Today’s passage: Psalm 84

Helpful thoughts:

• This is a psalm of ascents.  It was to be sung on the way to worship in Jerusalem at the Temple.
• There are three uses of being “blessed”:
  • Blessed are those who dwell in your house (Verse 4).
    • Why?  Because they get to sing praises continually.
  • Blessed are those whose strength is in you (Verse 5).
    • Why? God has put it in their hearts to draw near to Him.
  • Blessed is the one who trusts in You (Verse 12).
    • Why? Because God is the LORD of hosts.  He is over all.  He will never know defeat.  Trusting in anyone or anything else is folly.

Questions to consider:

1. How could these truths and blessings be applied to prayer and worship together with the church? (Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-25)
2. What things/distractions/values keep us from seeing things like prayer, Bible reading, church meetings as being better than a thousand days doing anything else?  Who is it that makes going to church a great thing?  Who is responsible for making it anything less than exhilarating (Your pastor included!)?
3. What actually makes relationship with God truly exhilarating?  If we think “bells and whistles” will make being with God more appealing, what are we missing? (Psalm 73:25-26)

Today’s passage: Psalm 83

Helpful thoughts:

• In a time of struggle and feeling helpless, the psalmist appeals to God’s work in the past to ask God to work in the present/future.
  • God’s actions recounted in verses 9-12 were acts of mercy.  Israel had not been following the Lord and had only cried out to Him in their distress.
  • Therefore, this psalm is a cry for mercy.
• Verse 16 parallels the beatitude of Matthew 5:3.  Until we are humbled, we will not cry out for saving.
• When things are hard and we cry out for mercy, we must remember that God may be using that “Hard” to purify us, to bring us to repentance.  It is better to go through hardship and grow then to have it easy all the time and remain in our sin.  We often desire “healing” (Physically) more than “healing” (Spiritually). (Hebrews 12:11, James 5:13-20)

Questions to consider:

1. Is God ever passive or sitting on the sidelines not ready to act?  What would be a good description of that the psalmist is doing in verse 1?  Whose perspective is being represented?  How can this encourage you when you pray?
2. Why did the psalmist want God to act against the enemies of Israel (Verse 16 & 18)?  Who also needed to be humbled, to seek God, and know that He alone is Lord?  Was it only Israel’s enemies who needed this wakeup call?  Why had God brought Israel’s enemies in the past (Look over Judges 2)?
3. Is God being silent today?  How has God spoken to the world and who does He speak to the world through? (Matthew 5:13-16, Romans 10:14-15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Today’s passage: Psalm 82

Helpful thoughts:

• Verse 1 sets the stage for this psalm.  God is set up as judge among all the world leaders (Little g “gods”).
  • Little g “gods” in Hebrew can be used to refer to false idols or to human leaders like governors, kings, presidents, etc.
• In verses 2-7, God gives rebuke and instruction to the political leaders of the world.
• Leaders who walk in darkness (Ignorance and injustice) create instability for the people they are called to serve. (Verse 5)

Questions to consider:

1. What is the God-given role of government (1 Peter 2:13-14)?  If God is commanding governments to give justice to the weak and the fatherless, to maintain the right of the afflicted and destitute, and to free them from the hand of the wicked, what would it be considered if leaders ignored the helpless and helped the wicked?
2. If everyone agreed with God on what “Justice” really is, we would be left to simply work on how best to help the helpless and provide justice for all.  How has sin and rebelliousness made governing so difficult? Why can’t people even seem to agree on what justice should look like?  Why is there instability in the world?
3. How would the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves” hold up against this psalm, or other passages like Romans 5:6, or Isaiah 25:4?  How would the mercy ministries of the church to the community be a picture of the Gospel to those who are in need, especially when their need is the result of their own sinful actions?

