| Psalm 11 | Psalm 12 | Psalm 13 | Psalm 14 | Psalm 15 | Psalm 16 | Psalm 17 | Psalm 18 | Psalm 19 | Psalm 20 |
1) David saw the "foundations crumbling" in his day, In what ways are our foundations as a nation crumbling?
1a) Does it ever seem that your "own little world" is out of control and falling apart? That your own foundations are crumbling?
2) What was David being advised to do? (1-2)
3) What is the word picture that David is used to describe the wicked and righteous?
4) Why did David reject the advice to "run to the mountains"? (vs 1)
5) Why was David able to take refuge in the Lord? What did he know that his advisors seemed not to notice?
6) How did an "eyes of faith" perspective change the "natural eyes" perspective?
7) What was the Lord's attitude toward the wicked? What was he going to do with the wicked?
8) Why does he speak of "Fire and Brimstone" (coals of fire and burning sulphur), what picture does that bring to mind?
9) In contrast to God's judgement on the wicked, What is God's attitude toward the righteous?
10) What can the righteous expect from God's hand?
REFLECT AND APPLY
11) "When the foundations crumble", should I run away to the mountains or is there something I can do? What would be the result of each course of action?
12) When everything around me seems to be in Chaos, what do I need to remember?
13) When everything around me seems to be falling apart, where do I need to turn?
DIGGING: Read Psalm 12
1) What was the situation among the people of Israel? Why did the psalmist write this Psalm?
2) What kinds of "tongue trouble" do the wicked have? (2-4)
3) What is your biggest "speech impediment": Deceit? Flattery? Boasting? Not listening? Something else?
4) What might have led the nation of Israel to such a point, to where the godly are no more?
5) How might someone try to "Triumph with their tongue"? (4)
6) What difference does it make, who owns your tongue?
7) Who does own your tongue? In practical terms, what does that mean?
8) What was David's "prayer request" in this Psalm?(3)
9) What is the effect of the words of the wicked on others?(5)
10) Do you ever seriously consider the effect your words have on others people?
11) What is Jesus haunting reminder? (Matt. 12:33-37)
12) How do the words of the wicked compare to the words of the LORD?
13) What do we know about the words God says? (See also Isa. 55:10-11)
14) Whose tongue will triumph?
REFLECT AND APPLY
15) What "speech problem" do you need God's help with?
1) In Psalm 12, who does David think had abandoned him? In Psalm 13?
2) What repeated phrase shows the desperation of the Psalmist? What does the repeated use of that phrase show about his situation?
3) What is the reason for the first "How Long?" Why does David feel abandoned?
4) What is behind the second "How Long?"
5) What is behind the third "How Long?"
6) What about the fourth "How Long?"
7) Have you ever experienced any of those feelings of abandonment?
8) What is David's petition? What does he actually ask for?
9) How do his petitions relate to his laments?
10) What does he do that leads him from his depression and feelings of being abandoned by God?
11) What does he know about God that helps him out of this dark time?
12) What do you learn about dealing with depression, questions, feelings of being abandoned by God from the Psalmist?
13) How would you try to help someone who is going through such a time right now?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
14) When you feel abandoned, where do you go? What do you do?
15) Is your theology of "Who God Is" sufficient to pull you out of time of feeling abandoned?
16) Who can you encourage through a time of feeling abandoned?
DIGGING: READ PSALM 14:
1) What is the confession of the fool?
2) What is the real reason the fool says in his heart, there is no God? :(Also see Romans 1:18)
3) Who is a fool? How widespread is the problem? "The Hebrew word for fool is Nabal, a term which implies an aggressive perversity epitomized in the Nabal of I Samuel 25." Derek Kidner "The fool is not a subspecies within the human race; all human beings are fools apart from the wisdom of God." P.C. Craigie "‘No not one': This is no exaggeration since every sin implies the effrontery of supposedly knowing better than God, and the corruption of loving evil more than good." Derek Kidner
4) What is the result of this arrogant attitude of ignoring or denying the existence of the Creator and his demands on my life?
5) What were the specific sins that resulted from this "Spirit of Godlessness" in this Psalm?
6) What hope does the Psalmist see?
7) What do we learn about God in this Psalm?
8) What do we learn about ourselves?
9) Isaiah 2:12-22, Rev. 6:15-17. What is the ultimate fate of the fool?
C. S. Lewis: "In the end that face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us..., either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised."
