READ The BIBLE Together

Transcription

1 READ The BIBLE Together PSALMS (BOOK V) PSALMS th August December 2018 SHALOM CHURCH, SINGAPORE (Upholding the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith) The reading of Scriptures is an important discipline for our Christian Life, and it is our aim to inculcate this godly culture in Shalom Church through our READ-The-Bible- Together program. Since this is READ-The-Bible-Together and not STUDY-The-Bible-Together, the questions and notes in the following pages are kept relatively simple, serving as our reading aid. May the Holy Spirit make our reading of Scripture an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners in our midst, as well as building believers up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation! 1

2 For this week [12 th -18 th August 2018] we will be: [a] Doing a review of PSALMS [b] Doing an introduction to BOOK V of PSALMS [c] Looking at the ten beatitudes of BOOK V of PSALMS For this current RTBT series, we have come to BOOK V of the BOOK of PSALMS (PSALM ). The BOOK of PSALMS has 150 psalms. Each psalm was penned in a particular historical context. One day (we don t know when), someone (we don t know who), took these 150 psalms and arrange them into five separate books. Hence we have BOOK I, BOOK II, BOOK III, BOOK IV and BOOK V in the BOOK of PSALMS. In BOOK I and BOOK II, the emphasis was on the highs and lows of David s life, ending with PSALM 72 that speaks of the crowning of Solomon, David s son as king of Israel. In BOOK III, the failures of the kings of Israel were highlighted, ending with the exile of God s people. Hence we read words like these in PSALM 89: You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground and How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? In BOOK IV, the people of God are in dire straits. They have lost their land, their temple and their king, and they are now in exile in Babylon. Hence BOOK IV addressed God s people in their sad situation. In BOOK V (PSALM ), it appears that the exile is over and a new beginning is dawning. Let s hear from Pastor Philip EVESON on this: The opening thanksgiving psalm is an appropriate introduction, for praise and thanksgiving dominate this final book. Psalms are attributed to David, encouraging the people with further truth concerning the Lord s anointed. Two groups of psalms are included that recall the exodus from Egypt, and the people s return from Babylonian exile is seen as a second exodus. The first group (Psalms ) is known by the rabbis as the Egyptian Hallel and was sung at the family Passover celebrations, while the second group ( Songs of Ascent, Psalms ) was associated with pilgrims journeying to the temple in Jerusalem. Separating the two groups is the majestic Psalm 119 with its celebration of God s law. Psalm 111 and 112 have already prepared the way for this massive psalm with their emphasis on godly wisdom that delights in God s word (Psalm 111:10; 112:1). Two psalms, one of praise and the other of thanks (Psalms 135, 136), follow the Song of Ascents group, while in Psalm 137 there is a reminder of how impossible it was to sing the songs of Zion in exile. 2

3 Book Five continues with a group of eight psalms of David (Psalms ), the last one being a magnificent praise psalm, bringing the David collection to a close. The whole Psalter then comes to a grand conclusion with the final Hallelujah psalms (Psalms ). Scattered throughout BOOK V are ten beatitudes. Look them up and write them down in the space below: PSALM 112:1 ~ PSALM 119:1 ~ PSALM 119:2 ~ PSALM 127:5 ~ PSALM 128:1 ~ PSALM 137:8 ~ PSALM 137:9 ~ PSALM 144:15a ~ PSALM 144:15b ~ PSALM 146:5 ~ Pick one or two of the ten beatitudes, and discuss with your RTBT group its meaning and application in your life. 3

4 We will be taking TWO weeks [19 th August 1 st September 2018] to read PSALM Read PSALM 107 using the NKJV and another reliable English translation, then note down anything that catches your attention: 2. Verses 1-3 (Some Notes) We are exhorted to give thanks! Give thanks to whom? The LORD (YAHWEH) the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God! Why give thanks to Him? (i) He is good (ii) His mercy endures forever. Note that mercy (NKJV) = lovingkindness (NASB) = steadfast love (ESV). It is hesed in Hebrew, and the word means covenant love, faithful/loyal love. God has made a covenant with His people, and in faithfulness to His covenant He will love us even when we are most unlovely. At times, He will chastise us. His chastisement is not an indication of His hatred of us, but of His loyal love towards us. Precisely because of hesed, He will discipline us and bring us back when we stray! Who (especially) should give thanks? The redeemed of the LORD Why? Because He has redeemed them from the enemy s hand, and gathered them back to Canaan The word redeemed could also be rendered ransomed. In Hebrew, it carries the Old Testament concept of the kinsman-redeemer. The best Old Testament illustration of kinsman-redeemer is the story of Boaz and Ruth. Here, God is our kinsman-redeemer. We have lost our inheritance and our liberty, staring at desolation and death! He comes and acts as our kinsman-redeemer, buying back what was lost and restoring them to us, at great cost to Himself! 3. Verses 4-9 (Some Notes) Here we have example #1 of how the LORD redeemed His people. 4

5 What was the state of the people? Wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way! lost, gone astray No city to dwell in! no safety, no resting place Hungry and thirsty, and fainting! in great need, with no help or provision What did the people do in such troubles? Cried out to the LORD! What did God do in response? (a) Delivered them out of their distresses (b) Led them by the right way to a city for a dwelling place How should the redeemed respond? Remember what He has done, and give thanks... " For His goodness (hesed loyal love) " For His wonderful works to the children of men (frail ones, flesh and blood) Satisfies the longing soul, Fills the hungry soul with goodness How can we see Christ in these verses? In LUKE 1:46-55, we have the song of Mary after she has heard the angel s announcement of the virgin birth. In her song, she speaks of God filling the hungry with good things (verse 53), and that was precisely what the Son of God did - He is the Shepherd who found the lost and wandering, the Bread of life for the hungry, the Water of life for the thirsty, and the Giver of rest to those who are weary and heavy-laden! 3. Verses (Some Questions To Answer) What was the condition of the people then? What was the reason for their condition? What did they do, and what was God s response? 5

6 As a result of what God has done, what is the fitting response from the people? How should I apply these verses to myself? (i) I should recall similar deliverances in my life, and give thanks! (ii) I should repent of similar follies, and cry out to God for deliverance! (iii) How can we see Christ in these verses? In Zecharias song in LUKE 1, he made reference to portions of PSALM 107. An example can be found in verses ~ Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. ISAIAH 61:1-2 also mirrors the picture given in these verses, and in LUKE 4:18-21, Jesus quoted ISAIAH 61:1-2, and then said that it is talking about Him! Hence, these verses are ultimately pointing us to Jesus our Savior, He who would bring us out of darkness and the shadow of death, and break our chains in pieces. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature s night Thine eye diffused a quick ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth and followed Thee. 4. Verses (Some Questions To Answer) What was the condition of the people then? What was the reason for their condition? 6

7 What did they do, and what was God s response? As a result of what God has done, what is the fitting response from the people? How should I apply these verses to myself? How can we see Christ in these verses? 5. Verses In your own words, summarize the message of these 10 verses (you can use the questions in the previous two sections to help you) 6. Verses In this final section, the psalmist presents two contrasts, and his purpose is to encourage the people of God. The first contrast can be found in verses What is it? The second contrast can be found in verses What is it? How would these two contrasts encourage God s people? 7

8 7. Verses These two verses could be considered the conclusion of the psalm. What will cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to be silenced? What would a wise person be doing? 8. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 107 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [2 nd 8 th September 2018] you will be reading PSALM Read PSALM 108 using the NKJV and another reliable English translation. From the title, we know that David was the human author of PSALM 108. In penning this psalm, David did something rather interesting: He combined PSALM 57:7-11 with PSALM 60:5-12 to form PSALM 108! If we check up PSALM 57, we will know that that psalm of David was written at the time when David was fleeing from Saul, and hiding in the cave. It was a dangerous time for David. If we check up PSALM 60, we will know that that psalm of David was written at the time when the army of Israel under king David and general Joab fought the Edomites. We have no idea why David combined parts of those two psalms to form this new psalm, nor the situation that led to David writing PSALM 108. Interestingly, the compiler of the whole collection of PSALMS decided to place this psalm (PSALM 108) here in BOOK V, right after the introductory psalm (PSALM 107). 8

9 Recall that BOOK V focuses on the period of Israel s return to Canaan from the Babylonian exile. From EZRA, NEHEMIAH & MALACHI, we know that life then was very hard. Instead of having a Davidic king, the Israelites continued to be under the rule of foreign powers, and regularly faced the opposition of enemies bent on their destruction. Into such dire situations PSALM 108 speaks! 2. (a) What did the psalmist resolve to do in verses 1-4? (b) Can you think of a New Testament example for this? (c) How can we apply this to our life today? 3. After praising God, the psalmist goes on to pray to Him (verses 5-6). In his prayer, he asked God to come powerfully to deliver His beloved, reasoning that when God does so, He will be exalted and glorified. Who is His beloved? (a) The word beloved is yediyd in Hebrew, and the feminine of yediyd is yediyah. yediyah is translated as Jedidah in the English Bible, which according to 2 SAMUEL 12:25, is the other name for King Solomon. So are we meant to understand that the prayer of David here is a cry to God to powerfully save Solomon? (b) In JEREMIAH 11:15, God called Israel My beloved! So should we understand the prayer here in PSALM 108:5-6 as a plea to God to save His people? Ponder over the two brief explanation given above, and draw your conclusion as to who My beloved is: 9

10 4. Verses 7-9 contain the speech of God. (a) What is the significance of God has spoken in His holiness? (b) In these 3 verses, God talked about the land of Israel and the enemies of Israel. What is the significance of this? (c) Review your answers in (a) and (b) above, and then answer: What is the message of these 3 verses, and how was it meant to encourage the returning Jews? 5. Recall that verses was taken from PSALM 60. The situation of PSALM 60 was the battle Israel had with Edom. Initially, Israel was defeated due to her sins. This explains the line, God casting them off and not going out with their armies. After that initial defeat, Israel had to battle against Edom once more. With the first defeat still fresh in their minds, the people s question was: Who will bring us into the strong city? Who will lead us to Edom? The help of man is useless, proclaims the psalmist. Hence, to God they turn once more, the God whom they have offended, crying out to Him for mercy and for help. In fact, they are very sure that with God, they shall do valiantly for He will tread down both His and their enemies! Now PSALM 108:10-13 can be applied to the Jews who returned from exile. Due to their sins, they have been defeated by their enemies and lost their land. God has indeed cast them off, but now God has shown them mercy and brought them back to the Promised Land. However, they still face enemies who are stronger than them and bent on their destruction. What can they do, and what must they do? Like Israel of days past who had to contend with fighting Edom, Israel now must turn to God and cry out to Him --- Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. They must do so in the full assurance that through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. 10

