This Psalm is entitled ‘a song at the dedication of the temple’. This is curious as David would not build the temple but rather his son Solomon. The answer to this dilemma could be that David was preparing it in advance. Another possibility could be that the title refers to the dedication of David’s house.

The Psalm has two sections of praise for God’s deliverance (v1-5 and v11-12) separated by a prayer of confession about a fall because of his pride (v6-10).

David in his praise speaks of the great depths of despair that he found himself in (v1-3). He had given up all hope but then God intervened to rescue me. David’s response is to encourage all of God’s people to rejoice in God’s goodness (v4-5). There is particular focus on how God turns weeping into joy (v5). This turning of weeping into joy is further focused on in the final section of praise (v11-12).

David in the other section (v6-10) speaks of how he was so proud to rely on himself (v6). David came to recognise that his only hope was in God (v7) and in God’s mercy (v8-10).

When we come to know God’s mercy, we should be a people filled with abundant praise. Is your heart filled with praise to God? To give continued fuel for our praise we need to focus regularly and deeply on God’s mercy.