Sermons & Devotionals by The Scottish Metrical Psalter

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, In this psalm of thanksgiving for manifold deliverances, observe, (1.) Dav... Read More

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Now the books of God are opened, not for my trial and condemnation in the last judgment, but for my instruction. Let my soul look and read therein (1.) The book of creation and providence, in which all the works of God instruct mankind in general, concerning ... Read More

Perhaps this psalm relates partly to David's instalment on his throne, and the victories over his enemies which attended it. Compare Psalm 18; 2 Samuel 3, 5, 8, 10, 18, 20. But the whole of it respects Jesus our Redeemer. Behold, (1.) The violent and harmonious, but unsuccessful opposition, which Je... Read More

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Probably this psalm was composed, to be a prayer for success in some particular expedition of David's wars. Here, (1.) The people pray for their king, that God would grant him his requests; protect, assist, and strengthen him in his work; accept his oblations... Read More

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In this song of thanksgiving, observe, (1.) All the joys, the honours, and happiness, of king David, founded in the perfections and gracious works of God, ver. 1-6. (2.) Full assurance of the stability of David's throne, and of the discovery and destruction o... Read More

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. Here the debasement and exaltation of David, king of Israel, are merely subservient to, and figurative of the debasement and exaltation of Jesus Christ, our blessed Aijeleth Shahar, Hind of the Morning I. In this deep debasement we find, ... Read More

A Psalm of David. Here is the children's psalm, and which is, in very deed, a noted song of all the children of God. Behold, (1.) New-covenant relation to God, as a full and everlasting security against hurtful wants, ver. 1. (2.) Pleasant experience of God's acting up to his new-covenant character,... Read More

Probably this psalm was penned for use of the Hebrews, when David brought up the ark of God to Jerusalem, or when Solomon brought it into the temple, 2 Sam. 6, 1 Kings 8, in order to raise their hearts above their external ceremonies, to a reception of, and walking in Christ, who was thereby prefigu... Read More

A Psalm of David. In singing this psalm, let me observe, (1.) What serious work prayer is; what lifting up of soul, what directing of eyes to God, and fixing them on him, must be in it! ver. 1-15. (2.) What mercies ought to be prayed for Pardon of sin, ver. 6, 7-18; direction in duty, ver. 4-5; fami... Read More

A Psalm of David. Here, (1.) David solemnly appeals to God concerning his integrity; his constant regard to him and his grace; his regular attendance upon instituted ordinances: and his fixed aversion to sin and sinners, ver. 1-8. (2.) He deprecates from himself, the condemnation of the wicked, and ... Read More

A Psalm of David. For thy instruction, my soul, behold here, (1.) The holy courage and undaunted bravery of true faith, amidst manifold dangers and enemies, ver. 1-3. (2.) What earnestness there ought to be, and what pleasure, profit, and honour there are, in the study of familiar fellowship with Go... Read More

A Psalm of David. Observe here, (1.) David, amidst great distress, earnestly supplicating deliverance from his God, ver. 1-3. (2.) His implacable enemies doomed to the just punishment of their sin, ver. 4-5. (3.) Himself triumphing in God, as the hearer of his prayers, and as his protector, help and... Read More

A Psalm of David. This psalm was probably composed on the occasion of a thunderstorm. It is a solemn charge from heaven, to great men to worship and glorify God; who (1.) In his magnificence and power thundereth in the most terrible, alarming, and destructive manner, ver. 1-9. (2.) Who is supreme Go... Read More

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Having beheld the royal dignity of my Redeemer, let me here behold the joy, the peace, the safety of the redeemed, amidst their distresses innumerable. Here David, driven from his holy capital and high throne, by his rebellious son Absalom, ( 1.) ... Read More

A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. In this psalm, composed for the dedication of the new palace which David had built for himself at Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 5:11, or for the dedication of it after it had been polluted by Absalom, 2 Sam. 16, he (1.) Offers thanksgiving to God for the... Read More

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Observe here, (1.) David's solemn professions of his dependence upon God, and his prayers for support and deliverance, ver. 1-8. (2.) His sad complaints of inward grief, bodily weakness, unkindness of friends, unjust censures of enemies, and horror of death; ... Read More

A Psalm of David, Maschil. Perhaps this psalm was composed for the great day of the national atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month, Lev. 16. In it observe, (1.) The exceeding riches of the grace of God, manifested in blessing men with forgiveness of sin, and with protection amidst dangers... Read More

Contains a sweet but solemn summons to praise the Lord, (1.) For his justice, goodness, and truth, manifested in his word and works, ver. 1-5. (2.) For his power, manifested in the works of creation, and in his sovereign dominion over the world, ver. 6-11, 13-17. (3.) For his special and new-covenan... Read More

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. This psalm was composed by David, when Achish, or Abimelech, king of Gath, drove him from his court as an idiot or madman, 1 Sam. 21:10-15. Here are, (1.) David's high praises to God, for the favou... Read More

A Psalm of David. In this psalm, (1.) David, as a type of Christ, complains of the cruelty of his enemies, in striving with him, in persecuting him, in seeking his ruin, and in reproaching, contemning, deriding, and triumphing over him, ver. 1, 3-4, 7, 11, 15-16, 20-21, 25-26. (2.) He pleads his own... Read More