THE PSALMS JANUARY, 2009

FAYE PIND - WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

150 Psalms have to do with experience.

Read if you are:

Fearful 23, 56 and 91

Discouraged 42

Lonely 62 and 71

Oppressed with sinfulness 32 and 51

Worried or anxious 37 and 73

Angry 13 and 58

Resentful 77 and 94

Happy and need words to express your happiness 66 and 92

Forsaken 88

Grateful 40

Doubtful 119

Value of the Psalms:

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Half of the Psalms were penned by David.

Psalm 90 by King Solomon

Some by sons of Korah

Asaph wrote many.

King Hezekiah wrote 10.

Why study the Psalms?

... speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and

making melody in your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing

psalms. James 5:13

Psalms in Hebrew, "2MR" to pluck, written to be sung to the harp.

In Ephesians, "making melody" is to pluck the strings of our hearts - to sing with

emotion.

Used by Jesus:

Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still

with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me." And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24: 44-45

Used by Peter:

Acts 2:25-28, 34-45

Expresses the eager yearning and looking for God's presence.

Contains prayer songs of trust and praise.

Expresses emotions of joy, anger, praise, repentance, trust, and even doubt.

It is the Christian "Hymnal" to assist us in worship and praise.

It is the Christian "Prayer Book" to help us learn how to approach God in prayer.

It is the Christian book of "Evidences" to strengthen our faith.

It is our Training Guide for living holy and righteous lives before God.

We will learn how to use Psalms to encourage and counsel others.

We will see God's character more clearly - His love, His mercy, His deliverance of the righteous, His judgment and wrath against the wicked.

We will learn more of the Prophecy of Christ.

We will look at examples of fulfilled prophecies.

"The Worship of an Honest Heart" 150 Psalms (longest book in the Bible)

5 divisions/books, each closed by a doxology, each parallels one of the 5 books

of the Torah. Psalms 1-41 relate to Genesis. 42-72 to Exodus, 73-89 to Leviticus, 90-106 to Numbers, and 107-150 to Deuteronomy.

These first 5 books were designed by God to give us the pattern of God's working in human life, all of creation, and history.

Psalm 1 The Saint and the Sinner

Psalms 1 and 2 - No author is listed, but in Acts 4:25, Paul ascribes Psalm 2 to David..

Psalm 1 Law O.T. and N.T. are hinged on Law and Prophecy.

Psalm 2 Prophecy

Psalm 1 Emotional

Psalm 2 Intellectual (deals with a moral problem – “why”)

Psalm 1 Begins with a blessing and ends with a curse. a Psalm of Christ

Psalm 2 A Psalm of Antichrist

Psalm 1 Meditation of the godly

Psalm 2 Meditation of the ungodly

1 and 2 are a summary of the Psalms.

Psalm 1 The Godly Man 1: 1-3 Blessed is the man… Matthew 5

God immediately pours out blessings, happiness, joy – plurals of emotion

Who provides these emotions?

1:1a He is separated from the world.

1:1b He does not linger with the sinful man.

1:1c He does not laugh at the scornful man.

1:2 He is satisfied with the Word. The Lord is their counselor, they sit under His counsel. They meditate on His Law. He is not under the curse of the Law or its

condemnation, but he is in it.

1:3 And he is like a tree planted by the water - Spurgeon (lives of mercy and grace)

Brings forth healthy fruit, patience in time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, (holy)

Fear in the times of prosperity. His leaf will not wither. Words will be remembered.

Deeds of love will be remembered. He won’t lose his beauty or his fruitfulness.

He is situated by the water, (cleansing) by the Word of God, refreshing, revitalized.

7 important marks of being by the water:

His PROMINENCE - He is like a tree.

His PERMANENCE - planted, deep roots, deep hidden life

His POSITION – by rivers of water

His PRODUCTIVITY – brings forth fruit - branches bring blessings to everyone

His PROPRIETY – brings forth fruit in its season; abide in Word and it will come

His PERPETUITY – His leaf will not wither.

His PROSPERITY – Whatever he does shall prosper.