Clarence

Q4. (Psalm 46) How does the imagery of the river and streams in verse 4 function in Psalm 46 to speak peace to the harassed and harried person? Verse 10 tells us: "Be still and know that I am God." How does knowledge of who He is affect our peace? How should it affect our words? Why does He command us to "be still" as a result of this knowledge? "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." (46:4) The notes talk about fabled rivers (in the bible) that bring peace refreshment and life (Rev 22:1-2, Psalm 23:2). Perhaps it is a picture of the presence of God-the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). John 7:37-39 Life and refreshment in time of trouble provided for believers. In the city fed by the river there is peace, outside there is chaos and disorder (46:5-7).

Q3. (Psalm 31) What does it mean to say to the Lord, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5)? How does that statement bring peace to a person? How does the statement, "My times are in your hands" (31:15), bring peace to the troubled soul? Jesus had absolute confidence and trust God. All the above statements imply confidence in God, the essence of faith (Heb 11:1).

Q3. (Psalm 31) What does it mean to say to the Lord, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5)? How does that statement bring peace to a person? How does the statement, "My times are in your hands" (31:15), bring peace to the troubled soul?

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm? He promises to provide everything that is needed (v1). He provides abundant green pastures to feed and quiet waters to drink, without any danger (v2). He restores, repairs and revives (v3a). He will guide and lead along the right path and direction in life (v3b). He comforts in time of hardship-he promises his presence at all times (v4). Even in the presence of enemies and adversity God will provide help in abundance-in this life and eternal life, to come (v5-6).

Q1. According to Psalm 131, just how does David quiet his inner person before the Lord? What are the elements mentioned in this psalm? David humbles himself before God (v1). He sees himself (in his minds eye) as he really is, before God. The psalmist is then quiet and satisfied to be with God: Enjoying the company of God without demanding anything of him. Like a weaned child spending time with mother, enjoying her company, spending time with her, contented and in fulfilled serenity (v2).

Q4. Since Christians don't seem immune to accident, persecution, and death, how are we to understand these psalms of protection? Why don't some believers seem to be protected? Does God really protect us? How? I do struggle with this. So the psalms we have been studying contain generalisations, from a physical point of view. For example, Psalm 91:16 promises that he will satisfy those who call on him, with a long life. Not everyone who believes in God and trusts in him is blessed with a long life, obviously. There was a christian family I knew who had one son. He was about 12 years old when one day he was accidentally shot dead. I do not know the exact circumstances, apparently he was handling the firearm himself, when it happened. When I visited the couple sometime after the accident, they questioned how this could happen when God in his word says that he will protect those who love him. I was young then. The question threw me a bit so I did not really have an answer. I like the notes, that say "the promises (in the bible) are activated by faith". My wife and I were travelling in our car down a long straight country road when a large truck with a trailer failed to give way to us. We thought it was all over, however the truck kept going, I braked hard and we managed to miss the trailer by about one meter, as it passed through the intersection. We believe that God was protecting us in that situation. 7The LORD will keep you from all harm -- he will watch over your life; 8the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:7,8)

Q2. (Psalm 91) What does this psalm teach us about God's protection when in danger? What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies? What promises does Psalm 91 contain? How does this psalm make you feel? Protection when in danger? He will save us (v3) We will find refuge in him, as chickens find refuge under their mother's wings (v4) No harm will overtake us, no disaster will come near us (v10). What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies? Because we love him and acknowledge his name, he will protect and rescue us (v14). He will show us his salvation (v16) What promises does Psalm 91 contain? See answer q3

Q3. (Psalm 121). What reassurance is it to you that God keeps you and watches over you? How does Psalm 121 make you feel? He will rescue us (v14) He will answer us when we call on him (v15) He will deliver us and honor us when we go through times of trouble (v15) He will satisfy us with a long life (v16)

Q2. (Psalm 91) What does this psalm teach us about God's protection when in danger? What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies? What promises does Psalm 91 contain? How does this psalm make you feel? still working on this answer Psalm 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Q1. (Psalm 61:1-4) What images does the psalmist evoke to communicate his trust in God's protection? How do the first four verses of this psalm make you feel? Even though the psalmist feels distant from God, he cries out in desperation, trusting that God would hear him from afar- from the ends of the earth Refuge and strong tower, Dwell with God in the tent/temple of presence As of a mother hen sheltering her chicks under her wings Given the turmoil that this world is in I am glad I can hold on to and trust in God, the rock.

Q5. (Psalm 80) If you were to formulate a personal prayer for revival for your own life or for your congregation, how would you word it? What elements should be present in a prayer for personal or congregational revival? What would this prayer have in common with 2 Chronicles 7:14? How does this kind of prayer pave the way for revival and restoration to take place? Our desperate need for God. Without God we are nothing, we cannot do anything apart from him (John 15:5). Our need for humility and a contrite heart. Our brokenness before God. Our need for repentance God raise us up, heal our spiritual lives, take us back to our first love (Revelation 2:4)-the love we had for you when we first knew you. Use us God, Show us how to be obedient to you and follow you. The above is a similar pattern to the passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Q4. (Psalm 40:17) In this verse David combines both humility and faith in his prayer to God. Why are both humility and faith necessary? What happens when one of these qualities is missing? David in Psalm 51 talks about a broken and contrite heart (v 16,17). This is what God desires, the state of the heart, from within. He is not interested in an outward act of dedication of apparent dedication to God, if our heart is not right with him (Psalm 51:16). So when we come to God in humility, we realise our sinfulness, sometimes overwhelmingly. It is when we are in the midst of our dispare-we come to the end of ourselves. Just as the psalmist did, he then clings on to God and surrenders to him and realises that God has a plan for his life. The psalmist reaches out to God (v 13,16).

Q3. (Psalm 40:5b) When you realize that God's thoughts and plans are focused on you in particular, how does that make you respond? Grateful, overwhelmed, thankful, encouraged, hopeful, overcome with awe!

Q2. (Psalm 69:30-32) Why does this lament (and nearly all laments in the Psalms) end with an upswing of hope and praise? What does this teach us about our own laments and prayers? Why is praise, the language of faith, so important in our prayers, especially prayers of desperate pleas for help? Its about pouring out your heart to God, being brutally honest with him and letting him have all your feelings and fears Just as the psalmist does (v 2-3). Then pulling out, extolling God the only one who can pull us out of our despair (v 30).

Q1. (Psalm 69:12-18) How could David dare to ask anything from God after the shameful things he had done with Bathsheba and Uriah? How does God's grace and mercy function in the face of our sins? David appeals to God's mercy-he is a merciful God (v 16). David appeals to God for rescue from his troubles, God is a loving God (v 13). So even though what David did was despicable, God is able to deliver and forgive David (v 18).

Q3. (Psalm 98) What are the reasons given for praise in Psalm 98? Why do you think praise is so exuberant in this psalm? How exuberant is praise in your congregation, in your life? Why or why not is it exuberant? God has done marvelous things (v1), he has brought salvation to Israel and the ends of the earth by helping them defeat other nations (v3). Perhaps the psalm is so exuberant because of God's gift of salvation, the psalmist must be greatful to his God.

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? Why do you think the warning in verses 8-11 is included in this psalm? How does this fit with the earlier elements of the psalm? The reasons given for worship contained in this psalm are: (Psalm 95:3) For the Lord is the great God King above all gods His hand is in the depths of the earth and the mountain peeks belong to him (v 4) He made the sea and the dry land (v 5)-He is the God of creation (Genesis 1:1). The psalmist then exhorts the people (and us) not to harden our/their hearts before God, by being disobedient- there were consequencs for doing this. Because God created the earth and everything in it, everything belongs to him, therefore we are commanded to give him the rightful place in our hearts.

Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? Where should praise occur? With what should praise be conducted? Who should praise? What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud? Praise is giving the Lord God adoration. The Lord deserves nothing but the best every person has (Psalm 62:8)- as He created all things and has given people all that they have and all that they are (Romans 11:36). Praise can be conducted with music, voice, dance- this psalm suggests praising can arise by anything that has breath (v6), does that mean that all creation can give praise to God? Certanly all of creation brings glory to God (Psalm 8:1). He can be praised in all ways that bring glory to hm, in any place (v1). Praise arises from the heart (Psalm 30:12).

Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? Where should praise occur? With what should praise be conducted? Who should praise? What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud? Praise is giving the Lord God addoration. The Lord deserves nothing but the best every person has as He created all things and has given people all that they have.

Q3. (Psalm 133) What about this short psalm seems to attract you? Why is "dwelling together in unity" so difficult? What kinds of commitments does unity require of us? How do the principles of unity and purity seem to conflict with each other? Why are reconciliation and unity such high values in Jesus' teaching, do you think? Dwelling together in unity, in my experience is hard because of pride. People often have agendas, think they can do things differently and better themselves. Often there can be a power struggle between people-even in a christian context. I do not condemn because I can often be at fault also. Humility is an important aspect of unity. There are many passages of scripture besides the one we are studying) which exhort and encourage unity, humility and compassion for one another (http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/unity-bible-verses/). Pride was at the route of "the fall" when Adam and Eve took of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6). When we are full of pride we do not see our need for God. "We must appreciate how weak we would be without Him. This leads us to depend on God to meet our needs" (http://www.gospelway.com/christianlife/meekness.php). Jesus said that we must be like children to receive the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17, Matt 18:3).

Q2. (Psalm 15) The Wisdom Psalms are meant to instruct us. How would you use this psalm in your family to instruct your children? What topics of right living does it cover? Do what is right. Speak the truth and be honest about what you say. Be true to your word, Carry out a promise even if it is inconvenient and costs something. Do not talk behind anothers back or speak badly about another. Do not get involved with people who do wrong and respect christian people who you can trust and look up to in your life.

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? From an emotional standpoint, what lines in this psalm stand out to you. Why do you think you like them? Jesus said He (God) causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). Perhaps we need reminding ("the righteous will succeed and the wicked will perish") because it does'nt happen fully yet. Or perhaps the quote from the psalm in question is a generalisation, like Ephesians 6:3 -not every person who obeys their parents will live a long life. I think that in the end, the righteous will succeed and the wicked will perish. Perhaps the passage is refering to the spiritual side of our lives. People who do not believe in and do not meditate on the word of God may appear to have a prosperous life, however I know what life I prefer to live, that is knowing my Saviour and Lord. I like the whole Psalm.

Q3. (Psalm 63) Why is recognition that God loves you the basis of all faith? What does this realization bring about in your life? I suppose we have to go back to the creation, God created mankind in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26,27). However when Adam and Eve sinned, God put a curse on them, a consequence of believing and acting on a lie from the devil "...you will be like God" (Genesis 3:4-5). God had a plan to redeem mankind-Jesus the "... resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)-For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). So God's love for us is great, greater that we will realise while we are still in the world (1 Corinthians 13:12). But knowing that God loves me, gives me purpose and a motivation to live my life for him. The apostle John exhorts, because Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, then we must love with actions and in truth (1 John 3:16-18).

Q2. (Psalms 42-43). What is the psalmist feeling during this spiritual struggle? How does he combat his spiritual depression? Have you ever felt this way? How did you reach out to God at this time? The psalmist is desperate here as he compares his spiritual thirst to the physical thirst of the deer urgently in need of water (from the notes Psalm 42:1-2). Tormented by self doubt and people trying to drag him down, even further, the psalmist remembers back to the time where he was able to rejoice in the goodness of God (Psalm 42:3-4). In addition to recalling the good times, to combat the depression the psalmist immerses himself in prayer and selftalk. It is like he is forcing himself, picking himself up, desperately calling out "...Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him..." (Psalm 42:5b, 11). The psalmist, finally appears to win this battle (43:5b).

Q1. (Psalm 27) What does it mean that David desires to "dwell in the house of the Lord"? What does it mean to "seek his face"? How does David provide hope at the end of this Psalm? To "dwell in the house of the Lord" is a mataphor for being close to the Lord at all times (from the notes). In addition the Israelites were well aware that God is not confined to a single place (1 Kings 8:27) also from the notes. To seek his face means to seek his presence, to be face to face with him-expectant of him, (from the notes). The hope that David has is an exhortation to himself and others to "develop strength and perseverence" (from the notes)-"...wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart" (/v14).