[Pastor Ralph]

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.

[Tabatha]

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.

PLAY SKILLFULLY UNTO THE LORD
PSALM 150
Often we think of " praising the Lord " to include only singing or a set time in a worship service when all present join in audible praise to the Lord with words of adoration and praise. But the bible also teaches that we should praise the Lord with MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

What a joyous thing to be able to sit down to a piano, or to blow a horn, or strum a guitar to the glory of God. Whether in private or in the congregation... it is PLEASANT in the ears of the Lord!

How many in our congregation have taken music lessons in years gone by and now have instruments stored in closets and garages? Remember the parable of " THE TALENTS "? Those who USED their talents found them multiplying, but those who hid their talents lost them. Do you have a talent that you are not using? Use it!.... or lose it! Math. 25: 14-30 ).

Some say, " I'm to rusty to play in the church now." You will get no less rusty until you begin to USE your talent. Better to bring your instrument, keep the volume low and make a few mistakes until the Lord perfects your talent through your faithfulness than to procrastinate indefinitely and cheat the Lord of your praise!

In Psalm 150 we see all manner of instruments that the people were exhorted to use in praise unto the Lord, including stringed instruments, organs, trumpets,harps,cymbals, and drums.

Are we, as followers of the Creator of the universe, to stand back and offer no sweet music unto Him from OUR creativity? We have been wonderfully and delicately made: so made that we can form harmonious chords and delicate scales! Don't let that God-given ability and talent waste away. This day of professional musicians, T.V., radio,steros, and CD's, has nearly robbed us of the enjoyment of PARTCIPATING in making music!

You don't know how to play an instrument? Then CLAP YOUR HANDS!...... SING UNTO THE LORD!
It's Scripturural!

I taught this at my home bible study.

[charisbarak]

In reviewing & meditating on Ps. 46 I am blown away by God! I am reviewing my notes in my old KJV Bible.

"God is our refuge & strength, " (He protects us & gives us His strength)
"a very present help in trouble. " (He is with us IN our troubles--the times we feel as though we are between a rock & a hard place.)
"Therefore"--(because God is our refuge, our strength & our help) "will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (There is trouble, for sure--we often see upheavals in nature. Living in California all my life, I have made it through quite a few earthquakes! Much reason to fear during one of those!! So, this is my Calif. psalm!)

v11 The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. (If God is for us, who/what can be against us? Romans 8:31b.)

All glory to You, God!

[csreeves]

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.

God is my resting place. I never understood about this simple task that God wanted me to do. He is my clef covering over me and helping me at the same time. Praise God.

[masika]

For me Psalm 23 has really touched my soul. God is seen as a caring shepherd and a dependable guide. We must follow God and obey His commands. He is our only hope for eternal life and security.
When we allow God, our shepherd to guide us, we have contentment. When we choose to sin and go our own way, however, we can not blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our shepherd knows the “green meadows” and “peaceful streams” that will restore us. We will only reach these places by following Him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd’s leading is actually rebelling against our own best interest. We must remember this next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than the shepherd’s way.

[slicwidow]

I am going through a stressful time right now and I found something on the 23rd Psalm. It talks about God's faithfulness; his keeping; his provision; his comfort; on and on. God knows exactly what we need and when!!!!

[Don W]

A long time ago I wrote a simple children’s song on Psalm 46:1-3 that tends to repeat itself often, but the children I had in my classroom (in a Christian School, not where I am now in the Public Schools) really liked it since we started it out slowly and sped up until the third verse and chorus was rather fast! Anyway, here it is:

God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength (from Psalm 46:1-3:

Chorus: God is our refuge and our strength, our refuge and our strength, our refuge and our strength (2x)

So we will never fear, never fear, never fear (2x)
Even though the earth gives away. (Chorus)

So we will never fear, never fear, never fear (2x)
Though the mountains fall into the sea. (Chorus)

So we will never fear, never fear, never fear (2x)
Even though the storms roar against us. (Chorus)


Copyright © 1995 by Don Woodhull as “Don’s Praise Songs, Vol. 3” All Rights Reserved.

