STUDIO ALBUMS

Division of Psalm 53

God, by the psalmist here,
I. Shows us how bad we are (v. 1).
II. Proves it upon us by his own certain knowledge (v. 2, 3).
III. He speaks terror to persecutors, the worst of sinners (v. 4, 5).
IV. He speaks encouragement to God's persecuted people (v. 6).³
 

Upon Mahalath

To the Chief Musician. This is the second time the leader of the choir has had the same Psalm entrusted to him. (see Psalm 14) Upon Mahalath. Here the tune is chosen for the musician, probably some mournfully solemn air; or perhaps a musical instrument is here indicated, and the master of the choir is requested to make it the prominent instrument in the orchestra; at any rate, this is a direction not found in the former copy of the Psalm, and seems to call for greater care. The word "Mahalath" appears to signify, in some forms of it, "disease, "and truly this Psalm is THE SONG OF MAN'S DISEASE-- the mortal, hereditary taint of sin. Maschil. This is a second additional note not found in Psalm 14, indicating that double attention is to be given to this most instructive song. A Psalm of David.²⁴
 

Similarity with Psalm 14

This psalm is almost verbatim with the fourteenth psalm. Some little variation there is between Ps. 14 and this, but none considerable, only between v. 5, 6, there, and v. 5 here; some expressions there used are here left out, concerning the shame which the wicked put upon God's people, and instead of that, is here foretold the shame which God would put upon the wicked, which alteration, with some others, he made by divine direction when he delivered it the second time to the chief musician.³