Dublin, OH
Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
23:1-7 Last Words of David. The "last words of David" are a song praising God for establishing his house as the ruler; the song reflects back to God's promise in 7:8-19. Like the wisdom psalms, it also contrasts the just ruler and worthless men. This psalm uses two different metaphors. One compares the righteous ruler to the morning light at sunrise and the shafts of sunshine on the grass after rain; the other compares worthless men to uprooted thorns.
23:1 This long title section is similar to some Egyptian poems with a title. The formula the oracle of . . . the oracle of the man also appears in Num. 24:3, 15 (see also Prov. 30:1). The man who was raised on high refers to David's kingly position. the sweet psalmist of Israel. Many psalms declare David as their author; cf. David's musical gifts in 1 Sam. 16:18; 2 Sam. 1:17-18; Amos 6:5.
23:2 The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me shows that David represents himself as a prophet, whose songs and wise sayings come from God (cf. Matt. 22:43; Acts 1:16; 2:30; 4:25; Heb. 4:7).
23:3 The king who rules justly over men is one who rules in the fear of God, according to the divine statutes.
23:4 Like the morning light, like the sun . . . like rain are images for bringing health and life. He in this verse is the just ruler of the previous verse, not God.
