Is prayer a conversation with someone that we have learned to love? Let’s look at Psalm 116.
Can a loving relationship with God exist throughout our lives?
I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. (Ps 116:1-2 NKJV)
Do we pray to God when we are in desperate circumstances?
Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” (Ps 116:3-4 NLT)
Is God merciful, preserving those who humbly rest in Him?
Yahweh is gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful. Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you. (Ps 116:5-7 WEB)
Can God save us from even dire circumstances that sometimes come?
You, God, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, and my foot from stumbling, so I’ll walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I have remained faithful, even when I said, “I am suffering so badly!” even when I said, out of fear, “Everyone is a liar!” (Ps 116:8-11 CEB)
Do we rejoice in the cup of salvation in the presence of God’s people?
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. (Ps 116:12-15 ESV)
Do we look around for those who are setting godly examples?
I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. I will keep my promise to you when your people gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord! (Ps 116:16-19 CEV)
What is our attitude towards prayer? Do we experience the peace of God?
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7 HCSB)
Is prayer a conversation with someone that we have learned to love? You decide!
Trust in the Lord (Ps 115)
Can any of the things that we idolize in this world guarantee us life forever? Let’s look at Psalm 115.
Do we flatter ourselves, praise our nations, hail our accomplishments, and forget to give glory to God?
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. (Ps 115:1-3 HCSB)
Do we worship the things made with human hands, materialism and technology that cannot give us eternal life?
Their idols are silver and gold, crafted by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot touch; feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even groan with their throats. Those who craft them will become like them, as will all those who trust in them. (Ps 115:4-8 ISV)
Do we trust fallible human leaders, science, and medicine more than our only real hope of eternal life, the Lord?
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. (Ps 115:9-11 KJV)
From whom do permanent, eternal blessings come, humanity or Yahweh, the Lord?
Yahweh remembered us; He will bless! He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear Yahweh, The small together with the great. May Yahweh give you increase, You and your children. May you be blessed of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth. (Ps 115:12-15 LSB)
If the dead cannot praise the Lord, who will bless the Lord forever?
The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of mankind. The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor do any who go down into silence; But as for us, we will bless the Lord From this time and forever. Praise the Lord! (Ps 115:16-18 NASB)
Is anything that we could design anywhere close to the majesty of God?
Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. (Acts 17:29 NIV)
Can any of the things that we idolize in this world guarantee us life forever? You decide!
Do we flatter ourselves, praise our nations, hail our accomplishments, and forget to give glory to God?
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. (Ps 115:1-3 HCSB)
Do we worship the things made with human hands, materialism and technology that cannot give us eternal life?
Their idols are silver and gold, crafted by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot touch; feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even groan with their throats. Those who craft them will become like them, as will all those who trust in them. (Ps 115:4-8 ISV)
Do we trust fallible human leaders, science, and medicine more than our only real hope of eternal life, the Lord?
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. (Ps 115:9-11 KJV)
From whom do permanent, eternal blessings come, humanity or Yahweh, the Lord?
Yahweh remembered us; He will bless! He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear Yahweh, The small together with the great. May Yahweh give you increase, You and your children. May you be blessed of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth. (Ps 115:12-15 LSB)
If the dead cannot praise the Lord, who will bless the Lord forever?
The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of mankind. The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor do any who go down into silence; But as for us, we will bless the Lord From this time and forever. Praise the Lord! (Ps 115:16-18 NASB)
Is anything that we could design anywhere close to the majesty of God?
Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. (Acts 17:29 NIV)
Can any of the things that we idolize in this world guarantee us life forever? You decide!
Exodus Praise (Ps 114)
Does the Exodus picture our exit from sin made possible by Jesus’ Exodus from this life on the cross and subsequent resurrection? Let’s look at Psalm 114.
In which tribe of Israel did God choose to place His sanctuary, His holy place?
When Israel went out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion. (Ps 114:1-2 NKJV)
Did the parting of the sea and river waters, and the earthquakes reveal God’s power?
The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? (Ps 114:3-6 NLT)
What other miracles did God perform during the Exodus?
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters. (Ps 114:7-8 WEB)
As the Exodus pictures our deliverance from slavery to sin, does water coming from the rock picture our Rock, Jesus?
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “All who are thirsty should come to me! All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, Rivers of living water will flow out from within him.” Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive the Spirit, but they hadn’t experienced the Spirit yet since Jesus hadn’t yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39 CEB)
During His transfiguration chat with Moses and Elijah, did the Exodus also picture Jesus’ departure from this life on the cross?
They appeared in heavenly glory and talked about all that Jesus' death [Greek: Exodus] in Jerusalem would mean. (Luke 9:31 CEV)
What does the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus mean for us?
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom 5:10 ESV)
Does the Exodus picture our exit from sin made possible by Jesus’ Exodus from this life on the cross and subsequent resurrection? You decide!
In which tribe of Israel did God choose to place His sanctuary, His holy place?
