Podcast Introduction

Today we’re going to read Psalms 30-32, and I’m calling the episode “_David Sings the Blues_”  This title in in reference specifically to chapter 31. And it might surprise you that there actually is such a thing as Christian blues music. I really like blues music, and several years ago, when I was doing the Lifespring Weekend Music Show, of which I did 102 episodes that you can listen to at LifespringMedia.com, I discovered a guy named Jimmie Bratcher. He’s a really good blues guitar player and singer, as well as being a preacher. I’m going to play on of his songs for you at the end of today’s show.

Last time we were in the Psalms, instead of comments after, I gave you introductions before I read the chapters. I’ll do the same today. I think it helps to put them into context. After the readings, we’ll learn what happened on this day in church history. And I received a boostagram a couple days ago that had a comment that I want to share with you. We have an important prayer request, too.

Comments on Psalms 30-32

Introduction to the Psalms 30

The title of this Psalm, depending on the translation is “A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.”

Some translations use the word “temple” instead of “house”.

House: KJV, NKJV, the Complete Jewish Bible, Christian Standard Bible, HCSB, NASB, NIV, Young’s Literal Translation

Temple: NLT, CEV, RSV

So, some scholars believe this was written for the dedication of David’s palace, which was built before the Temple. Others, including Charles Spurgeon, believe that David wrote it before the temple was ever built. God had told David that he would not be the one to build the Temple, but that his son, Solomon, would be the one to build it. 

David made all the preparations for building the Temple, so when Solomon became king he would have everything needed to move forward with the project.

With there being no across the board agreement on whether this was written for the dedication of David’s palace or the Temple, all I can say is, it doesn’t really matter for our purposes. The fact is that the Psalm does not even mention the house or the Temple. It focuses on God! No matter the structure, David’s desire was that God would be praised, not David.

Introduction to Psalm 31

This Psalms’ title is “To the Chief Musician”. Charles Spurgeon said of this Psalm, “The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” So David sometimes sang the blues. 

Isn’t that interesting? How many songs are written for the the church today that are not songs of praise? I dare say, not many. And perhaps that is appropriate, but as we have seen from our reading of the Psalms thus far, David did not shy away from writing about the troubles in his life. And the fact that so many of the Psalms reflect the difficulties that we sometimes face tells us that God wants us to bring those troubles to Him. Like a good, loving Father, He wants us to trust Him to help us in the midst of difficult times.

Portions of the Psalm are quoted in many other places in the Bible; most notably, the last words Jesus spoke on the cross were from verse five: “Into your hand I commit my spirit.” Jeremiah quoted verse thirteen six times in the book of Jeremiah. The apostle Paul quoted verse 24 in 1 Corinthians 16:13.

Introduction to Psalms 32

This is again, a Psalm of David. And many translations add that this is a maskil. Some translations say, “A Contemplation”. Maskil is a Hebrew word, and a better translation might be “instruction” rather than “contemplation.” There are twelve Psalms with this title, of which this is the first. We find both instruction and contemplation here, and the word Selah is found three times. It is believed that Selah means to stop and think about what you’ve just read.

G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “It is a Psalm of penitence, but it is also the song of a ransomed soul rejoicing in the wonders of the grace of God. Sin is dealt with; sorrow is comforted; ignorance is instructed.”

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 30 NIRV, Ch. 31-32 CEV

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