Psalms
Monday – Read Psalm 136
Historical Psalm – Covers the period from creation to the entrance into the Promised Land. This psalm is different in format from all other psalms. All verses end with “for His steadfast love endures forever,” suggesting this was a psalm to be read with audience response.
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.
1. Read through this psalm omitting the ending phrase of each verse to gain the overall picture of the writer’s thoughts.
2. What did you understand was the overall picture the writer was presenting in this psalm? The love of God to the descendant of Abraham, Children of Israel, as shown by His taking care of them and then delivering them from Egypt and His protection in bringing them into the Promised Land, defeating all the kings they needed to defeat to take the land.
3. What are the three major events that the psalmist uses to establish the fact that God’s love endures forever? Creation, verses 1-9; protection and deliverance from the Egyptians, verses 10-16; defeating the kings so the Children of Israel could take the Promised Land.
4. In the first three verses the psalmist gives three different titles to God. What are they and what do you think each one means? Verse 1, “LORD” – this is the Hebrew word for Jehovah, the proper name for the God of Israel; Verse 2, “God of gods”- this is a phrase acknowledging that God is over, greater than all others that people call god; Verse 3, “Lord of lords” – this is a phrase acknowledging that God is actually the ruler over all, even those who claim to be rulers. The overall picture from the psalmist is that the God of Israel is God and Ruler over all, which he will then establish by the statements of His being the Creator of all.
5. How does the palmist describe the God that Israel serves, verse 26? Their God is the God in heaven, the one who made it all.
6. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Thank God for His creation which shows you He is the God of all.
Tuesday – Read Psalm 137
Psalm Of The Exile Depicting Their Persecution
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.
7. Why does the psalmist say the people sat down and wept by the waters of Babylon, verse 1? Because they remembered Jerusalem and their life in their land before the captivity.
8. What does the psalmist say their captors required them to do, verse 3? Sing the songs of praise and rejoicing that they sang in their own land.
9. Why does the psalmist say they could not sing these songs, verse 4? Because they were songs of praise and rejoicing because of God’s blessing in their land and now they had nothing to praise God for.
10. What does the psalmist say sustained the exiles in captivity, verse 5? Remembering the good days in their own land, Jerusalem.
11. What does the psalmist picture as a danger for the exiles, verses 5 & 6? When things turned good for the exiles, they might forget Jerusalem, their own land.
12. Why does the psalmist ask God to bring judgment against the Edomites, verse 7? Because they had rejoiced and called for the complete destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.
13. What does the psalmist say is the destiny of Babylon, verse 8? It is destined for doom.
14. How do you deal with the thought of the psalmist in verse 9, saying the one who takes the babies of Babylon and dashes them against the rocks should be blessed? Even though we are stunned at the thought of dashing babies against the rocks, the picture here is of the destruction of those who oppose the ways of God.
15. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Ask God to help you remember the blessings that you have in His house so that they might help you keep your heart thankful and obedient to His ways.
Wednesday – Read Psalm 138
A Psalm Of Thanksgiving For God’s Favor – This is the first of eight psalm in this section ascribed to David.
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.
16. Where does the psalmist say he sings the praises of God, verse 1? Before all the gods of the world.
17. Why does the psalmist say he bows down and gives thanks to God, verse 2? Because of His steadfast love and faithfulness.
18. What does the psalmist say was the result of God answering his prayers, verse 3? He was strengthened.
19. What does the psalmist say all the kings of the earth will do, verse 4? Why? They will give thanks to God because they have heard His word.
20. What does the psalmist extol about the characteristics of God, verse 6? Because He regards the lowly and holds distain for the haughty.
21. What does the psalmist say God does for him in his life, verse 7? He preserves his life in the midst of trouble.
22. What does the psalmist say he knows God will do with his life, verse 8? Fulfill His purpose for his life.
23. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Thank God for His love and faithfulness.
Thursday – Read Psalm 139
A Psalm That Extols The Omniscience And Omnipresence Of God.
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.
24. What is the psalmist writing about in verses 1-6? – God omniscience, He knows everything.
25. What is the psalmist writing about in verses 7-12? God’s omnipresence, He is everywhere.
26. What does the psalmist say about God’s ways, verse 14? They are wonderful.
27. What does the psalmist say God knows about him, verses 15-16? Everything, from before He was made to the end of his days.
28. What is the attitude of the psalmist towards the works of God, verses 17-18? They are precious to him.
29. What is the psalmist asking God to do, verse 19? Slay the wicked because they speak against Him.
30. What is the psalmist asking God to do for him, verses 23-24? Search his heart and show him any unclean thing within him.
31. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Ask God to remind you that He knows everything about you and help you always be honest and open before Him, not trying to hide anything from Him.
Friday – Read Psalm 140
A Psalm Of Supplication For Deliverance From Enemies
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.
32. What is the psalmist asking God to do for him, verse 1? Deliver him from evil men.
33. What does the psalmist believe is the intent of these evil men, verse 4? To trap him, to destroy him.
34. What do you think the psalmist means in verse 7, “You have covered my head...”? God was his protection; He had covered his most vulnerable spot, his head.
35. What does the psalmist say he knows about God, verse 12? He knows that God will maintain the cause of the afflicted.
36. What does the psalmist say the righteous will do, verse 13? They will give thanks to God for His deliverance.
37. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Thank God for His watch and protection over your life.
Saturday – Read Psalm 141
An Evening Prayer For Sanctification And Protection
Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared from you during your study.
38. What is the psalmist’s plea in verses 1-2? For God to hear his prayer and regard it as incense or one lifting up their hands at the evening sacrifice.
39. What is the psalmist asking for in verses 3-4? To keep him from evil by setting a guard over his heart and mouth.
40. What does the psalmist say about the righteous, verse 5? He considers their strikes and rebukes a kindness and oil upon his head.
41. What do you think is the meaning of verse 8? He is looking to God for help and deliverance and asking God to not leave him defenseless.
42. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?
Prayer: Thank God for His watch and protection.
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