Category: Bible Journey

Psalms 120-129: Our Helper

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(120, 123, 124, 129) In what difficult situations does the psalmist need help in these psalms?

In what ways do you face similar situations today?

(120-121, 123) To whom does the psalmist look for help?

What picture does the psalmist paint in Psalm 123?  How is this a helpful picture?

(121, 124) Where does our help come from (121:1-2, 124:8)?  Why is it important for us to grasp this?  Where else might we look?

What does the psalmist say about his helper in those verses?  Why is that important?

(121) In what ways does God keep us according to this psalm?  How have you experienced this?

(125) Not only does God help and keep us, but he also surrounds us (v2).  How is this a helpful picture?

(122) What help does the psalmist seek for Jerusalem?  Why?

What reasons do we have to be glad to go to the house of the Lord today?  Were you glad to come today?

(127) What help do we need from God in our work (v1-2)?  What lessons can we learn from this truth?

What help do we need from the Lord in our families?  How does this recognition affect our view of children?  How does this recognition compare with our culture’s various views?

(120-129) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Reflections on Psalms 113-118

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Praise and Thanks – Psalms 113 and 117 offer up praises to God for his great deeds of love and faithfulness. Psalm 116 and 118 offer thanks for answered prayer and help in time of need.  How has he shown his love and faithfulness to you this week?  How has he helped you?  How has he answered prayer?  Praise and give thanks to him.
  • Trust – Psalm 115 compares God to idols. Idols can do nothing – it is folly to trust in them.  But God shows us love and faithfulness, he is our help and shield – so we place our trust in him.  What idols are you tempted to trust in?  What do you need to trust God for?

Reflections on Psalms 110-112

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • King and Priest – Psalm 110 speaks of a king who is to come – a king in the line of David who is greater than David (for David calls him Lord). This king is also a priest – one who mediates between God and man.  This king and priest has come – and his name is Jesus.
  • Praise – Psalm 111 pours out praise to God for who he is and what he has done. Use this psalm to pour out your own praise to the Lord.

Psalms 110-118: All Glory To The One True God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(115) When are we tempted to glory in ourselves (v1)?  Why?

(115) How does the psalmist respond to the nations’ taunt in v2-3?

How does God’s ability compare to the nations’ idols (v3-7)?

How would you define an idol (see v8 for a hint)?

What are some modern idols in our culture today?  Which idols are you tempted to follow?

What does the psalmist mean when he says people become like their idols (v8)?

(115) Unlike the idols, our God can act.  How does God act towards his people in v9-15?

(111, 113-114, 118) What further examples of God’s actions toward his people do you find in 111:5-9, 113:7-9, 114:1-8, and 118:13-16?

(115) Why then should we glory in God and not ourselves (v1)?

(115) How should we respond to God’s actions toward us?

v9-11 (118:8-9) –

v18 (111:1, 113:1-3, 117:1-2, 118:28-29) –

v11, 13 (111:10) –

(110, 118) How do the following passages point to Jesus?

118:22-24 (Matthew 21:42) –

118:26 (Matthew 21:9) –

110:1-3 (Matthew 22:41-45) –

110:4 (Hebrews 5-7) –

(110-118) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Reflections on Psalms 105-109

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Saved to Walk with God – Psalm 105 recounts God saving Israel from Egypt – that “they might keep his statutes and observe his laws” (v45). Psalm 106 tells of Israel’s repeated failure to do what they were saved to do.  What about you?  God saved you that you might walk with him.  Are you?  What changes do you need to make?
  • Saved by Love – Psalm 107 recounts several stories of people who were in deep trouble who cried out to God, and God saved them. In response they should give thanks to God for his love.  What story from your life could you add to this psalm?  Thank God for his saving love.

Reflections on Psalms 101-104

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Integrity – In Psalm 101, David expresses his desire to walk with integrity. He ponders the way that is blameless.  He guards his eyes from worthless things.  He wants nothing to do with evil.  How well does this describe you?  What steps do you need to take to walk with integrity before God?
  • God’s Love – Psalm 104 presents God as our Creator and Sustainer. Despite the fact that we are small before him (and even sinners), God still shows his compassion to us (Psalm 103).  Ponder his care for you – and give thanks.

Psalms 101-109: The Love Of God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(102, 104) How would you describe God according to 102:25-27 and 104:1-35?

(103) How would you describe people – morally (v6-12) and physically (v13-18)?  How does this contrast with God?

How does God respond to us (v8, 11-12, 17)?

(105-106) God demonstrates his love towards his people by remembering his covenant with them (106:45).  Trace the ways he remembered his covenant (105:7-11) to Israel in these two psalms.

How are his actions towards Israel good examples of love?

How should God’s people respond to his love (105:1-6, 45; 106:1, 47)?  What might this look like in our daily lives?

(107) For each of the following passages, describe the situation, God’s loving response, and how we should respond:

v4-9 –

v10-16 –

v17-22 –

v23-32 –

(101, 108, 109) How should we further respond to God’s love in 101:1-8, 108:1-5, 109:21-26?

(101-109) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

 

Reflections on Psalms 96-100

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • God Reigns – Three of today’s psalms remind us that God reigns. As king, he will judge the earth.  Our response?  Fear and tremble.  But also praise, exalt, worship, and rejoice.  How might the reminder that God reigns affect your approach to this day?  How might you respond like the Psalmist throughout your day?
  • Praise the Lord – All five psalms today call us to praise the Lord. Answer the call.

Reflections on Psalms 91-95

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • God’s Shelter – Psalms 91 and 94 remind us that God is our refuge, fortress, and stronghold. We can dwell in his shelter in the midst of the storm.  His love holds us up.  In the midst of cares, God cheers our souls.  How do you need God to be these things to you today?
  • Praise – Psalm 92 and 95 call us to praise the Lord: to sing praises, give thanks, make a joyful noise, worship and bow down. Why?  Because God is great, he made everything, and he shows us steadfast love and faithfulness.  Ponder these things and respond with praise!

Psalms 91-100: Praise the Lord

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(92, 98, 100) What two attributes of God do you find in all three passages: 92:1-4, 98:1-6, 100:1-5?

How should we respond to these two attributes according to these passages?  Describe our heart, our words, and our actions.

Give a recent example of how God has shown these two attributes to you.

(93, 95-97, 99) Many of these psalms celebrate God as the King of Kings who reigns over all the earth.  What attributes and actions are related to his reign?

How should we respond to God’s reign according to these psalms?  Describe our heart, our words, and our actions.

(91-100) Spend some time praising the Lord.

(91-100) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?