just the way I am feeling today

I awoke today feeling the burden on my heart that I have separated myself from God over the last few weeks, and I have been being drawn to psalms today. Regularly I am reminded by people of my previous life  that was so full of hate and rage and how was I drawn to the powers of the darkness. My fight is daily on the spiritual front to not go back to those ways and is only through Jesus that keeps me from those way. I still try to do it on my own but I know that I am not strong enough at times and I know it is only though Jesus to hold me up and guide me through... 

Psalms 139 NIV

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 3 - A Morning Prayer For God's Protection

Psalm 3 - A Morning Prayer For God's Protection

1 O Lord, how many are my foes!     How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,     “God will not deliver him.  ” Selah
3 But you are a shield   around me, O Lord;     you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  
4 To the Lord I cry aloud,       and he answers me from his holy hill.   Selah
5 I lie down and sleep;       I wake again,   because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear   the tens of thousands     drawn up against me on every side.  
7 Arise,   O Lord!     Deliver me,   O my God! Strike   all my enemies on the jaw;     break the teeth   of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance.       May your blessing   be on your people. Selah
Psalm 3 - NIV

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note how historical events often served as the impetus for the writing of particular psalms

2) To observe the use and possible meaning of the word "Selah"

3) To consider how David trusted in the Lord to deliver him from his enemies

SUMMARY

The heading attributes this psalm to David, composed as he was fleeing from his son Absalom (cf. 2Sa 15-18). It is commonly called "a morning hymn" (cf. v. 5) in which the psalmist prays for God's protection.

David addresses his complaint to the Lord, how there be many who trouble him. They even taunt him by saying there is no help from God for him (cf. the curses of Shimei, 2Sa 16:5-8). In this psalm (and in many others) we find the word "Selah". The exact meaning is unknown, but it may have served the purpose of providing some musical notation. It seems to be inserted where a pause is desirable for the singer or reader of the psalm to reflect upon the thought or statement just made (1-2).

Following his complaint is an expression of comfort received from the Lord in the past. Such consolation prompts him to view the Lord as a shield and his glory, the One who is able to lift up his head. Indeed, the Lord has heard his earlier cry and enabled him to sleep and awake. This gives him renewed courage to face his many enemies (cf. 2 Sam 18:7), even though they numbered in the thousands (3-6).

As he starts the new day, he yet again calls upon the Lord to save him, even as He has done in the past. His "morning hymn" ends with the acknowledgment of God as the source of salvation and blessing for His people (7-8).

OUTLINE

I. DAVID'S COMPLAINT (3:1-2)

A. MANY TROUBLE HIM (1)

B. MANY RISE UP AGAINST HIM (2)

C. MANY SAY THERE IS NO HELP FROM GOD FOR HIM (2)

II. DAVID'S COMFORT (3:3-6)

A. WHAT GOD IS TO HIM (3) 1. His shield and glory 2. The One who lifts his head

B. WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR HIM (4-6) 1. Heard his cry from His holy hill 2. Sustained him during sleep 3. Given him courage against ten thousands of men

III. DAVID'S CRY (3:7-8)

A. FOR DELIVERANCE BY GOD (7) 1. To arise and save him 2. As God has done in the past a. Having struck his enemies on the cheekbone b. Having broken the teeth of the ungodly

B. OF PRAISE TO GOD (8) 1. Salvation belongs to God 2. His blessing is upon His people

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm? - David's complaint (1-2) - David's comfort (3-6) - David's cry (7-8)

2) Who is the author of this psalm, and what occasion led to its composition? - David - When he was fleeing from Absalom

3) What was David's complaint? (1) - Many have risen against him, to trouble him

4) What were people saying about David? Who in particular said such things? (2) - There is no help for him from God - Shimei, son of Gera, of the house of Saul (cf. 2Sa 16:5-8)

5) What is the meaning of the word "Selah"? (2) - It is likely a musical notation - Perhaps inserted where a pause is desirable for the singer or reader of the psalm to reflect upon the thought or statement just made (Leupold)

6) How did David view God? (3) - As a shield, his glory, the One who lifts up his head

7) What did David do, and what was God's response? (4) - David cried to the Lord with his voice - God heard him from His holy hill

8) What was David able to do because of God's sustaining him? (5) - To lay down and sleep, and then to awake

9) What else did God make possible for David? (6) - Not to be afraid, even when ten thousands of people surrounded against him

10) For what does David pray? (7) - To arise and save him

11) What had God done for David in the past? (7) - Struck his enemies on the cheekbone - Broken the teeth of the ungodly

13) What does David attribute to the Lord? (8) - Salvation and blessing to His people

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

Psalm 2

 Psalm 2 - The Ultimate Victory Of The Messiah

1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.

