Samuel Psalm Analysis

Psalms 3, 18, and 63 have headings that are related to the historical event described in the books of Samuel. The headings in the passages in each Psalms have similar themes to the passages related in 1 and 2 Samuel. They portray the mood and feelings that David would have felt while encountering those events. Although it is difficult to identify if these headings were specifically related to the Psalms, it is clear that readers are able to understand the psalm better with these headings. According to Nogalski, the connections of the headings in each Psalms “suggests that the psalms were used to clarify and sharpen the narrative or David’s character” (2001, p. 169). Since these Psalms portray an individual psalm, the headings provide a setting

The title describes on the day when the Lord delivered David from his enemies and from Saul. The heading, which is the theme, identifies the setting in Samuel. Since the book of Samuel records many accounts when David was protected and saved by God from his enemies, it can be inferred that Psalm 18 is connected based on the common theme and not by the actual event. The use of imagery and metaphor in this psalm makes it difficult for the readers and scholars to conclude that the psalm is directly from the context of the events in 1 Samuel 24 and 27. The commonality between these two passages are that David called for help and God rescues him. He describes Yahweh as his refuge, shield, and deliverer (Psalms 18:2). This is observed in 1 Samuel, when God protected David from being killed by Saul. Though Saul may have tracked David and attempted to kill David several times, God protected him. This event, however, is not explicitly stated in the Psalms. Psalm 18 only portrays God’s sovereignty and love for his people. Psalm 18:31-45 resembles the battle David had with the nations in Philistines, and his victory that is described in 1 Samuel 27. Despite the common elements, Psalm 18 ends its poem by stating David and his descendants. If it was taken directly from 1 Samuel 24 and 27, a note about David’s offspring would not be stated. While reading the Bible, it can be noted that Psalms 18 is

Gathering context from the heading, Psalm 63 is about the refugee David. As described in the title, the psalm occurred when “he was in the wilderness of Judah” (Psalm 63). There were two occasions where David was in the wilderness of Judah. This statement could be reference to David fleeing from Saul in 1 Samuel 23-24 or from Absalom in 2 Samuel 15. One reason to believe that 1 Samuel 23-24 connects Psalm 63 through a common theme is that David refers to himself as “king” in Psalms. In 1 Samuel 23-24, David had not become king yet. A common theme of enemies trying to destroy David is seen in both Psalm 63:9-10 and 1 Samuel 23-24. Psalm describes that whoever plans to kill him will be fail to in their goal. This is observed in several attempts in 1 Samuel. Saul had attempted to hunt for David in 1 Samuel 23:13, 28, and 24. Psalm 63, however, has a close connection with the account of Absalom’s revolt in 2 Samuel