[Don W]

Sorry, I didn't mean to enter my song twice but don't know how to delete the second time entirely from this posted window? Many times I do much better spending time with the Lord and worshiping Him then I do trying to get my computer to do what I want it to do. Does anyone else out there have this same problem? What can you tell me that would help me with this problem, besides throwing the computer away (which is too expensive a thing to do for me at the moment)?

I guess one more experience this whole Psalms Bible Study has taught me, at least at this moment, is to rely on God to help me over these problems I have in my life and not any mechanical things such as computers!!!!!! But I still need my computer to study these Bible studies so I guess I'll have to rely on my old (mechanical) computer for at least something besides getting my email!!!!! But I need God to be much more important (actually NUMERO UNO) in my life and this old computer to be way down on my list of important things to rely upon for me, like maybe #99th on my list? I'm not sure exactly what Psalm I'm writing about my experience right now but there are plenty of Psalm verses that tell us to put God first and foremost in our lives--I'm just not sure which one speaks of what to do with old computers that don't do what you want them to do?

Anyway, God bless you all!!!!! Don W

[allyann]

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.

Psalm 16 meditation. I reflected on my relationship with God. I looked back over my life and all of the times that God has kept me safe from foolish actions on my part. He is my Lord and apart from Him, I can do no good or anything. As we have been studying these psalms, I have gained so much insight. Many of David's psalms fortell the coming, death and resurrection of Christ. Psalm 16 as well as some of the others we have studied may very well have been written by Christ. Many seem to parallel, Jesus's victories and also His suffering. They also give me encouragement and confidence as I study these psalms and the life of David. I can see where God has assigned me my portion and my cup and has made my lot secure. I have a secure inheritance, death no longer has any sting for me, because I have the assured promise of my Lord and Savior that he is at my right hand. As with the thief on the cross beside Jesus, I have been assured of my place at His side in my Father's kingdom. My body rests secure, my heart is glad and my tongue is forever singing praises to my God, He has made my heart glad as I bask in His Holy Presence. Like David, my life may be full of turmoil, but I know the plans God has for me, and my eyes and my heart will not turn to the left or to the right, but stay firmly fixed on my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[glory]

I HAVE BEEN MEDITATING ON PSALS 23 A LOT MORE THAN USUAL LATELY. BEFORE, IT USED TO BE A PSALM THAT I JUST RATTLED OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT LATELY HAS BECOME SO REAL TO ME AS I HAVE BEGUN TO SEE HIM AS THE TRUE SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL , LEADING ME ON THE RIGHT PATHWAY AS OPPOSED TO ME CHOOSING MY OWN PATHWAY AND NOT TRUSTING HIM. I CAN HONESTLY SAY I CAN SEE HIM AS THE ONE PERSON I WANT TO FOLLOW ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. I DIDNT EVEN REALISE BEFORE THIS STUDY THAT I WASNT EVEN FOLLOWING HIS PLANS AS MUCH AS I WAS FOLLOWING MY OWN AGENDA. THANK YOU, PASTOR RALPH, FOR THIS STUDY..GLORY.

[charchar]

For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others. Psalm 121 is the what my heart have been at peace with this week. Just knowing that when you are feeling down and don't know are can't see your way out you can just look up. Looking up takes the focus of looking down. Knowing that as God look down he pick us up. He is the only one that should be focusing on looking down that way he sees when we His children are falling are may have already fell He reached down and pick us up as we began to look to him for guidance. I thank you God for giving me the chance to look up knowing that all my help comes from you. In Jesus Christ name I thank God for his peace that is beyond understanding

[Paul G]

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms

What I did - As the various Psalms in this section challenged us to do - I quieted my spirit, and got alone with God in prayer and meditation. Allowing the Lord to speak to my heart. I remember a similar time some weeks ago when I did this was in a quiet place on a secluded walking trail overlooking a beautiful Lake, Lake Wallowa, in Northeastern Oregon. I journaled as I meditated and prayed, allowing the Lord to speak, as the breeze moved through the treetops along the trail, as I viewed the beautiful lake below me. It was a very peaceful and quieting time.