Intro to Psalms:

The book of Psalms is a wonderful declaration of praise for our great God. The focus of the book is on worshiping the Lord for who He is: His character, His attributes, His love for His people. Therefore, as you read, look for how the psalmist describes God, how he relates to God, and the longings he expresses to God. See if you can relate to the psalmist and find comfort and strength in your great God, praising Him for what He has done or will do in your life. Notice any struggle the psalmist may experience, but also how he ultimately comes to rest in trust in God. We all face challenges in this world and sometimes we too, like the psalmist, may wrestle with how the Lord is working (or not working) in our lives. Can we land, again like the psalmist, in trust and faith in our great God? I pray the Psalms become anchors for your soul as you cling to Him. Psalm 63:8 “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

The book of Psalms is broken up into 5 books. For our purposes we will only be reading book 1 at this time and will come back to complete Psalms at a later date. The books are divided as follows: Book 1: chs. 1—41; Book 2: chs. 42—72; Book 3: chs. 73—89; Book 4: chs. 90—106; and Book 5: chs. 107—150. They were mostly written between 1000 and 450 B.C. and 72 of the psalms were written or attributed to David. They are written in Hebrew poetry and mainly use the grammatical structure of parallelism (similar ways to express related ideas). The New Testament writers quote psalms more than any other book of the Old Testament.

For an in-depth introduction to Psalms check out Dr. Constables notes: https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/pdf/psalms.pdf.

June 1: Psalm 1

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verse 1, what does the “blessed man” not do? Ponder: what does the progression of walk, stand, sit indicate about the level of engagement with the wicked, sinner, and scoffer?
2. In verse 2, what is the delight of the “blessed man?” When does he meditate on the word? Ponder: What does this indicate about the level of engagement with the word of God?
3. In verses 3-6 there is a contrast presented between the outcomes of a life meditating on the word (blessed man) versus seeking input from sinful man (the wicked). You may want to make a small chart to list the results of the blessed man versus the results of the wicked man. Ponder: how would you put verse 3 into your own words? If the wicked are like chaff, how stable and secure are they? What will be the final result of the wicked?
4. Ponder: What is your first “go to” when making decisions in life, big or small ones? Could it be said of you, “they meditate on the word day and night?” In other words, what value do you place on the word of God for your life? How would your life change if you followed the way of the blessed man? How does this lead you to pray?
5. For more info: https://www.gotquestions.org/delight-in-the-law-of-the-Lord.html.

June 2: Psalm 2

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. This is a messianic psalm, which means it points to or references the Messiah, Christ. While the anointed one in verse 2 is speaking of David, it also is a prophecy of The Anointed One to come, Christ Jesus.
2. In verses 1-3, how do the nations plot to treat the Lord and His Anointed One? Ponder: how do some people in our culture feel toward the God the Father and Jesus?
3. In verses 4-6, how does the Lord respond to their plotting? Ponder: how worried is the Lord by their plotting against Him? What characteristic is the Lord displaying in these verses?
4. In verses 7-9, what does the king (David) decree? As a cross reference, read 2 Samuel 7:8-16. How does it relate to the Psalm?
5. In verses 10-12, how can the kings of the earth show wisdom? Note: "Kiss the Son” means to act in submission or pay homage to. If the kings of the earth are not wise, what will be their outcome? What do the blessed do?
6. Ponder: When we hear of plots or persecutions against believers, how can this Psalm encourage us? What characteristics of the Lord can you cling to in times of trouble? How does this lead you to pray?
7. For more insight: https://www.gotquestions.org/kiss-the-son.html.

