1. What do you do to remember or memorialize special occasions or happy memories?

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1 Psalm 112 February 20, What do you do to remember or memorialize special occasions or happy memories? Why is it important to keep these memories alive? 2. Read all of Psalm 112. This is a wisdom psalm that gives instructions about life and rejoices in God s blessings. From verse 1, what two specific things lead to God s blessings? 3. Look up the following verses and describe the purpose or benefit of fearing God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Jeremiah 32:39-40 Luke 12: The psalmist also describes the man who fears the Lord as one who greatly delights in his commandments. Look up and record the definition of delight. Although fear and delight appear to be opposite emotions, explain how both are tied together in our attitude and behavior toward God.

2 Psalm 112 February 20, 2014 Page 2 5. Read Psalm 112 again and list the specific behaviors of the man who fears the Lord. Who does this man look like? Read Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 and consider why we should display these behaviors in the world. 6. Are there specific behaviors of the man who fears God missing in your own life? How might you begin demonstrating these things today? 7. Read Psalm 112:7-8 and describe the righteous man s response to bad news. Look carefully for meaning in the specific words that are used. 8. Can you recall a specific instance when you responded to bad news with panic or fear? What bad news are you afraid of today? 9. What truths about God can you claim from the following verses so that you respond with trust in the future? Proverbs 3:25-26 Isaiah 12:2 Philippians 4: Corinthians 12:9-10

3 Psalm 112 February 20, 2014 Page Read the entire psalm one more time and make a list of the blessings that God gives to those who fear Him. 11. Psalm 112:10 provides a stark contrast! In your own words, describe the condition of the wicked man. 12. Make a list of personal blessings in your life that have resulted from your fearing and your following God. 13. Stop and pray right now, acknowledging all of God s blessings in your life. What does this process make you think about God? What does this process make you think about yourself? How does this affect you today? 14. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

4 Psalm 118 February 27, Read Psalm 118 in its entirety. What verse or verses stand out to you? Please explain. 2. Verses 1 and 29 are the same. Write the verse. What two truths about the Lord do these verses record? 3. Notice the tense used in Psalm 118:1. Why do you think the psalmist wrote this in the present tense instead of in past or future tense? Recall a time recently when God revealed to you that He is good. Recall a time recently when God revealed His enduring love to you.

5 Psalm 118 February 27, 2014 Page 2 4. In verses 2-4, what three groups of people does the psalmist call on to praise the Lord? Refer to the following Scriptures to understand the people groups listed in verses 2-4. Why should each group be thankful? Israelites - Romans 9:4-5 House of Aaron - Exodus 40:12-15 All who fear the Lord - Ephesians 1: Read Psalm 118:5-13. List all the ways God has shown His goodness to the author of this psalm. 6. What word is repeated in every verse in Psalm 118:5-13? What phrase is repeated in verses 10-12? Why do you think the psalmist repeated these words throughout verses 5-13? 7. In verses 5-13, how does the psalmist exhibit trust in the Lord? What can we conclude about the author of this psalm? Reread verses 8-9. What are some practical ways you can grow in your knowledge and trust in the Lord?

6 Psalm 118 February 27, 2014 Page 3 8. Read verses In verse 14, the psalmist says that the Lord is his strength, song and salvation. Explain how the Lord is your: Strength: Song: Salvation: 9. Finish up by reading verses In verse 22, the psalmist is referring to the nation of Israel that had been rejected by the Gentiles, but restored by God. Verse 22 is also a prophecy that has a future fulfillment. According to Matthew 21:42, who is the stone in Psalm 118:22? 10. In Psalm 118:1,29, the psalmist makes it clear that we should give thanks to the Lord because He is good, not only because He does good things for us. After studying this psalm, what are the good things about God that lead you to trust Him more? How do thanking God and trusting God go together? Make a list of the things you are thankful for and spend some time thanking God for everything on your list. What particular situation in your life today do you need to trust God with? What will you do over the next few weeks to shift your focus off the situation and onto the goodness of God? 11. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

7 Psalm 33 March 6, How do you define praise? Read Psalm 33 slowly and carefully. Notice the flow of emotions and ideas. Read the psalm one more time. Write the theme of Psalm 33 in one sentence. 2. List the commands the psalmist gives in verses 1-3. To whom is he giving these commands? Read Psalm 33:3 along with Lamentations 3: How might you praise God with a new song? Think of a time and place where you were involved in a praise celebration. Describe your feelings as you praised God. 3. Read Psalm 33:4-9. What do you learn about the Word of the Lord in these verses? What do you learn about the works of the Lord? Notice the imagery. Write down your reaction to God s creative power. How can you use this reaction to praise God?

