Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist praises Zion, blesses its people, and asks God for his consideration.
II. Photo
The psalmist praises Zion: “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself in which to set her young, near your altar, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God.” (v. 4)
III. Select Verses
3: I long, I yearn for the courts of the LORD; my body and soul shout for joy to the living God.
4-5: Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself in which to set her young, near Your altar, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God. Happy are those who dwell in Your house; they forever praise You. Selah.
6-8: Happy is the man who finds refuge in You, whose mind is on the [pilgrim] highways. They pass through the Valley of Baca, regarding it as a place of springs, as if the early rain had covered it with blessing. They go from rampart to rampart, appearing before God in Zion.
10: O God, behold our shield, look upon the face of Your anointed.
11: Better one day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand at the threshold of God’s house than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
13: O LORD of hosts, happy is the man who trusts in You.
IV. Outline
1. Superscription
2-4. Invocation, praise of Zion
5-8. Blessing/guarantee
9. Initial petition
10. Petition
11-12a. Rationale = praise/commitment
12b-13. Blessing/guarantee
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard S. “Psalms Part 1 with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry” Forms of Old Testament Literature (Michigan: Eerdmans, 1988).
Tate, Marvin. “Psalms 51-100” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 20 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1990).
Photo copied from http://www.selfhelpdaily.com/images/bird_babies-nest.jpg
