The KJV rendering of Psalm 5:3 can give one the impression that this is a prayer of general devotion to be recited in the morning. However, a careful reading of the psalm shows that quite a bit more is going on here.
Category Archives: Psalms
The Structure and Message of Psalm 2
Psalm 2 is a celebration of the unquestionable supremacy of God and his Messiah over all the rebellious forces of humanity. Not only is this the message of the Psalm’s content, it is even embedded in the Psalm’s concentric structure.
Is God’s Love Unconditional?
God’s unconditional love does not imply that what we do doesn’t matter. Nor does believing that what we do matters imply that God’s love is conditional. The biblical truth is that God loves us unconditionally, and that is precisely why what we do matters.
Ask of Me and I Will Give You the Nations
Psalm 2 describes an idealized Israelite king as God’s Messiah. Jesus radically reinterpreted this idealization when he chose to exercise his Messianic authority through service, self-sacrifice, and trust in God. The Church, as co-heirs with Christ, now share in the Messianic privileges and responsibilities.
Reading Commentaries Resistantly
Commentaries are helpful, but the proper posture towards them, regardless of your knowledge of scholarship in the field, is one of resistance. By asking “How do we know that?”, you are positioning yourself to get the most out of your conversation with the Bible and out of the commentary.
Bite-Sized Exegesis 