Today’s passage: Psalm 23

Helpful thoughts:

• God leads us in paths of righteousness.  God will never lead anyone to do anything that contradicts His Word.
• Shepherds use their rods and staffs to wack their sheep if they start going the wrong direction.  This phrase found in verse 4 is similar to Hebrews 12:6.  God’s discipline comforts us because it reminds us that He is watching and actively loving us.
• The Lord does and provides all of these wonderful things for His name’s sake (End of verse 3).

Questions to consider:

1. Why would it be wrong to only want God so that I can have everything I “want” with “green pastures” and “still waters”?  Why is it infinitely better to believe in and know the true God who does all of this for His name’s sake?
2. How do God’s “rod and staff” keep us from evil?  How does God’s loving discipline and our desire for instruction and correction help us in this life?
3. How does looking to the future, grace that is yet to come, give us greater motivation to pursue God and His righteousness today?

Today’s passage: Psalm 22:19-31

Helpful thoughts:

• Satan’s attack against Christ was not only thwarted, but served to defeat him.  Christ won the victory.
• The story of Jesus Christ and our salvation should confirm in our hearts that God is worthy of praise, glory and awe.
• This praise, glory, and awe will extend into the millennial kingdom (And certainly beyond) as people from all over the earth recount the grace of God and the work of Jesus Christ!

Questions to consider:

1. Though Satan could be compared to a ferocious dog, the mouth of a hungry lion, or the horns of a disgruntled ox, how does his power stack up against God’s?  What will all of his attempts to take the throne result in?
2. Sometimes we forget how big of a deal Jesus is and we don’t worship and live for Him as is right.  What kinds of thoughts and desires occupy our minds and can tend to distract us from the greatest good?
3. What seems more impressive, finding out how much better you feel because of Jesus or who Jesus is and what He has done?  What will people be compelled to proclaim during the reign of Jesus (Verse 31)?  How might that affect our evangelism now?  Are positive feelings really the best, most glorious thing we have to offer?

Today’s passage: Psalm 22:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• This is a Messianic Psalm:
  • Jesus suffered separation from God on the cross when He took our sin upon Himself.
  • Jesus was scorned and mocked by the Jews and Romans.
  • The crucifixion would have included all of the pains of verses 14-15.
  • Jesus died before the soldiers broke the legs of the others who were being crucified.  His bones were not broken.
  • The soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing.
• You could read Matthew 27:27-54, Mark 15:16-39, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37 to see the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.  Look for the fulfillment of the statements from Psalm 22!

Questions to consider:

1. This Psalm was written over 1,000 years before Christ died on the cross.  Do you think you could write something that would happen after 3019 A.D. with the same amount of detail?  How can fulfilled prophecy give us greater confidence in the claims of Jesus Christ and the authenticity of the Word of God?
2. What part of the crucifixion would have been the hardest for Jesus to experience?  How does this give you a greater appreciation and love for Him?
3. Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and in His shed blood at the cross for your sin?  Have you asked God to forgive you and save you?  Who could you share the Gospel message with today?

Today’s passage: Psalm 21

Helpful thoughts:

• David’s strength and salvation came from the LORD.
• Remember the poetic parallelism of the Psalms.  The desire of the heart and the requests of the lips are not different from one another.  What is in the heart comes out of the mouth. (Matthew 12:34)
• God gave David longer life but, David did die.  The phrase, “length of days forever and ever” could refer to Christ Himself, OR to the endurance of the line of David on the throne, eternally fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
• The reign of Jesus Christ will include the final destruction of all His enemies as expressed in verses 8-12.

Questions to consider:

1. How many reasons can you find in this Psalm to follow, love and worship the Lord instead of choosing against Him or hating Him?
2. When God gives you salvation and life, how does that change your desires and requests?
3. Is David writing this Psalm to reassure God or to recount what God has already done to save and what God will do to judge?  Who made the king to rejoice in the Lord’s presence?  Who caused the king to rejoice in and exult the Lord?  Why does God truly deserve ALL praise?

Today’s passage: Psalm 20

Helpful thoughts:

• The sacrifices God regarded were given with loving, humble hearts (Hosea 6:6).
• David gives testimony of God’s past provision and reminds Israel that blessing, shelter, and victory come from God.  The king of Israel is telling his people to pray and trust in God.
• The person who wholeheartedly agrees with verse 5 will have different desires and plans to pray for (Verse 4).

Question to consider:

1. What happens when we actively pursue joy and victory and favor and desires, etc. elsewhere?  (Verse 8)
2. How has God already sent you help, regarded your offering with favor, and granted you victory?
3. How are our desires, planning and prayers affected when we are actively pursuing joy in Christ?

Today’s passage: Psalm 19

Helpful thoughts:

• God has revealed Himself to us through General and Special revelation.
  • General revelation declares the existence and glory of God.  In Romans 1:20 Paul writes that creation teaches us about God’s eternal power and divine nature.  We can know from looking at creation of the God who is eternal, powerful and divine.
  • Special revelation (Such as Scripture) tells us much more.
• The perfection of Scripture is referring to its completeness.  Scripture is lacking nothing.  There is nothing we need to know that God has not revealed to us.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Discernment, understanding, self-awareness of sin, and godly thinking and desires come as a result of learning the Scriptures.

Questions to consider:

1. What were the characteristics of Scripture listed in verses 7-11?  What do those characteristics result in when we apply the truths of Scripture?
2. How can some people see creations and read the Bible and not learn anything about God or righteousness?  What must be true of our hearts when we come to the Scriptures or look at creation in order to gain anything from them?
3. Why is the word of God sweeter than honey?  How has the Word of God been better for you than other things we might desire?

Today’s passage: Psalm 18:25-50

Helpful thoughts:

• David acknowledges the Lord’s work in giving him victory (Even in his preparation and physical strength) and in so doing remains humble.
• Even though the people all around were fearful at the presence of David’s power, he knew that it was God who was to be exalted.
  • David did not think it normal for other people to be “cringing” in his presence.
• David recounts the covenant that God has made.  This wasn’t just about him.  There was an offspring and a blessing that would last forever…Jesus Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. Why must we remember God’s work in our lives?  How does praising Him keep us humble and give us proper perspective?
2. Is there anything that occurs on the earth that is beyond the reach of God’s power?  How can this give us peace (Even when we aren’t getting what we “want”)?
3. How has God blessed you and given you victory?  Praise God for His wonderful grace!  And, then pray to Him if there are other areas of struggle that you are in the middle of right now.

Today’s passage: Psalm 18:1-24

Helpful thoughts:

• It is right to call upon the Lord during our troubles and after those troubles are resolved.
• It is great to know that God, through Christ, has wiped away our sin, given us grace and freedom to obey, and then rewards our obedience.  All glory to God!
• David’s innocence stems specifically from that which he was accused of by his enemies.  David knew he was not an all-together righteous man (Psalm 51)!  But, in the things his enemies had accused him of, he was innocent.

Questions to consider:

1. Why can it be so easy to pray to God when we are in a tough situation but then forget about Him when things are going well?  What would that trend reveal about the desires of our heart?
2. What promises has God made that give us total assurance that no sin against Him or against us will go unnoticed or unpunished?  Including our own…  (A little help: Romans 12:19, Revelation 20:11-15, Romans 3:21-27)