Psalm 34:1-22

A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

[2] My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear it and rejoice.

[3] O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4] I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

[5] They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces shall never be ashamed.

[6] This poor man cried and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.

[7] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

[8] O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

[9] O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him, there is no want.

[10] The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

[11] Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

[12] Who is the man who desires life,
And loves length of days that he may see good?

[13] Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.

[14] Depart from evil, and do good;
Seek peace, and pursue it.

[15] The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.

[16] The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.

[17] The righteous cry and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

[18] The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

[19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous;
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

[20] He keeps all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.

[21] Evil shall slay the wicked;
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

[22] The Lord redeems the soul of His servants;
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.



Psalm 34

Open It

* 1. What do you think is the secret of long life?
2. What brings you the most happiness in life?
3. When was a time you narrowly escaped danger or death?

Explore It

4. What commitment did David make? (34:1-3)
5. What is the main focus of this psalm? (34:1-22)
6. What motivated David to praise the Lord? (34:4-7)
7. From what did the Lord deliver David? (34:5-6)
* 8. How did David describe those who trust in the Lord? (34:5-6)
9. How are angels involved in the lives of God’s people? (34:7)
10. What are the benefits of trusting in the Lord? (34:8-10)
* 11. What specific instructions did David offer to God’s people? (34:8-14)
12. What do we need to know about “fear of the Lord”? (34:11-14)
13. Who should guard against committing the sin of deceit? (34:12-13)
14. How does God respond to the cries of the righteous? (34:15, 17)
* 15. What words of assurance follow David’s instructions? (34:15-18)
16. How are the righteous treated different from the wicked? (34:15-22)
17. How does this psalm describe the people whom God protects? (34:15-22)
18. What will happen to the wicked? (34:16, 21)

Get It

19. When have you experienced God’s protection or deliverance?
20. What benefits have you seen in trusting God?
* 21. How does this psalm encourage you to put your trust in the Lord?
* 22. What does this passage reveal to us about prayer?
23. Why did David have such confidence in God’s attentiveness to his prayers?
24. What does it mean to fear the Lord?
25. How has this psalm affected your idea of what it means to respect God?
26. What behavior or attitude does this passage advise us to avoid?
27. In what situations is it most tempting to lie or deceive others?
28. How can we guard against the sin of deceit?
29. What specific instructions from this psalm do you need to concentrate on following?
30. What promise or encouraging word would you like to claim from this psalm?

Apply It

* 31. What troubles do you need to present to the Lord in prayer?
32. What reminder can you place before yourself to take God’s power and justice seriously?
33. In what situations do you need to make a more conscious effort to tell the truth?

AFFIRMATIONS

TODAY I AM:

Blessing the Lord at all time and His praise in continually in my mouth.

Boasting in the Lord.

Magnifying the Lord and exalting His name.

Seeking the Lord and having Him answer me.

Being delivered from all my fears.

Being saved out of all my troubles.

Fearing the Lord and having His angel encamp around me and rescuing me.

Tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.

Being blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Experiencing no want from the lord.

Seeking the Lord and not being in want of any good thing.

Keeping my tongue from evil.

Seeking peace and pursuing it.

Having my cry heard by the Lord.

Being delivered out of all my troubles.

Being delivered out of all my afflictions.

Having my soul redeemed.

Not being condemned.

Psalm 33

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.

[2] Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

[3] Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

[4] For the word of the Lord is upright;
And all His work is done in faithfulness.

[5] He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

[6] By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

[7] He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

[8] Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

[9] For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

[10] The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

[11] The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

[12] Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

[13] The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;

[14] From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,

15] He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.

[16] The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

[17] A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

[18] Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

[19] To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

[20] Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.

[21] For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.

[22] Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in Thee.


Psalm 33

Open It

* 1. In what ways are you more schedule-oriented or spontaneous?
2. What are the benefits of being a flexible person?
3. What does it take to get you worked up enough to shout or sing?