June 3: Psalm 3

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. This Psalm is written by David at the time he was fleeing from his son Absalom who was attempting to overthrow his kingdom. (The account is found in 2 Samuel 13-18).
2. In verses 1-2 David is lamenting (grieving) his situation. Who is he talking to? Ponder: What do you do when your circumstances are not what you want or are difficult?
3. In verses 3-4, after lamenting, where does he land? In other words, where does he put his trust despite his circumstances? How is the Lord described? At the end of verse 4 we see the word “Selah” for the first time in the Psalms. It means pause and carefully consider what you just read. This is a great practice as we work our way through the Psalms.
4. In verses 5-6, what are the results of David putting his trust in the Lord, the lifter of his head? What is he able to do and why?
5. In verses 7-8, what is David’s request? What can the Lord do? How do these two verse describe the Lord’s heart of protection for His people?
6. Ponder: We all face difficulties in life and we lament. It is good to lament, to process and grieve our circumstances; but where do we land? How do we cling to the Lord as our refuge unless we know His character? Some suggestions: keep a journal and write prayers to the Lord. Describe your situation, your laments, your fears, and ask the Lord to help you trust in Him despite what you are facing. You might want to underline or write in the margin of your Bible the characteristics of the Lord found in the verses. Maybe keep a small notebook listing the characteristic and the reference for where it is found. You can carry the notebook with you as a quick reminder of your Refuge, the Lord your God.

June 4: Psalm 4

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper: Psalm of David

1. In verse 1, what three things does David request of the Lord? What two things does he say God has given him?
2. In verse 2 David is speaking to his enemies. What are his enemies doing in an attempt to dishonor him? In verse 3, what does David remind himself of in order to readjust his thoughts of frustration? In verses 4-5, what emotion is David feeling as he thinks about the lies his enemies are saying about him? Is it possible to be angry and not sin? What does David suggest to do when you are angry? Selah.
3. In verses 6-8 David is saying there are some who are depressed and saying “Who will show us some good?” In David’s answer where does he direct their focus? Who does he place his trust in and what is the result? David speaks of “more joy in his heart,” but does he say his circumstances have changed? Ponder: where is his joy coming from?
4. Ponder: have you ever experienced someone telling lies about you? Can you relate to David’s frustration? What do you tend to do: focus on the woe is me (who will show us some good), or do you place your trust in the Lord and rejoice that the Lord is on your side?

June 5: Psalm 5

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper: A psalm of David

1. In verses 1-3, what words clue you in to David’s emotional state? How does David describe God in these verses and how does this give indication for the state of his heart toward God? At what time of day is David praying and how might this indicate his dependence on the Lord? Ponder: can you relate to David’s desperate plea to God?
2. In verses 4-12 we see a back and forth contrast between the wicked and those who take refuge in God. In your notes create two columns and title one “The wicked” and the other “Those who take refuge in God.” As you read this section write down what you learn about these two categories of people.
3. Compare verse 5 with verse 7. What is the attitude of the heart for the wicked versus those who take refuge in God? In verse 7, on what basis will David enter the house of the Lord; his own righteousness or something else? In verses 11-12, why can those who take refuge in God rejoice?
4. In verse 5 we see that God hates all evildoers. Many people think God is only love and dismiss His wrath. Check out the following article for insight into this verse: https://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-hate.html.
5. Ponder: As you study this psalm, what verse or verses has the greatest impact on your thinking? Explain why. This psalm is a prayer from David, how does it lead you to pray?

June 6: Psalm 6

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-3 David is crying out to the Lord. What is David’s spiritual condition and what is his physical condition? In verses 4-5, what is David’s request of the Lord and why is he asking for this?
2. In verses 6-7, what words clue you in to how David is feeling? How would you describe his state of mind? Ponder: Can you share a time when you felt this way with someone else who is doing GPREADS? How can you pray for one another?
3. In verses 8-10, what command does David give to the workers of evil and under what authority does he give it? When David gives the command, is there any indication that his physical condition has changed yet? Ponder: what does this tell you about his faith in God? How do you show trust in God despite your circumstances remaining unchanged? How does this lead you to pray?
4. Ponder: why does sickness come? David confessed he had done something deserving of rebuke and discipline from the Lord in the context of his physical suffering. So does all sickness come from the Lord? No, but might some? Yes. To gain a better understanding of this check out: https://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-sickness.html.

