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LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

EXPOSTION PAPER (62)

A PAPER

SUBMITTED TO DR. MARK MCGINNIS

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

OBST 610

BY

MELISSA L. ADAMS L23069790

BARNESVILLE, GA 30204

MARCH 4, 2011

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Table of Contents

Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Initial Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Literary Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Theological Significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Annotated Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Outline of Psalm 62

I. Refrain: Confidence in the Lord

II. Humanity Is Untrustworthy

III. The Lord Our Salvation

IV. Exhortation for Us to Trust In Lord

V. Refrain

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Psalm 62

The book of Psalms is a book of songs, prayers of lament and thanksgiving, royal psalms,

halleluiah psalms, wisdom sayings, imprecatory psalms, and so on. However, a type of psalm

that is no so common is the psalm of trust or “confidence.” These psalms center on a particular

crisis that the psalmist is going through. Although, most of the time, the crisis is not stated

specifically. Bullock writes “that this not the case with Psalm 62, where the occasion is clearly

stated” (cf. vv.3-4).1 Psalm 62 is a psalm attributed to King David and in it he is exposing his

enemies who were actively seeking his downfall.2 Psalms of confidence are usually either

individual or community oriented. The unique thing about 62 is that it is both an individual and a

community psalm. Bullock does not list it as both but 62 as a community invitation and basis for

trust in vv. 8-10.

1Hassell C. Bullock, Encountering the Book of Psalms: A Literary and Theological Introduction (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 2001), p. 166.

2Ibid.