Today’s passage: Psalm 39

Helpful thoughts:

• David gives testimony of a desire to hold his tongue…and his subsequent failure to do so.
• In his repentance, he recounts his inability to accomplish that which only the Lord can do.
  • Man is a vapor, helpless without the Lord.
  • The Lord is our eternal maker who can deliver us from transgressions.
• God’s deliverance in this instance came through the loving discipline of his child David.

Questions to consider:

1. If David’s repentance included remembering that God is big and man is small, then what wrong thinking preceded his sinful speech?  What was he convinced he could accomplish before he opened his mouth?
2. What makes God’s discipline seem more severe, the weight of His hand or the immense affection we have for the things of this world that He must take away from us?
3. How does a low view of God encourage sin?  How does a high view of God encourage righteousness?

Today’s passage: Psalm 38

Helpful thoughts:

• Sin did not bring happiness to David’s life.
• Sin did not bring true friends or companionship into David’s life.
• Sin did not prevent the wicked from pursuing the destruction of David’s life.
• 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Questions to consider:

1. What did sin bring into David’s life?
2. What are the things we desire the most that push us toward sin?  How can you renew your mind (Change your thinking) about those desires?
3. Even though this Psalm doesn’t tell us how God responded to David’s confession, how do we know God responded?  How does God’s faithfulness to love us even after we sin encourage us to love and be faithful to Him?

Today’s passage: Psalm 37:23-40

Helpful thoughts:

• Praise God that he holds us up even when we fall!
• Delighting in the Lord will result in the Word of God being implanted in our hearts and minds.  A Christian who delights in the Lord will be a Christian who loves the Word.
• Salvation is from the Lord.  Delighting in the Lord is not the way to salvation, it’s the fruit of it.

Questions to consider:

1. How does verse 23 compare with verse 4?
2. Why would it make sense that those who delight in the Lord would not have to beg for bread?  What would be true of their walk and their work that would prevent the need if given the opportunity?
3. What are some examples of times I have seen my study in the Bible directly result in a change in my desires and actions?

Today’s passage: Psalm 37:1-22

Helpful thoughts:

• Delighting in the Lord changes our thinking and our desires.
  • Delighting in the Lord is not a ticket to material prosperity.
  • Delighting in the Lord is a paradigm shift of values.
• Fretting (Being anxious) tends to evil.
• It is better to be in the hand of the Lord than to have many possessions in your own hands.

Questions to consider:

1. What would make us envious of wrongdoers?  What do they have that we would want and why do we want it?
2. How does delighting in the Lord change our desires (our wants)?  What kinds of desires do you wish to see changed in your own heart?
3. What does it mean to wait on the Lord instead of fretting and acting impatiently?  What do you have to believe by faith in order to successfully wait?

Today’s passage: Psalm 36

Helpful thoughts:

• A low view of God results in an exalted view of myself.  Neither is correct.
• David remedies these wrong views by recounting the attributes of God.
• When we remember that God is the rightful Lord and judge, we see other people differently as well.

Questions to consider:

1. Why does a high view of ourselves (Pride) result in so much sin?  What is found when we magnify our own hearts and self-interested desires?
2. How does a right view of God change our relationship with Him and to Him?  How does it help us to agree with Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:9?
3. Why won’t people and their opinions be able to control me when I rightly fear the Lord?

Today’s passage: Psalm 35

Helpful thoughts:

• Those against David were malicious in their efforts, rejoicing in his pains, and all this without cause.
• David showed these same people kindness and sympathized with them during their times of hardship.
• Judgment belongs to the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. How does this psalm compare with Romans 12:14-21?
2. What truths can properly motivate us to love people who are not loving us?  How does the Gospel enable our sacrificial love?
3. Why is it so hard to wait for the Lord to provide our vindication?

Today’s passage: Psalm 34

Helpful thoughts:

• This Psalm was written after the events of 1 Samuel 21.  If you read the description for the psalm in your Bible, it might be confusing because the priest David visited was named “Ahimelech” but “Abimelech” is the name given to the kings of the Philistines.  So, the “Abimelech” the psalm refers to in 1 Samuel 21 is actually Achish the king of Gath.
• When David might have been tempted to pat himself on the back for his evasive maneuver, he rightly thanked God for his safety.
• Verse 20 is referenced in John 19:36.  Jesus died on the cross before the soldiers went to break the legs of the crucified in order to hasten their death.  Another prophecy fulfilled.

Questions to consider:

1. What was the criteria for those who will not be condemned in verse 22?  How does this compare to Romans 8:1?  How do we take refuge in Jesus Christ?
2. What would David had to have done before he could rightly praise God for his protection after having faked insanity?  Was he excusing his fabrication or thinking God rewarded him for his clever idea (His lie)?  Did David escape the Philistine king because of his lie or because God willed it?
3. Where would we be wise to redirect praise away from ourselves and to the Lord for His mercies, giving credit where credit is due?

Today’s passage: Psalm 33

Helpful thoughts:

• David’s call for worship included shouts, singing, the stringed instruments of the day, new songwriting, and skillful playing.
  • The Lord is worth getting excited about.
  • The attributes of God ought to elicit our highest creativity.
  • The Lord is worthy of our greatest skills and artistic efforts.
• The call to worship is followed by several reasons to worship.
• Everything else in this world falls short of God’s glory and power.

Questions to consider:

1. What things did David recount as reasons for us to worship the Lord in this Psalm?  Which one(s) stick out the most to you?
2. Should Christian music (And Christian art in general) be compared to what is being produced and marketed in secular society?  Why or why not?
3. Why do you think Christian music and movies are often considered to be “inferior” artistically to secular music and movies?  How should we take caution when hearing the preferences and opinions of others (And when sharing our own)?
4. Why did God give us music and art?  What is its purpose?  How could we use the creativity God gave us for His glory?

Today’s passage: Psalm 32

Helpful thoughts:

• We have a good reminder in today’s Psalm; David does not believe that those who are godly or living an upright life are without sin.  Our righteousness is a gift of God’s grace!
• David felt terribly as long as he tried to cover up his sin.  Confession and forgiveness brought freedom and joy.
• The Lord does not treat us like animals.  He made us to be able to think, to reason.  He wrote us a book!

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it good for us to feel guilty when there is sin in our hearts?  Why is it right for us to confess our sin to God?  Is He a remote task-master or our Father?  Is Jesus an impersonal sacrifice or our savior, friend, head of the church and bridegroom?
2. How many ways/reasons does the Christian who pursues a relationship with God and righteousness in their life have joy?  Why does it make sense to love and follow Christ?
3. If we would be tempted to think the Word of God is too difficult or laborious, what would we be saying about God (And about ourselves)?  During times when we would prefer an “easier” way, how might God’s view of you be higher than your own?