8 Ask me,and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.

12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalms 2 ~ NIv

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note the Messianic nature of this psalm

2) To consider its fulfillment as expounded by Jesus and His apostles 
   in the New Testament

3) To take comfort in knowing that the Messiah has ultimate control 
   over world affairs

SUMMARY

This psalm is Messianic in nature, with its theme being "The Ultimate
Victory Of The Lord's Anointed."  It is quoted by the apostles and
early church in their prayer for help against persecution (cf. Ac 4:24-
30), in which they applied it to the efforts of Pontius Pilate along
with Gentiles and those of Israel who crucified Christ.  From this
reference in Acts we also learn that David was the author.

The psalm is divided into four sections (or strophes), in each of which
there is a different voice that speaks.  The first strophe begins with
the psalmist observing the efforts of the nations and their leaders to
resist the Lord and His Anointed.  They declare their desire to break
away from the cords that bind them (1-3).  The second strophe depicts
the Lord in heaven as laughing in derision over their futile efforts.
In righteous anger He declares that despite their resistance He has
installed His King (i.e., His Anointed One) on Zion, His holy hill (4-
6).

In the third stanza or strophe, the Anointed One speaks, in which He
declares the decree of the Lord.  He is God's begotten Son, who upon
request is given the nations and ends of the earth as an inheritance
which He will rule with a rod of iron (7-9).  From Jesus and His
apostles, we learn that this rule began when He ascended to heaven and
sat down at the right hand of God (cf. Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22;
Re 1:5; 2:26-27).

The psalm ends with the fourth strophe containing the psalmist's
counsel of what the leaders of the nations should do:  Worship the Lord
with reverence, and do homage to the Son lest they incur His righteous
anger.  For all who put their trust in the Anointed One, they shall be
blessed (10-12).  

OUTLINE

I. THE NATIONS' RESISTANCE (2:1-3)

   A. THE PSALMIST'S INQUIRY (1)
      1. Why do the nations rage?
      2. Why do the people plot a vain thing?

   B. THE PSALMIST'S OBSERVATION (2-3)
      1. Against the Lord and His Anointed...
         a. The kings of the earth set themselves
         b. The rulers take counsel together
      2. Against the Lord and His Anointed they say...
         a. "Let us break Their bonds in pieces"
         b. "(Let us) cast away Their cords from us"

II. THE LORD'S REJOINDER (2:4-6)

   A. THE LORD'S REACTION (4)
      1. He who sits in the heaven shall laugh
      2. The Lord shall hold them in deep derision

   B. THE LORD'S REPLY (5-6)
      1. He shall speak to them in His wrath
      2. He will distress them in His deep displeasure
      3. He will proclaim:  "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill Of 
         Zion"

III. THE MESSIAH'S RESPONSE (2:7-9)

   A. THE DECREE GIVEN HIM (7)
      1. "You are My Son"
      2. "Today I have begotten You"

   B. THE AUTHORITY GIVEN HIM (8-9)
      1. The extent of His rule
         a. "The nations for Your inheritance"
         b. "The ends of the earth for Your possession"
      2. The power of His rule
         a. "You shall break them with a rod of iron"
         b. "You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel"

IV. THE PSALMIST'S REPROACH (2:10-12)

   A. TO KINGS AND JUDGES (10-11)
      1. Be wise, be instructed
      2. Serve the LORD with fear
      3. Rejoice with trembling

   B. TO THEM AND ALL (12)
      1. Kiss the Son lest He be angry
         a. And you perish [in] the way
         b. When His wrath is kindled but a little.
      2. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. 

