Wednesday Night Bible Study with Prayer and Praise at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States
Psalm 68 with Sister Lynette Hayes
Psalm 68: [Psalm 68:1 In Hebrew texts 68:1-35 is numbered 68:2-36.]
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke—
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds[Psalm 68:4 Or name, / prepare the way for him who rides through the deserts];
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,[Psalm 68:6 Or the desolate in a homeland]
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 When you, God, went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,[Psalm 68:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 19 and 32.]
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,[Psalm 68:13 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags]
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty[Psalm 68:14 Hebrew Shaddai] scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.[Psalm 68:17 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lord is among them at Sinai in holiness]
18 When you ascended on high,
you took many captives;
you received gifts from people,
even from[Psalm 68:18 Or gifts for people, / even] the rebellious—
that you,[Psalm 68:18 Or they] Lord God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
20 Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,
while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
26 Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.
27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, God[Psalm 68:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Your God has summoned power for you];
show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.
30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush[Psalm 68:31 That is, the upper Nile region] will submit herself to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord,
33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders with mighty voice.
34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
---------------------
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Theme?
2. Describe the Basic Message.
3. What did you learn from the Passage?
4. What troubled you the most about this passage?
5. Which verse or verses really spoke to you?
6. In how does this passage help you in your prayer life?
7. Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
---------------------
Psalm 74 with Brother Nicolas Dulin
Psalm 74: A maskil[Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term] of Asaph.
1 O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God;
no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12 But God is my King from long ago;
he brings salvation on the earth.
13 It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,
because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Theme?
2. Describe the Basic Message.
3. What did you learn from the Passage?
4. What troubled you the most about this passage?
5. Which verse or verses really spoke to you?
6. In how does this passage help you in your prayer life?
7. Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
---------------------
Psalm 75 with Sister Linda or Brother Jonathan Phelps
Psalm 75: [Psalm 75:1 In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11.]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.
2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
3 When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.[Psalm 75:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.]
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[Psalm 75:4 Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.]
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’”
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.
9 As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Theme?
2. Describe the Basic Message.
3. What did you learn from the Passage?
4. What troubled you the most about this passage?
5. Which verse or verses really spoke to you?
6. In how does this passage help you in your prayer life?
7. Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
---------------------
Psalm 76 with Sister Thetti Gunn
Psalm 76: [Psalm 76:1 In Hebrew texts 76:1-12 is numbered 76:2-13.]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
2 His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[Psalm 76:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 9.]
4 You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 The valiant lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot lie still.
7 It is you alone who are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet—
9 when you, God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[Psalm 76:10 Or Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, / and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself]
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Theme?
2. Describe the Basic Message.
3. What did you learn from the Passage?
4. What troubled you the most about this passage?
5. Which verse or verses really spoke to you?
6. In how does this passage help you in your prayer life?
7. Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
---------------------
Psalm 77 with Gary Lee Parker.
Psalm 77: [Psalm 77:1 In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[Psalm 77:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.]
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Theme?
2. Describe the Basic Message.
3. What did you learn from the Passage?
4. What troubled you the most about this passage?
5. Which verse or verses really spoke to you?
6. In how does this passage help you in your prayer life?
7. Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
-------
1. the Theme is struggling with God's silence, but then remembering His Miracles of the past.
2. The Basice Message is that God will never forget His people even when it seems so dark and lonely.
3. I learned that in my struggles, God is still present even if I cannot feel Him or see Him.
4. This time I had nothing that troubled me in this passage.
5. Verse 13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God? reminded me who God is.
6. As I praying to God to deliver me, I need to remember how He has done it for others in the past and even myself.
7. Lord, I am crying out to you at this time and wonder if you redeem me from this situation. I look at the past and how you delivered Abraham to the promised Land and Isaac to the promised children and the promised land for his descendants. Then there is Jacob who was delivered from the anger of His brother and father in law as well as able to see his favorite son, Joseph, and his children still alive and well and the promise of Joseph to bury him in the cave his ancestors were buried. I see the way you delivered him from certain death by his brothers, his master's wife, and the other people in jail with him. Then as the Israeites grew in number in Egypt how you led them out of bondage away from the Egyptians through Moses and Aaron. You delivered them from the sea and the enemies in the desrt including starvation to the edge of the Promised Land. After the death of Moses, You led them into the promised land with Joshua and delivered them from their enemies and to conquer the land. You allowed them to choose kings to rule over them and even in their sin and their exile to another nation, You led them out. Oh Yes, You did this for them and you will do this for me as well as all Your people. Amen!
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment