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?

Today’s passage: Psalm 31

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus quoted part of verse 5 from the cross prior to His death in Luke 23:46.
• God’s attributes confirm our hope in salvation.  God will always do what He has promised to do.
  • His name will always deserve honor.
  • He will never fail as a refuge.
  • His righteousness will never cease.
• Verse 10 reminds us that our sin can impact our physical health.

Questions to consider:

1. When you are in distress, are you prone to turn to the Lord before you look for other ways out of trouble?  Or, does God tend to be your second or third (or fourth…) option?  How do you rightly decipher between being a responsible steward and relying totally on the Lord? (Trick question…)  Are those two different things or are they the same?
2. Should we only commit our spirit to God when we are in dire situations?  Did Jesus wait until He was dying to do this or do you think He was restating something that was always true?
3. Why should it bother us when we see others disrespecting God and going after other idols?  What should bother us about it?  How could we respond in a way that shows a love for the Lord and for those people?

Today’s passage: Psalm 30

Helpful thoughts:

• Giving thanks to God reminds us of His goodness and holiness.
• Because of God’s mercy and grace, our hardships are only temporary.
• David saw God’s blessing on his life to be for the purpose of bringing glory to God.

Questions to consider:

1. Compare vs. 9 with Philippians 1:21.  What are these men saying that is similar?
2. When did God save you from the “pit”?  Remember God’s goodness by sharing your testimony!
3. How does looking forward to the joy we have in store help you to weather any storms you might see today?  What does God intend to do for you in the storms?  How could you be used for His glory IN the storms?

Today’s passage: Psalm 29

Helpful thoughts:

• Glory is due to the Lord.  It is right for us to worship Him.  We could not worship Him more than He deserves.
• The power displayed in the events of nature/creation depicted in this Psalm pail in comparison to the full extent of power God possesses. 
• If it seems strange to see God’s voice bringing about all these things, remember, God spoke the universe into existence.

Questions to consider:

1. What ways of thinking, philosophies, common cultural norms, prevent us from seeing the beauty and power of God on display in everyday life?  How should science be reinforcing and increasing our awe of God instead of turning us away from Him?
2.  Whose common grace is being enjoyed and utilized by the people of this world even to actively reject God and encourage others to do so as well?
3. How do these truths make it even more imperative for people to repent and worship the Lord?  How should these truths help us as we consider our plans for the day?

Today’s passage: Psalm 28

Helpful thoughts:

• Without God, without His revealed Word, we are helpless and hopeless.
• Sin must be and will be judged by the Lord.
• The salvation of God’s people does not come from their good deeds (Being different/better than those who receive judgment), it is from the Lord.
  • He gives mercy.
  • He is our strength.
  • He is our saving refuge.

Questions to consider:

1. How did God become our saving refuge?  How was sin judged for those who are His people? (What is the Gospel?)
2. What is the sin that David points to as being the ultimate reason why sinners must be judged?  What does verse 5 point to specifically?
3. What more does God do than simply save us from judgment?  What does verse 9 teach us?  How long will God be these things to His people?

Today’s passage: Psalm 27

Helpful thoughts:

• God is more powerful than any man or anything mankind can accomplish.
• David was more excited to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to learn about God than he ever was about being rescued from his difficulties.
• The eager expectation of being with God after his death fueled David’s obedience during the hardships of life.

Questions to consider:

1. Why are we tempted sometimes to love the gifts more than the Gift-Giver (God)?
2. What is the greatest gift that God is giving to His children?
3. How does pondering this truth and all that there is to learn about God (His attributes, His holiness, His love-especially as displayed in the Gospel, etc.) help us to live the life He has called us to in this world?