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - The nations' resistance (1-3)
   - The Lord's rejoinder (4-6)
   - The Messiah's response (7-9)
   - The psalmist's reproach (10-12)

2) Against whom are the kings and rulers taking counsel? (2)
   - The Lord and His Anointed

3) What are the kings and rulers saying? (3)
   - Let us break Their bonds in pieces, and cast away Their cords

4) What reaction does this prompt from the Lord in heaven? (4-5)
   - Laughter and derision
   - Wrath and displeasure

5) What will the Lord say to these kings and rulers? (6)
   - I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion

6) How will the Anointed One (i.e., the Messiah) respond? (7)
   - He will declare the decree spoken to Him by the Lord (God)

7) Who is the Anointed One? (7)
   - God's begotten Son

8) As applied by Paul, what "day" was the Messiah "begotten" by God? 
   (7; cf. Ac 13:33)
   - The day of His resurrection from the dead

9) What did the Lord promise His Anointed One? (8)
   - The nations and ends of the earth for His inheritance and 
     possession

10) According to Jesus and His apostles, has He been given this 
    authority?  If so, when?  (cf. Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22;
    Re 1:5; 2:26-27)
   - Yes; when He ascended to heaven and set down at the right hand of 
     God

11) What will He do to the nations with this authority? (9; cf. Re 2:
    26-27)
   - Break them with a rod of iron
   - Dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel

12) What wisdom and instruction does the psalmist give to kings and
    judges? (10-12)
   - Serve the Lord with fear
   - Rejoice with trembling
   - Kiss (do homage to) the Son
   - Lest He be angry and you perish when His wrath is kindled

13) What of those who put their trust in the Son? (12)
   - They will be blessed

taken from Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

Psalm 1 - The Truly Happy Man

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS"
 Psalm 1 - The Truly Happy Man
 Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. PSALM 1 ~ NIV


 OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM 
 1) To examine the blessedness of the righteous, in stark contrast to the desperation of the wicked
 2) To note both the negative and positive elements that lead to the truly happy life
 3) To note four examples of parallelism that are indicative of Hebrew poetry

 SUMMARY 
 The first psalm, didactic in style, serves as an appropriate preface to the entire collection of psalms. Its theme can be described as "The Truly Happy Man" as it depicts the blessedness, or happiness, of the righteous man in contrast to the wicked. The blessedness of the righteous man is described first from a negative perspective, in what he will not do. With the aid of stair-like progressive parallelism, the truly happy man is depicted as not allowing himself to be in the presence or under the influence of the wicked. Instead, he finds delight in meditating day and night on the law of the Lord. His blessedness is pictured as a healthy, fruitful tree, nourished by rivers of water. Whatever he does, he prospers (1- 3). The wicked, in stark contrast, are not so blessed. They are like chaff driven by the wind. In the judgment, they shall not be able to stand. Nor shall they be blessed to be in the congregation of the righteous (4-5). The psalm ends with a contrast between the two "ways." The way of the righteous is known (blessed, providentially cared for) by the Lord. The way of the ungodly shall perish, like a trail leading into a swamp that eventually disappears (6).

 OUTLINE 
 I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN (1:1-3)
   A. HIS CHARACTER (1-2)
      1. Described from a negative point of view
          a. Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly
          b. Nor stands in the path of sinners - Pr 4:14-15
          c. Nor sits in the seat of the scornful - Ps 26:4-5
      2. Described from a positive perspective
         a. His delight is in the law of the Lord - Ps 40:8; 119: 47,48; Jer 15:16
         b. In God's law he meditates day and night - Ps 119:97-99
    B. HIS PROSPERITY (3)
       1. Like a tree planted by rivers of water - Ps 92:12-15; Jer 17: 7-8
         a. That brings forth fruit in its season
         b. Whose leaf shall not wither
      2. Whatever he does shall prosper - Josh 1:7-8 
 II. THE DESPERATION OF THE WICKED (1:4-5)
    A. NOTHING LIKE THE RIGHTEOUS (4)
       1. The ungodly are not so (lit., "Not so, are the ungodly!")
       2. They are like the chaff which the wind drives away - Job 21: 17-18
    B. THEIR SORRY END (5)
       1. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment
       2. The sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous
 III. A FINAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THEIR TWO WAYS (1:6)
    A. THE LORD KNOWS THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS (6a)
    B. THE WAY OF THE UNGODLY SHALL PERISH (6b)

 REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM 
 1) What are the main points of this psalm? - The blessedness of the righteous man (1-3) - The desperation of the wicked (4-5) - A final contrast between their two ways (6)

 2) What is the theme of this psalm? - The truly happy man

 3) What is the style of this psalm? - Didactic, i.e., designed to teach or instruct

