Praise Him (Psalms 36-75)

Ps.36

The problem of those who don't despise evil.

36:1,4b "...Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes... He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil."

Why should we despise evil?

36:5-9 The contrast with the loving, faithful and righteous God.

36:10-12 What danger lurks that can cause us to listen to the wrong voice? [pride]

Ps.37

A Psalm full of "our part" advice.

37:1 "...Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers..."

37:3 "...Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness..." Cultivate?

37:4 "...Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart..." Does God give you all the desires of your heart? How are delight and desire connected? When we delight in Him, do our desires line up with His desire for us?

37:5,6 "...Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday..." What do commit and trust lead to? [your righteousness and judgement]

37:7 "...Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes..."

37:8 "...Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing..." What happens when we fret?

37:16 "...Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked..." How much is necessary? Preaching abundance rather than obedient discipleship can lead to significant perversion.

Then there is "His part"

37:23 "...The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way..."

37:24 "...When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand..."

Back to "our part"

37:27 "...Depart from evil and do good, So you will abide forever..."

37:34 "...Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it..."

Why bother with "our part"?

37:37 "...Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity..."

Ps.38 Sorrow for Sin

38:3 "...There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin..."

38:18 "...For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin..."

38:21 "...Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me!..."

Ps.39

39:7 "...And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You..."

Ps.40

40:1-3 "...I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord..." Our part, His part? What song do we sing?

40:8 "...I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart..." Is it a duty or a delight?

6-8 are Messianic reference to a better sacrifice - quoted in Hebrews 10.

40:12 "...For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me..." Not feeling so righteous here. Gives sin an identity and intention of it's own.

40:17 "...Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God..." The answer is God.

Starts with 'waiting patiently' (v1) but ends with 'make it snappy please' (v17)

Ps.41

41:1 "...How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble..." Sow and Reap?

41:9 "...Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me..." Messianic - Jesus quoted in John 13:18 regarding Judas.

41:13 "...Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen..."

God considers the helpless. We should consider the helpless.

BOOK DIVISION? Start to get Psalms from sons of Korah.

Ps.42

42::2 "...My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?..." Not just a god, but the living GOD!

The answer for despair? 42:5,11 "... Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence..."

Ps.43

Again, 43:5 "...Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God..."

What hope alternatives have been given that leave people in despair? [Self, spouse, job, government, family, etc.]

Ps.44

And now will emphasize the same point.

44:6 "...For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me..."

And just in case we're being less than forthright.

44:21 "...Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart..."

Can there be a difference between voicing hope and having hope?

Ps.45

45:6,7 "... Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows..." Messianic, quoted in Hebrews 1:8,9

Ps.46

46:1-2 "...God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;..."

Does the earth change? How much can your situation on earth change before you FEAR?

46:10 "...Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth..."

It's easier than we make it.

Ps.47

47:1 "...O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy..."

47:8 "...God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne..."

Do we forget this?

Ps.48

SING 48:1-2 "...Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King..."

48:14 "...For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death..."

This goes beyond mere instruction. Our relationship means the Holy Spirit provides guidance into all truth - until death. He's with us THE WHOLE WAY.

Ps.49

49:12 "...But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish..."

49:15 "...But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. ..." Weigh this truth!

49:20 "...Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish..."

Know the truth, but don't be arrogant!

Ps.50 ASAPH

50:5 "...Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice..." What sacrifice? [God's covenant. God's sacrifice. He has all to offer. What do we have to offer?

50:14,15 "...Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me..."

But don't expect v.15 if living v.17

50:16,17 "...But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? "For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you..." Do we leave God's words behind when we head off into daily life?

50:23 "...He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God..."

More than passively acknowledging God? [includes action].

Ps.51 David after Nathan confronted him

51:3,4 "... For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge..." Only against God? Why is this a healthy outlook? Why is avoiding what is "evil in Your sight" the best way to evaluate our choices?

51:6,7 "...Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow..." Did God do this?

51:10-12 "...Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit..."

The next verse isn't normally included, but is very important, because it's what God wants to happen.

51:13 "...Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You..."

Repentance leads to something better for all who will participate.

51:17 "...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise..."

