This set of studies in Psalms

This set of studies in Psalms (Psalms 1, 37, 8, 19, 23, 32, 51, 63, 66, 73, 78, 84, 86, 119) was the theme of the adult Sunday School class at Full Life Assembly of God in Fremont Nebraska from January – May 2007. There were Sundays when the class did not meet or did not study Psalms due to bad weather, guests, teacher out of town, etc. The typical organization for each file is a one or two page sheet for the class and a 2 or more page set for the leader. The class members were asked to memorize Psalm 1 and Psalm 23. Quizzes were given occasionally to the class at the start of a session. Some quizzes were collected (no names on the pages) and some were kept by the class members. I think this did give some more motivation to memorize the assigned Psalms.

Scripture passages are taken from the New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. The web site http://www.biblegateway.com/ maintained by Gospel Communications International was used to look up scripture passages. Please read their Terms of Use before using their site.

January 7, 2007 Psalms Quiz No Name Required

Answers for these questions can be found in "The Full Life Study Bible NIV" D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) pages 759 – 761.

1. The Hebrew title for the Psalms is tehillim, meaning

a) blessing b) God c) praises d) mighty works e) tell others

2. There are __________ chapters in the book of Psalms.

a) 31 b) 62 c) 99 d) 150 e) 300

3. The Psalms are organized into five sections. Each section ends with a

a) warning b) testimony c) request d) promise e) benediction

4. TRUE or FALSE The five sections of Psalms have similarities to the first five books of the Old Testament as follows:

Section 1 resembles Genesis

Section 2 resembles Exodus

Section 3 resembles Leviticus

Section 4 resembles Numbers

Section 5 resembles Deuteronomy

5. Who wrote the greatest number of Psalms?

a) David b) Moses c) Asaph d) Sons of Korah e) Solomon

6. TRUE or FALSE The King James translation of Psalms repeats ideas in some verses and adds extra verses to contrast ideas, but the original Hebrew poetry does not use repetition of ideas as a teaching tool.

7. TRUE or FALSE The Psalms were written from 15^th Century BC to the 5^th Century BC.

8. TRUE or FALSE The Psalms generally don’t express strong human emotions.

9. TRUE or FALSE Psalms is the longest book in the Bible.

10. TRUE or FALSE Psalms contains the longest chapter and the shortest chapter in the Bible.

11. TRUE or FALSE There are 186 quotations from Psalms in the New Testament.

12. TRUE or FALSE There are prophecies about Jesus in the Psalms.

13. The term "Selah" is found between some verses in the Psalms.

TRUE or FALSE The meaning of the word "Selah" is not completely certain but it may indicate that a pause in the reading or singing should be made.

14. "The Lord is my shepherd (NIV)" begins which Psalm? _________

15. Which Psalm is David’s confession after his sin with Bathsheba? ___________

January 7, 2007 Psalms Quiz No Name Required Leader’s Page

"The Full Life Study Bible NIV" D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) pages 759 – 761

1. The Hebrew title for the Psalms is tehillim, meaning

a) blessing b) God c) praises d) mighty works e) tell others

2. There are __________ chapters in the book of Psalms.

a) 31 b) 62 c) 99 d) 150 e) 300

3. The Psalms are organized into five sections. Each section ends with a

a) warning b) testimony c) request d) promise e) benediction

E 41:13, 72:19, 89:52, 106:48, 150:1-6

4. TRUE or FALSE The five sections of Psalms have similarities to the first five books of the Old Testament as follows:

Section 1 resembles Genesis

Section 2 resembles Exodus

Section 3 resembles Leviticus

Section 4 resembles Numbers

Section 5 resembles Deuteronomy

TRUE

5. Who wrote the greatest number of Psalms?

a) David b) Moses c) Asaph d) Sons of Korah e) Solomon

FALSE A major feature of Psalms is repetition of ideas in the lines of the poetry. The repetition can be a restatement, contrast, or fuller statement of the idea.

7. TRUE or FALSE The Psalms were written from 15^th Century BC to the 5^th Century BC.

TRUE

8. TRUE or FALSE The Psalms generally don’t express strong human emotions.

FALSE

9. TRUE or FALSE Psalms is the longest book in the Bible.

TRUE

10. TRUE or FALSE Psalms contains the longest chapter and the shortest chapter in the Bible.

TRUE Psalm 119 and Psalm 117

11. TRUE or FALSE There are 186 quotations from Psalms in the New Testament.

TRUE

12. TRUE or FALSE There are prophecies about Jesus in the Psalms.

TRUE Psalms 2, 8, 16, 22, 40, 41, 45, 68, 69, 102, 109, 110, 118

13. The term "Selah" is found between some verses in the Psalms.

TRUE or FALSE The meaning of the word "Selah" is not completely certain but it may indicate that a pause in the reading or singing should be made.

TRUE

14. "The Lord is my shepherd (NIV)" begins which Psalm? _________ 23

15. Which Psalm is David’s confession after his sin with Bathsheba? ___________ 51

Background on Psalms Class

1 Chronicles 16:1-7; 36,42 Levites petition, give thanks and praise the Lord. Asaph was chief. They played instruments Hebrews 13:15 offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Luke 24: 44 Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.

Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Colossians 3: 16

Some Pslams have notes written to describe the Pslam.

Psalm 1 Read verses 1-3 What allows someone to be blessed?

Who are the wicked? Psalm 10:4 they have pride and don’t seek God Psalm 10:13 Psalm 37

What three things does the blessed person not do?

What does it mean to: walk in the counsel? stand in the way? sit in the seat?

Do you see any progression of attitude in verse 1?

Proverbs 1: 10-19 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

What are the attitudes and activities of the blessed person?

