Psalm Trees Lessons from the Psalms That Teach Us Solid Footing For Our Daily Lives. An Adult Study by William S. Wallace, Jr. wsw,jr - - 2001 1
Psalm 142:4. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 2
HANDLE WITH CARE 3
4
5
6
Our souls also need to be cared for with care. 7
8
Gen. 35:18. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Eccl. 3:19. For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth? 9
Eccl. 12:7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Heb. 9:27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 10
I Pet. 4:18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 11
12
13
14
Mark 8:36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 15
Matt. 1:21. She will bear a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke 19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 16
17
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 18
19
Rom. 5:8. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 20
Some people have to be sighted in to see the magnificent concern God has for us. 21
The soul is so valuable that Christ died for yours and mine. Isa. 53:4. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 22
Do You Deserve This love? 23
Eph. 2:8. For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. I Cor. 15:3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 24
MY SINS YOUR SINS 25
John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I am going you know, and the way you know. 26
They also indicate a warning that the object can be destroyed. 27
The Soul Can Be L-o-s-t Or Destroyed Because of Sin 28
Isa. 59:2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear. Sin separates us from God. Sin and God are Incompatible 29
Rev. 21:23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 30
A broken, damaged, or contaminated soul will be banished from heaven and will not be found in the Lamb s Book of Life. 31
A majority of souls will be lost. Matt. 7:13. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 32
Matt. 7:21. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, those of you that work iniquity. 33
Also these are words of caution. 34
We should be cautious in handling the Word of God. II Tim. 2:14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 35
36
WHO IS LEADING YOUR FAMILY IN THE SERVICE OF GOD TODAY? 37
We should use caution in believing teachers and preachers today. I John 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 38
Matt. 7:15. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Acts 20:28. Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 39
We should be cautious in our living. Matt. 26:41. Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 40
I Cor. 10:12. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands okay, take heed lest he fall. 13 There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able to handle; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. 41
Professor M. Brewer Smith of Dept of Psychology at Vassar College. Chose a city of 160,000 people And asked the following questions: 42
1. From your experience, what would you say are the most important things to you? 2. What sort of things mean the MOST to you? 3. What things are you most interested in? 4. What things do you care most about? 43
The Results: 56%... Economic Security 46%... Home and Family Life 25%... Liberty and Freedom 13%... World Peace 10%... Education 4%... Decency and Morality 2%... Being a Good Citizen 0%... Religion 44
How Sad! Matt. 6:33. But you seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 45
The cold facts of the survey are: Most people want MATERIAL SECURITY 46
More Than They Want GOD Or Even Liberty 47
Many people s philosophy of life is summed up by the rich man who said: Luke 12:19. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 48
However, when it comes to YOUR soul: Matt. 6:33. But you seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 49
YES: 50