11 How can we apply this to our life today? 6. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 108 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [9 th 15 th September 2018] you will be reading PSALM 109. PSALM 109 is an imprecatory psalm. An imprecatory psalm is one that calls down curses on people. Critics have called verses 6-19 a song of hate, and some Christians are uncomfortable with such a psalm. It seems to go against what Jesus taught His disciples in MATTHEW 5:44. So how should we understand an imprecatory psalm like PSALM 109? And how do we use it in our Christian worship and apply it in our Christian Life? While we are (understandably) excited about blessings, we must not ignore the fact that the Bible does contain and talk about curses as well. Recall that the ground was cursed after man s fall (GENESIS 3:17); that God has declared that He will curse those who cursed Abraham (GENESIS 12:3); that in making a covenant with Israel, God warned them of the curses of the covenant (DEUTERONMY 28:15ff); as well as in the preaching of Jeremiah, those who opposed God s servant were cursed (JEREMIAH 18:19-23). A check with the New Testament shows that curses are not absent as well: see MATTHEW 10:11-15, MATTHEW 23, GALATIANS 1:8-9, 1 CORINTHIANS 16:22. Above all, we remember that when Jesus hung on the cross, He was bearing the curse of God for His people (GALATIANS 3:10-14). Caution must be exercised when we read and seek to apply imprecatory psalms in our life today: They do not endorse our taking of personal revenge! Rather, they remind us of how serious it is to reject Christ and how awful the nature of God s judgment is. These imprecatory psalms will find their full and final fulfillment at the return of Christ. 11

12 PSALM 109: In your own words, describe the utterly miserable situation depicted in these five verses. 2. Do you think the psalmist was talking about himself, or someone else? 3. Verse 4 (NKJV) reads: In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. The underlined words are supplied by the translators, meaning the original should read:... but I prayer. This tells us the right way to respond when we find ourselves in such an utterly miserable situations. What is it? PSALM 109:6-20 The person in view is most definitely wicked and undoubtedly guilty. He did not show mercy but persecuted the poor and needy, even seeking to slay the brokenhearted (verse 16). His wickedness is deep inside him, for he is someone who loves cursing (verse 17). In response, the psalmist prays to God to punish the man as his sin/crime deserves verses 17 & 20. Note that the psalmist did not take the law into his own hands and seek to be a vigilante policeman. Instead, he appeals to the Judge of all men, and pleaded with Him to act in justice. Secondly, he did not ask for more than what is deserved. He only asked for a sentence that will fit the crime. Note that the apostle Peter applied this psalm to Judas Iscariot (ACTS 1:20). Note also that in the Final Judgment, this is how God will treat all unrepentant sinners! 4. Have you ever prayed prayers (imprecatory) like verses 6-20? If yes, when and why? If no, why not? 12

13 5. What safeguards should be in place when we pray prayers (imprecatory) like verses 6-20? PSALM 109:21-29 These 9 verses switched the focus back to the psalmist. One commentator called this passage Seeking Divine help. The key word is Divine! It is natural that we seek help when in trouble, but how needful that we should be seeking Divine help! As PSALM 121:2 puts it, Our help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth. As he turned to God and pleaded with Him for deliverance, the psalmist began to describe his situation. 6. The first description concerns himself (verses 22, 23, 24). What is it? 7. The second description concerns how he was treated (verse 25). What is it? 8. Besides describing his miserable conditions, what other reasons did the psalmist use to plead with God for deliverance? Verse 21: Verse 26: Verse 27: 9. How comforting it is for God s people to know that while wicked men may curse us, God will bless us (verse 28)! Better still to be persuaded that His blessings shall triumph over men s curses! 13

14 PSALM 109: What is the message of these two verses? 11. How can we see Jesus Christ in PSALM 109? 12. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 109 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [16 th 22 nd September 2018] you will be reading PSALM 110. Recall that BOOK V of PSALMS focuses on the period of the Jews return from their exile to the Promised Land. Although they are back in their homeland, yet they remained under the rule of the Persian kings. Where is their Davidic king? In PSALM 89:44 (BOOK IV), the psalmist had lamented the loss of the Davidic monarch. The loss remains, and is still keenly felt by the pious Jews. As such, PSALM 110 (BOOK V) seeks to encourage God s people and calls them to look expectantly for the coming Messiah (Anointed One). The New Testament helps us interpret PSALM 110 correctly. From MATTHEW 22:41-45; MARK 12:35-37, LUKE 20:41-44, as well as ACTS 2:34-35, HEBREWS 1:13, 5:6, 7:17, 21 and 10:12-13, we know that PSALM 110 is ultimately talking about our Lord Jesus Christ! 1. Who is the LORD (YAHWEH), to whom is He speaking, and what is He saying? (Verse 1) 14

