PSALM 87 Reading Guide

Transcription

1 PSALM 87 Reading Guide

2 PSALM 87 2 PSALM 87 1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah 4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush This one was born there, they say. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one were born in her ; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The LORD records as he registers the peoples, This one was born there. Selah 7 Singers and dancers alike say, All my springs are in you.

3 PSALM 87 3 DAY 1 Read through Psalm 87 once writing down what you find interesting, what you find helpful, and what you don t fully understand. According to the introductory notes on Psalm 87 in the ESV Study Bible, This is a psalm celebrating Zion as the chosen city of God; it looks forward to people of all nations even nations that have been enemies of Israel becoming citizens of this city. John Newton s amazing hymn Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken is based on Psalm 87. Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken Formed thee for his own abode: On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou may st smile at all thy foes. See the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove; Who can faint, while such a river Ever flows their thirst t assuage? Grace which, like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age. Savior, if of Zion's city I, through grace, a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in thy Name: Fading is the worldling s pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know. Read through the notes on Psalm 87 in the ESV Study Bible. Write at least one paragraph highlighting what you learned from the study notes. Reread Psalm 87, personalizing the Psalm as your own prayer. Write out that prayer.

4 PSALM 87 4 DAY 2 Read through the list of nations mentioned in verse 4 (read also the note on verse 4 in the ESV Study Bible). These are all nations that have at one time or another been troublers of Israel. Verses 4-6 remind us that God claims his enemies as his own children. This amazing love is explained further in Romans 5:6. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Write out a prayer of thanksgiving to God, thanking him for his amazing love to you, demonstrated in Jesus death for you. DAY 3 In verse 7, God s people respond to verses 1-6. Read verses 1-6 again and write down some of the reasons they would respond like they do. Pick one of the reasons you ve listed that would make you sing and dance and celebrate the goodness of God. Spend some time in joyful prayer to God, celebrating his goodness. DAY 4 The pronouncement in verses 4-6 becomes an explicit commission from Jesus to his followers in Matthew 28: And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Then read Matthew 28:18-20 again. Spend some time praying, asking God how he would have you respond to his commission, helping to make the pronouncement of Psalm 87 a reality. DAY 5 Read through Psalm 87 twice. Write out at least two paragraphs reflecting on what you ve learned about God, yourself, and others from Psalm 87. Write out at least one thing you hope to apply to your life from Psalm 87. Spend at least 15 minutes sharing what you wrote with a trusted friend or family member. If they read Psalm 87 this week, ask them to do the same. End your time in prayer, thanking God for what he taught you this week.

5 PSALM 87 5 * Purchasing an ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Bibles, 2008.) will aid you in your understanding of the Psalms. The first day s reading each week assumes you will have access to the notes in the ESV Study Bible. The ESV Stu2?dy Bible is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published. It will help you understand not just the Psalms, but also the rest of the Bible in a deeper way. You can either buy the Bible (amazon.com, search: ESV Study Bible) or purchase online access to the notes at Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved Elliot Grudem.