Today’s passage: Psalm 81

Helpful thoughts:

• This psalm was for the Feast of Tabernacles, the celebration of the exodus from Egypt.
• God showed His sovereign power in a foreign land.  The gods of Egypt could not compete with Him.  This was one of many reasons it made no sense for Israel to be worshiping false gods from foreign nations.
• When God allows man to do the wrong their sinful hearts desire, that in and of itself is judgment. (Verse 12)
  • Romans 1:18-32 echoes this idea.  Sin requires judgment and sin is judgment.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way can Israel’s freedom from Egypt (and then their turning back to Egypt years later for protection) picture for us the idea of a Christian, saved from our sin, turning back to sin?  Why doesn’t it make any sense for us to continue in sin?
2. Should the fact that we do still sin cause us to simply be OK with that?  Why should we continue to strive for righteousness as we live in the mercy and grace of God?
3. How can verse 10 be a key to successful repentance?  What is God calling His people to do?  Are we going to muscle through these struggles on our own?  Who is our champion against sin?

Today’s passage: Psalm 80

Helpful thoughts:

• It is believed this psalm was written in response to the captivity of the northern tribes.
• Asaph was confident in this, if God’s people could see Him, they would be changed (Verse 3, 7, 19).
  • Looking at all the problems and the cares of this world will never lead us to righteousness.
  • Look to Jesus!  Meditate on the glory of God!
• The Vine out of Egypt represents the people of Israel.

Questions to consider:

1. What happened with this illustration of the vine moving forward into the New Testament? (Matthew 21:33-40, John 15:1-11)  How might the correlation between this psalm’s verses 3, 7, and 19 correlate with Jesus’ command to “abide” in Him?
2. Why is it hard to focus our attention on Jesus in the midst of everything happening in our lives/in this world?  What do we often want God to do with all of these issues and problems?  What might God be using these issues and problems to do to you and for you?
3. Christ told us to take His yoke, that it is “easy” (Matthew 11:25-30).  If we are asking God to make our lives easy, what have we gotten backwards?  How would looking to Jesus, abiding in Him, beholding God’s glory revealed in the Scriptures cause us to reorient our view of all the events happening in and around our lives?  What would it take in our hearts/minds to make following Jesus “easy” in the midst of trouble or even persecution?

Today’s passage: Psalm 79

Helpful thoughts:

• This psalm was most likely written after Babylon conquered Judah and destroyed the Temple.
• Verses 5 and 6 are difficult to hold together:
  • The Lord’s anger and jealousy were against Judah.  They had rejected Him.  They had been unfaithful.
  • To ask God to pour out wrath against pagan nations, in a very real way, should have included Israel and Judah.
  • There was a remnant of the Jewish people who called on the name of the Lord.  They cried out for mercy.
• Asaph’s cry for mercy acknowledges:
  • They needed saving.  Not just internal reform.
    • Not just improvement, atonement.
    • If Jerusalem were to be restored it would be according to God’s power and mercy, not the power of any people.
  • God’s people exist for the glory of His name.

Questions to consider:

1. Nations who worshiped false gods (And probably also citizens of Judah) would believe that the false gods of the Babylonians were more powerful than Yahweh (Verse 10) after this defeat.  Why is that idea so foolish?  Why did Babylon win this “victory”?
2. With the history of Israel, how would the commitment of verse 13 feel like an empty promise?  In what way is it true?  When will God’s people give thanks to Him forever?
3. If God was not merciful, what would be the right answer to the questions of verse 5?  How does this make a verse like 1 John 1:9 so very special?  How can God’s abundant mercy and future gracious promises encourage you to walk in righteousness today…for the glory of His name?

Today’s passage: Psalm 78

Helpful thoughts:

• In this psalm, Asaph is asking Israel to learn from the mistakes of their ancestors.
• It is the responsibility of every generation to reach the next generation for Christ.  We are to teach the next generation to (From verse 7):
  • Set their hope in God – Salvation is from the Lord
  • Not forget his works – Reveal God to them through the Scriptures
  • Keep His commandments – Growing together in righteousness
• God is patient, merciful, forgiving, and all that good stuff which we are thankful for and enjoy.  It also grieves Him when we disobey, act foolishly, hurt ourselves, others, and the name of Christ with our sin, and fail to accomplish what we could if surrendered to His Lordship.