15 2. What is the message of verses 2-3? 3. In verse 4, the LORD has sworn an oath. What is the content of His oath, and how is this significant? [You may want to read up a little more about Melchizedek: GENESIS 14:17-20, HEBREWS 7] 4. What is the message of verses 5-7? 5. After reading and meditating on PSALM 110, what further questions do you have? 6. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 110 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [23 rd - 29 th September 2018] you will be reading PSALM 111. PSALM 111 is an alphabetic acrostic psalm, meaning that each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used in turn to commence a verse or parts of a verse. This psalm is placed here in BOOK V to encourage those who have returned from exile to see God s saving action as part of God s big storyline that began with the exodus from Egypt, and will culminate in the saving and judging work of the coming Messiah. 1. Verse 1 begins with Hallelujah (Praise the LORD), followed by the psalmist s resolve (I will) to praise YAHWEH with his whole being (with my whole heart). Though it was a personal resolve, the psalmist was determined to do it publicly, in the assembly of the upright. 15

16 2. The content of his praise is the works of the LORD (verse 2). The context suggests that it is God s redemptive work that is in focus. What can we say about the works of the LORD? Verse 2! Verse 3! Verses 4-5! Verse 6! Verse 7! 3. If verses 2-7 put the spotlight on God s work, verses 8-9 shift the focus to God s will, namely what is God s will for those who have experienced His great work of redemption? The New English Translation (NET) renders verses 8-9 in this way: They are forever firm and should be faithfully and properly carried out. He delivered his people; he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. His name is holy and awesome. They in verse 8 refers to all His precepts (verse 7). Hence the message of verse 8 is: Since all of God s precepts are forever firm, therefore God s people should faithfully and properly carry them out. The same message is inherent in verse 9a: Since God has delivered His people, and made a covenant with them, He has ordained (and hence His covenant people should obey) that the commands of His covenant be observed forever. Hence, verses 8-9a are outlining God s will concerning how His redeemed people should live. Verse 9b states that God s name is holy and awesome. How does this add to the message of verses 8-9a? 16

17 4. In light of God s work (verses 2-7) and God s will (verses 8-9), verse 10 outline the correct response from God s people. What is it? 5. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 111 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [30 th September 6 th October 2018] you will be reading PSALM 112. You could almost call Psalms 111 and 112 conjoined (Siamese) twins for where the one ends the other begins in praising and fearing the LORD. It is another alphabetic psalm and it follows the exact pattern of the previous one and even uses some of the identical terms and expressions. But it has a character of its own for whereas Psalm 111 praises God, this one celebrates the character and destiny of the one who fears God and seeks to follow his ways. It resembles Psalm 1 for after the initial heading, it begins and ends with exactly the same words, Blessed and perish and speaks of the righteous and the wicked. Its place in Book 5 encourages the returned exiles to live in a God-honouring way. Philip EVESON 1. Verse 1 ~ Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. Like in PSALM 111, PSALM 112 begins with Hallelujah (praise the LORD)! It then proceeds to focus our attention on a single individual who is portrayed throughout the psalm as the ideal person representing all of God s people. It bears similarity to PROVERBS 31: The God-fearing wise man of PSALM 112 and the Godfearing woman of PROVERBS 31 both present the ideal successful life. We recall that this is the subject matter of PSALM 1 as well. Ultimately, there is only one Person who truly fulfills this role and picture, and He is Jesus Christ our Lord! 2. Verses 2-9 provide us with a number of descriptions concerning this wise Godfearing person. Choose four of them, write down your understanding of each of them and then spend some time to discuss them with your RTBT group members. 17

18 # # # # 3. Verse 10 ~ The wicked will see it and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish. (a) What will the wicked see, resulting in him being grieved and gnashing his teeth? (b) What does it mean that the desire of the wicked shall perish? (c) What is the message of this verse, and what is the purpose for putting it at the end of this psalm? 4. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 112 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? Note #1: Note #2: While the psalm focuses on the godly person, we are not to praise the person but the God who has enabled this godly person to be conformed to the likeness of God. The call to praise the LORD (verse 1) means that besides praising God for the man who is blessed, there is a place for praising God for causing the wicked person s evil desires to come to nothing (see REVELATION 19:1-6). 18

19 For this week [7 th 13 th October 2018] you will be reading PSALM 113. PSALM 113 is considered to be the first of the so-called Hallelujah Psalms (Praise Psalms) that run from PSALM According to Jewish tradition, the singing of these six psalms was part of the Passover meal ritual. PSALM 113 begins and ends with Hallelujah/praise the LORD. Between the two Hallelujahs, God s people are called to worship (verses 1-3), and given two reasons for doing so (verses 4-9): # Who God is and what He is like (verses 4-6) # His action on behalf of the downtrodden (verses 7-9) 1. Fixing our attention on verses 1-3 in which the call is to praise the LORD... (a) Who should be praising Him? (b) When and where should it be done? 2. The first reason given as to why we should praise the LORD can be found in verses 4-6. The focus is on who God is. What truths concerning God are being presented here? 3. The second reason given as to why we should praise the LORD can be found in verses 7-9. The focus is on what God has done. What did the LORD do? 4. How can we see the Lord Jesus Christ in PSALM 113? 19

