Category: Bible Journey

Reflections on Psalms 51-55

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Sinners – Psalm 53 reminds us that we are all sinners (v2-3). And Psalm 52 reminds us that God will judge the wicked sinner.  So we plead for God’s mercy and seek his forgiveness (Psalm 51).  He can cleanse us from our sins and blot out our iniquities.  For what sins do you need to seek his forgiveness?  Praise the Lord for his mercy!
  • God our Helper – God is our helper and the upholder of our lives (Psalm 54). And so we cast our burdens upon him – and he will sustain us (Psalm 55).  Where do you need God to help and sustain you?  Cast those burdens on him.

Psalms 51-60: God Our Helper

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(52-53, 58-59) How does David describe the wicked who have come against him in these psalms?

(52, 55-56) How does David respond when people come against him according to 52:8, 55:23, 56:3-4?

How are we often tempted to respond when people come against us?

How do you need to apply David’s response to your own life?

(54-59) How else does David respond when people come against him (54:1-3, 55:1-3, 56:1-2, 57:1, 59:1-2)?  What is he looking for?

Name one situation in your life today in which you need to follow David’s example.  Stop and do it now!

(52-60) In response to David, what does God do for David?

What does God do with the wicked?

How can this encourage you when you have others come against you?

(52, 54, 57, 59) How does David respond to what God has done for him (52:9, 54:6-7, 57:7-11, 59:16-17)?

For what situations in your own life can you do the same?

(51) Sometimes you are the person acting wickedly.  How might you use this psalm to help you confess and repent your sins?

(51-60) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Reflections on Psalms 46-50

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Refuge – Psalm 46 gives us great help in the midst of great trials. It reminds us that God is our refuge and strength and help and fortress.  He is present with us in the midst of our trial.  He calls us to be still and know that he is God.  Trust him.  Lean on him.  Look to him today.
  • Praise the Lord – Psalm 47 reminds us that God reigns as king over all the earth. And so we should praise him with loud songs of joy.  Psalm 48 reminds us that God is great and greatly to be praised.  Psalm 50 reminds us that God owns everything.  We should give thanks to God for his many blessings and glorify him.  Take some time to praise the Lord!

Reflections on Psalms 41-45

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Desire – In Psalm 42 & 43, the psalmist pants and thirsts for God (42:1-2). He wants to go to the temple and praise the Lord with God’s people (42:3-4, 43:3-4).  Because he can’t go, he is downcast, yet he hopes in God that he will again go and praise the Lord (42:5, 11, 43:5).  Do you have this longing desire for God?  This intense desire to gather and worship?  Ask God to help you grow in these desires.
  • Help – Psalm 44 recounts God’s past help before crying out to God for help in the present. How has God helped you in the past?  How do you need him to help you today?

Psalms 41-50: Coming Together into God’s Presence

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(42-43) With what attitude should we come together into God’s presence according to 42:1-4 & 43:3-4?

Why is our attitude important as we come together?  What affect will it have on our gathering?  On ourselves?

With what attitude do you come to church?

(50) What do you learn about God in v1-6?  How should that affect the way we come together into His presence?

Why wasn’t God pleased with the way Israel came before Him in v7-23?  How might we come in similar ways today?

How should we come instead?

How do you come?  In what ways might you need to change your approach?

(48) What two things does the Psalmist say they do as they come together into God’s presence in v9-11?

In what ways do we do these same two things as we come together?

(47) How might this psalm help us to praise the Lord as we come together?  For what can we praise Him?

(41-50) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Reflections from Psalms 36-40

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • God’s love – Psalm 36 speaks of God’s great love. By his love we take refuge in him.  His love provides us with food to eat and numerous delights to enjoy.  He gives us life itself.  How has he shown his love to you?
  • Look to the Lord – Many of today’s psalms remind us that life is often rough, but we can trust the Lord and wait on him. Life is also short, but we hope in the Lord.  For what do you need to look to the Lord today?

Reflections on Psalms 31-35

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Fear and Forgiveness – We ought to fear the Lord and do that which is good (34:7-14). Do you have a reverent fear (or awe) of God that leads you to obey him?  When we fail to obey him, we can confess our sins and seek his forgiveness (32:1-5).  Are there some sins you need to confess and seek God’s forgiveness for?
  • Great God – Psalm 33 speaks of our great God who is full of righteousness and justice and love. He is the Creator and King.  And so we look to him for help and we offer up our praises to him.  What do you need to trust God with today?  How can you praise him today?

Psalms 31-40: Waiting on the Lord

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(31-40) Read 38:15.  Again and again in these psalms, we are encouraged to wait on the Lord.  What do you think that means?  Give an example of when you have had to wait upon the Lord.

For what situations in your life today do you need to wait upon the Lord?

In the following verses, what words further describe what this waiting should look like?  Or not look like?  How do each of these ideas apply to your current life situation?

31:24 –

33:20-22 –

37:7-9, 34 –

39:7 –

40:1 –

(31-40) What are we encouraged to do again and again in these verses: 31:6,14-15;  32:10,  33:21,  37:3,5;  40:3-4?  How is this related to waiting?

(31-40) What incentives does God give us to wait upon Him (33:20, 38:15, 40:1)?

What further incentives do we find in 31:19, 34:8, 36:7-9?

How do these incentives encourage you to wait on the Lord in your current life situation?

(31-40) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Reflections on Psalms 26-30

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Glorious God – God is full of glory (29:1-2,9). He is full of power and majesty and beauty (29:3-4; 27:4).  He is enthroned as king (29:10).  How does David respond?  David desires to gaze upon God’s beauty (27:4).  He wants to seek God (27:4,8).  He desires to praise God (29:2).  Consider the glory of God.  How do you need to respond to God?
  • Strength – God is David’s strength and shield (28:7). God is the stronghold of his life so he doesn’t need to fear (27:1).  What situations are you facing that bring fear or worry?  Will you look to God for your strength?

Reflections on Psalms 21-25

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

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

  • Trust – Again and again, David speaks of trusting God (21:7, 22:4-9, 25:2). Psalm 23 is a psalm expressing his trust in God.  In what situations do you need to trust God today?  How might the words of Psalm 23 help you?
  • Forgiveness and Instruction – David seeks God’s mercy, asking God not remember his past sins (25:6-7). He asks God to pardon his guilt (25:11) and forgive his sins (25:18).  But he goes further.  He also wants God to instruct him in God’s ways, in God’s truth, in what is right (25:4-5, 8-9).  For what sins do you need to seek forgiveness?  Will you then seek God’s help to overcome those sins in the future that you might follow God’s ways?