Clarence

Q4. (Psalm 34:18-22) What encouragement does David give to the brokenhearted? What does it mean that God "redeems" you? How can we avoid condemnation according to Psalm 34:22? David used adjectives in the Psalm to encourage the brokenhearted: He is close to, he saves, he delivers (v 17-19). The notes state that we are worth an infinite amount to God, he loves us so much that he is willing to pay the price- fulfilled on the cross "...he redeemed us at a high cost. The word redeemed used here, means paying the financial cost, to transfer the ownership from one to another, in order to secure freedom. By taking refuge in God the believer will not be condemned.

Q3. (Daniel 1:8-10) Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king’s food and wine? How do you think eating the king’s food would cause defilement to Daniel’s conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel? Daniel had courage, he stood up for what was right and honored God. The notes suggest that the reason why Daniel was concerned not to partake of the King's food was probably for two reasons: He did not want to be under any undue obligation to the Babylonian heathen king by accepting the food which the King provided. In addition, Daniel was keen to attribute good health from his God, not from the Babylonian King. Daniel must have loved the God of Israel.

Q4. (Daniel 1:8-16) What is Daniel’s first approach to eat a different diet? What does he do when his first attempt failed? What is his demeanor towards those over him? In what ways do you think God affects the outcome of Daniel’s request? Daniel requested to the Babylonian official that he not be forced to defile himself through eating the Kings rich food (v8). The official denied Daniel this request-he was afraid that the health of Daniel and his friends would be compromised, if he granted them permission to eat only vegetables and drink water. If this was to happen the King may react harshly towards the official. Daniel then suggested that there be a trial period for him and his friends to eat their food, to see what would happen. The Babylonian official agreed to this. God appeared to honor Daniel and blessed him and his friends for sticking to their convictions to honor God and not the king.

Q3. (Psalm 34:1-3) Why should we praise God continually? What are barriers to continual praise? What does continual praise do to our spirit? How are you training yourself to praise continually? It is in a believers best interest to praise God continually because the bible commands that we should do so (v1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Believers can have an attitude of praise and thankfulness to God- in all circumstances. The opposite to people who seem to be often, down and complaining. The barriers to continual praise: sin, doubt, unbelief, to name a few, (Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 13:5). The attitude of continual praise is pleasing to God, the sacrifice of praise is what he requires of us. Continual praise brings glory to God, he created us for this (Psalm 34:3, Isiah 43:7).

Q2. (Daniel 1:1-7) What changes did Daniel and his friends experience? What was their status in Jerusalem? In Babylon? What do you think was the effect of changing their names to Babylonian names? What impact might it have on them to be made eunuchs? Did they make compromises? If so, why? Daniel and his friends were taken to a completely different land and culture. The men belonged to royalty in their homeland (according to the scripture, Daniel 1:3-5). So they were taken to a palace, given foreign names- that would feel like loosing the sense of belonging to a family they once belonged to . They were given foreign food, that they were not used to (v 5) and forced to learn foreign values academia and culture. It must have been like every thing of their life back in Judah was stripped from them. If the men were made eunuchs the men would loose the ability of marriage and producing a family. It must have been a big shock for them to live in a different culture and value system. They must have made compromises. I like the comment of one of the others on the forum "they must have made compromises, but none that mattered".

Q1. (Daniel 1:1-5) Have you ever made a rapid transition between your customary culture and a new and radically different culture? What did it feel like? Were you able to take your faith with you, or did it fade to the background during this time? I spent some time in a foreign land (in Africa) a long time ago now- in the 80s. I remember it was strange, felt disorientated. It was pretty much a holiday however so that would be a lot different than having to go to another land, out of necessity. It would be very very hard to settle in another land where the culture and belief system, world view of the culture was completely different to your own. I would like to think that my faith in God would have to become stronger, because I would have to rely on God a lot more to help me through all the change and adjustments I would have to make in my life, to live successfully in the new land.

Q2. (Psalm 118) What does "the stone the builders rejected" (verses 22-23) have to do with the Messiah? What do verses 25-27 have to do with the Messiah? According to the notes, the stone was the chief cornerstone, mentioned in the verses above was the most important stone to the building, structurally. Jesus quotes verse 22 and 23 of this Psalm, he used this imagery- the most important stone of the structure, to apply himself. The verses of the psalm in question are used also by Peter in his epistles, and Paul (in Acts). Verse 25-27 refer to the salvation offered by the Messiah (John 12:13, Matt 21:9-11).