20 5. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 113 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [14 th 20 th October 2018] you will be reading PSALM What is the message of PSALM 114? 2. How is this message an encouragement to... (a) The Jews who returned from the exile (the people BOOK V seeks to minister)? (b) You in your current situation today? 3. During your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion, share your answers to Question 1 and 2 above. For this week [21 st 27 th October 2018] you will be reading PSALM 115. While we do not know the original context for PSALM 115, the fact that this psalm is now placed in BOOK V of PSALMS is significant. The exiled Jews have returned to Canaan, but they remained under foreign rule, and are surrounded by hostile pagans taunting them concerning their trust in an unseen God. Christians today could find ourselves in similarly hostile situations. How should we conduct ourselves at such times? PSALM 115 points us in the right direction. 20

21 1. Verses 1-2 can be divided into two parts: It is good The people of God have already experienced God s blessings! Amazingly, they have left Babylon (their place of exile and bondage) and have returned to their homeland. For this wonderful turn of events, they dared not claim any credit for themselves, but instead exclaimed, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory (verse 1). (a) Why did the psalmist end verse 1 with because of Your mercy, because of Your truth, and what does mercy and truth mean in this context? It is not yet the best The present position of God s people was far from ideal! Yes, they have returned to Canaan their homeland, but they remained under the rule of the Persians, and can rightly be considered to be slaves to the Persian king! How could this be honoring to God? Where is their Davidic king, and when will they be able to have one of their own sit on the throne and rule them? No wonder the Gentile nations mocked them: Where is your God? (Verse 2) (b) Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation like these Jews, and heard the same kind of mockery? How should you respond? 3. Verse 3 is the first response to the taunts of the heathens. What is it, and how is it a tonic for them (and for you)? 4. In verses 4-8, we have the second response to the taunts of the heathens. (a) What can be said about the gods of the heathens? (b) What is the meaning and significance of verse 8? 21

22 5. What is the message of verses 9-11, and how does this message relate to the first and second response to the heathen s taunts? 6. The concrete expression of God having been mindful of us is that He will bless us (verses 12-13). (a) According to verse 14, how will God bless His people? (b) According to verse 15, how can we be sure that God s blessing will not be thwarted? 7. Verses Picking up from verse 3 where the psalmist declared that our God is in heaven, he now continues to affirm it by saying that the heavens are the LORD s (verse 16a). As for the earth, it is His too, but He has given it to the children of men. This is where he intends people to live and to have dominion (Genesis 1:28-30; Psalm 8:6-8). The new Jerusalem, made up of that innumerable company of God s people comes down out of heaven to the new earth (Revelation 21:1-2). God s gift to human beings is the earth. This is the eternal inheritance of all his people: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). It is God s intention that those created in his image whom he has placed on the earth should praise and worship him. The future new earth will bring to a grand climax God s purposes in creating heaven and earth where human beings will fulfill their destiny to the honor of almighty God. Philip EVESON With the spotlight still fixed firmly on earth, the psalmist goes on in verse 17 to talk about people who have left this earth. They are dead, have gone down to the grave (sheol). In that state, they are unable to praise God with their bodies and soul. In contrast, the psalmist and those still alive remain on earth. In view of this, together with all of God s people who are still alive, he is determined to praise God forever and ever (verse 18)! The ultimate (and expanded) fulfilment of these three verses will be at the return of Christ one day in the future. On that day, we shall have the new heavens and 22

23 new earth. God s resurrected people will then be standing on the new earth, and with their bodies and souls bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! 8. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 115 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [28 th October 3 rd November 2018] you will be reading PSALM Read PSALM 116 using the NKJV and another reliable English translation, and note down anything that catches your attention: 2. In verse 3, the psalmist said that he had trouble and sorrow. Although the exact nature of his trouble and sorrow remained unknown, the following verses give us a glimpse of what he was experiencing then: Verse 3: Verse 6: Verse 8: Verse 10-11: Verse 15: Verse 16: 3. As he faced his trouble and sorrow, he cried out to God for deliverance, and the LORD heard his voice and supplications. 23

24 (a) Why would the LORD hear his cry for help? Verses 5-6: Verse 15: Verse 16: (b) In response, what did the psalmist do, or resolve to do? Verse 1: Verse 2: Verse 7: Verse 10: Verses 12-14: Verse 17: Verses 18-19: 4. PSALM 116 was originally penned as the testimony of an individual, but because it was then placed in BOOK V of PSALMS, it is likely that it reflected the situation of Israel sorrow and trouble reflected their exile while was brought low and He saved me reflected their return. As such, all Israel are called upon to give thanks to God, to express their love and faith to God, to pay their vows to God, and to sing Hallelujah. 24

