“A prayer
Of Habakkuk,
The prophet,
According to Shigionoth.”
This last chapter is clearly a prayer or hymn of Habakkuk the prophet. Like the psalms attributed to David, it may not have been written by him, but inspired by Habakkuk. They were to sing this using the melody of Shigionoth or a lamentation. Thus, this hymn or prayer may have been used in their worship services.
“Sing to Yahweh
With thanksgiving!
Make melody to our God
Upon the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds.
He prepares rain for the earth.
He makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the animals their food.
He gives to the young ravens
When they cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse.
His pleasure is not in the speed of a runner.
But Yahweh takes pleasure
In those who fear him.
He takes pleasure
In those who hope
In his steadfast love.”
We are to sing with thanksgiving to Yahweh. We are to make a melody on the lyre to our God. He has covered the heavens with clouds so that he could send rain to the earth to make the grass grow on the hills. He provided food for the animals, especially the ravens when they cried. He does not delight in the strength of a horse or the speed of a human runner. Rather he takes pleasure in those who fear him. He takes pleasure in those who hope in his steadfast love.
A song, a psalm of David
“My heart is steadfast!
O God!
My heart is steadfast!
I will sing!
I will make melody!
Awake!
My soul!
Awake!
O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you
Among the peoples!
Yahweh!
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Your steadfast love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
Psalm 108 seems to be compilation of 2 other psalms, Psalm 57 and Psalm 60. The title is simply a song or psalm of David. This first section is almost word for word from Psalm 57. David was steadfast in his love, just as God had shown his steadfast love to him. He was ready to sing and make melody on the harp and lyre. He wanted his soul to wake up. He was going to wake the morning dawn. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh among all the people. He would sing his praises among the nations because God’s love was as high as the heavens. His faithfulness extended beyond the clouds. David loved Yahweh as Yahweh loved David.
To the choirmaster leader, according to Jeduthun, a psalm of David
“For God alone
My soul waits in silence.
From God
Comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock.
He alone is my salvation.
He alone is my fortress.
I shall never be shaken.”
Psalm 62 is another choral psalm of David. However the melody is to Jeduthun, who was mentioned in Psalm 39 and 77. Jeduthun was the name of one of the Levite Merari families that David appointed as music master in 1 Chronicles, chapters 16 and 25. He was a trumpet player and his sons led the music in the Temple. David placed all his trust in God alone. He waited in silence. He knew that God was his salvation, his rock, and his fortress. He would not be shaken in his ways.
“My heart is steadfast!
O God!
My heart is steadfast!
I will sing!
I will make melody!
Awake!
My soul!
Awake!
O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you
Among the peoples.
Yahweh!
I will sing praises to you
Among the nations.
Your steadfast love is
As high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness
Extends to the clouds.”
David was steadfast in his love, just as God had shown his steadfast love to him. He was ready to sing and make melody on the harp and lyre. He wanted his soul to wake up. He was going to wake the morning dawn. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh among all the people. He would sing his praises among the nations because God’s love was as high as the heavens. His faithfulness extended beyond the clouds. David loved Yahweh as Yahweh loved David.
“Rejoice in Yahweh!
O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Praise Yahweh with the lyre!
Make melody to him
With the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song!
Play skillfully on the strings
With loud shouts.”
There is nothing here about this Psalm 33 that indicates that it came from David since there is no introduction to this psalm at all. This clearly is a Temple hymn, a call to worship Yahweh. The righteous were to rejoice in Yahweh. They should offer praise that befits an upright people. They were to praise Yahweh with the lyre, an ancient horseshoe shaped frame with strings. They were to make a melody to Yahweh. They were to use a ten stringed harp. They were to sing a new song. They were to play on the strings skillfully, not in a sloppy manner. Finally they had the loud shouts, like the shouts for war, as Yahweh would lead them on to victory.
“Now my head is lifted up above.
My enemies are all around me.
I will offer in his tent
Sacrifices with shouts of joy.
I will sing.
I will make melody to Yahweh.”
David’s head was lifted above all his enemies who were all around him. He was going to offer sacrifices in the tent or Temple of Yahweh. He was going to sing and make melody to Yahweh. However, the problem was that only the Levites and priests could make the sacrifices in the Temple. David was not a Levite.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 