes. We infer that God has withdrawn his favor in the present circumstances.

Petition for God to act
On the basis of v.1-3, petitions and rhetorical questions.
v.4-7 Petition for God to restore the people again (a plea for spiritual awakening) and grant his salvation.

Confidence that God will solve the problem
Anticipation of God’s answer.
v.8-9 God’s salvation and peace are near to those who fear him and do not turn back to folly.
v.10-13 The steadfast love of God and faithfulness go together, also righteousness and peace.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

Spiritual awakening is needed by every believer in every generation. Pray this psalm for today. See also Mt 6:25-33.

Read Psalm 85

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A worship psalm on behalf of pilgrims to the temple in Jerusalem.

v.1 Statement of theme. The loveliness of worshiping God.
v.2-4 The psalmist longs to be at the temple of the Lord. The living God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

v.5-7 The pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

v.8-9 A prayer for the anointed king.
v.10 The supreme value of worshiping God. A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
v.11 The Lord bestows favor and honor on those who walk uprightly (with integrity).
v.12 A closing beatitude.

12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Read Psalm 84

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. A national lament. A military coalition has conspired against Israel and the people call on God to destroy them.

v.1 Call to action for God.
v.2-8 Description of the crisis. The nations are conspiring against Israel. Selah.
v.9-15 Petition to destroy Israel’s enemies (an imprecation).

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.

v.16-18 Petition to bring shame on the enemies.

18 that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.

When in a crisis, prayer is the mightiest weapon available to the believer.

Read Psalm 83

A Psalm of Asaph. A wisdom psalm. God in his divine council.

v.1 (Poet) God takes his place in divine council.

¹God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the “gods” (v.1, NIV)

v.2-4 (God) God asks, How long will you show partiality to the wicked? — “Rescue the week and needy.”
v.5 (God) They (the “gods”) walk in darkness.
v.6-7 (God) “You are gods, … nevertheless, like men you shall die.” v.6 is quoted in Jn 10:34.
v.8 (Poet) Appeal to God: “Arise, O God, judge the earth.”

All earthly powers are subject to God and he will make right every wrong.

Read Psalm 82

Of Asaph. For the occasion see Lv 23:34 & Dt 31:10-13.
The psalmist calls on God’s people to rejoice in their God, remember past deliverance, and repent so they can see God’s blessings.

v.1-5 (Worship leader) A call to jubilant praise of God with singing, shouting, and music. (Eph 5:19-20)

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

v.6-10 (God’s voice) A call to remember and be loyal to God. I am the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt.

10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

v.11-16 (God’s voice) A call for the wayward people to repent. If only the people would listen to my voice.

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!

God calls his people to repent. This is to be an ongoing characteristic of the Christian life.

Read Psalm 81

A Testimony. Of Asaph, A Psalm. A prayer for Israel’s restoration after having been ravaged by a foreign oppressor. See 2 Kgs 17:1-6.

v.1-2 Call for the God (Shepherd) of Israel to save the people (the flock).
v.3 Refrain: Restore us, O God. (Possibly a request for spiritual renewal.)

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

See Nm 6:22-27.
v.4-6 Lament that God has punished the people.
v.7 Refrain: Restore us, O God of hosts.
v.8-13 You brought us out of Egypt and planted us, like a vine, in the promised land. Now the walls are broken down and enemies ravage it.
v.14-18 Turn again and look at us, the stock your hand planted. They have cut it down. But turn and give us life, then we will call upon your name.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,

v.19 Refrain: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!

Read Psalm 80

A Psalm of Asaph. A lament psalm.

v.1-5 The nations have destroyed Jerusalem. How long, O Lord?
v.6-12 Petition for God to act. Deliver us, O God. (v.6-7 see Jer 10:25)
v.13 Vow to give thanks and praise to God, forever.

Asaph asks God to deliver the nation for his name’s sake. Whatever we do should likewise be for God’s glory. (1 Cor 10:31)

Read Psalm 79