June 7: Psalm 7

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-2, what is David’s request of the Lord? How would you describe David’s emotions?
2. In verses 3-5 we see David making an if, then statement. How would you put this in your own words? Ponder: Evidently David had been accused of these things by his enemies. When you are wrongly accused how do you react? Do you get defensive or, like David, do you humbly ask the Lord to show you if there is any truth in their accusations? Look up Jeremiah 17:9-10; according to these verses can we deceive ourselves into thinking we are right?
3. In verses 6-11, how is God described? In His judgment, what does He test? How will God respond to the wicked differently than to the righteous?
4. In verses 12-16, what is in store for the man who does not repent? How is the wicked man described? Ponder: how can the wicked man escape the judgement of the Lord (v12)? Why is God’s judgment righteous?
5. In verse 17 David lands with thanks and praise to the Lord, Most High. How does this lead you to thank and praise the Lord, Most High?

June 8: Psalm 8

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. Verse 1 begins with “O LORD, our Lord.” Let’s take a moment and understand the significance of this phrase. First, notice the first LORD is in all caps. If you were to look this up in the Hebrew you would find that it is the name for Yahweh, Jehovah. Blue Letter Bible defines it as: ”the self- existing One;” the proper name of the one true God. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3068/esv/wlc/0-1/. The second “Lord" is a capital followed by lowercase letters. This is the name Adonai and means sovereign, master, owner over all His creation. Now look at the second line of verse 1. How does this insight highlight the declaration in this part of the verse? In our newage world many believe God is in everything and everything is in God. How does verse 1 refute this claim?
2. In verses 3-4, what is the contrast being made between God’s creation and man? In verses 5-8, despite the difference between God and man, what does God entrust to man? Ponder: God knew we were sinful man, that we would reject Him and sin against Him. Yet, as this psalm states, He still chose to entrust His creation to us. How does this display God’s love and care for us?
3. Like the psalmist, how do you respond when you marvel at God’s sovereign power in creation and His choice to give man dominion on the earth? How does this lead you to pray?

June 9: Psalm 9

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-2, what led David to thank and praise the Lord with his whole heart? Ponder: How do you respond when you dwell on what the Lord has done in your life?
2. In verses 3-8, what type of judgement does God show to David’s enemies? How had David conducted himself even though his enemies were after him? (Hint: verses 4).
3. In verses 9-12, who is the Lord a stronghold for? Ponder: Is the Lord a stronghold for every oppressed person or is there a stipulation? Who are those who put their trust in Him? Who has the Lord not forsaken? What does the Lord not forget? Ponder: What does it mean to “know your name” in verse 10? Does it simply mean you know that God’s name is Yahweh? If you have time, check out this article for more insight: https://www.gotquestions.org/those-who-know-your-name.html.
4. As you read verses 13-14, why does David want God to be gracious to him and see his affliction? (Hint: look for the word “that.”)
5. In verses 15-17, what have the nations sunk into? What has the LORD made known? What caused the wicked to be snared? Why will the wicked return to Sheol? Ponder: was the grace of God made available for the wicked? Where do you see His grace in this section of verses? Why are the wicked being punished? How does this lead you to pray for those who do not know the Lord and do not know His name?
6. If you have time: does God call us to help all those who are poor and needy? Check out the following article for more information: https://www.gotquestions.org/taking-advantage.html.

June 10: Psalm 10

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verse 1, put into your own words how David is wrestling with the Lord?
2. In verses 2-11 we find the reason for David’s wrestle. We also find a description of the wicked and their ways. Make a list of all you discover. What attitude do you see repeated in verses 2-4? What is the message of “all their thoughts?”
3. In verses 12-15 David prays to the Lord. What does he request? In verse 13, what is the attitude of the wicked? Do they think God will actually do something about their wrongdoing?
4. In verses 16-18, we see David’s wrestle land in trust, faith, and hope in the Lord. What attributes of the Lord is David clinging to in these verses? Ponder: notice the tense (past, present, future) David uses in the later part of verse 17 and 18. Has David seen God’s justice yet in this section?
5. Ponder: do we see any of these characteristics of the wicked in our world today? Do you ever feel that evil is winning? Or perhaps you are waiting for justice in your own life? David ends the psalm focusing on the Lord as “king forever and ever.” How would focusing on who God is help you find strength as you wait for justice to come? Read 2 Peter 3:9. How does this verse help you understand why God allows evil to continue temporarily? How does this lead you to pray for yourself and those who engage in wicked ways?