25 (a) How can we apply PSALM 116 to (i) our corporate life as a church, and (ii) our individual Christian Life today? (b) How can we see Jesus Christ in PSALM 116? 5. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 116 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [4 th 10 th November 2018] you will be reading PSALM PSALM 117 is the shortest psalm in the entire Bible. Besides the NKJV, read it using two other reliable English translations, and note down anything that catches your attention: 2. What are the commands? (Verse 1) 3. Who are the people being commanded? (Verse 2) 4. What are the reasons for the commands? (Verse 2) 25

26 5. The us in verse 2 is a reference to Israel. Why would God s kindness to Israel be a reason for the nations to laud Him? [Contrast this with PSALM 115:2] 6. BOOK V of PSALMS focuses on the period of the Jews return to Canaan from the exile. All the psalms (thus far) in BOOK V addressed the situation faced by Israel then, and yet PSALM 117 specifically referred to people outside Israel. (a) What purpose does this serve? (b) What relevance does this have for us today? 7. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 117 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? For this week [11 th 17 th November 2018] you will be reading PSALM 118. As in many of the previous psalms, here in PSALM 118 we find the psalmist speaking for himself and his people, giving thanks to God for His help in a crisis situation. Israel can refer to the nation as well as to an individual (viewed as ideal Israel), and hence in this psalm, the psalmist describes the nations experience and foreshadows the One who became the ideal Israel and representative of all God s people. 1. Once more, all of God s people are called to give thanks to Him (verses 1-3), and once more, two reasons are given: He is good and His mercy endures forever. (a) Is thanksgiving a missing element in your Christian Life today? How can you ensure its continuing presence in your life? 26

27 (b) Recall the situation envisioned in BOOK V, and note how the call to give thanks appears so often in these psalms. What is the lesson? 2. Verses 5-9 give a brief summary of his experience: In his distress, he called on the LORD. The LORD heard his cry, and more than delivered him - He actually set him in a broad place! (a) What lesson(s) did the psalmist draw from this experience? (b) If you can, find out more about the challenges faced by the Jews who returned from exile. That knowledge may perhaps help you understand the deeper significance of verses Verses give a more detailed report of what transpired. (a) Using your own words, what is the picture conveyed in verses 10-12, and what is the message? (b) What do you think verse 13 is referring to? [Hint: Where else in the Old Testament have you come across the words in verse 14?] 4. What can be heard from the tents of the righteous, and why? (Verses 15-16) 5. What is the message of verses 17-18? 27

28 6. In response to God s deliverance, the psalmist resolved to praise the LORD. Where did he plan to carry this out? (Verses 19-21) 7. Look at verses (a) Imagine yourself as a Jew who has returned from exile. How would you understand verses 22-23? (b) How did Jesus and the apostles understand verses 22-23? (MATTHEW 21:42, ACTS 4:10-12, I PETER 2:4-8) (c) What day is verse 24 referring to, and what should God s people be doing on that day? 8. What is the message of verses 25-27? 9. The psalm ends with praise and thanksgiving (verses 28-29). How can we ensure that we will end each day with praise and thanksgiving? 10. Share one lesson you have learnt from PSALM 118 during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? 28

29 For this week [18 th 24 th November 2018] you will be reading PSALM 119:1-24. Introduction PSALM 119 is an alphabetical acrostic psalm, meaning each of the 22 Hebrew alphabets is used to begin each section of the psalm. Each section of PSALM 119 consists of 8 verses. The one big message of PSALM 119 concerns the revealed truth of God. 8 different terms were used: torah (law, instruction), edoth (testimonies, declarations), piqqudim (precepts, requirements), huqqim (statutes, decrees), mitswoth (commandments), misphat (judgments, rulings), dabar (word) and imrah (promise, saying, statement). In this psalm, the godly are presented as those who love God s truth and live in accordance with it, in contrast to the wicked. The godly may be a reference to an individual Israelite, or it could also refer to the anointed king of Israel who stands as the representative of God s people. PSALM emphasized God s saving goodness, and in light of what God has done, we now have PSALM 119 where the redeemed love the Redeemer s laws and live in obedience to them. After that, we have the pilgrim psalms (PSALM ), in which God s redeemed people are travelling to His temple to behold His glory and to worship! Aleph section (verses 1-8) 1. Who are blessed? (Verses 1-3) 2. What is the attitude of the psalmist towards God s law? (Verses 4-8) 3. Why do you think this section ends with Oh, do not forsake me utterly? Beth section (verses 9-16) 4. Verse 9 asked a question. What is the answer? 29

30 5. From these 8 verses, list down: (a) The psalmist s activities regarding God s revealed truth (b) The psalmist s desires toward God s revealed truth (c) Can you honestly insert your name into these 8 verses, and hence claim that what is said of the psalmist regarding his activities and desires are true of you as well? Elaborate. Gimel section (verses 17-24) 6. While the overall theme of God s word remains, these 8 verses introduce another subject relating to the psalmist. What is it? 7. How can we see Christ in these 8 verses? 8. What lessons for our Christian Life can we draw from these 8 verses? For this week [25 th November 1 st December 2018] you will be reading PSALM 119: Daleth section (verses 25-32) After reading these 8 verses using the NKJV, re-read them using any 2 of the following reliable English translations: NASB, ESV, NET, NIV. 30

