Chapter One Hundred Fifty-One

This psalm is non-canonical: it is not in the Hebrew Bible, but is in the LXX, which indicates the antiquity of its origin. Who was the author of the psalm is unknown. Hebraists (Ewald) consider the original language of the psalm to be Hebrew. One can suppose that it was written by some pious singer from among the Levites, was widely known among the people, which is why the LXX included it in the Psalter they translated.

The speech in the psalm is given from the mouth of David.

I was the youngest among my brothers, I kept the sheep and played on the psaltery I made (verses 1–2). I was in no way distinguished, but the Lord singled me out from my brothers (verses 3–5). I went forth against Goliath, cut off his head, and thus saved the sons of Israel (verses 6–7).

The entire psalm very truly conveys a distinctive trait of David – his humility. His election by the Lord he attributes not to any merits or accomplishments of his own, but to His favor. The victory over Goliath is depicted here not as a personal feat of brilliant strength and dexterity of David, but as a humble and obedient execution of the mission laid upon him by the Lord; the victory belongs not to David, but to God. Everything in the psalm from the life and deeds of David is attributed to the favor of the Lord. The author of the psalm rightly understood and skillfully noted this trait of humility of David and his devotion to Divine guidance.