June 11: Psalm 11

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verse 1, who does David take refuge in? The second half of verse 1 through verse 3 David is questioning his counselors advice (how can you say…..). What are they telling him to do and why? Verse 3 concludes the question with a rhetorical ending. The answer will be given in the remaining verses of the psalm. How would you put these 3 verses in your own words?
2. Ponder: when life seems overwhelming and hard and when your enemies are coming against you, what do you do? Where do you seek counsel?
3. In verse 4, where is the Lord when David was facing this overwhelming situation? What does the Lord see? The word test in this verse and verse 5 means to examine or scrutinize. Ponder: when we feel in chaos, what can we know about the Lord?
4. In verses 5-7, when the Lord tests, examines the wicked and the righteous, what does He see? How does He respond to each?
5. Ponder: This psalm reminds me of 2 Chronicles 16:9a. Who has your heart? How does this lead you to pray?

June 12: Psalm 12

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-2, what kind of environment has David found himself in?
2. In verses 3-4, what is the request David makes of the Lord? How does David describe those he is encountering?
3. In verse 5, what does the Lord say He will do? In verse 6, how are the Lord’s words described? How does this compare to the words of the people in verses 2-4?
4. In verses 7-8, what do the wicked do and what is the Lord’s response?
5. Ponder: Have you experienced situations where there are no Christians or very few? Maybe at work, school, the culture, or even in your extended family? Can you relate to David’s frustration and loneliness? How can this psalm bring you comfort? How does this lead you to pray?

June 13: Psalm 13

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. Do you journal? Journaling your prayers to the Lord can be a powerful tool to help you process your experiences in life, particularly the difficult ones. This psalm reads like a journal entry. David begins by pouring his heart out to the Lord, lamenting his situation. In verses 1-2, how is David feeling? Does he feel the Lord is listening? Ponder: Have you been in a place like this, where your heart is so heavy and you feel God does not care?
2. In verses 3-4 David moves into place of requesting of the Lord. What is he asking for? Ponder: how has David’s state of mind begun to change? Think about where his focus is in verses 1 and 2, compared to where his focus is in verses 3 and 4. It’s a slight move, but do you notice it moves from frustration with God’s silence to recognition of his need for the Lord’s help.
3. David has been in a wrestling place with the Lord in verses 1-4, now in verses 5-6 he lands in trust of the Lord. What is he trusting in? What emotion does he express? What is he now dwelling on? Ponder: look back on the progression of David’s emotions. Where did he start and where did he land? What helped him to land where he did?
4. Ponder: This psalm is a powerful example of how we can face difficulties in our lives. It’s not the wrestle, it is where we land. We all go through times where we feel God is not listening or seeing our situation and so we cry out “how long.” But as we pray and seek the Lord, pouring our heart and feelings out to Him, He can gently remind us of our need of Him and His faithfulness to us. What we choose to dwell on can bring us sorrow or joy. Journaling is one way to help us shift this focus from our pain to the faithfulness of God. We can choose to cling to what we know to be true of Him, despite our circumstances. However, in order for journaling to have the greatest impact, we need to know the Scriptures. Knowing the character and attributes of God, knowing how He has moved and worked in the past give us truth to cling to in the present. As we journal, the Lord can bring to mind what we have learned about Him in His word. This is why I am so glad you are participating in GPREADS! You are studying the word and growing in your knowledge of who He is! How does this lead you to pray?

