A. 22:1-11 – Fervent Prayer of one who is forsaken – Lament and Confidence

Cycle One – 22:1-5 – Lament – Pain and Trust

Pain is described, followed by affirmation of faith by previous generations

Cycle Two – 22:6-11 - Lament – Pain and Confidence

Pain is described, followed by an affirmation of David’s faith from childhood.

B. 22:12-18 – Lament of the Suffering King -

Cycle One – 22:12-15 - describes his enemies and his suffering

Bulls of Bashan encircle him

Lions open their mouths to devour him

Cycle Two – 22:16-18 – again describes his enemies and his suffering

Dogs – waiting till he was dead so they could tear his limbs and eat him

pierced my hands and feet, figuratively the tearing of flesh by dogs

He is good as dead, and so they divide up his garments

C. 22:19-21 – Petition for deliverance from death

Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

David may have received the word of God that he would be saved, because in the rest of the Psalm – he praises God for his deliverance

D. 22:22-31 - Praise and encouragement for prayer

22:21 - David addressed the congregation of people with his vow to praise God.

22:23-26 – David called on the congregation to praise the LORD

22:27-31 – David called to the world at large, anticipating that the world would turn to the worship of the LORD

In praise for what God did for the righteous sufferer (Jesus Christ)

Psalms 20 and 21 form a pair of royal Psalms. Psalm 20 is a prayer of supplication that LORD will give the king success in battle. Psalm 21 is a prayer of thanksgiving for honoring the request in Psalm 20.

Psalm 20

1-5 – The congregation or nation speaking to the king asks the LORD to give the king success in battle.

6-8 – The congregation speaks about the king; they proclaim their faith in the LORD alone to give the king victory.

9 – Here is a final plea to the LORD to save the king in battle

Psalm 21

1-7 – We begin with a prayer of thanksgiving that the LORD has given the king success in battle. Verse 7 is the stated assumption that the LORD’s blessing on the king is because the king trusts in the LORD.

8-12 – The congregation appears to be talking to the king and they declare their confidence in the king’s future success.

13 – The LORD is praised for his strength and power to give the king success in battle.

Psalm 19 celebrates the Torah, the Law of Moses, which sets out the requirements of the Covenant people in relationship with God. In particular, the Law is celebrated as the supreme revelation of God, until of course the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

1-6 – The heavens declare the glory of God: including, his power, wisdom, worthiness of honor and worship. This is the general revelation of God about himself, but without words.

7-11 – The Law of the LORD, the Torah, is the LORD’s specific revelation of himself through words. The Law of the LORD is perfect for reviving the soul. This includes God’s testimony about himself, his laws, his precepts, his commandments, and his rules. Again, all of which are true and perfect. They enlighten and reward the one who keeps them.

12-14 – This Psalm leads the singer to a humble response, to look at one’s own sins and failures. The Psalmist asks to be kept from presumptuous sins that have dominion or power over us. Finally, the Psalmist comes to verse 14, which uses words of sacrifice and worship, that his words and his meditations would be acceptable as a sacrifice in God’s sight.