The Promised Davidic King

Reading psalms in context

The Psalter is a carefully edited work, skillfully arranged to communicate a theological message. The Promised Davidic King is a case study of how a single psalm shapes—and is shaped by—its context in the Psalter. Wyatt Aaron Graham argues that Psalm 108 plays a guiding role in Book V (Pss 107–150). Following Israel's return from exile in Psalm 107, Psalm 108 introduces the eschatological King and kingdom further developed in Psalms 109–110. Psalm 108 repurposes Psalms 57 and 60, which in this location, take on renewed meaning in the Psalter's unfolding story of redemption.

Graham's study of Psalm 108 gives insight into the meaning of the Psalms and displays the benefits of reading psalms in their context.

Wyatt Aaron Graham (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is executive director of The Gospel Coalition Canada.