Questions to consider:

1. Parents, what is your role in raising your children?  What is the most important thing you must pass on to your kids?  What are you doing (Or what could you grow in doing) to help them set their hope in God, know who He is through His word, and be encouraged to keep His commandments?  How can you equip your children to reach your grandchildren?
2. How important is the children’s ministry in our church?  In what ways do we as a church family unite to reach the next generation?  Teenagers, how close are you to transitioning from receiving ministry to giving ministry?
3. I think we tend to sway back and forth from being too legalistic (Be perfect or else!) to taking the Gospel for granted (Don’t worry about your sin, Jesus died for that.).  Why do you think we would do that?  How ought our salvation in Christ motivate us to live?  What does God’s holiness and authority still demand?  How does Christ’s sacrifice allow us to rest in His grace when we do fall short?  What is the right balance?

Today’s passage: Psalm 77

Helpful thoughts:

• In this psalm, we get a first hand account of the psalmists suffering, prayer, and what helped him endure.
  • In the midst of his suffering, Asaph cried out to God and asked if God had abandoned His promises and attributes.
  • In recalling God’s faithfulness and power displayed through history, Asaph found relief from his pressing despair.
• It can be easy to overlook God’s attribute of immutability.  God never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
  • Our circumstances on this earth can change, but God’s use of them and His intentions for us never will never change!
  • The God who created the universe and promised a savior to Adam and Eve; is the same God who will bring justice to the world, usher in the new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem and dwell forever with His people; is the same God watching over you and working in your life today.

Questions to consider:

1. How does this psalm correlate with Philippians 4:8-9?  What is true about the ways God has redeemed you from your sin and is working even in the midst of hardships to draw you to Himself?
2. What are some memories you have of God working in your life?  Where can you go to see all that God has done in history?  Why is it so important to continue reading the Word of God…including the Old Testament?
3. What will result in our faithfulness to focus our attention more on God than on our present circumstances?  How would that help us to remain contented, resolved, steady, etc.?  How might that change the things we weep over or celebrate (Think: Focus off of self and on God’s big picture and plan)?

Today’s passage: Psalm 76

Helpful thoughts:

• Salem and Zion both refer to Jerusalem.
• The God who is to be feared by all kings and nations around the world, is the who made Himself known to and who will dwell with His people Israel.
• The LORD is to be feared.  Right fear of the Lord produces a change of heart and actions.
  • “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” – Proverbs 1:7

Questions to consider:

1. Who is God?  Why is it only right and only acceptable to have a right fear of Him?  What would a person be taking for granted if they made a vow to God and didn’t keep it?
2. How do you rightly balance God’s love, mercy and grace with His holiness, righteousness, and justice?  Why is Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice such a joy and freedom for Christians?  How could we take all this grace for granted and treat God like a pushover, like our sin isn’t a big deal?
3. How can a healthy fear of God be rightly added to motivations of love, gratitude, future gracious promises, etc. for a Christian to pursue righteousness in this life?

Today’s passage: Psalm 75

Helpful thoughts:

• “Your name is near” is an acknowledgement of God’s presence.  Even when it looks or feels like God is not in control, He absolutely is.
• The idea of “lifting up your horn” is that of expressing majesty or strength.  For man to “lift up his horn” before God is to think too highly of himself and too lowly of God.  It would be a form of self-exaltation. Thus the idea of a “stiff neck” in verse 5.
• The cup of verse 8 is a cup of judgment.
• When nations are strong, it is God’s doing.  When nations dissolve, it is God’s doing.
  • Verse 7 – He puts down one, and lifts up (exalting) the other.

Questions to consider:

1. When do we tend to feel like God is absent or not in control?  Is there ever a time when God is not accomplishing anything?  What is God’s goal for you in every circumstance (Romans 8:28-29)?
2. What did the psalmist choose to do in the midst of the troubling time as he awaited God’s intended results? (Verses 1 & 9)  What should all of the trouble in the world point us toward?  What does it give the church an occasion to declare?
3. Why can we even look forward to God’s justice without fear?  What “cup” did Jesus drink on our behalf? (Matthew 26:39)  Why will our “horns be lifted up”?