The superscription of our Psalm today, helps us to feel the emotional tone of the Psalm and to also understand the context of David’s prayer to God. As far as emotional tone is concerned, just like Psalm 58 from last week, this Psalm is meant to be sung during a regular worship gathering of God’s people because the superscription is addressed “to the choirmaster”. This a community worship song.

Psalm 58 is a heavy Psalm to study. It is a Psalm that is full of angry emotion, uncensored accusations, and violent, wartime imagery. One author says that this Psalm “is a prayer for spiritual warriors” who are engaged in spiritual warfare against evil in this present darkness (Eph. 6) because, although this Psalm “is directed against the corrupt and wicked rulers of Israel” we all need “to realize that we are looking not merely at a portrait of others but also into a mirror where we can see ourselves”.²

Psalm 53 is a song written by David that is meant to teach; it is meant to instruct us on the horrific nature of sin. Sin is not a popular topic in the modern church. Many church goers in the West would rather hear three practical points to fix their marriage, be a better man or woman, handle their finances better, or be encouraged to stand strong for their political party.

Psalm 52 is a course study in trusting God amidst the difficulty that comes with suffering at the hands of an enemy. Where Psalm 51 is a course study of walking in repentance after finding out that you are the abuser, Psalm 52 is a course study of trusting God when you have been horribly abused.

Psalm 51 is a song of repentance. The superscription at the beginning of the Psalm sets the context in the immediate aftermath of David’s sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, where the prophet Nathan courageously confronts David for his sin.