Ps.52

52:3 "...You love evil more than good, Falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah..." Stop. Think. How do we get enticed into this? Forgiveness easier than obedience?

Ps.53

Practically a word for word repeat of Psalm 14

Ps.54

54:1 "...Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power..."

Saved by God's name?

Acts 2:21 Peter's Sermon "...And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved..."

Acts 4:12 "...And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved..."

Rom.10:13 "...Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved..."

Pretty significant awareness for Old Testament times.

Ps.55

55:2 "...Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,..."

What distracts?

55:3 "...voice of the enemy ... pressure of the wicked..."

55:5 "...Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me..."

What helps?

55:18 "...He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, ..."

55:19 "...God will hear and answer them— Even the one who sits enthroned from of old - Selah. With whom there is no change..."

55:22 "...Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken..."

Ps.56

56:3,4 "...When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?..." When afraid - trust - not afraid!

56:9 "...Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me..." Is He?

56:11 "...In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?..." How did David know how to do this? [He had lots of practice]

Ps.57

57:6 "...They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah..." Who are they? Who opposes your life direction? What are some of the traps and snares in this life?

Ps.58

Complaints of this world's unrighteousness.

Request for God to make things right.

Ps.59

59:1,2 "...Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who do iniquity And save me from men of bloodshed..." What does David want? [to be set apart] Is this a prayer that God is pleased to answer? Is it consistent with the will of God?

Ps.60

David's request in a time of war.

60:12 "...Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries..."

Are we in a time of war? What are our expectations?

Ps.61

61:2 "...From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I..."

Rock? Jesus?

Ps.62

62:1,2 "...My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken..."

62:4b "...They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah..." This is what we get from man!

62:5 "...My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him..."

62:11,12 "...Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work..." SELF IMPROVEMENT or SELF DENIAL? For whom do we work?

Ps.63

SING 63:3-4 "...Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name..."

Ps.64

Recognition of conspiracy (plans of man to live in iniquity).

Recognition of place before God

64:10 "...The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him; And all the upright in heart will glory..."

Ps.65

65:4 "...How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple..." Did we choose Him or did He choose us?

65:7 "...Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples..." Does God interact with both nature and mankind?

Ps.66

Praising God for what He has done.

66:7 "...He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah..." Think about it!

67:18 "...If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;..." Prayer must come from a pure heart? Yielded? Humble?

Ps.67

67:1 "...God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us—Selah..."

What happens when God's face shines?

67:2 "...That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations..."

Ps.68

SING 68:1 "...Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those who hate Him flee before Him..."

68:5,6 "...A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land..."

68:18 Messianic - quoted in Ephesians 4:8

68:19,20 "...Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah. God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death..."

68:34,35 "...Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies. O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!..."

Ps.69

David's wrestling with more problems - he's in the thick of life.

69:2 "...I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me..."

69:5,6 "...O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; May those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,..." He's looking out for others.

69:9 Messianic "...For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me..." John 2:17 The disciples knew this Psalm, remembering it when Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple.

69:13 "...But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth..." The truth from God is saving truth.

69:16-19 Again, looking for answers from God.

69:21 Messianic "...They also gave me gall for my food And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink..." Look up John 19:28-30 to find out why Jesus did what He did.

"... After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said*, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit..."

69:33 "...For the Lord hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners...." Does God know your situation?

Ps.70

70:5 "...But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay..." How does God administer help and deliverance to the afflicted and needy? Government? Christians? Other?

Ps.71

71:1 "...In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed..."

71:5 "...For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth..."

71:6 "...By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You..."

71:9 "...Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails..." Is there a risk?

71:12 "...O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!..." What causes distance between God and man?

71:14 "...But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more..." Choice?

71:19 "...For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?.." Anyone comparable?

Ps.72

This is a Psalm of Solomon, and its a bit self-referential.

He's asking God to help him be the one to deliver the needy and the afflicted (Solomon believed in big government).

BOOK DIVISION? Start to get Psalms from Asaph

Ps.73

Problem with wickedness prospering.

73:16 "...When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight..."

It was troublesome then. It is troublesome now.

Perspective changes, though, when in God's presence.

73:17 "...Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end..."

