Psalm 13:1-6

For the choir director.
A Psalm of David.

How long, O Lord? Wilt Thou forget me forever?
How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?
[2] How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

[3] Consider and answer me, O Lord, my God;
Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
[4] Lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him,"
Lest my adversaries rejoice when I am shaken.

[5] But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
[6] I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.


Psalm 13 - Psalm 13:1-6

Open It

1. What emotions do you feel when you are sick at home?
2. What techniques do you use to combat discouragement when you are sick?
* 3. In what ways have your friends or family helped you through a time of illness or discouragement?

Explore It

* 4. What questions went through David’s mind as he waited for the Lord’s answer to his prayer? (13:1-2)
5. Why did David cry out to the Lord? (13:1-6)
6. Why did David question the Lord in this prayer? (13:1-6)
* 7. What emotions did David reveal in this psalm? (13:1-6)
8. What did David ask God to do? (13:3)
9. For what reason did David want the Lord to save him? (13:4)
10. What impact did David think his death would have on his enemies? (13:4)
11. What two character traits of the Lord’s encouraged David in his despair? (13:5)
12. How did David’s illness affect his relationship with God? (13:5-6)
13. How did David’s emotions change when he reminded himself of God’s character? (13:5-6)
14. What expression of confidence concludes this poem? (13:5-6)
* 15. How did David’s memory of the past change his perspective on the present? (13:6)

Get It

16. When have you ever questioned the Lord?
17. What role should honesty play in our prayers to the Lord?
18. What negative emotions do you struggle with when you find yourself in a difficult situation?
19. How do your emotions change when you remind yourself of God’s character and what He has done for you in the past?
20. How does your memory of the past change your perspective on the present and future?
* 21. In what specific ways do you think we should follow David’s example of questioning God about difficult circumstances?
22. How do difficult circumstances in your life usually affect your relationship with the Lord?
* 23. How should life’s challenges impact our Christian walk?

Apply It

24. What is one step you can take this week to protect yourself from doubt and discouragement?
* 25. What past acts of God’s goodness to you can you write down as reminders to trust Him today?

AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

Trusting in God’s mercy.
Rejoicing in God’s salvation.
Singing unto the LORD for He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 12:1-8

For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre.
A Psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
[2] They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
[3] May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
[4] Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
[5] "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."
[6] The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
[7] Thou, O Lord, wilt keep them;
Thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever.
[8] The wicked strut about on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.


Psalm 12 - Psalm 12:1-8

Open It

* 1. What character traits do your friends and co-workers value most?
2. Why do people lie?
3. In what ways do you think Christians should be different from non-Christians?

Explore It

* 4. What was on David’s mind? (12:1-2)
5. How did David describe the problem that concerned him? (12:1-2)
6. What spiritual problem unifies this poem? (12:1-8)
7. What evidence did David give to prove that the “faithful have vanished”? (12:2)
8. What attitude do the wicked have toward themselves and God? (12:3-4)
9. Of what sins were the wicked guilty? (12:3-4)
* 10. What attitudes and behavior did David ask the Lord to put a stop to? (12:3-4)
11. What motivates the Lord to take action on behalf of His people? (12:5)
* 12. What reassuring word from the Lord follows David’s plea for help? (12:5-6)
13. How did God reassure David? (12:5-6)
14. How did David describe the word of the Lord? (12:6)
15. What are God’s words like? (12:6)
16. How did David demonstrate his trust in the Lord? (12:7)
17. How did David show his belief and confidence in God? (12:7)
18. In what way was David’s expression of confidence in God an act of faith? (12:8)
19. Why did David need faith? (12:8)

Get It

20. What does the image David uses to describe the Lord’s words reveal about David’s view of God?
21. When have you ever had to step out in faith to trust in the Lord?
22. Why do you think God leaves us in difficult circumstances instead of rescuing us from our problems immediately?
23. What circumstances or people has God used in your life to stretch your faith?
24. In light of what you have learned from this passage, what new perspective should you have about the challenges you face?
25. When are you most tempted to lie?
26. In what ways do people twist the truth to manipulate others?
* 27. According to this passage, what attitudes and behaviors do we need to guard against?
* 28. How can we show respect for the truth?

Apply It

29. What action can you take this week to demonstrate your respect and appreciation for God’s words?
* 30. What specific steps could you take to guard against lying?
31. How can you encourage a friend who is going through a difficult time?

AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

Not being duplicitous.
Not speaking vanity to my fellow man.
Speaking like the LORD, pure words.

Speaking words of silver tried by furnace, purified seven times

Psalm 11:1-7

For the choir director.
A Psalm of David.

In the Lord I take refuge;
How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain;
[2] For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
They make ready their arrow upon the string,
To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
[3] If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?"

[4] The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
[5] The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
[6] Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
[7] For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.

Psalm 11 - Psalm 11:1-7

Open It

1. When have you ever felt like giving up on something you thought was important?
* 2. What failures, obstacles, or situations often cause us to feel like giving up?
3. How do you feel when you accomplish something that was difficult to do?

