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?
Digging: Read Psalm 21.
1) What is the mood or tone of the King in this Psalm?
2) How had God specifically answered the prayers of the King and his people (Psalm 20)?
3) How does David handle victory? Is that a typical way of handling success? What might we learn from his example about dealing with our successes and victories?
4) To whom does David give credit for the victory?
5)What does David mean when he talks about find gladness in the joy of God's Presence?
6) When have you found that to be the case?
7) Instead of his armaments and armies (See Psalm 20:7), where was David's trust? How might that principle apply in your life? When are you tempted to trust in your own strengths, resources and abilities rather than trusting in God?
8) What is the ultimate fate of those who plot evil and devise wicked schemes?
9) What specifically does David Praise God for? Thank Him for? Ask Him for?
REFLECT AND APPLY
10) Do you find gladness in the joy of God's Presence? Or is prayer and worship boring? A drudgery?
11) Do you really believe in the power of prayer? Or are you unconvinced? Do you trust in things natural or in the Lord?
12) Do you react to victory like David, by giving all the glory to God for his intervention and strength and with songs of thanksgiving?
DIGGING:
1) Who is this Psalm referring to? What specific event seems to be in view?
2) What are some of the specific ways that Psalm
22 parallels Jesus experience?
(See Matt. 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19, Heb.
2)
3) In what sense had God forsaken Jesus? Why?
4) How did Jesus show faith even in these desperate cries in the midst of suffering?
5) What might we learn from Jesus example about prayer in the midst of suffering? About enduring suffering?
7) What do we learn about enduring persecution and taunting?
8) What do we learn about prayer when the answer is not what we would like?
9) What insights do we gain in understanding Jesus situation on the cross through the vivid word pictures of the Psalm?
10) When Jesus looked back at God's dealings with his people, what did he see?
11) How did God bring deliverance?
12) When Jesus looked ahead to what God is going to do ultimately, what did he see?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
13) When you feel forsaken or abandoned by God what hope does this Psalm bring you?
14) In those times who do you turn to? (See Hebrews 2)
DIGGING: READ PSALM 24
1) What do we learn about the God who we are to worship?
2) What is God looking for in worshipers? Why do you think those qualities are important to God?
3) How does that compare to the list we saw in Psalm 15?
4) What impact does it have on your worship when those qualities are true in your life? When they aren't?
5) What does God do for those worshipers?(5)
6) How is "seeking" related to worship? Why do we need to seek Him?
7) In practical terms, how do we "seek" God?
8) How is the Lord described in verses 7-8?
9) Who do you think this refers to?
10) When did it happen or will it happen?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
11) Is your heart and life prepared to stand in the presence of Almighty God? What do you need to do to make sure it is?
12) Are you a "seeker of God's face"? Do you have a longing to spend time with God? Do you Actively pursue those times in prayer and worship?
13) Have the "ancient doors" of your heart been opened so that the King of Glory could come in? Does He rule and reign in your life?
14) Are you longing for His coming?
1) What attitudes does David bring with him as he approaches the Lord with this Psalm?
2) What concerns does he bring with him as he approaches the Lord?
3) What expectations does David have when he writes this Psalm?
4) What do we learn about God that should give us reason to worship Him, fear Him, and trust Him?
5) Is there anything unusual in the way David asks for the Lord's forgiveness? (11 especially)
6) What do we learn about God's guidance? Are there any promises we should note for our prayer time?
7) From what we have seen of David's prayer life, what do you most need to learn or apply?
8) What struggles do you face in trying to sort out God's direction in your life?
Reflect and Apply:
9) Are you someone the Lord confides in? Do you have that kind of intimacy with the Lord?
10) When you are going through difficult situations, where is your hope? Is it really?
DIGGING: Read Psalm 26.
1) In Psalm 15:1, David asks, "Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?", in Psalm 24:3 he asks, "Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?", How did he answer those questions in Psalm 15 and 24?
a) Is David prepared to worship the Lord?
2) What might we learn from David about preparing to Worship?
3) Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? "Test me and try me, examine my heart and mind" (lit. Hebrew: Kidneys and heart)
a) "Test me and try me" are Metal "refining" words in Hebrew. How does this add to our understanding of what David is actually praying?
4) What steps has David taken to make sure he doesn't slip; that his feet are on firm ground?
5) What do we learn about the LORD, in whom David trusts?
6) What do we learn about David's desire to worship? David's desire to be in the house of the LORD? About how David worships?
7) How important is heart preparation to worship? Why?
8) What struggles do you face in preparing to worship God?
9) How do we keep the Longing to be in the presence of the Lord?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
10) Do you long to be in the presence of the Lord?
11) Do you take the time to prepare to meet the Lord in Worship?
Digging: (Read Psalm 27)
1) What three names of God does David personalize?
2) What is the significance of each of those names?
3) What is David's tone/mood in the first section of the Psalm? Where does that come from? The middle of the Psalm? The end?
4) What is David's request?
5) What does that show about David? About his relationship with God?
6) What words would you use to describe David's worship?
7) How does one "gaze upon the beauty of the Lord"?
8) What is the impact on one's life when he or she "gazes upon the beauty of the Lord"?
9) How can "waiting on God" and being "strong"
go together? How are they related?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
10) How is your perspective on life different when you remember that the Lord is your Light? Your salvation? Your stronghold (refuge)?
11) In what circumstance or situation do you most need God to be your light tonight? Your deliverer? Your place of refuge?
12) Where is God teaching you to be strong and
courageous through "waiting"?
1) How would you describe the Psalmist's attitude as the Psalm begins? Why?
2) How does he describe the Lord in the opening verses?(1-2)
3) What words does David use to describe the "way" he prays and worships God? What does he do?
4) Even though he is learning to wait, and is feeling desperate for the answer, does David lose hope? Give up? What does he do?
5) Why is he "lifting his hands toward the Most Holy Place"? Why "lifting hands"? Why the "Most Holy Place"?
6) Why do you think people get all "hung up" on "lifting hands" in worship?
7) David is also concerned for Justice again. Does his language surprise you? (4-5)
8) Describe the Psalmist's mood/attitude toward the end of the Psalm: (6-9)
9) Why the change?
10) How is your praise and thanksgiving the same or different from David's worship?
11) How is the Lord described in the closing verses?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
12) Does the Lord seem silent? Distant? Don't give up. Keep focused on the author and finisher of your faith (Jesus).
13) What is your "cry for mercy" tonight? What do you need the Lord to do in your heart and life?
14) Who can we pray for tonight that is "crying
for help"?
DIGGING: Read Psalm 29.
1) How does a Thunderstorm make you feel? Why?
2) What do you think it means to "ascribe" something to the Lord?
3) What specifically is there to "ascribe" to the Lord?
4) What do you think it means to "worship God in the splendor of his Holiness" (see also 96:9; 110:3, 1 Chron. 16:29, 2 Chron. 20:21)
5) What is the powerful effect of the "Storm" in this Psalm? Trace the Storms path.
6) How is God's voice like thunder? His workings like a great storm?
7) Who stands behind the storm and controls it?
8) When the storm is over, what remains?
9) What comfort does God give to those of us who are in the midst of a storm tonight?
REFLECT AND APPLY:
10) What is your storm? Who is enthroned over it? Who will give you the strength and peace you need?
11) Do you stand in awe of the "holiness of God" when you worship Him? Do you really "worship Him in the splendor of His holiness"?
Psalm 1-10
Psalm 11-19
Psalm 20-29 Index
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