73:24-26 "...With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever..."

Ps.74

74:3,4 "...Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs..."

Do you think any damage has been done to the sanctuaries we frequent today? Any wrong standards?

Don't be disheartened.

74:12 "...Yet God is my king from of old, Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth..."

74:22 "...Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long..."

Ps.75

75:1 "...We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your name is near; Men declare Your wondrous works..."

75:7 "...But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another..."

Is God near? Is He the Judge? Is He in charge?

Praise Him (Psalms 1-35)

PSALMS

The most quoted book of the Bible.

The hymnal of Israel. Many worship songs originated here.

Typical to divide the 150 Psalms into 5 divisions

1-41 About man (Genesis)

42-72 Deliverance (Exodus)

73-89 Sanctuary (Leviticus)

90-106 Unrest and wandering (Numbers)

107-150 Word of the Lord (Deuteronomy)

Contains strong theology (as do the hymns of the reformation)

Jesus Christ - crucified, dead, buried, risen.

He appeared to two on the road to Emmaus.

Luke 24:38 He appeared to eleven frightened disciples asking “...Why do doubts arise in your hearts?...”

Luke 24:44 Then he places a particular book of the Bible on equal footing with the Law and the Prophets “... Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled..."

Messianic predictions are sprinkled throughout the Psalms.

Ps.1

1:1 Blessings for those who avoid wicked counsel, sinful paths, and sitting with scoffers.

Do we sit with scoffers? [TV?]

What should we do? 1:2 “...But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night...”

1:3 fruit bearing.

1:6 wicked and righteous have different ends.

Ps.2

1-3 Earthly rulers devise systems to eliminate the strands of God’s truth, but it actually unravels their existence.

4-6 God’s response? [not hand wringing, He laughs, scoffs]

7-9 Messianic reference. Who gives and Who receives the nations as an inheritance? Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world: Matt.4:8-10, Luk 4:5-6. Were they his to offer?

Ps.3

3:3 “... But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head...”

3:5 “... I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me...”

When do you think David wrote this? [probably when running]

Ps.4

4:2 “... O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah...”

Explain ‘love what is worthless’ and ‘aim at deception’.

How do people end up loving worthless things?

Selah? In Psalms 73x, Habakkuk 3x. Some say musical pause. Some say to praise or lift up. From root word meaning ‘to hang’, as in weigh on a balance. Possibly an exhortation to be wise and measure or weigh what has been said to understand its true meaning.

4:3 “...But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him...” Are we His?

4:7 “... You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound...” [superior to a good potluck or feast]

Ps.5

5:3 “...In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch...” [Praying in the morning]

5:8 “... O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me...”

5:11 “... But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You...” [Special joy in being His]

Ps.6

6:2 “... Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away; Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed...”

6:4 “... Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness...”

Ps.7

7:12 “... If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready...”

Are there consequences to unrepentant arrogance?

Ps.8

8:1,9 “... O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, ...”

Is God’s name majestic in all the earth? Is it majestic regardless of man’s perception?

8:4 “... What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?...”

Messianic reference. Quoted in Heb.2 with warning to not drift from focusing on the Lord Jesus.

Recognizing how amazing it is that God cares.

Ps.9

9:1 “...I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders...” How thankful?

9:7 “... But the Lord abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,..”

9:15 “... The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught...”

9:18 “...For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever...” Implication is that they appear to be forgotten at times. Are they? [by God’s people, but not by God]

Ps.10

10:1 “...Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?...” Does this sound like Job’s question?

10:3-15 the wicked boasts of his hearts desire, act as if God hasn’t established His throne. What does the throne signify? [authority and judgement] Is it established?

Ps.11

11:3 “...If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?..." What can the righteous do?

11:5-7 Who gets tested? [everyone] hated? [the one who loves violence - Radical Islam?] Who sees God? [righteous].

Ps.12

12:3-4 “... May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things; Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?..."

Not just politicians and lawyers.

Ps.13

13:1”...How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?...”

Another Psalm that parallels the cry of Job.

Ps.14

14:1 “...The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good...”

