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Day 312

Blessed is the Man Bible Devotional - Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore.

Day 312 – Psalm 39

 

SUPERSCRIPTION

“To the Chief Musician, To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.”

AUTHORSHIP

The writer of this psalm is identified as David. He was a very gifted composer of psalms and had composed many.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN: TO JEDUTHUN

The Chief Musician was probably the Music Director. Jeduthun was one who worked closely with him, as the following text may indicate.

“So he left Asaph and his brothers there before
the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister
before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required…

And with them Heman and Jeduthun
and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name,
to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever;
and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud
with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God.
Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.”
1 Chronicles 16: 37, 41-42

1. The ark of the Covenant

1 Chronicles 16 details the installation of the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle that David had ordered to be made (1 Chronicles 16:1).

2. Chosen to serve

1 Chronicles 16 also made mention of a number of people who were specially chosen to minister at the Tabernacle. One of them was a man called Jeduthun, of whom David specifically mentioned in the superscription of Psalm 39.

a) Jeduthun was mentioned together with Heman.
b) Their task in the Tabernacle ministry:-
i) To lead in the giving of thanks to the Lord.
ii) They were to make sure that the right musical instruments were to be used.
iii) These instruments were “trumpets, cymbals and the musical instruments of God”.