Q1. (Psalm 100) What is the predominant emotion in Psalm 100? How does this psalm make you feel emotionally about God? What are the reasons for praise given in verses 3 and 5? What are the commands in this psalm? The reasons for praise are because he made us, and we belong to him, we are his sheep (he looks after us as a shepherd looks after his sheep)-in the biblical context. The notes say "God takes responsibility for us (v3) "-God loves us..."his love endures of ever..."-He is faithful to all generations (v5). The commands are shout for joy-be joyful. Worship God with right actions [my interpretation] (v3). Enter-Gods presence and give him praise (v5). This psalm gives me reassurance and a sense of serenity. Right now I do not have any emotions about this-they are so fickle, because I am troubled at the moment.

Q4. (Psalm 51:17) How does one achieve a "broken and contrite heart"? What are the earmarks of this condition? How does this differ from "being sorry" for a sin? How does humility relate to this condition? David asked God to to restore to him a pure heart (51:10). When someone loves somebody, and does something inadvertently, or even intentionally to harm or hurt them it would be understandable that the person would be devastated that he or she had done such a thing. Jesus said "If you love me you will obey my commands (John 14:15). Peter "wept bitterly" when it dawned on him that he had denied his master (Luke 22:62). David appeared to be spiritually blind to what he had just done when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then tried to cover it up by having her husband Uriah killed in the battle field. When Nathan confronted David with what he had done, David admitted that he had sinned against the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13). Evidence of being sorrowful for sin, involves repentance and action as well as words.

Q3. (Psalm 51:10-12) How is it possible to have a "pure heart" after great sin? What does a "pure heart" consist of? What is the relationship between a "pure heart" (Psalm 51:10) and a "united" or "undivided heart" (Psalm 86:11)? Who purifies the heart? What is the process? It is possible to have a pure heart after great sin. It is possible because God promises to cleanse a believers heart, after confession. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) -so it is God and Jesus who purifies the heart. David, in Psalm 51:10 asked God to renew and give him a pure heart. A purified heart is a heart free from guilt-one that is able to move on -continue with life without condemnation (Romans 8:1,2). A united heart is not one torn between following ones own desires and following and surrendering to God's will.

Q2. (Psalm 51:3-6) When David says, "Against you only I have sinned" (4a) is he minimizing his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah? What does he mean by this? When he mentions his sinfulness from before birth is he excusing himself or blaming Original Sin? What does he mean by this? I have never thought of it in this way before. When we come before God and say "against you only have I sinned". I suppose the tenor of the passage is dependent upon the context in which it was written. David has come to God pleading for mercy and grace (v1). He is having it out with God. I'm sure that David realized the enormity of his sin, also against Uriah and many other people involved including the nation of the people of God (2 Samuel 12:7-13)-David had broken the trust of the people and his relationship with God because of his blatant sin. David is expressing his utter sinfulness, even before birth. He expresses his need for the presence of God in his life-the only one who can blot out his transgressions (Psalm 51:1,2).

Q1. (Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? How does confession enable us to get free from sin? Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes? I think the root cause of self deceit is pride (1 John 2:15). Often, it ts when I think I have made it- i think more of my self than what I should (Romans 12:3). That is the time when I am brought crashing back down to earth again, as it were. I think it is God that helps me to realise that without him I am nothing (Gal 6:3). God also uses other people, to help me to realize and acknowledge my inadequacies and wickedness! Instead of trying to cover up my sin and making excuses (which I still do from time to time-each day??). David in Psalm 32 points out that with confession and acknowledgement to God (and to others) God forgives my sin (32:5). In the commentary of verse five the notes describe the word forgiveness as: (to) "lift, carry, take." Pardon, forgive and forget.

