Today’s passage: Psalm 49

Helpful thoughts:

• Some verses to consider with this psalm:
  • And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. – Hebrews 9:27
  • 
    

    My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. – James 2:1-9

    
    
  • Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 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.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:14-21

Questions to consider:

1. What kind of world-view causes us to greatly value wealth and power in this world over God?
2. What truths help us to remember that people who sin against us are not inferior to us (Matthew 7:1-5, Ephesians 2:1-5)?  Would the world be a perfect place if everyone was just like you?  How can this humility help us to love people better?
3. How would this kind of love for people give you a platform to share the love of Christ in the Gospel?  How do we have to view ourselves and other people before we will be willing to share Christ with them?

Today’s passage: Psalm 48

Helpful thoughts:

• Instead of the city being a fortress for her king, God is the fortress for His city.
• People with the greatest understanding of all that God is are the ones with the most reason to praise Him.
  • Knowledge results in worship and obedience.
• Even after looking through the magnificent components of the construction of Jerusalem, the one thing the Psalmist encourages the reader to do, is to tell of the greatness of God.
  • Towers, ramparts, and citadels fall.  Our God remains forever.

Questions to consider:

1. What are we often tempted to trust in when things are going well?  When we have plenty of money, protection, safety, etc.?
2. How does a growing knowledge of the Lord bring about greater affection for Him?  How would this knowledge precede and change our desires and actions?
3. When you think/talk of the history of the church, who tends to be the main character(s)? (Do we talk first about what God has done or what man did? Or even about the building?)  What has God done?  Why should we praise Him?  What should we ask Him to do in and through us for His glory as a church?

Today’s passage: Psalm 47

Helpful thoughts:

• God is not great because we praise Him.  He is great and so we are right to praise Him.
  • He is the Lord Most High, He is to be feared.
• All peoples are to join in this praise.  This psalm calls the Jews and all Gentiles together in praise.
• Our praise to God is not a compulsory chore.  God has chosen to give us an inheritance!  We praise Him because He is worthy and because He has given us reason for joy!

Questions to consider:

1. Sinclair Ferguson said, “When you have a superficial view of sin, you will have a superficial view of grace.”  How can an overblown view of ourselves steal away our ability to enjoy and praise God?
2. What are some reasons that God is worthy of all worship?  Which of His attributes amaze you the most?
3. In what way does Jesus and the Gospel message give us specific reason to be thankful for our inheritance and cause us to rejoice?

Today’s passage: Psalm 45

Helpful thoughts:

• This is a Messianic Psalm.  Though it’s content seems like it could have been written for Solomon, Christ (The Anointed One – Verse 7) should be in view.
  • This Psalm is cited in Hebrews 1:8-9.
• The king rides out in victory for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness!
• Remember, the bride of the King will be clothed in His righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)

Questions to consider:

1. Who is the bride of Christ? (Ephesians 5:25-27, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-9)
2. How could verses 10-11 be compared to passages like 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 or Ephesians 4:17-24?
3. Why was the Psalmist motivated to write and sing? (Verse 1)  What is true of our actions when our hearts are filled with the love of Christ?

Today’s passage: Psalm 44

Helpful thoughts:

• Parents in Israel were commanded to teach their children the Law and tell them of the things that God had done (Deuteronomy 6).
• Prayer comes from a heart of humility and a belief that God is truly powerful and sovereign.
• Even in the midst of suffering, when the Psalmist believed God was not acting according to His promise, he still went to God to make his appeal.  There was no running to the gods of the other nations.

Questions to consider:

1. Does God ever sleep?  Does God forget?  Would He reject the people of His covenant promise forever?  Why not?
2. Did God allow Israel to be destroyed in this instance?  Did this Psalmists fears come true?
3. Why do you think God put these Psalms of lament in the Bible?  Where was the loyalty and the place of hope in this lament that made it a true model for us in times of hurt and confusion?

Today’s passage: Psalm 43

Helpful thoughts:

• The world is not going to agree with true Christians and support their belief.  This world is not our home.
• God’s truth is the light that will guide us through these darkened days.
• When we get distracted by the lure of the world, we will think God has abandoned us (Or that He is unable to help) and discouragement is sure to come.  But when we go back to the truth of God’s Word, we will find joy…exceeding joy…in Him!

Questions to consider:

1. What kinds of things happen and what things might people say in this world that get me discouraged (What am I not getting that I want)?  Why do I get so discouraged by them (Think motivations, desires, goals)?
2. What truths from God’s Word bring you joy?  What truths about the character and nature of God bring you joy?  What could you do to help you keep these truths in the front of your mind?
3. Do I believe that joy in God is possible in the midst of my trial?  Why or why not?  Am I willing to talk to somebody about it?

Today’s passage: Psalm 42

Helpful thoughts:

• Times of great distress in this life increase our yearning and groaning for the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:1-2).
• In the midst of hardship (Even when it felt like he was being swallowed up in a storm at sea), the Psalmist looked back on times of joy in worshiping God with other believers and looked forward to the faithfulness of God.  Fellowship and worship encouraged him.
• The psalmist fought the lies of the enemy with truth.

Questions to consider:

1. Is it better to have a bad day as a Christian or to have a good day as an unbeliever (Or even a decade)?  Why?  What truths would help you to answer this questions correctly?
2. How important is the gathering of the church in the midst of this world?  How does the church serve as home away from home?  (Hebrews 10:23-25)
3. Does God actually ever leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6)?  What are some things we have come to believe are the signs of God’s “presence” in our lives?  How would Matthew 16:25 help us to think more accurately about our calling and God’s plan for “our” lives (Which He has bought with a price…1 Corinthians 6:19-20)?

Today’s passage: Psalm 41

Helpful thoughts:

•  With greater responsibilities and greater wealth come unique challenges.  Riches and power do not make life easy.
• It is important to remember in reading the Davidic Psalms that God had appointed David to be king of His chosen people Israel.  For David to seek to repay his enemies and not see them triumph over him is a little different than for you and me.
• David learned that the One who cares for the poor and for kings alike is the Lord, and all desperately need Him the same.

Questions to consider:

1. Where must we find our safety and integrity?  If we trust in the world and in people alone, what would eventually happen?
2. How would hoping in the “empty words” of man cause us anxiety and hurt?  How are we sometimes tempted to share “empty words” in order to fake peace with others?
3. Why was David right to praise God even before he saw his enemies fall?  How is all of this going to end for those who are in Christ Jesus? (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)

Today’s passage: Psalm 40

Helpful thoughts:

• Nothing else we might put our trust in comes close to the faithfulness and power of God.
  • We must trust Him when evils come from without…
• Proclaiming the goodness of God to others is the opposite of actively concealing it according to David.
• We need the gracious intervention of God to overcome our own sin.
  • …and we must trust Him when evils come from within.

Questions to consider:

1. How can we continually remind ourselves that God is superior to all of the things/people in this world (Including ourselves!) we would run to when there is trouble?
2. Who would benefit from your willingness to share God’s goodness (Especially in the Gospel)?  How could it also be encouraging and helpful to you if you shared?
3. Why might we think that we can’t cry out to God in the midst of our sin?  Do we need to “fix” ourselves before we talk to God?  How does that thinking prevent us from succeeding in our repentance?

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?