Explore It

4. What theme holds this poem together? (11:1-7)
* 5. Why did the people around David want to flee to a mountain refuge? (11:1-3)
6. What attitude did David have toward the fears of those around him? (11:1-3)
7. On whom do wicked people focus their attacks? (11:2)
8. How did the threats of wicked people influence the righteous? (11:2-3)
9. Why did the people around David feel so hopeless? (11:3)
* 10. What actions does the Lord take on behalf of His people? (11:4-6)
* 11. How does the Lord treat the wicked and the righteous differently? (11:4-6)
12. What reply did David give to the fearful? (11:4-7)
13. In what specific ways did David encourage the fearful to trust in God? (11:4-7)
14. Why does God treat wicked and righteous people differently? (11:7)
15. What characteristics did David ascribe to the Lord? (11:7)
16. What is God like? (11:7)
17. What does God love? (11:7)
18. What special hope encouraged David to seek the Lord? (11:7)

Get It

19. When have you felt like there was no solution to a problem you faced?
20. What gives you hope when your problems seem overwhelming?
21. When has the Lord saved you from a hopeless situation?
22. How does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past encourage you about the future?
* 23. What challenges are you facing at this point in your life?
* 24. How does this psalm encourage you to handle the challenges you are facing?
25. What people or actions help you entrust your fears and problems to the Lord?
26. In what way does the last line of this psalm influence your perspective on life?
27. What have you learned from this psalm about God’s character?
28. How can what you have learned about God’s character change your attitude toward your circumstances?

Apply It

29. How can you demonstrate your thankfulness to God for His faithfulness to you?
* 30. What challenges in your life can you entrust to God?

AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

Putting my trust in the Lord.

I am upright and beholding the face of the Lord.

Psalm 10:1-18

Why dost Thou stand afar off, O Lord?
Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?

[2] In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

[3] For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.

[4] The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, "There is no God."

[5] His ways prosper at all times;
Thy judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

[6] He says to himself, "I shall not be moved;
Throughout all generations I shall not be in adversity."

[7] His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

[8] He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the hiding places he kills the innocent;
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.

[9] He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair;
He lurks to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.

[10] He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.

[11] He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."

[12] Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thy hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.

[13] Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, "Thou wilt not require it."

[14] Thou hast seen it, for Thou hast beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Thy hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to Thee;
Thou hast been the helper of the orphan.

[15] Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until Thou dost find none.

[16] The Lord is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.

[17] O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble;
Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear

[18] To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
That man who is of the earth may cause terror no more.

Psalm 10 - Psalm 10:1-18

Open It

1. When has your mouth gotten you in trouble?
*2. What unfair or wrong actions do people often seem to get away with?
3. What's one thing you remember your mother saying to you?

Explore It

4. How did the psalm writer feel about his circumstances before he put his confidence in the Lord's deliverance? (10:1)
5. From what did the psalm writer need to be rescued? (10:1-18)
6. How are innocent people affected by the actions of wicked people? (10:2, 8-10)
7. Where do wicked people get their confidence? (10:2-10)
*8. How are wicked people described in this psalm? (10:2-11)
9. What are the sins of the wicked? (10:2-11)
10. What accusations did the psalm writer make against the wicked? (10:2-11)
11. What attitudes do wicked people have toward God? (10:3-11)
12. What three weapons of the tongue do wicked people employ? (10:7)
*13. What action did the psalm writer want the Lord to take on his behalf? (10:12, 15)
14. In what way did the psalm writer want God to prove the wicked wrong? (10:13-14)
15. To what character trait of the Lord did the psalm writer appeal? (10:14)
*16. Where did the psalm writer place his confidence and why? (10:16-18)

Get It

17. Why do you think the words that we say have such power?
18. What are some ways words can be used for good?
19. What does the psalm writer's boldness in this prayer reveal about his relationship with the Lord?
20. How would you like your prayer habits to change, in light of the psalm writer's example?
21. How do you sometimes feel about your problems before you trust the Lord with them?
22. In what ways do you feel different about your problems after you have committed them to the Lord in prayer?
23. How does praying about our problems help us?
24. Who is one person you have a hard time tolerating?
*25. How does this passage encourage you to handle your problems?
26. How should we handle our frustration with unfairness or wrongdoing that goes unpunished?
27. What action would you like the Lord to take on your behalf?
28. To what character traits of the Lord can you appeal?
29. What reasons do you have to place your confidence in the Lord?
30. What are the sins of the wicked today?
31. How can we guard against committing the sins described in this psalm?
32. What action can we take to control our tongues?
*33. What injustice do you need to commit to the Lord?

Apply It

34. In what situation can you demonstrate trust the Lord's justice?
*35. Concerning what "wicked" person or situation do you need to pray Psalm 10?

AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

A child of the LORD who is King for ever and ever.

A child having the ear of my heavenly Father.

Psalm 9:1-20

For the choir director; on Muth-labben.
A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Thy wonders.

[2] I will be glad and exult in Thee;
I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High.

[3] When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish before Thee.

[4] For Thou hast maintained my just cause;
Thou dost sit on the throne judging righteously.