June 14: Psalm 14

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-3, how does David describe the foolish person? Note: The Hebrew word for fool carries the idea of senseless, stupid or wicked. Notice that verse 3 is very similar to verse 1; describing the wickedness of man. As a result of this repetition, it drives the reader to the middle, verse 2. What does the Lord do? Ponder: In light of this, what does it tell you about the Lord’s authority to determine the heart and actions of man?
2. In verse 4 we have a similar emphasis. How are the evildoers described a the beginning and end of the verse? What is the result of their actions and knowledge which is found in the middle of the verse?
3. In verses 5-6, the first part of each verse is describing the state of the evildoers with the second half stating the reality of their situation. In verse 5 it says the evildoer is in great terror, or dread. Even though he does not realize it, why is this true? Who is God with? Ponder: By reasoning, who is God not with? In verse 6, what do the evil doers want to do to the plans (or counsel) of the poor (or afflicted)? In other words they seek to frustrate the plans of the poor, but what does the Lord provide for the poor?
4. In verse 7, who did David look to for salvation for the people of Israel? What hope did he cling to? What emotion could focusing on the eternal hope bring to people who were under the arm of the evildoers?
5. Ponder: this psalm lamented the reality of a world full of people who live like there is no God, much like our world today. How can this psalm and the following verses encourage you today? How does this lead you to pray? John 14:1-3, Colossians 3:1-3, and 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
6. This psalm states, “there is none who does good.” For more insight on this statement: https://www.gotquestions.org/none-who-does-good-no-not-one.html.

June 15: Psalm 15

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In contrast to some of the previous psalms that described the actions and heart of the wicked, this psalm describes the actions and heart of those who desire relationship with the Lord. The psalm begins with a question and ends with a statement of promise and truth. How would you state the question in your own words?
2. In verses 2-5a, the question is answered. Make a list of the actions of the righteous. Pray, and take the time to slowly evaluate your heart and action toward each situation, asking the Lord to reveal any area where growth is needed.
3. In verse 5b, what is the promise if we walk blamelessly? Ponder: what is the opposite of being moved?
4. Ponder: This psalm lists some of the actions of those who have stability in their lives. How does obedience provide stability? What if God’s laws were, in part, a protection from instability in our lives? Obedience = stability. Does this mean we will never face difficulties if we obey? How can we have stability even in chaotic circumstances? How does this lead you to pray?

June 16: Psalm 16

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to Gold in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper: A psalm of rejoicing.

1. In verses 1-2, how is David declaring his dependency on the Lord? In verse 3, what does David delight in? Ponder: when you see other Christians pursuing the Lord with their whole heart, how does it impact you?
2. In verses 4-6, what is the contrast David is making between those who pursue another god and his pursuit of God? What is the outcome for each pursuit?
3. In verses 7-8, why does David know he will not be shaken? What does he do to assure this? In verses 9-10, what are the 5 results of David’s action and determination? In verse 10, what does David know about his eternity? (Note: Sheol is a term used for hell. See for more insight: https://www.gotquestions.org/sheol-hades-hell.html. )
4. In verse 11, what 3 things does David praise the Lord for? Ponder: the psalm begins with declaring dependence on the Lord in all things, which leads to security and rejoicing. How does this psalm lead you to acknowledge your dependence on the Lord and as a result how can you praise Him?
5. For more insight on “fullness of joy:” https://www.gotquestions.org/fullness-of-joy.html.

June 17: Psalm 17

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-5 David is crying out to the Lord to hear him and give vindication to him from his enemies. How does David know he is in the right and free of deceit? What are the two actions he took to ensure he was in the right? Ponder: Can we think we are in the right but actually be in the wrong? How does David’s example give us a guide to finding clarity about our part in a conflict? How does this lead you to pray?
2. In verses 6-9, what attributes or truths of the Lord is David clinging to in his distress? Ponder: Are you keeping a list of all the attributes of God we find in Psalms? Like David, we can cling to what we know to be true of the Lord and find comfort, strength, and boldness to live for Him.
3. In verses 10-12, how does David describe the wicked who are coming after him? David is fearful for his life as his enemies surround him. While we, in the US, may not face this type of persecution yet, many across the world do and on a daily basis. As they read this psalm it would have great meaning to them. How can we pray for the persecuted church? Here are two websites to help you know how to pray: 
Voice of the Martyrs 
 https://www.persecution.com/stories/christians-in-iran-share-the-gospel-with-boldness/ 
Open Doors: https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/
4. David ends the psalm by focusing on the future for the wicked and the righteous. Where is the portion for those who are men of the world? What is the focus of their lives? In contrast, where is David’s portion? What is the focus and hope of David’s life? Ponder: Read Matthew 6:33; what do you seek in this life? How does this lead you to pray?

