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Psalms

On Solid Ground

Psalms Intro

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org

Trusting God

Psalm 1

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 1:1-2: "Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night." What characteristics define the person who is "blessed"? 2. Read Psalm 1:3-4: "He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers." This verse describes the existence of someone who trusts in God. Interpreting the metaphor of the tree, how would you describe this person's reality? 3. Choose from one of the three situations and reflect on where you’ve been trusting in yourself rather than God. Ask God to help you trust him in this area. -Something unknown in the future you’re anxious about -A decision you’re having to make -Something that’s causing pain or suffering in your life

Weakness

Psalm 8

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 8:2: "From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength." Why do you think God chooses to work through weak people to put his strength on display? 2. Read John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” This verse tells us that abiding in Christ is what give us strength. What do you think it looks like practically to "abide" in Jesus? 3. Think about an area of weakness being exposed in your life right now. What are three ways in which you could praise God for his strength in this area?

God's Provision

Psalm 23

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 23:2: "He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." Then Read Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” -Jesus What similar theme do you see in these two verses? Why do you think this theme characterizes the life of one who is following God? 2. Read Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me." Why do you think the Psalmist switches from talking about God in third person to talking to God directly once he enters “the valley of the shadow of death” (representative of suffering)? 3. What is the first person, thing, or experience that comes to mind when you think about the following words. Ask that God would help you look to him over anything else in these areas. -Contentment -Rest -Satisfaction -Restoration -Direction -Protection

God's Presence

Psalm 30

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 30:6-7: "Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, 'I will never be moved.' O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed." According to this verse, why did the Psalmist grow distant from God? 2. Read Psalm 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." What does this verse tell us about the nature of how God relates to us? 3. Think about a recent time when you felt distant from God. How did you approach him? Did you feel like you needed to prove or justify yourself? Ask that God would give you confidence in his unconditional love for you.

Facing Sin

Psalm 32

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 32:3-4: "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away. Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer." How does the Psalmist describe the feeling of harboring unconfessed sin? 2. Read Psalm 32:7: "You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." According to this Psalm, what can we expect from God when we confess our sin to Him? 3. What is something about yourself that is difficult for you to confront? What scares you about acknowledging it? Try talking to God about it. Remember that Christ’s love and forgiveness covers every sin.

Comparison and Envy

Psalm 37:1–11

For further reference: 1. Read Psalm 37:3-4: "Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart." Why do you think delighting in God combats our tendency towards comparison and envy? 2. Read Psalm 37:11: "But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity." Believers can look forward to their inheritance of eternal life, where they will spend eternity with God, ruling over a restored heavens and earth. How does this future reality change our perspective towards the things we envy? 3. Think about a person in your life right now who you often compare yourself to. Is there anything that this person has that you envy, or wish you had? What would it look like to surrender this to God?

Confession

Psalm 51:1–9

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 51:1-2: "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin." In his confession, to which qualities of God does David appeal to? 2. Read Psalm 51:4: "Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight." David says that his sin of adultery was against God. Why are our sins not only against the people we hurt but also against God? 3. Try processing and confessing your sin to God with the same four steps David did. 1. Ask God for forgiveness, acknowledging that forgiveness is based on his grace. 2. Articulate and describe your sin. 3. Understand how your sin is against God. 4. Acknowledge that God’s grace is the only way you can now live into your identity as God’s child.

Restoration

Psalm 51:10–19

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 51:11-12: "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." When David repents, what does he ask God for, and how is his request different from the approach of behavior modification? 2. Read Luke 17:15-16: "Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him." What do we see the man in this verse doing after he has been healed? If we apply this verse to our own lives, what should follow our restoration? 3. Reflect on your pattern of repentance. Do you tend to focus on changing your behavior or drawing nearer to God?

Facing Fear

Psalm 56

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 56:8: “You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?" What aspect of God's character do we see in this verse? How is that aspect comforting to us in our fear? 2. Read Psalm 56:1-3: "Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You." In these verses, we see the Psalmist telling God about his situation. Why is it important that we acknowledge our fears to God? 3. Confront the struggle in your life. How does it make you feel? What are you afraid of happening? Bring this all to God, remembering that he empathizes with you.

Desiring God

Psalm 63

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 63:1: "My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water." Now read Psalm 63:7-8: "And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You." How would you describe the difference between desiring God when he feels absent (Ps 63:1) and desiring God when he feels present (PS 63:7-8)? 2. Read 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." In Psalm 63, we learned that the Psalmist gets confidence in his God-given calling when he sets his desire on God. According to this verse, what calling can Christians be confident in? 3. Whether you are in a season of feeling distant from or close to God, reflect on how God is good. How does focusing on God’s goodness change your perspective in life?

Prayer

Psalm 86:11–17

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 86:11: "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name." Why do you think the Psalmist prays to God for help instead of pursuing spiritual growth on his own? 2. Read Psalm 86:15: "But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth." What aspects of God are depicted in this verse, and why do these aspects encourage us to pray? 3. In your own life, identify two areas of doubt in God’s character that keep you from talking to him. Then, find two passages in scripture that address these doubts.

Finding Joy

Psalm 100

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 100:1-2: "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing." Why do you think praising God, even if we don't feel joyful at the moment, cultivates joy? 2. In 2 Corinthians 6:10, Paul says he is "sorrowful yet always rejoicing." What does it look like to possess joy in tough circumstances when we are still struggling with other hard feelings? 3. Which one of the 5 truths mentioned in the passage sticks out to you the most? Reflect on how this truth applies to a current situation. -God is God. He is in control. -God made me. He can empathize with me. -God is my shepherd. He is watching over my life. -God is good. I can trust him. -God’s faithfulness lasts forever. He will never abandon me.

God's Will

Psalm 119:9–16

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 119:9: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." Why is it important to study both God’s Word and our own hearts? 2. Read Psalm 119: 14-16: "I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word." How does the Psalmist describe his study of God’s Word? 3. What comes more naturally: studying God’s word or studying yourself? Reflect on why one of these is more difficult for you, and ask God for strength in this area. Come up with one practical way you can practice prioritizing this area.

God's Word

Psalm 119:169–176

For further reflection: 1. Read Psalm 119:170: "Deliver me according to Your word." Why should we qualify our requests to God with the phrase "according to your word"? 2. Read Philippians 4:6: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." When dealing with anxiety, why should we thank God, specifically for his Word, instead of just bringing our requests to him? 3. What does your approach to praying for peace normally look like? Practice the Psalmist’s pattern by saying or journaling a prayer with both petitions and praises, according to God’s word.

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