Canonical Reading Plan for Jun 16, Psa 17-20.

Today's readings are Psa 17-20. 

Psa 17 - Lament (petition for God's vindication)
Psa 18 - Royal (David praises God's strength)
Psa 19 - Wisdom (David extols God's revelation)
Psa 20 - Royal (David is prayed for as king)

Note, we are still in Book One of the Psalms. This is roughly parallel to the Book of Genesis and/or the early career of David when he was anointed king but had not yet ascended to the throne and was struggling with the current king, Saul (1 Sam 15:28). David's hardship is evident in the large number of Psalms that are laments (3-6, 10-14, 17). Among them are acknowledgments of God's faithfulness (16,18) and psalms of thanksgiving for the blessings he receives (8-9, 19-20). 

In the ESV, notice the headings of some of the Psalms. Psalm 18's says,

"TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, WHO ADDRESSED THE WORDS OF THIS SONG TO THE LORD ON THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED HIM FROM THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL. HE SAID:"

These helpful notes are not divinely inspired. In the ESV, they were authored by Dr. Paul R. House, a noted modern day Old Testament/Hebrew scholar and a member of the ESV translating committee. While Dr. House's headings do not bear the authority of the inspired text, they are helpful in identifying and placing the psalm in redemptive history. For instance, the heading of Psa 18 tells us it relates to 2 Sam 22.