June 18: Psalm 18

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. This psalm was written on the day the Lord rescued David from all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. It is a psalm of rejoicing in the Lord! As you read the psalm write down every attribute you see of the Lord. (I found 54 attributes!)
2. In verses 4-6, how was David feeling when waiting for the Lord to rescue him?
3. After recalling all the ways the Lord had shown Himself mighty in David’s life, what did it lead David to do in verses 49-50?
4. Ponder: As you reflect on your life, how has the Lord showed Himself mighty in your life? What attributes of the Lord do you cling to so that you will trust in the Lord when life is hard? How does this lead you to praise the Lord?

June 19: Psalm 19

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. You might consider sitting outside to read this Psalm, since it begins with His creation. In verses 1-6, what proclaims the glory of God? How often is it proclaimed? Read Romans 1:18-20. What does God say about His creation? What does it say about all humanity? We can know there is a God through His creation, this is called general revelation. It is something that can be easily known by all people.
2. In verses 7-11 we see a description of the Law of the Lord (His word). List everything it says about the Law. His word is special revelation, specific words of God to us. In 2 Timothy 3:16 it states that all Scripture is breathed out by God. It is His words, without error, and what we need to be complete and equipped for life. Ponder: do you view God’s word as the psalmist does? Do you desire it more than gold? How does this lead you to pray?
3. Verse 12 begins with a rhetorical question asking the Lord to reveal his hidden faults. In verse 13-14, what is the request the psalmist makes and why does he make it? The last verse is a great prayer, so will you accept the challenge to memorize it? How does this lead you to pray?
4. For more information on general versus special revelation check out: https://www.gotquestions.org/general-special-revelation.html.

June 20: Psalm 20

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to the Lord in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In this psalm, the people are praying for David. According to verses 1-3, what is the context of their prayer? What are the people asking the Lord to do?
2. In verses 4-5 the people continue their prayer. What is the focus of their prayer in these verses?
3. In verses 6-7 David answers their prayer with an exhortation! What does David know? Where does he place his trust? In verse 9, how do the people feel about David?
4. Ponder: Do you face troubles, specifically spiritual struggles? Attacks from the enemy? Do others in your life face these same troubles? How does this psalm model how we should pray and where we should place our trust, our confidence? Lastly, how does this psalm model praying for others? Who might God be leading you to pray for?
5. To learn more about praying for others: https://www.gotquestions.org/praying-for-others.html. Also, check out this link for several articles on prayer: https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/prayer#.

June 21: Psalm 21

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-7, what attributes of the Lord does David praise? What did David ask of the Lord? What does David rejoice in? How does the Lord treat those seek Him and whom He loves?
2. In contrast, how do verses 8-13 describe what awaits the enemies of the Lord? How are the enemies of the Lord described?
3. In verse 13, how does David land the psalm?
4. Ponder: how does this psalm display God’s sovereignty (God’s total control over all)? How does this impact your view of our world? When it seems the enemy is winning, who has the final say? How does this lead you to pray?

