Introduction
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.
There are no positive indications by which to fix the date or occasion of this psalm. It has a noticeable resemblance to Psalms 12, 13, 37, and fits the condition of society in the period of the exile. If David wrote it, it was probably during his later life, as a meditation upon the sad moral declension of the times, and the long-suffering and faithfulness of God. But the last three verses seem to be historic, (see notes,) and the degeneracy complained of, with the clinging of faith to the mercy and national faithfulness of God, (vers. 5-9,) sound more like voices from the captivity than from any period of the age of David. The psalm contains three strophes of nine, thirteen, and six lines. Psalms 36:1-4, a description of the heart and conduct of the unchecked transgressor; Psalms 36:5-9, the contrasted righteousness and loving kindness of God; Psalms 36:10-12, a prayer for the special protection of the righteous, with a confident foresight of the certain downfall of the wicked.
TITLE:
David the servant of the Lord Only here and in Psalms 18:0, title, (which see,) does this form occur. Compare 2 Samuel 23:1. It seems designed to bespeak special attention to his words by claiming a divine authority for the speaking, like the formula, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:1
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