Explore It

4. Whom does this psalm call to praise God? (33:1)
5. How does this psalm call people to praise the Lord? (33:1-3)
6. What main theme unifies this psalm? (33:1-22)
7. How should God’s people praise God? (33:2-3)
* 8. For what specific reasons did the psalm writer praise God? (33:4-19)
9. What character traits did the psalm writer ascribe to the Lord? (33:4-22)
10. What role does the Lord play in the events of earth? (33:5-19)
11. How has the Lord demonstrated His creativity? (33:6-9)
12. What reason do we have to fear the Lord? (33:8-9)
* 13. How did the psalm writer describe the power and sovereignty of God? (33:9-11)
* 14. How reliable are the plans of people in relation to God’s plans? (33:10-11)
15. Why was the psalm writer confident of God’s protection? (33:12-19)
16. How is the Lord involved in the lives of His people? (33:13-15, 18-19)
17. What happens to those who rely on their own strength? (33:16-17)
18. What conclusion does this psalm make about self-reliance? (33:16-19)
19. How does the Lord treat those who trust in Him instead of in themselves? (33:18-19)
20. What decision did the psalm writer make? (33:20-22)

Get It

21. What do you think our attitude toward our goals and plans reveals about our view of God?
22. What example does the psalm writer give us to follow?
23. Why do you think we so easily rely on our own strength rather than trust in the Lord?
24. What outcome can we expect when we depend on ourselves?
25. According to this psalm, what outcome can we expect when we trust in God?
26. What does this psalm teach us about the character of God?
27. What talents or abilities do you have?
28. Why is it important not to trust in our own abilities or talents?
* 29. What does this psalm say about the reliability of our plans?
30. What should be your perspective on the plans you have for the future?
* 31. How can we demonstrate confidence in the Lord’s protection and guidance for the future?
32. In what area of life do you most need to “wait in hope for the Lord”?

Apply It

33. In what way could you demonstrate trust in God rather than in a particular strength you have?
* 34. What plan of yours can you commit to the Lord in prayer?
35. What words of encouragement or instruction can you give to someone else concerning his or her future?

Affirmations

Today I am:

Singing for joy in the Lord.

Giving thanks to the lord and singing praises to Him.

Singing a new song to the Lord.

Standing in awe of Him.

Delivered from death and kept alive in famine.

Waiting for the Lord.

Psalm 32:1-11
A Psalm of David.
A Maskil.

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!

[2] How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

[3] When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.

[4] For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

Selah.

[5] I acknowledged my sin to Thee,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord";
And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.

Selah.

[6] Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him.

[7] Thou art my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble;
Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah.

[8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

[9] Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.

[10] Many are the sorrows of the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.

[11] Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones,
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.


Psalm 32

Open It

* 1. What feelings do you associate with repentance?
2. What’s something you got blamed for when you were a kid?

Explore It

3. What joyful proclamation opens this psalm? (32:1-2)
4. What gift from the Lord did David celebrate in this psalm? (32:1-11)
* 5. How did David describe the person who receives God’s forgiveness? (32:1-11)
6. How did David feel when he had unconfessed sin in his life? (32:3-4)
* 7. What personal testimony did David offer regarding God’s forgiveness? (32:3-5)
8. How did David respond to the Lord’s “heavy hand” on him? (32:4-5)
9. How did God motivate David to confess his sin? (32:5)
10. What did David experience after he confessed his sin to God? (32:5)
11. How did God respond to David’s confession? (32:5)
12. What assurance do we have when we pray? (32:6)
* 13. What conclusion did David draw from his experience? (32:6-7)
14. How does the Lord protect His people? (32:6-7)
15. What specific advice does this psalm offer to God’s people? (32:8-11)
16. What did David advise people to avoid? (32:9)
17. What promise did David offer to those who trust in the Lord? (32:10)

Get It

18. What kinds of things prevent us from confessing known sin in our lives?
19. Why do you think we are sometimes hesitant to repent of sin, even when we know God will forgive us?
* 20. Why should we confess our sins to God?
21. What personal testimony can you give about God’s forgiveness?
22. How do you feel when you have unconfessed sin in your life?
23. What has motivated you in the past to repent of selfish behaviors or attitudes?
24. When have you ever felt the “heavy hand” of the Lord on you?
25. How do you feel when you repent and experience God’s forgiveness?
26. How does God always respond to our repentance?
* 27. How does God’s faithfulness in forgiving us encourage you for the future?
28. On what specific advice in this psalm would you like to focus your attention?

Apply It

29. What behavior or attitude do you need to confess to the Lord today?
* 30. What is one creative way you can remind yourself of God’s forgiveness over this next week?
31. When can you take time for prayer each day?

AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM:

Blessed because my transgression is forgiven and my sin is covered.

Blessed because the Lord does not impute iniquity and there is no deceit in my spirit.

Acknowledging my sin and not hiding my iniquity.

Praying to the Lord when He may be found.

In His hiding place and being persevered from trouble.

Surround with songs of deliverance.

Being instructed in the way I should go and being counseled with the eye of the Lord upon me.

Being surrounded with lovingkindness from the lord because I trust in Him.

Rejoicing and being glad in the Lord.

Shouting for joy.