June 22: Psalm 22

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-2, what is David’s question? Read Matthew 27:46, notice what Jesus quotes from the cross.
2. As you read verses 3-21, notice the back and forth wrestle between David’s woes and his trust in the Lord. How would you summarize David’s situation and what he is facing? What emotions is he expressing? Ponder: have you ever felt like David? Exhausted, at the end of yourself?
3. In verses 22-31, we see the wrestling end and David lands trusting in the Lord who saves. What does this lead him to do? (Hint: 1) In verses 22-26 there is a word repeated 4 times; 2) In verses 27-31 what will all the people do before the Lord?)
4. Ponder: God created us with feelings and because of them we can connect with others in relationship. We saw in Matthew 27 that Jesus also felt forsaken by God the Father. Read Hebrews 4:15; how can this bring you comfort? Read Romans 12:15 and Galatians 6:2; how do feelings show support and help in relationships?
5. Ponder: While feelings are God given to help us connect in relationships, they also can lead us astray if we don’t balance them with truth. In Deuteronomy 31:6 the Lord promises to never leave us or forsake us. If this is true, what does this say about David’s feelings? Can our feelings lead us to deny the truth? Should we let feelings lead us in our thoughts and actions? David wrestled with his feelings of abandonment from the Lord, but he landed trusting in the Lord who delivers. We will all wrestle at times, but where do we land? Philippians 4:8 and Proverbs 3:5-6. How does this lead you to pray?
6. For more insight into why Christ felt abandoned by the Father: https://www.gotquestions.org/forsaken-me.html.

June 23: Psalm 23

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. While you might be tempted to quickly glance at this familiar Psalm, I encourage you to slowly read and ponder each word. Here are several options to help you slow down and meditate on the beauty and promises of this psalm. Worship, praise, and thank the Lord your God, your Good Shepherd.
2. A line by line commentary of Psalm 23 by Colin Smith. As you scroll down the page you will see the written commentary for each verse interspersed between the video sermons. There are two ways to engage with this link: you can read the line by line commentary given in the article; or, when you have time, you can listen to the sermon that is given for each verse. https://openthebible.org/article/psalm-23-explained-line-by-line/.
3. An auditory reading of Psalm 23: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=psalm+23+esv+version+video+reading&atb=v314-1&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dgfz-2i0SLKY
4. Soothing song of Psalm 23: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=psalm+23+esv+version&atb=v314-1&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DANmpULrPl60
5. For those of you who like country music! https://duckduckgo.com/?q=psalm+23+esv+version&atb=v314-1&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dn3XbmhB0rdY

June 24: Psalm 24

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:,

1. What a worshipful psalm. Click on the link and hear this psalm of praise! Worship your Lord! https://duckduckgo.com/?q=psalm+24+esv+song+version+video+reading&iar=videos&atb=v314-1&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8khIxnA6OZU.
2. In verses 1-2, why does the Lord own the earth? In verses 3-6, how do we get clean hands, pure heart, and a blessing from the Lord?
3. In verses 7-10, who is your King? Worship!
4. Ponder: If you do not know the King of Glory, please reach out to us at info.gracepointefc.org. We would love to talk with you about how you can know for sure that you will spend eternity with the King of Glory!

June 25: Psalm 25

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-5, how can we ensure we will not be put to shame? In verses 6-7, what does David want the Lord to remember or not remember? What is the source of the Lord’s remembering?
2. In verses 8-21 we find a repetition of David’s requests of the Lord. What new insights do you gain as you read this section? In verses 8-10, what is required of us in order to be led and taught by the Lord? Who does the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to?
3. In verses 11-15, how can we be protected from temptation and sin? What are the benefits of obedience to the Lord?
4. In verses 16-22, what is David’s condition and what is his request?
5. Ponder: are afflictions always related to our sin? No, but some can be. Our sinful choices will bring consequences, whether we sin against another or we sin in the way we respond to those who sin against us. In this psalm David recognized his need of the Lord to teach him, lead him, and protect him from sin and it’s temptations. How is your battle against sin? How does this lead you to pray?

