Lesson 11: Psalms 71-76

Transcription

1 Psalm 71 Hope for Old Age Lesson 11: Psalms What can we learn in the psalm (vv 1-4) about the Lord helping us now? 2. How does recounting the Lord s faithfulness in the past (vv 5-13) help entrust your future to Him? 3. How do verses affirm that the Lord will help in the future? 4. What is the theme of the final portion of the psalm (vv 22-24)? Psalm 72 The Reign of the King 5. In describing the king, what qualities of a leader does the psalmist see as desirable? How can this psalm influence your choices as a parent? A voter? 6. Verse 6 predicts Israel s king will be like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. Explain what this picture means to the Israelites. Secondly, how does the picture apply to Christ our King?

2 7. Discuss the place of verses Find the words of the hymn Jesus Shall Reign by Isaac Watts which was based on this psalm. Beginning of Book Three 9. Review the historical facts concerning Book Three. Psalm 73 Prosperity of the wicked (See Moore s Bible Study Lesson 7) The Believer: Standing on What He Knows (v 1) 10. Considering the content of the whole Psalm, why does the Psalmist begin this way? How should we do this in our homes and private life? Do we do this when going to church? The Doubter: Slipping from Where He is Standing (vv 2-3) 11. What is the significance of the phrases feet almost gone and steps well-nigh slipped? 12. Why is the prosperity of the wicked a temptation to us? Do we have this in our lives, within the home, or even within the church? How? The Wrestler: Struggling with What He Sees and Feels (vv 4-14) 13. Give an example of the wicked seeming to have no bands in their death, seeming to have firm strength (v 4). 14. Why do you think that as the wicked increase in worldly ease that they become more corrupt and speak so wickedly (6-9)?

3 15. What does it mean to set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh throughout the earth (v 9)? 16. Explain the meaning of verses Who are the people of v 10 and who is speaking in v 11? 17. How has the Psalmist cleansed his heart and washed his hands? Was this in vain? 18. Is it true that we view our lives as being plagued all day, and chastened every morning? The Worshipper: Seeing the Bigger Picture (vv 15-22) 19. In verse 15, how would Asaph offend against the generation of thy children? 20. What is the relationship between being set in slippery places and their being cast down into destruction (v 18)? What does it mean that they are brought into desolation, as in a moment? 21. Have you been pricked in the reins? What does that mean to you? How does the figure of a beast apply in our text? 22. Are we prone to this type of foolishness? How do we become aware of our own folly? The Conqueror: Rejoicing Over God s Goodness (vv 23-28) 23. What is the meaning of God s holding our right hand? Reread the truth of verses Does this truth make us careless and profane? 24. What is the Psalmist expressing in verse 25? So we live that way?

4 25. Our flesh and heart fails says verse 26. Why is this? How does the last part of this verse give evidence that Asaph has learned his lesson concerning the portion of the child of God in this life? 26. Why does the Psalmist in verse 27 express this truth about the end of the wicked in this place in the Psalm? Is this a warning also to us? 27. Why is it that to draw near to God is putting your trust in the Lord (v 28)? How does our drawing near unto God lead us to declare all Jehovah s works? Psalm 74 A Lament for the Destruction of the Sanctuary 28. What is at the heart of the distress of Israel as detailed in verses 1-11? 29. Verse 12 is the central verse of the psalm and the turning point for Asaph. What truth does he dwell upon? How does that change Asaph s view (vv 12-17)? 30. Why does the writer turn to the covenant in verse 20? Psalm 75 God Abases the Wicked and Exalts the Righteous 31. Wiersbe says that This psalm by Asaph may be read as the digest of a worship service called to thank God for what He had done for His people. How does the worship service start (v 1)? 32. What is the Lord s message (vv 2-5)?

5 33. What is the application in verses 6-8? 34. Explain the illustration of the cup/wine in verse How does the worship service end (vv 9-10)? Psalm 76 The God of Victory and Judgment 36. For background, read Isaiah and II Kings Jot some notes. 37. Compare the section headings of Wiersbe with the following from the New Bible Commentary. a. The rejoicing (vv 1-3) b. The victory (vv 4-6) c. Its effect (vv 7-9) d. Adoration of the Lord (vv 10-12)