Free E-Mail
Bible Studies

Beginning the Journey (for new Christians).
en Español
1, 2, and 3 John
1
& 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2 Timothy
1 Peter
2 Peter, Jude
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
7 Last Words of Christ
Abraham
Acts 1-12:
The Early Church
Apostle Paul
Christmas Incarnation
Church
Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8)
Colossians
Conquering Lamb of Revelation
Daniel
David, Life of
Galatians
Gideon
Grace
Great Prayers
Glorious Kingdom, The
Early Church: Acts1-12
Elijah
Ephesians
Hebrews
Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
Isaiah
James
Jacob
Jesus and the Kingdom
John's Gospel
John's Letters
Joshua
Lamb of God
Listening for God's Voice
Lord's Supper
Luke
Mark
Moses
Names of God
Names of Jesus
Philippians
Psalms
Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books
Resurrection
Revelation
Sermon on the Mount
Songs of Ascent
(Ps 120-135)
Christian Art
About Us
Speaking
Contact Us
Dr. Wilson's Books
Donations
Watercolors
Sitemap
Historical Ascriptions of the Psalms of David
David is closely identified with worship music in the Bible (Amos 6:5). He sang to calm his sheep on the hillsides and King Saul in his palace (1 Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10-11), accompanying himself on a lyre or harp. He is called "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1), with 73 psalms attributed to him – nearly half of the Book of Psalms. Several of these tell us on what occasion he wrote the psalm. These ascriptions have a lesson for us. Here are some of them:
1 Samuel 19:11 |
Psalm 59. “When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.” |
1 Samuel 21:12-15 |
Psalm 56. “When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.” |
1 Samuel 21:13-15 |
Psalm 34. “When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.” A beautiful acrostic psalm. |
1 Samuel 22:9-10 |
Psalm 52. “When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him, ‘David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.’” |
1 Samuel 22:1 |
Psalm 57. “When he had fled from Saul into the cave.” |
1 Samuel 22:1 |
Psalm 142. “When he was in the cave.” |
1 Samuel 22:5; 23:14-16, 23-25 |
Psalm 63. “When he was in the Desert of Judah.” |
1 Samuel 23:19 |
Psalm 54. “When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, ‘Is not David hiding among us?’” |
2 Samuel 22 |
Psalm 18. “He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” |
2 Samuel 8:13-14 |
Psalm 60. “When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.” |
2 Samuel 12:13 |
Psalm 51. “When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.” |
2 Samuel 15 |
Psalm 3. “When he fled from his son Absalom.” |
Copyright © 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastorjoyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
![]() |
![]() |
In-depth Bible study books
You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format.
- 28 Advent Scriptures
- 1, 2, and 3 John
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter & Jude
- 1 & 2 Thessalonians
- 1 & 2 Timothy
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Apostle Paul
- Abraham, Faith of
- Christ Powered Life (Romans 5-8)
- Christmas Incarnation
- Colossians and Philemon
- Conquering Lamb of Revelation
- Daniel
- David, Life of
- Early Church: Acts 1-12
- Elijah
- Ephesians
- Galatians
- Gideon
- Glorious Kingdom, The
- Grace: Favor for the Undeserving
- Great Prayers of the Bible
- Hebrews
- Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
- Isaiah
- Jacob, Life of
- James
- Jesus and the Kingdom of God
- JesusWalk: Beginning the Journey
- John's Gospel
- Joshua
- Lamb of God
- Listening for God's Voice
- Lord's Supper
- Luke's Gospel
- Moses the Reluctant Leader
- Names and Titles of God
- Names and Titles of Jesus
- Philippians
- Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books
- Resurrection and Easter Faith
- Sermon on the Mount
- Psalms
- Seven Last Words of Christ
- Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-134)
- Revelation
My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |