Further Experience of the Psalms – Third Session –On God’s Support of Us and Our Praise of Him
I. Introduction
II. Verses to Consider
A. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Let me exult and rejoice in Your kindness, that You saw my affliction. You knew the straits of my life…Shine Your face on our servant, Rescue me in Your kindness…
Be strong, and let your heart be firm, all who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:8, 17, 25
Rejoice in the Lord and exult, O you righteous, sing gladly, all who are upright in heart. Psalm 32:11
The king is not rescued through surfeit of might, the warrior not rescued through surfeit of power…
Look the Lord’s eye is on those who fear Him, on those who yearn for His kindness to save their lives from death and in famine to keep them alive. We urgently wait for the Lord. Our help and our shield is He. Psalm 33:16, 18-20
1. Isn’t it typically so that sorrow is transitory and joy “comes in the morning?” Examples?
2. Do we believe that God knows of our afflictions? What does God ask of us in Psalm 31, and how does God show us kindness?
3. What are our duties and responsibilities in the midst of God’s support of us (Psalms 32 and 33), and what is immaterial to God (Psalm 33)?
B. Be still before the Lord and await Him… Let go of wrath and forsake rage. Do not be incensed to do evil…Better is the little for the righteous one than wicked men’s great profusion. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the One who supports the righteous is God. Psalm 37:7-8, 16-17
Then did I think: Look, I come with the scroll of the book written for me to do what pleases You, my God, I desire, and Your teaching is deep within me. I proclaimed your righteousness in a vast assembly…I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not concealed Your kindness and Your truth… Psalm 40:8-11
As the deer longs for brooks of water, so my soul longs for You, O God. Psalm 42:2
1. As with the previous psalms, we see again here that God expects and asks certain things of us. What do we see? Why is it important, and what does it do both for us and for God?
2. Then, what do the psalms say God does for us? And how does it matter?
3. What does the verse in Psalm 42 mean to you?
C. Praise the name of the Lord… Psalm 135:1
Whatever all that pleases God, He does... Psalm 135:6
The nations’ idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. A mouth they have, and they do not speak…, nor is there breath in their mouth. Psalm 135:15-17
For the Lord champions His people, and for His servants He shows change of heart. Psalm 135:14
Should I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right arm wither. May my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not recall you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalm 137:5-6
I acclaim Your name for Your kindness and steadfast truth. On the day I called, You answered. You emboldened my soul with strength. All kings of the earth will acclaim You, Lord, for they have heard the words of Your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord… Psalm 138:2-5
1. What is praise of God?
2. What do we fear we’d lose if we left God?
3. What do we praise when we praise God? (Psalm 138)
D. One generation will praise Thy works to another and shall declare Thy mighty works. I will speak…of Thy wondrous works…and declare Thy greatness.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness and sing of Thy righteousness. Psalms 145:4-7
Praise the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 146:1
For it is good to sing praises to our God…Shout to the Lord with thanks. Psalms 147:1
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful… Let them praise His name with dancing. Psalm 149:1, 3
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the…lyre. Praise Him with timbrel…with stringed instruments…with cymbals. Psalms 150:3-5
1. Based on Psalm 145, how do we praise God? Whose duty is it to praise God?
2. Psalm 146 has additional ideas about how to praise God. Explain.
3. Psalms 147 and 149 have still more ideas. What are they?
4. Explain what Psalm 150 adds.
III. Conclusion – what are your major takeaways from today’s study, and what has been your principal learning in this second tour of ours through the Book of Psalms?
And to further experience these particular Psalms we reviewed in class we are including links to four of Sandy''s blogposts that address these same Psalms. I believe your will find that reading his blogposts will strengthen the experience and understanding of these particular Psalms. Please try them. All you need to do is click on these links.
A. https://sandykress.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/messages-of-comfort-when-were-in-pain/
B. https://sandykress.wordpress.com/2021/01/28/tips-for-improving-behavior-in-an-angry-era/
C. https://sandykress.wordpress.com/2021/07/29/what-do-we-praise-when-we-praise-god/
D. https://sandykress.wordpress.com/2021/08/26/how-we-praise-god/