Commentary on

PSALMS

1–72

Vol. 1

By

James Burton Coffman

and

Thelma B. Coffman

Copyright 1992

ACU Press, Abilene Christian University Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission from Abilene Christian University.

Cover Design: Mel Ristau/Designs, Abilene, Texas.

ISBN 0-89112-0807

Library of Congress Card Number 91-92970

Dedication

Sissy and I dedicate this volume to the West University Church of Christ in Houston, Texas, where we have our membership and attend church. We wish to honor its elders, deacons, ministers and our fellow-members of this wonderful congregation.

Contents

Dedication

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Book I

Psalm 1

Psalm 2

Psalm 3

Psalm 4

Psalm 5

Psalm 6

Psalm 7

Psalm 8

Psalm 9

Psalm 10

Psalm 11

Psalm 12

Psalm 13

Psalm 14

Psalm 15

Psalm 16

Psalm 17

Psalm 18

Psalm 19

Psalm 20

Psalm 21

Psalm 22

Psalm 23

Psalm 24

Psalm 25

Psalm 26

Psalm 27

Psalm 28

Psalm 29

Psalm 30

Psalm 31

Psalm 32

Psalm 33

Psalm 34

Psalm 35

Psalm 36

Psalm 37

Psalm 38

Psalm 39

Psalm 40

Psalm 41

Book II

Psalm 42

Psalm 43

Psalm 44

Psalm 45

Psalm 46

Psalm 47

Psalm 48

Psalm 49

Psalm 50

Psalm 51

Psalm 52

Psalm 53

Psalm 54

Psalm 55

Psalm 56

Psalm 57

Psalm 58

Psalm 59

Psalm 60

Psalm 61

Psalm 62

Psalm 63

Psalm 64

Psalm 65

Psalm 66

Psalm 67

Psalm 68

Psalm 69

Psalm 70

Psalm 71

Psalm 72

Preface

We are happy indeed to be able to present this first volume of our Commentary on Psalms. Thanks be to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord for giving us the measure of health and strength necessary for such a task.

We also wish to thank our fellow-ministers of the Gospel who have made their libraries available to us for this commentary, namely, Lawrence Hazelip, Dr. Lynn Mitchell, Steve Sandifer, and John Banister.

We have found the Psalms to be a very delightful and inspirational study; and we pray that our appreciation and joy in this study may be reflected by those who take time to peruse this volume.

—James Burton and Thelma B. Coffman

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used in this volume. This list should be used in connection with the bibliography.

AC Adam Clarke

A.D. Anno Domini, the year of Our Lord

AMcL Alexander Maclaren

ASH Anthony L. Ash

ASV American Standard Version

AV Authorized Version (King James)

B.C. Before Christ

BFW Brooks Foss Westcott

BWLD Britannica World Language Dictionary

c. circa (about)

ca. circa (about)

ch. chapter

chs. chapters

CHS Charles Haddon Spurgeon

CMM C. M. Miller, co-author with ASH

CRB Cross-Reference Bible

C-RB Cross-Reference Bible

CSPC C. Short in PC

DK Derek Kidner

DOUAY Douay Version of OT

EMZ E. M. Zerr

EnBr Encyclopaedia Britannica

f verse following

ff verses following

FDEL F. Delitzsch

FFB F. F. Bruce

FHR Fleming H. Revell Company

GDH George DeHoff

GMC Grace M. Crowfoot

GNB Good News Bible

GRPC G. Rawlinson in PC

GSTC Great Songs ...