Bec

Q2. (Psalm 95) In Psalm 95 we are commanded to worship the Lord. What are the reasons why we should worship contained in this psalm? We worship the LORD because of who He is (the LORD ... promise Keeper; Rock of our salvation....rock solid and secure; the One who thought of and secured our salvation; the great God ....great in wisdom, power, omnipresence; great King above all gods ...ruler, sovereign, wise counsel, judge, superior, more worthy of adoration/respect/praise/obedience; the whole earth is created and held by Him; our Maker ... He made not only our physical being & gave us life but also gave us our purpose for living; and we are under His care ....in His pasture, we have His care/provision/protection). Why do you think the warning in verses 8-11 is included in this psalm? Worship (knowing who God is and what He has done) that results in obedience continues to honor the God that I say I respect and praise. When I fail to obey, I am demonstrating that I really praise and honor myself above Him ... and perhaps Only worship HIM publicly to gain recognition from others and perhaps even because I think that somehow He 'owes' me something. How does this fit with the earlier elements of the psalm? The warning takes me back to the worship of Him ... remember who He is, what He has done (created/sustained the world and taken responsibility for my salvation). Because I know these things, it is all the more shameful when I demand things from Him and fail to obey and trust Him.

Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? This psalm directs our praise to the Only One who is praiseworthy, doesn't it? And since we are to "praise" Him because of who He is (the LORD), where He is ('in the sanctuary, in His mighty heavens'), and what He does ('for His acts of power, for His surpassing greatness') it doesn't matter what might be going on in our lives. Our praise has to do with Him and not with us. Where should praise occur? This psalm neither limits the "where" nor the "when" to praise the LORD. Since it 'commands' us to "Praise the LORD" that would imply 'everywhere' (and at all times). With what should praise be conducted? Although this psalm speaks of 'instruments' with which to praise God, I understand this in a figurative way i.e.; that I am to praise God verbally ('sound the trumpet'), with my hands (what I do), with my dancing feet (where I go), with my exuberance for Him ('clash the cymbals'), and with my every breath (or 'with my entire life). Who should praise? Interestingly enough, this psalm is directed to all people .... not just to believers. Of course, my thought is that in the process of praising God for who He is and what He has done results in 'belief'. What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud? It makes me want to live 'exuberantly'. He want's me to live this way .... for His glory, for my sake (focus on Him rather than on me), and for the good of others (witnessing to the joy that is only found in the LORD).

Q2. (Psalm 15) The Wisdom Psalms are meant to instruct us. How would you use this psalm in your family to instruct your children? In verse 1, David asks the question, "LORD, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy Hill?" The first bit of instruction to my children (and grandchildren and Sunday School children and neighborhood children) is to answer the question "Why would you (I) even want to live in the LORD's sanctuary in the first place?" There are many enticing distractions in the world that vie for the attention of our children (and of us). So the instruction begins with the privilege and the blessings of the LORD. Verse 2 speaks of our inner integrity .... and is only possible because of our relationship with the LORD through the Only One who is blameless, righteous, and truth. Once our relationship is established with Him, we are able to walk blamelessly, do what is right and speak the truth with others. So the next bit of instruction to my children is the need for this relationship. Verse 3-5a then seem to parallel this 'inner integrity' in our relationships with others ('outer integrity'). Our blameless walk is reflected by our treatment of our neighbor; our righteous acts reflect our intolerance of sin and our fear of the LORD; and our truth-filled heart motivates our words and commitments and our actions rather than money motivating our actions. The last bit of instruction to my children is: because of our love for and our relationship with our LORD, we want others to meet Him too and have this relationship with Him. We treat others the way the LORD treats us so that they too will know that He is the LORD. What topics of right living does it cover? These verses speak to my relationship with the LORD and my relationship with others. Because of my relationship with the LORD, I can 'walk blamelessly, do what is righteous, and speak the truth from my heart'. In my relationships with others, I 'do my neighbor no wrong, hate sin, keep my promises, and am not motivated or influenced by money (or material things)'.

Q1. (Psalm 1). This short psalm seems to reaffirm what we already know: the righteous will succeed and the wicked will perish. Why do we need to be reminded of this? Actually, we don't know that "the righteous will succeed". There's nothing in life to confirm that. And there is a constant pull between what I "feel" when I do something that I know pleases my Heavenly Father and what the 'world' approves. So even internally we struggle to know that "the righteous will succeed". Thus the need for the 'helmet' of salvation .... the constant reminder that "I am saved" and that "I can act differently" and that "whatever I see or hear from the outside world" is not the 'approval' that is important or a motivator for me. There is also the need for these wonderful reminders of the LORD's promises because they are from HIM and HE can be trusted because of who HE IS. From an emotional standpoint, what lines in this psalm stand out to you. Why do you think you like them? Verse 3b "which yields its fruit in season" Here in the US, we are able to buy any fruit at any time of the year. But the best tasting fruit is that which we buy locally grown, in season. This line is emotionally encouraging to me because life is a 'process' not a 'product' and its important for me to be patient during the 'process' portion of it, waiting for the 'product' (fruit) in its due time (season). In the same verse (1:3) there is a promise that "whatever he does prospers". The 'teaching' on the meaning of this word was helpful ... that to prosper means "to accomplish satisfactorily what is intended". This thought gives meaning to the 'process' of life. So on my way to fruitful yield, the LORD's Word is accomplishing what it is intended to accomplish. And the final promise (1:6) "the LORD watches over (protects/guards) the way (lifestyle) gives me that assurance that even though 1) internally I struggle with whether or not I am living the right way (righteous way) and pleasing the LORD irrespective of pleasing the world and 2) I observe all around me that the "wicked" seem to be winning, in fact, the LORD is in control and cares about my progress.

