It would be a serious mistake not to recognize the prophetic nature of the book of Psalms; however, it would also be wrong to dissociate them completely from the lives of those who wrote them. In the midst of the sorrows and triumphs of his life, David was led by the Spirit of God to pen many of the psalms.
My intent in these few meditations is to consider various events in the life of David and the psalms that sprang from them. Whereas in the books of Samuel we have the history, in the psalms we have David’s heart revealed. In particular, I would like to consider the practical principles that we may draw from them, keeping in mind that David was a man under law and not a recipient of the spiritual blessings that we possess in Christ (Eph. 1:3). While this is certainly not the highest view of the psalms, I trust it will be profitable.
The Spirit of God, while using David’s experiences, goes far beyond them in their application. The psalms are the inspired word of God and are the utterances of the Holy Spirit. “David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:1-2). What may begin as the reflections of David often conclude in an altogether different character. The voice of the remnant in Israel may be heard; at other times it is the Lord’s anointed, Christ, the Messiah (1 Pet. 1:11).
We often learn best when we see the doctrines and principles of Scripture expressed through the experiences of another. If the mind is merely engaged in an intellectual way, the lessons are not learned. When the heart is reached, fruit is borne in our lives.
The Psalms under consideration will be looked at chronologically, in the order in which the corresponding incidences take place in David’s life. It quickly becomes apparent that there was no neat spiritual progression with David, but rather, he experienced the ups-and-downs with which we are all so well acquainted. The ordering of the Psalms is moral, and, in their various groupings, reflects a progression of development. We do not lightly jumble the arrangement chosen by God, but if we keep in mind that it is the life of David whom we wish to consider in these brief meditations, then I do not believe it to be inappropriate.