DIGGING: Read Psalm 15
1) Describe the character of a man after God's own heart: (2a,b)
a) Does your walk match your talk?
2) Describe the speech of a man after God's own heart: (2c, 3a)
a) What does your talk reveal about your heart?
3) Describe the conduct of a man after God's own heart: (3b,c)
a) How are you doing at "living out the truth" in your community?
4) Describe the values of a man after God's own heart: (4a,b)
a) Are you a "lover of good" or a "lover of evil"?
5) How does the man after God's own heart show his integrity? (4c)
a) How good is your word?
6) How does the man after God's own heart use his money? (5)
a) What does your checkbook say about your relationship with God?
7) Do you live your life in such a way that you find Joy in God's presence and in his house?
Digging: Read Psalm 16.
1) What is the tone of the Psalmist? Sad, happy, worried, confident, Angry, Confused?
2) What do we learn about the Psalmists view of God?
3) What do we learn about David's relationship with God?
4) Why can he be confident?
5)How does David describe his present condition? What is his attitude concerning his present condition?
6)What is the Psalmist's future hope? (9-11)
7) Was this Psalm referring only to David, or was there someone else in mind? (See Acts 2:25-36)
REFLECT AND APPLY:
8) Do you find a contentment that leads to praise in your "lot in life"?
9) Do you love to be in the Lord's Presence? Do you find joy there?
10) Do you have the confident hope of the Resurrection?
DIGGING: Read Psalm 17:
1) What was the Psalmist's situation? (Vs 10-12)
2) What is the first request he makes of the Lord? (1)
3) How does the Psalmist describe his side of the Case?
4) How does his blamelessness affect his praying?
5) What confidence does it bring him? (6)
6) What does he request in verses 6-9?
7) In contrast to his own innocence, what do we learn about his enemies?
8) As the prayer continues, what does he ask for (13-14)
9) Where do the men of this world find their reward?
10) Where does the Psalmist expect his reward?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
11) When life seems unfair, where do you turn?
12) Are you able to pray with such confidence?
13) Where is your real reward? Do you live consistent with that?
14) Have you found A shelter underneath his wings?
Digging: Read Psalm 18:
1) How would you describe the attitude of David in Psalm 18? What has changed?
2) How does David describe God?
3) What had the Lord done for David?
4) What does David mean by verse 19?
5) In what sense might the Lord delight in one of his children?
6) What is the relationship between our relationship with God and his blessings? (20-27)
7) To whom does David give the credit for his victories? Why? (28ff)
8) How does he describe the Lord's deliverance in vs. 32-36?
9) How might God "broaden our paths so our ankles don't turn"?
REFLECT AND APPLY
10) Have you found the Lord to be your Rock, Fortress and Deliverer?
11) Are you trusting him to keep your "ankles" from turning?
12) Do you think God delights in you? Are you a man or woman after his own heart?
How has God revealed His Glory to Man? (1-6 & 7-14)
What is the nature of that revelation?
What specifically does the creation tell us about God?
Is man accountable for God's revelation through nature? What responsibility does it give man? (Romans 1:18-20)
Does that apply to those who have never heard the gospel? (Romans 1:20)
What impact does General Revelation (revelation through God's creation) have upon you?
In addition to General Revelation, how has God revealed himself? (7ff)
What are the characteristics of the Word of God? In each case, what benefit does that characteristic bring? Why?
In what sense is the Word of God like honey?
REFLECT AND APPLY
Do you take the time to enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Does it cause your heart to well up in songs of praise to the glory of the Creator?
Do you take the time to enjoy the sweetness of God's Word. Does it bring you delight?
Digging: Read Psalm 20.
1) Why is necessary for us to pray for God's blessing on our Leaders? (See also 1 Tim. 2:1-4)
2) How do the people bless the King in this Psalm? What specific blessings upon the king do they seek?
3) How might we apply those blessings to our situation today?
4) What do we learn about the King in this passage? What kind of man was he?
5) If he hadn't been that kind of man, would the blessings have been different or the same? Why and how?
6) Where did the people place their trust?
7) In contrast, what did other nations boast in?
8) What are we trusting in? The strength of our weapons or the name of the Lord?
9) Read Psalm 21. How did the Lord respond to the people's prayers of blessing for the King?
10) Did the King see the connection?
REFLECT AND APPLY
11) Do you diligently pray for your leaders? Do you bless rather than curse them?
12) In what ways can we pray for God's blessing on our Governing Leaders?