 4) What does the blessed man not do, as described in this psalm? (1) - Does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly - Does not stand in the path of sinners - Does not sit in the seat of the scornful

 5) What example of parallelism, or thought rhyme, do we find in verse one? - Stair-like progressive parallelism

 6) What is the source of delight for the one who is blessed? (2) - The law of the Lord

 7) What does the blessed man do to experience such delight? (2) - Meditates in the law of the Lord day and night

 8) What example of parallelism, or thought rhyme, do we find in verse two? - Synonymous parallelism

 9) What will such a blessed person be like? (3) - A tree planted by rivers of water - That brings forth fruit in its season, and whose leaf shall not wither

10) What example of parallelism, or thought rhyme, do we find in verse three? - Synthetic parallelism

11) What else is said about this blessed man? (3) - Whatever he does shall prosper

12) What are the ungodly like? (4) - The chaff driven away by the wind

13) What will not happen to the ungodly and sinners? (5) - They shall not stand in the judgment - They shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous

 14) How are the righteous and the wicked contrasted at the end of this psalm? (6) - The Lord knows the way of the righteous - The way of the wicked shall perish

 15) What example of parallelism, or thought rhyme, do we find in verse six? - Antithetical parallelism

Nov 17 new study Psalms Bible Study

I've decided to to include the entire text from the study sheets because I don't want to be sued or jailed for doing so. I am adding some things I see pertinent to learning about the subject in study and will site my source. Most of this study is based on a study guide from  Mark A. Copeland which can be  found here and only covers the first 50 chapters. If at some time I decide to drop this study I will try and at least continue through psalms without the use of the guide ... please remember your feedback is very welcome and I encourage it. There is a lot I've cut out to get us started.. so here we go with Mark's introduction into Psalms
Background Material On The Psalms

Having examined some of unique characteristics of Hebrew poetry in general, let's now focus on the book of Psalms itself...

1) The Origin Of The Word "Psalm"

The Greek word is "psalmos", from the Hebrew word "zmr" meaning "to pluck"; i.e., taking hold of the strings of an instrument with the fingers. It implies that the psalms were originally composed to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. "Psalms are songs for the lyre, and therefore lyric poems in the strictest sense."(Delitzsch, Psalms, Vol. I, p. 7) David and others therefore originally wrote the Psalms to be sung to the accompaniment of the harp.

In New Testament worship, we are told to sing the psalms to the accompaniment of the heart:

"...in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ep 5:19)

The phrase, "making melody," comes from the Greek word "psallontes" (literally, plucking the strings of). Therefore, we are to "pluck the strings of our heart" as we sing the psalms (i.e., to sing with emotion).

2) The History Of The Psalms

The oldest of the Psalms originate from the time of Moses (1400 B.C.). We have three psalms penned by Moses:

Exo 15:1-15 - a song of triumph following the crossing of the Red Sea

Deut 32, 33 - a song of exhortation to keep the Law after entering Canaan

Ps 90 - a song of meditation, reflection, and prayer

After Moses, the writing of Psalms had its "peaks" and "valleys"...

In David (1000 B.C.), the sacred lyric attained to its full maturity.

With Solomon, the creation of psalms began to decline; this was "the age of the proverb."

Only twice after this did the creation of psalms rise to any height, and then only for a short period: under Jehoshaphat (875 B.C.) and again under Hezekiah (725 B.C.).

3) The Authors Of The Psalms

David - Commonly thought to be the author of the book of Psalms, but he actually wrote only about seventy-three (73), less than half.

Asaph - The music director during the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Chr 16:1-7). He wrote twelve (12) psalms.

The Sons of Korah - These were Levites who served in the Temple (1 Chr 26:1-19). They wrote twelve (12) psalms.

Solomon - At least two (2) psalms are attributed to him (Ps 72, 127). That he wrote many more is stated in 1Ki 4:29-32.

Moses - As indicated above, he wrote the earliest psalms; one is included in Psalms (Ps 90).

Heman - Contemporary with David and Asaph, and is known as "the singer" (1Ch 6:33). He wrote one psalm (Ps 88) that has been preserved.

Ethan - A companion with Asaph and Heman in the Temple worship (1 Chr 15:19). He wrote one psalm (Ps 89).

Anonymous - The authorship of forty-eight (48) of the psalms is unknown.