31 1. What situation did the psalmist face and how did he resolve to handle it? 2. How can your answers to Q1 help you live for Christ this coming week? He section (verses 33-40) 3. Each verse in these 8 verses is a plea to God from the psalmist to do something for him. Pick two of them to discuss with your RTBT group members their meaning and significance for you. 4. What do these 8 pleas of the psalmist reveal about himself? Waw section (verses 41-48) 5. Verse 42 tells us that the psalmist was experiencing the reproach of his enemies. While we do not know the details of his enemies reproach, we know much about how he handled them from these 8 verses. (a) What did he do in the face of the reproach of his enemies? (a) Which action of the psalmist would you personally find hard to do, when you are faced with the reproach of people hostile to you? Why? 31

32 Zayin section (verses 49-56) 6. The word remember occur three times in this section (verse 49, 52, 55). (a) Ponder the meaning of each remember occurrence, and write down its impact on the psalmist: # Verse 49 # Verse 52 # Verse 55 (b) The psalmist s determination to remember took place in the context of affliction (verse 50), great derision (verse 51) and the wicked forsaking God s law (verse 53). How can you apply this to your daily life this coming week? Heth section (verses 57-64) 7. The psalmist says in verse 57 that God is his portion. What does this mean? 8. Even as a godly man, the psalmist recognized his tendency to stray from God s path, his need to turn his feet to God s testimonies (verse 59b). To do that, he must think/ponder about his ways (verse 59a). This underlines the need for regular self-examination before the LORD. When is the last time you ve examined yourself before your God? Why not take this opportunity to do so now! 9. The psalmist chose people who fear God and keep His percepts to be his companions (verse 63). 32

33 (a) Who are your friends/companions, and do they fit the description in verse 63? (b) What is going to be your next step of action, in view of your answer to 9(a)? For this week [2 nd 8 th December 2018] you will be reading PSALM 119: Teth section (verses 65-72) 1. The adjective translated as good, well and better (verses 65, 68, 71, 72), the noun for goodness (verse 66) and the verb do good (verse 68) dominate this section. Look up each reference/occurrence, and consider: (a) Which can you identify with? Share your experience. (b) Which do you have difficulty accepting? Why? Yod section (verses 73-80) The affliction of the previous section reappears here (verse 75) together with the proud who have treated the psalmist wrongfully with their false allegations (verse 78). He also refers again to those companions who revere God (verses 74, 79; see verse 63). Philip EVESON 2. The psalmist made a confession of faith here. What is it? (Verse 73) 33

34 3. The psalmist made a strong affirmation here with I know... (verse 75). What is it? 4. After his confession and affirmation, the psalmist made 3 supplications for himself, one intercession for fellow believers, and an imprecatory prayer against the wicked. Where can we find them? Supplication #1: Supplication #2: Supplication #3: Intercession: Imprecatory prayer: 5. How can you make this Yod section personal? Kaph section (verses 81-88) 6. What is the condition of the psalmist? Verse 81: fainting 34

35 Verse 82: eyes failing, needing comfort Verse 83: like a wineskin in smoke - What does this mean? Verse 84: persecuted (prolonged) cf. verse 86 Verse 85: threatened, in danger Verse 87: nearly died In one sentence, summarize his condition based on the observations above: 7. What did the psalmist do while in that state? Verse 81: put his hope in God s word - What does this mean? Verse 83: did not forget His statutes Verse 84: prayed and pleaded with God cf. verse 86 Verse 87: did not forsake His precepts Verse 88: desire to keep God s testimony In one sentence, report what the psalmist did/resolved to do while in his miserable state: 8. How can you make this section personal? 35

36 Lamed section (verses 89-96) 9. What is the message of verses 89-91? 10. In what way(s) is/are the attitude(s) and action(s) of the psalmist towards God s Word an example and encouragement to you? 11. Verse 96 (NKJV) ~ I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad. The NET renders this verse this way: I realize that everything has its limits, but your commands are beyond full comprehension. The NIV translates this verse as such: To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless. It is clear that the psalmist is extolling the Word of God here. He compares it to all the perfect things you can find in this world. All of them have a limit to their usefulness and perfections. In contrast, the usefulness and perfection of God s word is exceedingly broad, boundless and beyond full comprehension! Mem section (verses ) 12. In these 8 verses, besides statements of resolve by the psalmist to keep God s Word, he heaps lavish praises on it as well: Verse 97: It is lovely (this is an implication of Oh, how I love...! ) Verses , 104: Verse 103: 13. The psalmist s high esteem of the Word played a very important role in his resolve to obey God s precepts. Mere resolve can only bring us so far, and makes it only a 36