8 Psalm 33 March 6, 2014 Page 2 4. List the words the psalmist uses in verse 8 to describe how we should approach God. What do these words mean to you as you think about God? 5. Read verses What seems to be the difference between the nations in verse 10 and the nation in verse 12? How does the psalmist contrast the plans of the nations with the plans of God in verses 10-11? Do you really believe that God is in control of the events in our world? Explain why or why not. If you do believe God is in control, how does this affect your attitude toward the events and circumstances that occur? 6. List two attributes or characteristics of God that you see in the beautiful verses

9 Psalm 33 March 6, 2014 Page 3 7. Read verses In verses 16-17, the psalmist gives us three illustrations of faulty things to trust in. What are they? Think of some things in which the world today puts their trust. Consider thoughtfully: In what things, besides God, are you tempted to put your trust? What compelling reasons does the psalmist give in verses for putting your trust in the Lord? Share a way the Lord has delivered you. Be specific. 8. Read the final prayer in verses What does it mean to you to wait for the Lord? How can the actions of the psalmist in verses help you wait for the Lord? 9. What verse from Psalm 33 might you consider memorizing? Why is the verse important to you? 10. Read through Psalm 33 once again and write down all the attributes or characteristics of God that you find in this psalm. Which characteristic means the most to you today? Why? Take a moment now to call out to the Lord with your own new song of praise. 11. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

10 Psalm 42 March 13, Think back on a time of stress or difficulty in your life. What are some of the things that you longed for when you were depressed or distressed? 2. Read Psalm 42. How would you describe the psalmist s mood? Observe how many times the word soul is repeated in Psalm 42. How do you define the word soul? 3. Whom does the psalmist cry out for in verses 1-2? Look closely at the imagery that he uses in these verses to describe his longing. Now rewrite these verses using your own imagery to describe your longing for God in difficult times. 4. What is happening to the psalmist in verse 3? Has your faith ever been a source of taunting or ridicule in your life? Share the circumstance and how you dealt with it. 5. In spite of his distress, what memories encourage the psalmist in verse 4?

11 Psalm 42 March 13, 2014 Page 2 6. How has the opportunity to be part of the Body of Christ and worship with other believers encouraged your faith in hard times? What parts of the worship experience are particularly meaningful for you? 7. What question does the psalmist pose to himself in verse 5? How does he refocus his thoughts? 8. What phrases does the psalmist use in verses 6-11 to describe the extent of his depression? Yet, what truth about God does he profess in verse 8? Why do you think he pauses in the middle of his lament with this profession of hope? 9. Read the following verses and record the truths that can encourage us, even in the midst of depression and difficulty. Psalm 121:1-2 Isaiah 41:10 Romans 8:38-39 Hebrews 13:6 1 John 3:1

12 Psalm 42 March 13, 2014 Page In verses 9-11, the psalmist calls out to God and asks, Why? Do his why questions give you encouragement to be honest with God when times are tough? How? 11. What circumstance does the psalmist remind God of in verses 3 and 10? What do you think his motive might be? 12. As the psalmist finishes his lament to the Lord, he repeats himself in verse 11. How does this refrain reveal the psalmist s confidence in God despite his struggle? 13. Having confidence and hope in God during our darkest moments is a challenge. What wisdom have you gained from the psalmist? How will it influence the way you pray when depression and distress enter your life? 14. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

13 Psalm 91 March 20, Take a minute to stop and consider some of the fears that are currently taking hold of your heart. Write them down. 2. Read Psalm 91. Write out the verse that most encourages you in light of your fears. 3. List the names and traits of God that are described in the first two verses of Psalm 91. Find the verbs in verses 1-2 that teach us what we should do in light of who God is. What practical things can we do to increase our ability to exercise these actions of faith in our lives? 4. Read verses 3-4 to discover great dangers we face and God s great protection. The snare of the fowler illustrates becoming trapped by dangers that are hidden. The deadly pestilence illustrates the powerful diseases and evils that are visible to us. Make a list of what these two kinds of dangers may look like in the world today.

14 5. What attribute of God in verse 4 is a reason to trust Him in difficult situations? Women in the Word Psalm 91 March 20, 2014 Page 2 Why might this attribute be referred to as a shield and buckler? A buckler is a rampart or bulwark, which is a protective barrier. Also read 2 Thessalonians 3:3. 6. What are the four types of dangers listed in Psalm 91:5-6? How might you connect each of these dangers with the different types of dangers in your personal life? terrors of the night - arrows that fly by day - pestilence that stalks in darkness - destruction that lays wastes at noonday - 7. Because of God s protection, we will reap great blessings when we draw near to Him. Explain these blessings in your own words after reading verses We know that God has allowed many wonderful believers to suffer. Even so, what is the result of maintaining your faith in the midst of suffering? Read James 1:2-4.

15 Psalm 91 March 20, 2014 Page 3 8. Read Psalm 91: What role do angels play as part of God s protection in our lives? In Luke 4:9-13, Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness. Read the Luke passage. What do you learn about Satan in these verses? What did Jesus teach us about abusing God s protection when He replied to Satan s temptation? Instead of Satan and his evils overcoming us, how will we overcome him according to Psalm 91:13 where he is described as both a lion and a serpent? Also read 1 Peter 5:8-9 and Ephesians 6: In Psalm 91:14-16, God is speaking to the psalmist. Record all the promises that God makes to the psalmist. Why did God bless the psalmist in this way according to these verses, and how does that speak to us today? 10. Reread your list of fears from question 1. In faith, will you speak to your Mighty God the words that the psalmist spoke to Him in verse 2? His desire is to deliver and protect you. 11. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?