What does it mean to be delighted in something?

Psalm 119: 46-48 I delight in your commands because I love them. Psalm 119: 71,72; 97-99; 140

Isn’t meditation something that takes place in cults?

Is your brain active and engaged when you meditate?

Explain the meaning of meditate. What takes place when a person meditates?

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

Joshua 1: 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Psalm 19: 14 Psalm 63: 1 - 6 Psalm 143: 5 1 Timothy 4: 11-13 Acts 17: 10-11

Romans 15:1 – 4 2 Timothy 3: 12-17 All Scripture is God-breathed

Does "day and night" mean just on Sunday morning?

Can you meditate on God’s law without having a Bible in your hand?

Verse 3 As you drive in the country, where do you see the most trees?

How will the blessed person yield fruit in season?

Think of a well watered tree. Describe its leaves.

How does fruit relate to prospering?

Is prospering only related to money and ‘things?’

Genesis 39: 2 – 6 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered,

Deuteronomy 29: 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.

2 Chronicles 26: 3-5 Uzziah … As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

Who evaluates the fruit?

Matthew 3: 7-10 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 7: 15-20 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 13: 23He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

John 15: 1-8 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.

Colossians 1: 9-10 please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Revelation 22: 1-2 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,

Read verses 4-6 How is chaff different than a tree?

What is the future for the wicked? Matthew 25: 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment,

How does God watch over our way?

Matthew 6: 30-34 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 10: 26-31And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

2 Timothy 2: 14 - 19 "The Lord knows those who are his,"

1 Peter 5: 6,7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Summarize this Psalm. Homework: Memorize this Psalm.

Background on Psalms Leader pages This lesson took two weeks to complete.

As each person finishes their quiz, have them scan through the Psalms. They should look for themes, notes on how they were used, musical terms, etc.

After everyone finishes the quiz, give the answers and briefly discuss them.

Also:

1 Chronicles 16 Read 1-7; 36,42 The ark of God is placed inside a tent. Offerings are made before God. Levites are appointed to minister before the ark. They make petition, give thanks and praise the Lord. Asaph was the chief. They played lyres, harps, cymbals, and trumpets. Portions of this psalm of thanks are found in Ps 105:1-13, 96:1-13, 106:1,47,48.

Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Luke 24: 44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

SUPERSCRIPTIONS

"The Full Life Study Bible NIV" D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) page 760

The superscriptions are not original but are ancient (before 300BC).

"The New Bible Commentary Revised" D. Guthrie and J. Motyer eds. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (1970) pages 446- 447. The superscriptions do not solve the question of authorship. Some superscriptions probably do indicate the author. Others may indicate a sort-of ‘hymn book’ that the Psalm belongs to.

Psalm 1 Read verses 1-3

What allows someone to be blessed?

Blessed …"happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable" Amplified Bible

"..the state of "prosperity" or "happiness" that comes when a superior bestows his favor (blessing) on one." "Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament" M. Unger and W White, Jr. eds. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1980) page 31

wicked … "…the category of people who have done wrong, are still living in sin, and are intent on continuing with wrongdoing." "Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament" M. Unger and W White, Jr. eds. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1980) pages 468-469

Psalm 10:4 they have pride and don’t seek God

Psalm 10:13 they revile God and don’t think they will be held accountable

Psalm 37 the wicked: plot against the righteous, will perish, borrow and don’t repay, lie in wait for the righteous, soon pass away

What three things does the blessed person not do?

What does it mean to:

walk in the counsel?

stand in the way?

sit in the seat?

Do you see any progression of attitude in verse 1?

Proverbs 1: 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"- 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

What are the attitudes and activities of the blessed person?

What does it mean to be delighted in something?

happy to have it

consider it worthy, value it

Psalm 119: 46-48 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I lift up my hands to [c] your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119: 71,72 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119: 97-99 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119: 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

Jeremiah 15:16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

Isn’t meditation something that takes place in cults?

yes, but Christian meditation is different. Meditate on godly things, not just a meaningless syllable

Is your brain active and engaged when you meditate?

Explain the meaning of meditate. What takes place when a person meditates?

Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament" M. Unger and W White, Jr. eds. Thomas Nelson Publishers (1980) page 245

"moan, growl, utter, speak" "sighing and low sounds one may make while musing"

reflect on who God is and how I relate to God reflect on how scripture applies to my life

Genesis 24: 62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Psalm 19: 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD,

Psalm 63: 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Psalm 143: 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

1 Timothy 4: 11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Acts 17: 10As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 3: 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Does "day and night" mean just on Sunday morning?

Can you meditate on God’s law without having a Bible in your hand?

Yes, think of scripture you have memorized, think of God’s principles.

Verse 3 As you drive in the country, where do you see the most trees?

(In Nebraska … along rivers, streams )

How will the blessed person yield fruit in season?

Think of a well watered tree. Describe its leaves.

thick, flexible, green

How does fruit relate to prospering?

Is prospering only related to money and ‘things?’

Genesis 39: 2-6 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

Deuteronomy 29: 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.

2 Chronicles 26: 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

Who evaluates the fruit?

Matthew 3: 7-10 But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. …10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7: 15-19 "Watch out for false prophets. …. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 13: 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

John 15: 1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Colossians 1: 9,10 For this reason, … we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Revelation 22: 1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Read verses 4-6

How is chaff different than a tree?

What is the future for the wicked?

Matthew 25: 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

How does God watch over our way?

Matthew 6: 30-34 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 10: 26-31 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

2 Timothy 2: 14-19 Keep reminding them of these things. … 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. …Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

1 Peter 5: 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Summarize this Psalm.

Homework: Memorize Psalm 1.