37 mere duty. But when we love God s Word, it becomes so much easier to want to follow it, even when times are hard. Of the three praises he lavished on the Word... (a) Which can you most identify with? Share your experience. (b) Which do you have most difficulty agreeing with? Why? For this week [9 th 15 th December 2018] you will be reading PSALM 119: Nun section (verses ) 1. In these 8 verses, we know that the psalmist continues to be afflicted (verse 107) and troubled by his enemies (verse 110). In verse 109, he talks about his life being continually in his hand. What does this mean? 2. Amidst all his troubles, the psalmist is an example and encouragement to us. How? Verse 108: Verse 109: Verse 110: Verse 111: Verse 112: 37

38 3. In verse 106, he has sworn and confirmed that he will keep God s righteous judgment. What is the reason for such firm resolve while facing a very real threat to his life? The answer is found in his view of the Word of God verse 105. (a) What is the meaning of verse 105? (b) Verse 105 is a good life-motto. If you adopt it as your life-motto, how would your life change? Name two practical changes: " " Samek section (verses ) 4. In the middle of these 8 verses, the psalmist prays for safety (verses ). (a) What dangers were threatening him then? (b) From whom/what is he looking for protection? 5. In verse 113, he declared his hatred for a certain group of people. (a) Who are these people? (b) Why would he hate them, and is it right for him to hate them? 38

39 6. What is the message of verse 120? Ayin section (verses ) 7. Is the psalmist pleading his merits before God in verses ? Explain your answer, and be sure to take the rest of the verses in this section into consideration. 8. Verse 126 is a prayer. (a) What was he asking God to do? (b) Have you ever prayed such a prayer? Why? (c) Verses are the two reasons he gave for the prayer he made in verse 126. What are his reasons? " " Pe section (verses ) 10. In these 8 verses, the psalmist mentioned various parts of his body/person in relation to God s Word. Verse 129: Verse 130: 39

40 Verse 131: Verse 133: Verse 136: What do you think the psalmist is seeking to convey? Tsadde section (verses ) 11. What is the message of these 8 verses, and how can you make its message applicable to your life this coming week? For this week [16 th 22 nd December 2018] you will be reading PSALM 119: Qoph section (verses ) 1. One thing we know about the psalmist from these 8 verses is the fact that he is sleep-deprived. What is/are the reason(s) for his lack of sleep? (Verses ) 2. (a) Who is near the psalmist? (Verses ) (b) From your answer to 2(a), how would you describe the state of the psalmist? 40

41 3. Verse 149 is a prayer. What is he asking from God? (Answer using your own words) Resh section (verses ) 4. What is the psalmist s attitude towards the wicked? 5. What is the psalmist s attitude towards God s revealed truth? 6. How did the psalmist combine and use both attitudes in his plea to God for revival? 7. How can you apply these 8 verses to your daily life? Shin section (verses ) 8. What is the message of these 8 verses, and how can you make its message applicable to your life this coming week? Tau section (verses ) 9. Almost the entirety of these 8 verses is a prayer from the psalmist to God. (a) Do you pray? How would you describe your time of prayer this week? 41

42 (b) Since PSALM 119 is mainly about God s Word, why would the psalmist end this 22 nd section of the psalm with prayer? What lesson is there for us here? 10. The psalmist ends PSALM 119 likening himself to a lost sheep that has gone astray, and asking God to seek him. It is interesting to note that he makes no mention of his enemies in this last section, but instead ends the psalm by calling attention to his own sinful failures and inconsistencies. (a) Do you see yourself as a lost sheep that needs seeking? Why or why not? (b) As a Christian, what lesson(s) is/are there for us here? Although he does not address God as Shepherd that is the implication when the psalmist speaks of himself like a lost sheep. God is the shepherd of Israel who led his people through the wilderness by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psalms 77:20; 80:1). His appeal for God to seek him also suggests the shepherd image. Usually it is the psalmist who seeks the Lord and his precepts (verses 2, 10, 45, 94). Here the seeking suggests someone searching with a view to finding (Nehemiah 7:64; 12:27; Psalm 37:36). The good shepherd seeks what is lost and brings them back (Ezekiel 34:16) as in Jesus parable (Luke 15:4). In fact, Jesus speaks of himself as the good shepherd who came to seek and save the lost and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10). He came to gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel and the other sheep from among the Gentiles so that there might be one flock and one shepherd (Matthew 10:6; 15:24; John 10:16). The Bible s last book pictures the Lamb shepherding the whole company of God s people from all nations and leading them to springs of living water (Revelation 7:17). Philip EVESON 42

43 For this week [23 rd 29 th December 2018] you will be reviewing PSALM We have started reading BOOK V of PSALMS since 12 th August Take this week to revisit any of the psalms read in these 20 weeks, and explore them further. Then prepare one thing that you will want to share during your 10-minute RTBT Group Discussion. What will you be sharing? 43

44 Acknowledgement Whatever the weaknesses of this Read-The-Bible-Together guide, they would have been far greater without the kind help of brothers NEO Chun Choon and CHEW Theng Sang, as well as sister Sarah SOH. They gave their time and energy to review the entire guide, asking questions all the way and giving many valuable suggestions. Thank you! Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another! (Proverbs 27:17, ESV) ============= Questions or comments concerning this RTBT guide? Please contact WEI En Yi (HP: , 44