Q4. (Psalm 22) What similarities do you see between the words of Psalm 22 and the events of Jesus' crucifixion? Do you think Jesus understood Psalm 22 as referring to himself? Why do you think the Spirit inspired David to pen these words? There are many similarities between the words of Psalm 22 and Jesus crucifixion: as the notes state: "David's lament ( in Psalm 22) seemed to be about his own sorrow, but in reality he was relating the lament of the Son of David, the Messiah himself". Jesus was well versed in the Psalms, as the Psalms would have been available to him, when he was in the roaming the 'holy land'-as the Psalms were part of the scriptures of his day- he would have known them well. Jesus not only quoted verse one of Psalm 22 when he was hanging on the cross, he also quoted other Psalms in the course of his ministry on earth (Psalm 78:2 and Psalm 117:26, to name a few). Jesus knew he was the Messiah (Luke 2:49) and therefore would have known that Psalm 22 was referring to himself.

Q3. (Psalm 22:1) Why do you think Jesus spoke the words of Psalm 22:1? What was he seeking to express? What was he feeling? How did God answer his plea? This verse is of course, the prophecy of the words that Jesus uttered when he was on the cross (Matt 27:46). He had taken the sins of the whole world on himself for the redemption of mankind (Col 1:14). God had abandoned him at this point, therefore. Jesus must have felt utterly alone and abandoned by God. "...God placed the sins of the world on Him – and because of that had to “turn away” from Jesus. As Jesus was feeling that weight of sin, He was experiencing separation from God for the only time in all of eternity..." (www.gotquestions.org/forsaken-me.html). God answered his plea by raising Jesus from the dead, therefore conquering death, the penalty and curse of sin (Acts 5:30).

Q2. (Psalm 110) Why do you think that Jesus asked the Pharisees about verse 1, "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" What point was Jesus making? How does Jesus combine the roles of Warrior-King and Priest in his ministry to us and to this world? How do you reconcile the violence suggested in verses 5-6 with Jesus as "Prince of Peace"? According to the notes, the Pharisees saw the Messiah from a human point of view-a physical descendent of David, therefore making the Messiah less than David. Jesus wanted to emphasize to the Pharisees that the Messiah is greater than King David. Jesus, at this time is exercising his role as Priest. However, the time is coming when His role will change to become a Warrior-King (Judge) of this world (Psalm 110:6, Psalm 2:12).

Q1. (Psalm 2) What does Psalm 2 teach us about Yahweh's "anointed" king? Why do you think the apostles saw this passage as referring to Jesus the Messiah? What does the passage teach about the importance of submission to Jesus the Christ before it is too late? The nations conspired against God (v1)-this may refer to the surrounding nations of Israel, at the time of the writing of the psalm. In addition there is a general prophetic message for the peoples of all ages (from the notes). But God laughs and scoffs at them-he rebukes them and terrifies them in his anger-the opposition does not succeed against an almighty God and his anointed-the Messiah (v6). God still does what he wants in spite of the opposition. The Messiah will reign (v9). The apostles clearly saw that the psalm was prophetic and applied also to the age in which they lived, and for the future- they believed that the psalm was a clear narrative of the Messiah-the anointed one, Son of God, Jesus Christ (Acts 13:33). There is a clear message in this psalm, that one day it will be too late, to swear allegiance to the Son-to be committed to the him.

Q3. (Psalm 117 and Lamentations 3:22-23). Why are love and trustworthiness so important as the bedrock of the Old Testament faith? What kinds of terms does the New Testament use to talk about these characteristics? Can you think of any New Testament verses that speak of these themes? I hear people talk of the law of the Old Testament and love and grace of the new. Even in the old testament God shows his love and grace toward his people and the other nations. Abraham's faith in God "...was credited to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:21,22). Love and trustworthiness was the bedrock of the Old Testament faith because it is the nature of God. The New Testament carries on the theme- "God is love" (1John 4:8)-one verse of many. There are also many references of Jesus, steadfast. He does not change. He is the rock. He is the cornerstone (1Peter 2:4-8).

Q2. (Psalm 145) Which aspects of God's character mentioned in Psalm 145 stand out to you in particular? Why is it important for "every creature," every human being, to praise him? What are you doing to help that happen? God's characteristics emphasised in this psalm: He is great and unsearchable He has splendor and majesty He has abundant goodness He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and steadfast in love He is compasionate He upholds those in need He satisfies the desires of every living thing and those who look to him He is righteous and faithful The characteristic of God that stands out for me is that he lifts up people who have fallen and helps those who are in trouble (paraphrase v14) God is for the 'underdog' (Exodus 22:21). It is important to give God his due praise because he has created all things, as the psalm says:"The Lord is great and deserves all our praise..." (v3).