When Israel went out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion. (Ps 114:1-2 NKJV)
Did the parting of the sea and river waters, and the earthquakes reveal God’s power?
The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? (Ps 114:3-6 NLT)
What other miracles did God perform during the Exodus?
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters. (Ps 114:7-8 WEB)
As the Exodus pictures our deliverance from slavery to sin, does water coming from the rock picture our Rock, Jesus?
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “All who are thirsty should come to me! All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, Rivers of living water will flow out from within him.” Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive the Spirit, but they hadn’t experienced the Spirit yet since Jesus hadn’t yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39 CEB)
During His transfiguration chat with Moses and Elijah, did the Exodus also picture Jesus’ departure from this life on the cross?
They appeared in heavenly glory and talked about all that Jesus' death [Greek: Exodus] in Jerusalem would mean. (Luke 9:31 CEV)
What does the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus mean for us?
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom 5:10 ESV)
Does the Exodus picture our exit from sin made possible by Jesus’ Exodus from this life on the cross and subsequent resurrection? You decide!
Importance of Praise (Ps 113)
Do we mostly praise the world, its politics, its celebrities, its ways or God? Let’s look at Psalm 113.
What does it mean to praise God’s name? Does it refer to everything that He is and represents?
Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord! (Ps 113:1 ISV)
Does the mention of praising God’s name three times, possibly hint at including the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. (Ps 113:2-4 KJV)
Who in this world will care for the poor and needy like God does?
Who is like Yahweh our God, The One who sits on high, The One who brings Himself low to see The things in heaven and on the earth? Who raises the poor from the dust And lifts high the needy from the ash heap, To make them sit with nobles, With the nobles of His people. He makes the barren woman of the house sit As a glad mother of children. Praise Yah! (Ps 113:5-9 LSB)
Do the humble and child-like of heart often understand far more than intelligent, highly educated people?
At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight. (Luke 10:21 NASB)
Is praise a part of healthy, positive thinking that can bring us out of depression?
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8 NIV)
Do we mostly praise the world, its politics, its celebrities, its ways or God? You decide!
What does it mean to praise God’s name? Does it refer to everything that He is and represents?
Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord! (Ps 113:1 ISV)
Does the mention of praising God’s name three times, possibly hint at including the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. (Ps 113:2-4 KJV)
Who in this world will care for the poor and needy like God does?
Who is like Yahweh our God, The One who sits on high, The One who brings Himself low to see The things in heaven and on the earth? Who raises the poor from the dust And lifts high the needy from the ash heap, To make them sit with nobles, With the nobles of His people. He makes the barren woman of the house sit As a glad mother of children. Praise Yah! (Ps 113:5-9 LSB)
Do the humble and child-like of heart often understand far more than intelligent, highly educated people?
At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight. (Luke 10:21 NASB)
Is praise a part of healthy, positive thinking that can bring us out of depression?
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8 NIV)
Do we mostly praise the world, its politics, its celebrities, its ways or God? You decide!
Givers & Takers (Ps 112)
How does generosity make our lives happy and selfishness make our lives miserable? Let’s look at Psalm 112.
Do we delight in obedience to God? Does the Spirit of the old testament commandments still apply to us?
Praise Yah [Halleluyah, Praise the Lord]! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous. (Ps 112:1-4 WEB)
Are there two kinds of people in the world, givers and takers? What does generosity have to do with obedience to God? How does God bless righteous givers?
Those who lend generously are good people—as are those who conduct their affairs with justice. Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever! They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid. In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat. They give freely to those in need. Their righteousness stands forever. Their strength increases gloriously. (Ps 112:5-9 CEB)
What is the result of the exact opposite, living a stingy, selfish life?
When evil people see this, they angrily bite their tongues and disappear. They will never get what they really want. (Ps 112:10 CEV)
What did Jesus say was the result of living a generous rather than selfish life?
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 10:35 ESV)
Is there an automatic blessing from God that comes from giving?
Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 HCSB)
How does generosity make our lives happy and selfishness make our lives miserable? You decide!
Do we delight in obedience to God? Does the Spirit of the old testament commandments still apply to us?
Praise Yah [Halleluyah, Praise the Lord]! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous. (Ps 112:1-4 WEB)
Are there two kinds of people in the world, givers and takers? What does generosity have to do with obedience to God? How does God bless righteous givers?
Those who lend generously are good people—as are those who conduct their affairs with justice. Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever! They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid. In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat. They give freely to those in need. Their righteousness stands forever. Their strength increases gloriously. (Ps 112:5-9 CEB)
What is the result of the exact opposite, living a stingy, selfish life?
When evil people see this, they angrily bite their tongues and disappear. They will never get what they really want. (Ps 112:10 CEV)
What did Jesus say was the result of living a generous rather than selfish life?
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 10:35 ESV)
Is there an automatic blessing from God that comes from giving?
Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 HCSB)
How does generosity make our lives happy and selfishness make our lives miserable? You decide!
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