Introduction
David’s Psalm of praise.
“Every one who repeats David’s psalm of praise three times a day, may be sure that he is a child of the world to come.” So says the Jewish Talmud, basing its statement on the supposition that a succession of sentiments so hearty and grateful must surely convert and purify the soul. The psalm is understood to have been a charge to Solomon, when he took the throne of his aged father, as narrated in 1 Kings 1:0, and 1 Chronicles 22:0. In it David profoundly reviews his long and varied life, and sets forth his experience, as a guide to his youthful successor.
This is an alphabetic psalm, each verse beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The נ ( nun) verse is lacking, though the Septuagint supplies, “The Lord is faithful in his words and holy in all his works;” which in Hebrew would begin with נאמן , initial nun. In the course of the psalm very many phrases and sentiments already familiar are found. A few, however, will be noticed as new, and beautifully fitting to the occasion.
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