Is there a deep spiritual significance to having two nearly identical Psalms in the Bible? – No, not that I could find but I think it is kind of neat. They appear in two different parts or books within Psalms. The first “book” goes from #1 to # 41 and the second “book” is #42 to #72. The books end with “Amen and Amen” and #72 announces, “This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.”
Psalm 14For the director of music. Of David. 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! |
Psalm 53
For the director of music. According to mahalath. Amaskil of David.1 The fool says in his heart, 2 God looks down from heaven 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; 6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! |
You have to wonder if David changed the music with #53? Did the change from Jehovah (Lord) in #14 to Elohim (God) change how it was sung or were they for different types of worship services or a special occasion? Jehovah means “The Eternal” and Elohim means “Supreme God” of the two I would think that Psalm 14 might be the more formal one.
I am guessing Psalm 52 and 53 were written after 1 Samuel 22 when Doeg the Edomite killed the priest. I think that time period would have given David a lot of inspiration to write several psalms. (Please see the blogs on David, LORD, When Psalms Were Written and Jacob/Israel ) There is also a study on Psalm 60 and 108.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Pingback: Top 20 Song or Musical Sunday School Lesson? | Mark's Bible Study
Pingback: Comparing Psalm 135 and 136 | Mark's Bible Study
Pingback: Psalm 23 Rearranged | Mark's Bible Study