Introduction
A five lesson study on selected Psalms. Psalm 1 gives us instruction concerning good and evil. Psalm 2 points us to the Messiah. Psalm 19 reminds us that we learn of God from nature and His written Word. Psalm 51, from David, is a Psalm of repentance and great example for us. Finally, in Psalm 73 Asaph demonstrates what it is like to envy the wicked who seem to have every good thing in life, and how we can turn to God from that and know His blessing.
Psalm 1 A Psalm of Wisdom
Read the entire Psalm and then answer the questions.
Psalm 2 A Royal Psalm
Read the entire Psalm and then answer the questions.
Psalm 2
1. From verses 1-2, what are the nations and the kings of the earth doing?
2. In Acts 4:25-27, the believers express the same observation. Who were all the people united against?
3. What does Psalm 2:3 reveal about how the kings and rulers of nations view the Lord’s hand on them?
4. How do you think we see this same rebellion today?
5. What is God’s response, according to verses 4-6?
6. Psalm 37:13 gives insight into why God takes no heed of the rebellion of people. What does He know is coming to them in the future?
7. What does God do in Psalm 2:5?
8. According to Romans 1:18, who is God’s wrath, or anger, directed against?
9. What is it that satisfies God’s wrath, according to Romans 3:23-26?
10. What does Psalm 2:6 tell us God has done?
11. According to Hebrews 12:22, where is God’s holy mountain, Zion?
12. In Psalm 2:7, the speaker changes and cites God’s decree. What is God’s decree and who is referred to in His statement? See Acts 13:32-33.
13. What inheritance will God give His Son according to Psalm 2:8?
14. What warning is given to kings and rulers in verse 10?
15. What are they advised to do, according to verses 11-12?
16. We see that even those who oppose God are warned and extended His hand of mercy. What characteristics of God does this remind you of?
17. What can those who trust Him and take refuge in Him expect, according to the last words of verse 12?
Psalm 19 A Psalm of David
Read the entire Psalm and then answer the questions
Psalm 19
1. According to verse 1, what do the heavens do in relation to God?
2. List the specific elements of the heavens that we can observe or see the results of (i.e. planets, rain).
3. Describe ways in which you see the glory of God reflected in the skies and heavens.
4. By observing the heavens, what do you think we can learn about their designer? (See Romans 1:20)
5. According to verse 3, what is not used by the heavens to reveal God?
6. How much more effective do you think seeing and experience are, versus hearing only? Describe an example you know of.
7. According to verse 4, how far has the message gone out?
8. In verses 4b-6, one object in the heavens is described. What is it and what do these verses tell us about it?
Note: Starting in verse 7, there is a shift from God’s work to His words.
9. There are two words in each verse of 7-9, which refer to God’s Words or our attitude towards Him. Also given is its quality (or value) and its outcome (or effect). Write out each quality and outcome given.
a. Verse 7 Quality Outcome
7a (example)
Instructions/law of the Lord = perfect / reviving the soul
7b
Decrees/statutes of the Lord = _____________/__________________
b. Verse 8
8a
Commands/precepts of the Lord = _____________/__________________
8b
Commands of the Lord = _____________/__________________
c. Verse 9
9a
Reverence/fear of the Lord = _____________/__________________
9b
Laws/ordinances of the Lord = _____________/__________________
10. What does verse 10 compare God’s laws/instructions to?
11. In what ways to you think verse 10 is true?
12. What roles do God’s words play, according to verse 11?
13. What benefit do these warnings play in our lives, and how likely do you think people are to heed them?
14. In verses 12-13, what is David’s lament, and what is his request?
15. Describe how you may relate to David’s statement.
16. What is David’s prayer in verse 14?
17. How did Jesus describe the importance of what is in the heart in Mathew 12:34b-35?
18. How can we make our words and the meditations of our hearts pleasing to God? What qualities of God does David declare in the last sentence of this Psalm, and what encouragement do they give you?
Psalm 51 A Psalm of David
Read the entire Psalm and then answer the questions
Psalm 51
1. What does David request of God in verses 1-3?
2. What characteristics of God does he appeal to in verse 1?
3. The reason for David’s present lament stems from the event of 2 Samuel 11:1-17. In Psalm 51:5, where does David believe sin became a part of his life?
4. In what ways can you relate to David as he calls out to receive God’s mercy, grace, and compassion?
5. Besides the guilt and pain sin brings into our lives, what does unconfessed sin hinder, according to Psalm 66:18? How does that motivate you to keep short accounts with God?
6. According to Ephesians 2:1-2, what is the source of our propensity to sin, and what can overcome it, according to Ephesians 2:4-10?
7. What does David desire as he calls on God’s mercy and grace, according to Psalm 51:10-12?
8. Do you sometimes feel, as David did, that the “joy of your salvation” has left you? What steps do you think are necessary to restore it?
9. In verse 13, after his restoration, what does David plan to do?
10. In verse 15, what does David’s forgiveness lead to?
11. What lesson is there on God’s forgiveness in verses 16-17?
12. According to 1 Samuel 15:22, what is it God desires from us, in addition to a repentant heart?
13. Some believers today have a propensity to make the same mistake Samuel is correcting in the verse mentioned above. While we do not give burnt offerings and sacrifices, what is often substituted today for what really pleases God?
14. In response to the truths of this week’s Psalm, what prayer and praise would you like to offer to God?
Psalm 73 A Psalm of Asaph
Read the entire Psalm (See the New Living Translation below) and then answer the questions
Psalm 73
1. What does the author exclaim in verse 1? How does Matthew 5:8 confirm and add to our understanding?
2. What is the condition we find the author in, according to verse 2?
3. In verse 3, what is the reason given for this?
4. Give a summary of the author’s description of the wicked in verses 4-8.
5. How do the wicked accuse God in verse 11?
6. According to verse 10, how do the words of the wicked effect the other people?
7. According to verses 12-13, what questions, or thoughts, does the writer’s observations of the wicked lead him to?
8. Do you think believers are tempted to ask these same questions today? Explain your answer.
9. According to verse 17, where had the author gone when the answers to his questioning began to come to him?
10. What do you think is our equivalent of seeking God in His “sanctuary”?
11. What answer did the psalmist find regarding the fate of the wicked, according to verses 18-20?
12. What did he discover about God in verses 22-24, and how does that apply to us?
13. In the end, what did the psalmist discover or realize about his relationship with God (verses 25-26)?
14. What does his discovery compel him to do, according to verse 28?
15. What are the highlights of this Psalm for you?
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7 These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
8 They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
11 “What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.
15 If I had really spoken this way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
27 Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.