[5] Thou hast rebuked the nations; Thou hast destroyed the wicked;
Thou hast blotted out their name forever and ever.

[6] The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And Thou hast uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.

[7] But the Lord abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,

[8] And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

[9] The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble,

[10] And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee;
For Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.

[11] Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion;
Declare among the peoples His deeds.

[12] For He who requires blood remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

[13] Be gracious to me, O Lord;
Behold my affliction from those who hate me,
Thou who dost lift me up from the gates of death;

[14] That I may tell of all Thy praises,
That in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in Thy salvation.

[15] The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.

[16] The Lord has made Himself known;
He has executed judgment.

In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.

Higgaion Selah.

[17] The wicked will return to Sheol,
Even all the nations who forget God.

[18] For the needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.

[19] Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before Thee.

[20] Put them in fear, O Lord;
Let the nations know that they are but men.

Selah.

Psalm 9 - Psalm 9:1-20

Open It

1. What misconceptions do you think many people have about God?
*2. When was a time you doubted God's presence or willingness to help?
3. What is one cause for which you have fought?

Explore It

*4. What prompted David to offer this poem of praise to the Lord? (9:1-18)
5. What theme unifies this poem? (9:1-20)
6. What did God accomplish in destroying Israel's enemies? (9:3-6)
7. To what extent were David's enemies defeated? (9:3-6)
8. How did David describe God's rule? (9:4, 7-8)
9. How does the Lord meet the needs of people who are oppressed? (9:9-10)
*10. What lesson did David learn about God's character? (9:10)
*11. Why did David call people to praise the Lord? (9:11-12)
12. For what reason did David ask the Lord to rescue him from his enemies? (9:13-14)
13. What will eventually become of the wicked under God's just rule? (9:15-18)
14. What reputation does the God of Israel have? (9:16)
15. How does God defeat the plans of wicked people? (9:16)
16. What will happen to the needy and afflicted, regardless of their place in society? (9:18)
17. What prayer concludes the psalm? (9:19-20)

Get It

18. How do the actions of Christians influence people's perception of God?
*19. What does this psalm call you to do?
*20. How should we pray when we are concerned about a wicked or unjust practice?
21. What challenge or problem do you face in your life?
22. How does God want you to handle your fears and anxieties?
23. How does this psalm encourage you about your present situation?
24. How should we follow David's example in this psalm?
25. When has the Lord been a stronghold for you in times of trouble?
26. How can you demonstrate to the Lord your praise for His help and deliverance?
27. How do the actions and attitudes of Christians influence what others think about God?
28. What do you think unbelievers could learn about God from your actions?

Apply It

29. What steps could you take to give your fears or concerns over to God?
*30. What is one way you can contribute to a righteous cause or movement?


AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

Praising and giving thanks to the LORD with all of my heart and being
Telling others about God, his attributes and his deeds
Judged rightly and fairly by God
Remembered
Having the LORD as my stronghold in times of trouble Accepting that the LORD has made himself known to me.

Psalm 8:1-9

For the choir director; on the Gittith.
A Psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth,
Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!

[2] From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength,
Because of Thine adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

[3] When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

[4] What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?
And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

[5] Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God,
And dost crown him with glory and majesty!

[6] Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet,

[7] All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,

[8] The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

[9] O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!


Psalm 8 - Psalm 8:1-9

Open It

*1. What do you like most about the outdoors?
2. What lessons about life have you learned from nature?

Explore It

3. What theme or themes hold this psalm together? (8:1)
4. How does the first verse introduce the focus of the poem? (8:1)
5. How did David describe the Lord? (8:1-9)
6. Why do children praise God? (8:2)
7. How does the Lord silence His enemies? (8:2)
8. What motivated David to write this psalm? (8:3)
*9. What did David find most amazing about God's creation? (8:3-4)
*10. How do people get all of their power and responsibility? (8:3-6)
11. What attitude did David have about himself and all people? (8:4)
12. With what value did God create people? (8:5)
13. How do people fit into the heavenly realm of beings? (8:5)
14. What has God done for us? (8:5-8)
*15. What are some responsibilities that all of us have? (8:5-8)
16. How does the last verse unify the poem? (8:9)

Get It

17. Why do you think God chose to surround us with creation?
18. What prompts you to praise the Lord?
19. What do you find most amazing about God's creation?
20. What does creation reveal to us about God's nature?
*21. What does this psalm tell us about self-esteem and responsibility?
22. What can we learn from David about the attitude we should have about ourselves?
23. Over what (in today's world) has God given us responsibilities?
24. How should we treat nature? animals?
25. How does our attitude toward creation reflect our perspective of God?
*26. What responsibility do you have in caring for nature?
27. How has this psalm changed your attitude toward nature and God?

Apply It

*28. When could you spend a few minutes in the next few days enjoying God's creation?
29. What small step could you take this week to help care for God's creation?


AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM

Marveling at the majesty of the LORD
Pondering God's creation
Created in God's image and crowned with glory and majesty Recognizing that I have dominion over God's creation, and am entrusted with it.