Today’s passage: Psalm 94

Helpful thoughts:

• It is important for Christians to remember, vengeance is not ours to enforce or ensure.
  • Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
• It is also important for Christians to remember, the reason we do not await vengeance for our own wickedness is because Jesus stood in our place and took our judgment.
  • For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24
• There are many who will offer to fix your problems (Or all of society’s problems).  Only ONE truly can (Verse 17).

Questions to consider:

1. What are the things that concern you the most right now?  In the culture?  In your home?  To whom have you turned for “solutions?”  Whom are you seeking to be your rock of refuge?
2. What does entrusting judgment to God free us up to do as Christians?  What has He commanded us to do in this world, for their benefit?
3. How do we balance a desire to see the lost come to Christ and a desire to see sin judged?  In the end, how will both realities be entirely appropriate and resound to the glory of God?

Today’s passage: Psalm 93

Helpful thoughts:

• When the world around us (Or our hearts within us) look like chaos, God is still entirely in control.  His victory is not a comeback.  He is never the underdog, no matter what things look like.
• Verses 3 and 4 have been interpreted in different ways, but primarily in these two:
  • When we consider the vastness, power and peril of the seas, we would certainly be overwhelmed, yet God is still more powerful and indeed sovereign over the seas.
  • The floods of waters represent people who oppose the psalmist and/or the people of God.  When we are under duress, we can remember that God is mightier than any who would oppose us.
• Everything that God says is true.  We can count on every word of God eternally.  This is one of so very many aspects of the Lord which set Him apart from all of us. (Verse 5)

Questions to consider:

1. How does our time in the Word of God give us the right perspective (The right pair of glasses) through which to see the world?  What events are causing the world to fear these days?  Why don’t you need to be afraid?
2. What posture does our standing in Christ allow us to have toward others in the midst of their fears?  How can we use that standing in love for God’s glory and their good?
3. How does this psalm also give us a right expectation for God’s answers to prayer in our lives?  We can often want God to make the wind and waves stop so that life will be “easy”.  How does God give us grace to be at peace and rest in our hearts even when the “seas” rage all around us?

Today’s passage: Psalm 92

Helpful thoughts:

• This psalm was written for the day of worship!
  • To think that there could be anything better or more fitting for the Lord’s Day than to sing praises, to declare His love, and to worship God…well…verse 6 describes that thinking.
• One of the purposes of the Lord’s Day is to refocus and correct our thinking about the world around us (Verses 7-9, Psalm 73:16-17).  When we see the Lord rightly, we will then see the world rightly.  We need regular recalibration.
• The tree that flourishes is the tree planted in the house of the Lord (Verse 13).

Questions to consider:

1. What is the Lord’s Day for our church?  When do we gather to worship Him?  Why is it right to worship Him?
2. How is someone “planted” and continually nourished “in the household of God?”  What does that look like today?  How could this analogy work together with that of the “body” from 1 Corinthians 12:14-27?
3. Though the New Testament never commands Christians to observe the Sabbath, we do enter into Sabbath rest and enjoy it every day…how? (Hebrews 4:1-13)  Who has provided our righteousness in full and provides us true rest?

Today’s passage: Psalm 91

Helpful thoughts:

• If you have chosen to live under the protection of God, you have chosen well.  He is Almighty!
• In commentary to this psalm, Charles Spurgeon wrote this: “When you walk with a friend in certain positions of the sun, your friend’s shadow falls on you, but you cannot expect to have the shadow of your friend unless you are near him.”
• No child of God suffers or dies by chance or bad luck.  God has a purpose for all things, and for those whom He has called, it is always for their good (Romans 8:28-30).

Questions to consider:

1. How many bad things can you find in this psalm that could cause us fear or distress?  How many of them are more powerful than Almighty God?
2. If someone were to reference this psalm to say that Christians never get sick or should never use medicines of any kind, what would be a good response? (1 Timothy 5:23)  If Christians don’t ever get sick, why do Christians get sick?  And why did Timothy get sick and need medicinal treatment for his “frequent ailments?”  What must this psalm mean when it speaks of God’s control over all these hardships?
3. What does it look like for a person to hold fast to God in love?  Beyond any emotional feeling, what actions result from this love?  What actions resulted from God’s love for you?

Today’s passage: Psalm 90

Helpful thoughts:

• This psalm was written by Moses!  Only one psalm is credited to him.
  • These truths were still true when the whole of the 150 psalms were compiled, and they are still true today.  “From everlasting to everlasting” God is God!
• Seeing our existence in relation to who God is (Holy, eternal, our Creator) gives us a better perspective and understanding concerning our sin…and His gracious plan for our rescue in Christ.
• By God’s grace we learn to see even the negative consequences of our sin in this life as a way to draw our attention to see God and rejoice in His favor.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it good for us to “number our days?”  How does wisdom come from knowing who we are and how long we have on this earth compared to the eternal glory of God?  What is our purpose here?
2. If this life is short and life with God is everlasting, what would it be wise to ensure we prioritize in our days here?  What is our Creator God worthy of (Romans 12:1-2)?
3. What does verse 17 acknowledge we need?  In what ways have you seen God’s favor on your life?  What can you thank Him for today?