14:3 “... They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one...” The word translated corrupt is literally spoiled or soured - no longer good for anything. Rom.3:12, 3:23

Ps.15

Who has the privilege of abiding (dwelling) with God?

15:2 “...He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart...”

15:4”...In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change;...” Own hurt? [Keeping his word? Rather be wronged? 1 Cor.6:7]

Ps.16

16:6 “...The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me...”

When do you think David wrote this?

16:11 “...You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever...”

Messianic reference: Peter quotes 8-11 on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:25-28), and Paul quotes v.10 in Acts 13:35-37

Ps.17

Both 16 and 17 talk of things happening at night:

16:7 “... I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night...”

17:3 "...You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me ..."

What transpires in your nights?

Ps.18 THE LORD

18:1,2 “... I love You, O Lord, my strength." The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold...”

18:18,19 “... They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me...”

18:28 “...For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness...” Do we have darkness? Does it matter?

18:36 “...You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped...”

18:48 “...He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man...”

Ps.19 THE LAW

19:1 "...The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands..."

19:7,8 "...The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes..."

19:11 "...Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward..."

19:14 "... Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer..."

Difference between words and meditation?

Ps.20

20:7 "...Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God..."

In what do people boast? [that of which they are proud]

Ps.21

21:2 "...You have given him his heart's desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah..."

Why was the king glad? 21:4 "...He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever..." [He received his request. Have we asked?]

Are we asking for the life God has planned for us?

Ps.22 - 1st if three Shepherd Psalms - The Suffering Shepherd

John 10:11 "...I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep..."

Messianic references:

22:1 "...My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning..."

22:18 "...They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots..."

Ps.23 - 2nd of Shepherd Psalms - The Living Shepherd

Heb.13:5-6 "...He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?..."

The whole Psalm is Messianic

23:6 "...Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever..."

Ps.24 - 3rd of Shepherd Psalms - The Reigning King

24:1 Who owns the earth? "...The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it..."

24:3,4 Who can approach God? "...Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully..."

Who qualifies? Messianic reference - The King of Glory

Ps.25

25:4,5 "... Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day..."

25:9 Who gets to learn God's ways? "... He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way..."

25:14 Who gets to know God's secrets? "...The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant..."

25:21 What can preserve us? "... Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You..."

Ps.26

26:2,3 Are we willing to be tested? "... Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth..."

What will God find?

Ps.27 Living in an evil world!

27:1,3 Where is our hope in the midst of an evil world?

27:4 "...One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple..." What is our desire?

27:8 "...When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O Lord, I shall seek...." What do we seek?

What is the answer for depression and despair? 27:13,14 "...I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord..."

Ps.28

28:1 Again a recognition of the need for God "...To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit..."

28:7 "...The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him..."

What is the difference between strength and shield? [Strength-ability, Shield-protection]

Ps.29

Simple Psalm to direct one's heart to worship.

Give credit where credit is due.

Do you think God's voice is powerful, majestic, and involved in all things?

Ascribe? Can we ascribe things incorrectly?

Ps.30

What did God do in answer to David's cry?

30:2 "...O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me..."

30:3 "...O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit..."

30:5 "...For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning..."

30:11 "...You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,..."

Ps.31

Messianic reference?:

31:5 "...Into Your hand I commit my spirit;..."

Just as Jesus said in Luke 23:46

31:14,15 "...But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me..."

31:19 "...How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men!..."

31:20 Explain this verse "...You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues..."

31:24 "...Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord..." We should be always encouraged

Ps.32

Ten years ago I quoted this Psalm from memory as my last teaching before stepping down from teaching Sunday School to focus on my son's senior year of high school, and my father's last year of battling cancer.

God has been faithful to 32:8 "...I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you...."

Ps.33

33:4,5 "... For the word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord..."

33:10 "...The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples..." Why all the fretting about politics?

33:18 "...Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,.."

Ps.34 FEAR of THE LORD

What does it mean to "fear the Lord" and what are the benefits?

34:7 "...The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them..."

34:9 "...O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want..."

34:13,14 What is our part? "...Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it..."

34:15,16 "...The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth..." Are these just man's expressions or does God have these features?

Ps.35

David asking for deliverance from his enemies.