Q3. (Psalm 63) Why is recognition that God loves you the basis of all faith? God created me so that I could have a relationship with Him (and therefore demonstrate His glory to the world). The fact that He loves me demonstrates His incredible care of an individual. But my faith isn't based on His love of or for me .. its based on who He is, irrespective of me. The fact that He loves me is certainly a bonus!! (and an incredible fact.) But I love and trust Him quite apart from His creation of me, His care of me, His love for me. I love and trust Him because He is worthy, Holy, Righteous, Immutable, Wise, Powerful, Sovereign, Omnipresent and Omniscient, the One and Only, Eternal. What does this realization bring about in your life? The realization that the Sovereign God of the universe cares for me gives purpose to my life .. to glorify Him by relationship with Him (through His Word and through prayer and meditation) in order to live as He directs and by glorify-ing Him in living like I know Him and by speaking of Him to others.

Q2. (Psalms 42-43). What is the psalmist feeling during this spiritual struggle? He is feeling a 'dryness, an oppression, a separation from God'. How does he combat his spiritual depression? He seems to go through a progression from a passive reaction (pants, thirst, drinking his tears) to an active reaction (remember, pour out, will praise, song, prayer). He also begins by focusing on himself and ends with focusing on God (Your light, Your truth, Guide, Holy mountain, the place where You dwell, altar of God Joy, Delight, Savior, my God). Have you ever felt this way? How did you reach out to God at this time? Of course I have felt this way. Focus on God and His attributes will (eventually) pull me out of depression but I have to 'steal' my mind to the task because felling sorry for myself is easy and I think that I enjoy it way too much.

Q1. (Psalm 27) What does it mean that David desires to "dwell in the house of the Lord"? Be close to, be in His presence, hang out with Him rather then be off alone on his own agenda. I think of the word "abide" from John chapter 15 that results in fruit, answered prayer, glorification of the Father, joy, fellowship. I also think of how Jesus came to "dwell/tabernacle/camp out" with us (John 1:14) to that we cane see the glory of the Father, His grace and truth. What does it mean to "seek his face"? This is a desire to be face to face with the LORD for the purpose of fellowship, interaction, direction, comfort, admonishment for the purpose of sanctification. How does David provide hope at the end of this Psalm? David has that confidence of expectant faith that the LORD will be his Light, Salvation, Rock and therefore is strengthened in this confidence and encouraged to persevere.

Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes. Truths:

Q3. (Psalm 139). In what way does the wonder of creation in the psalm seem to affect the psalmist? In his concluding prayer in verses 23-24, what does he ask God to do? David says that the LORD is everywhere, knows everything ... always. He formed me: how precious is that thought! Knit and woven: sounds like a piece of art .... creative, deliberate, beautiful. Every one of the days that were formed for me are written in the LORD's book: so God has a plan and a purpose for my life. None of the twists and turns in it were a surprise to Him. And because of His omniscience, omnipresence, deliberate purpose for me, it is important (critical) that I know His thoughts. David wants God (trinity) to keep him pure in his thoughts and therefore in his actions. He is asking God to fulfill His purposes in his life. Ditto!

The common thread seems to be "God speaks" (either through His creation or through His Word. The psalmist seems to bask in God's Word by describing it and by enumerating its benefits. (God's Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, righteous, precious, sweet) He has obviously had experience with God through His Word and therefore 'knows' the benefits personally. He has needed to be revived, needed wisdom, needed spiritual sight and needed the security of sure and righteous ordinances. The seems to be an unstated comparison with precepts that don't work (that are not perfect, trustworthy, right, pure, sure, righteous, precious, or sweet). God's Word keeps me encouraged, humble, and strengthened. It answers questions about decisions and keeps me on the right path. The wonder of creation and the effect on the psalmist: I love how the psalmist doesn't take God's creation for granted and instead almost shouts praise ('The heavens DECLARE the GLORY ...'). He also realizes that this same 'declaration' from God is available to everyone, every where. David wants to be found worthy by God. In essence, he says, "May my speech please You as much as Your speech pleases me."

1) Yahweh is Majestic and establishes His name in all the earth and into the highest heavens. He exists without us. (We do not exist without Him.) In His sovereignty, and because of HIS power and HIS work, He gives the weak the ability to "silence" Satan. The contrast between who God is and what He has done with His attention to man is mind blowing! The contrast only emphasizes His grace and mercy all the more. 2) Yahweh, Adonai, Sovereign One .... and yet "Our". We are 'defined' by our relationship (or lack there of) with Him. (Once we understand this relationship, everything else in life follows.) The LORD cares about us and cares for us. Even though in the eyes of others, in the eyes of Satan, and in the eyes of myself, I am a nobody, in the eyes of my Creator, I am somebody. 3) Christ was made a little lower than the heavenly beings by the covenant making and covenant keeping LORD and it was His honor and glory (and my salvation). 4) I am to know Him, praise Him, draw strength from Him and complete the work He presents to me.