Promises Week 24:
Book I of Psalms 1 to 41
…delighting in Him and His Word…Psalm 37:4
Book I of Psalms 1 to 41
(Genesis – Creation and the fall of man)
As we immerse ourselves in the Psalms and toward the writing of our own Psalm(s) we will have a different approach and we encourage that. One’s eye may be drawn to how the Psalms begin when then there is repetition of a certain phrase. Pay attention to what grabs you and explore that. Have fun and delight in Him as you travel into expressing your own psalm to God. This following background may be helpful:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/stedman_ray/adv_psa/adv_psa.cfm.
Joseph specifically mentioned the five (5) books of Psalms when he presented his word to us at the Seder. We are diligently considering the significance conceptually and would love your thoughts. In our approach to writing our own psalm(s) we are encouraged to express ourselves freely and fully just at the Psalmist did. The writers were very honest with God and they communicated from their hearts. And, as they expressed themselves freely and fully to Him, they realized their great need for Him. As you tell God what is in your heart you will receive comfort, strength and direction from Him.
Psalms with all P’s (All Promises): Chapters 23, (almost 91, 103, 111), 112, 121 and 136.
Psalm 1:1 to 3 BLESSED. (Whoa) We gotta stop right there and take a breath. Our study begins well – we are BLESSED (happy, prosperous, fortunate and enviable)…blessed are those who delight in the law of the Lord. This theme has been repeated throughout the first half of our journey together reading through the Word. The Lord is and has blessed us for our joy in sharing this study together.
This has been called the ‘Preface Psalm’ because in some respects it may be considered “the text upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon.” It opens with a benediction, “Blessed” as does our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (Matt.5:3).
Psalm 1 promises prosperity to those who delight in God’s law and who meditate on His Word day and night. In other words, if we give God and His Word first place in our lives we can expect to prosper.
Psalms 3 and 4 Ask & Answer. The Lord will answer us – we need to call on Him – and include Him in every aspect of your decision making and lives.
Psalms 5:12. Decked Out in Delight. The last verse of the fifth Psalm gives a beautiful PROMISE that the Lord will surround the righteous with favor as a shield. The Message Bible says: stand guard over our celebration, you are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight. Let’s seek the Lord and be prepared to celebrate…
Psalm 6:4 His Unfailing Love. David called out to the Lord for salvation based solely on His unfailing love. The Psalmists look to the Lord’s unfailing love 33 times in the 150 chapters. We can equally rest in His PROMISE of unconditional love.
Psalm 8 Majestic Beginning and End. Psalm 8 begins recognizing the majesty of our Heavenly Father – His name echoes around the world. David ends the Psalm repeating the same praise.
Psalm 10:17. 1. The Lord hears the desires of the humble. 2. He prepares our heart to pray and receive His answers. 3. He inclines His ear to listen to us.
Psalm 15 Checklist. David provides ten (10) principles to follow – with the promise that whoever meets the standard will never be shaken.
Psalm 17. In this Psalm David is asking God to hear him, pleading with God to judge him. David describes what he has done and what he needs from God. David’s process: verse 5 his steps, verse 6 his plea, verse 7 his desire, verse 8 his need, verse 9 his fears, finally in verse13 his plea for what he needs God to do for him. In Verse 15 we see David’s choice to continue to trust and to be fully satisified in the Lord.
Psalm 18:2. In the Lord we are safe. A Psalm of David – see I Samuel 22.
Psalm 18:30. Scripture is flawless.
Psalm 19:1. He is the Master Designer of all creation. Verse 14 provides a beautiful prayer: May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Salvation.
Psalm 20. God will answer you. This scripture serves as a blessing, almost a medicine, for whatever may ail a saint. Imagine speaking this Psalm over yourself or a friend when in the storm.
Psalm 21. Suggestion – read in the first person…☺
Psalm 22. A Psalm of the Cross. Whether by prophecy or PROMISE – all Scripture reveals Christ. Mark 15:34 our Lord identified Himself with the suffering in Psalm 22. And many consider Christ’s uterring of the first and last lines of this psalm while on the cross was to guide the people present at the cruxificion to read and study Psalm 22 to see the complete description of what was happening was prophesied hundreds or maybe even one thousand years before the birth of Jesus which both fulfills prophesy and gives God the glory.
Psalm 23. The entire chapter offers PROMISE and solace. The Lord will give us strength. He is our shepherd and leader. Verse 5 encourages us to press on through the valley as we are on our way to the table of provision and assures us that God will give us the strength to possess what is on the table. The Psalms show David’s confidence and authority in his relationship with the Lord. A beautiful Psalm and example for us to follow.
Psalm 24. When we read Psalms 22, 23 and now 24 while considering Christ we see the progression from the cross (22) to becoming our Shepard (23) to His having dominion over the earth as He takes His rightful place at the right hand of God.
Psalm 25. Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life. The gates and doors of our hearts must be thrown open to Him. His precious PROMISES are our security – bring to the Lord our life.
Psalm 27:14. Wait on the Lord – courage will follow…
Psalm 31:2. He is our Rock…so we pray lead me to the Rock – the Lord is greater than all our needs.
Psalm 31:3. A Prayer to be Memorized…into your hands I commit my spirit.
Psalm 32:8. The Lord’s Will. We often need assurance that a decision we are making reflects the Lord’s plan for our lives. When divine guidance is in harmony the reality of our circumstances and the revealed truth of God, we can be confident we are in His will. The Lord PROMISES to instruct us on His will.
Psalm 33:16. The Basis of Our Faith? When we read II Samuel 24 we questioned the circumstances and what was the harm in David taking the census. This verse explains that our faith needs to be in Christ not our talents, intelligence, education, wealth, personality, appearance, strength, etc. – rather we need to rely on Him all for His glory.
Psalm 34 A Phenomenal Call and Response Example. David blessed, magnified and sought the Lord and He delivered him, the poor man cried and God heard, God encamps about those who revere and worship and require and trust and taste and see and take refuge in Him. The more we rely on God the more He can do for and through and with us.
Psalm 34:7. Conditional PROMISE – His PROMISED presence and fellowship can only be realized by those who fear Him.
Psalm Chapter 34 - Full of PROMISE. Verses 9 and 10 give the assurance that the Lord will provide our needs. Psalm 34:19. As
David mediated on the Word – God’s statutes – then became His songs. In Psalm 34:20 David emerges from affliction – whole – so can we.
Psalm 35: God is Our Defender.
Psalm 36:11: Foot of Pride – Hand of Wickedness. Let not the foot of pride overtake me…let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Psalm 37 Delight in Him. Psalm 37:4 is the theme of our PROMISE BIBLE STUDY. The joy we have in our fellowship and study brings a smile to our Heavenly Father. If we go His way vs our own…life become delightful – peaceful – fulfilling. In delighting in Him our desires will become His desires and we will, indeed, have the desires of our heart. A PBS FAVORITE.
Psalm 40:2 Rock – Strong Foundation. See Matthew 7:24-27 for a parallel Scripture.
Psalm 41:1. Thinking of Others. This treasured PROMISE of blessing is for those who think about the poor and let them lie on their hearts as a Christian duty. Chapter 41:3 offers a precious glimpse into the tender heart of the Lord for those in need.