Q1. (Psalm 103) Which one or two aspects of God's character mentioned in this Psalm stand out to you? Why do you think the Exodus was so foundational in Israel's understanding of God? According to Psalm 103:10-12, what are the limits to God's forgiveness? God is gracious and merciful-"he does not treat us as our sins deserve" (v10). He forgives us completely, as high as the heavens are above the earth and as far as the east is from the west-"...he removed our transgressions from us" (v12)- there are no limits to his forgiveness. This is what stands out for me. I would not be where I am today without him, his love and compassion has impacted my life. Our God never changes (Numbers 23:19). In Exodus God made a covenant with his people. He showed great mercy to them by giving them the 10 commandments- he showed them that he is a relational God (Exodus 19:3-5).

Q4. (Psalm 24) How do verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King? What do verses 3-6 tell us about the requirements of the King? What do verses 7-10 tell us about the glory of the King? How does this psalm speak to you in your situation? The world and everything that is in it (and all who live on it) belong to the Lord because he created it. He is therefore the rightful owner. He is the king. The king requires those who are pure ethically and morally (from the notes) to come to him, whom he will save (v5). They must not worship idols (v4)-he will declare their innocents. He is the great King, the Lord strong, mighty and victorious, the psalm states this emphatically-strong, mighty, victorious, triumphant, he is the Great King (v 10). This psalm fills me with confidence.

Q3. (Psalm 126). In this psalm, the nation is going through some kind of crisis. How does memory of God's deliverance in verses 1-3 prepare them for the prayer of verse 4? How do you understand the two metaphors of deliverance: (1) a wadi or dry gully and (2) sowing and reaping? How do these metaphors help you in your situation? The first few verses 1-3 build expectation and offer encouragement- to remember what God had done for them in the past, he can do it again. The metaphors are encouraging, God can restore, he can bring joy where there is despair (v5,6)

Q2. (Psalm 96) What does it mean to "ascribe" to God attributes of glory and strength? What happens when we fail to ascribe such qualities to him? In what sense is praise to God "fitting" or "worthy"? The definition of this word is: tribute something to (a cause). Attribute to, assign to, put down to, accredit to, credit to, chalk up to, impute to; More blame on, lay at the door of; connect with, associate with. Attribute (a text, quotation, or work of art) to a particular person or period. Regard (a quality) as belonging to. Ascribe to God attributes of glory and strength is giving him the due recognition that he deserves-we are but mare grasshoppers before him (from the notes). Praise to God is fitting and worthy because we are giving him due recognition for who he is. The notes state that if we fail to do this we are "immensely ignorant and unrealistic."..."Only exceedingly great praise is appropriate before such a great God."

Q1. (Psalm 57) Why is praise difficult in the midst of trying circumstances? How does praise affect our faith? Our attitude? Our motivation? Nehemiah 8:10 says "The joy of the Lord is your strength". Praise helps us to focus our thoughts and being on God- professing our faith in God seems to have the effect of helping us to focus on him. Speaking out his attributes and promises in thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:8) lifts our spirit and helps us to put our hope in God again-just as the psalmist David experienced, in his trouble (v 10). It is often hard to praise God in times of trouble and desperation because it is hard to think past our trouble, when it is overwhelming. God helps us in our trouble-"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

I have learned Psalm 23 off by heart. It is comforting when I am in a situation I find hard to cope with I know with confidence that God is with me, because I have hid his word in my heart (Psalm 119:11).

Q5. After you've studied the psalms in this chapter, what do you think it means to "rest" in God? How do you seek God's peace when you have a dozen things coming against you? As I have alluded to in question 4. Resting in God is having absolute confidence in God-that what he says in his word he will carry out. It is easy to say that we are resting in God, however It is hard to achieve (Hebrews 4:1). From what I have observed of other believers and what I know about myself, It is very very hard not to worry about something or someone close to me. Jesus put his trust in his father when he went to the cross (Matt 26:42). Paul said that he is content in whatever circumstances (Phil 4:11-13). In addition, Paul in the book of Phillipians exhorts believers to worry about nothing..."but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus" (4:6,7) Good News Translation.