June 26: Psalm 26

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In Psalm 26, evidently the psalmist was facing a situation in which he had been accused of something he did not do or say. Ponder: When you are wrongly accused, how do you respond? The world commonly responds with defensiveness, denial, or even lashing out. Let’s see how the psalmist responds: In verses 1-3, who does the psalmist appeal to for vindication? How has he handled himself when wrongly accused?
2. How do verses 4-5 compare to Psalm 1? What is the psalmist saying of himself? In verses 6-8, how does the psalmist approach the Lord? What does he love?
3. In verses 9-10 the psalmist is praying for protection; what does he want to be protected from?
4. In verses 11-12, what does the psalmist declare? Ponder: has his vindication happened yet? What does this say of the psalmist’s dependence on the Lord and his trust in the Lord despite his circumstances? Pray, ask the Lord to help you evaluate your own life; do you find yourself responding like the world or like the psalmist? Could you say to the Lord, “ Prove me, try me, test me?” How does this lead you to pray?

June 27: Psalm 27

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-3, why can the psalmist say he does not have to fear? Ponder: You may not have a literal army encamping against you, but what do you face in life that feels overwhelming? Where does the psalmist find his strength and security?
2. In verses 4-6 the psalmist describes actions he takes and actions the Lord takes. What are the actions and how do they differ? What causes the psalmist to sing and make melody to the Lord?
3. In verses 7-12, what are the three things the psalmist is crying out for? Ponder: if he is pleading with the Lord, what does this tell you about the actions the Lord has taken? Has He taken them yet?
4. In verses 13-14, what word gives insight to how the psalmist is trusting the Lord to move, but He has not yet moved? When did the psalmist expect the Lord to move? What did he commit to doing while he waited?
5. Ponder: We all face difficulties in life. How has this psalm encouraged you? What verse or verses can you cling to when life gets hard? Ask the Lord to help you memorize the psalm or parts of the psalm so that you can cling to His truth. How does this lead you to pray?

June 28: Psalm 28

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In verses 1-2, what is David’s state of mind? What does he call the Lord? Ponder: How does this description of the Lord comfort you?
2. In verses 3-5, how are the wicked described? What does David ask the Lord to do to the wicked? Why does he ask the Lord to do this?
3. In verses 6-9, how is the Lord described (there are 7 things listed). Why does David give thanks? Who does the Lord provide strength for?
4. Ponder: The word for trust in verse 7 also has the idea of “to be secure, to feel safe, confidence.” (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h982/esv/wlc/0-1/). In our culture, many people seek “safe spaces” when life gets overwhelming. They feel attacked, they feel insecure. David found his “safe space" in the Lord. Where do you find your “safe space?” How does this lead you to pray?
5. To listen to a song of Ps 28: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=song+of+ps+28+esv&atb=v314-1&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9quOy8NQ9lQ.

June 29: Psalm 29

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. Note: Many commentators believe David wrote this psalm as he watched a thunderstorm break through the skies. The power and might of the thunder reminded him of the voice of his Lord.
2. What is due His name? What are the various ways the voice of the Lord is described throughout the psalm?
3. As David pondered the voice of the Lord, what is the only appropriate response (verse 9)?
4. Listen to this rendition of Psalm 29. Worship your God and sing Glory! https://duckduckgo.com/?q=psalm+29+song+lyrics&iar=videos&atb=v314-1&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvdIdRuLhWlU.

June 30: Psalm 30

Pray: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

1. What do you learn about God (The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) from this Psalm? His thoughts, ways or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

Dig Deeper:

1. In this psalm David expresses his gratitude to the Lord for restoring him after his sin. In verses 1-3, why does David thank the Lord?
2. In verses 4-5, why is David able to rejoice in the discipline of the Lord?
3. In verses 6-7 we get a glimpse into David’s attitude when he sinned. How does he describe his sin? Despite David’s attitude, what did the Lord do for him? Ponder: does success always mean that the Lord is pleased with your behavior or attitude? In the last part of verse 7, what did David come to realize and how did it impact him? Ponder: When our life is going good, everything seems right, and we feel successful, do we sometimes forget about God? Do we ever forget to acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord?
4. When David felt God was distant and he felt dismayed, according to verses 8-10, what did he do?
5. In verses 11-12, after pondering his sin, David lands the psalm as he had started, in praise. Ponder: when you ponder your sin and how God has shown you grace, mercy and redeemed you; what is your response? How does this lead you to pray?