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The Psalms: Songs and Prayers of David
The Psalms: Songs and Prayers of David
Focus
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” – Psalm 16:8
This Lesson
A. Pattern of the Psalms
B. Praise and Petitions
C. Power of God’s Word
D. Portraits of Messiah
Engage
Where do you find strength? World cultures and their peoples rise and fall based on responses to threats as well
as to good fortune. Many look for power in weapons, strategies, religions, wealth or laws. However, birthdays, battle-
fields, funerals, romances, sorrows, school halls and sporting venues reveal humanity’s greatest strengths are found
in relationships, shared experiences and song. For believers in Jesus Christ, these strengths are transformed by His
Spirit to do more than help us get through life. As God’s people relate, live, communicate and sing, we take part
in restoring every aspect of God’s good creation.
God gives strength – through true peace, hope, love, beauty, joy, music, art and song. These gifts in nature and
His Word proclaim His glory and announce His coming kingdom. God inspired David and other psalmists to share
His gifts with us. We join them in seeking God to make sense of our current conditions. Their words are our words.
We add our stories to theirs when we affirm God is glorious. His creation and lovingkindness are wonderful, but
personal loss, violence, threats, injustice, temptations and death also surround us.
The psalmists teach us how to live in this tension. Jesus chose to spend the hours before His arrest with His
disciples in prayer and song. He spoke from psalms while on the cross in agony yet in expectation of great joy. In the
context of all Scripture, the Psalms powerfully remind us that Jesus is coming back to restore all things, to right
every wrong and to rule in righteousness forever. Will you seek God’s strength through the Psalms? Will you follow the
examples of David and Jesus to praise, pray and sing God’s Word in faith, whatever your feelings or circumstances?
What restoration may God bring to your life, and to those around you, through your new song?
Take to Heart
God, who is One in perfect relationship as Father, David the shepherd, soldier and king of Israel was also
Hold Fast
Son and Spirit, created us to exist for His glory. a poet and musician. David united God’s people as one
Believers enjoy His presence with His people forever. kingdom and taught them to stand strong against their
God makes Himself known through His creation, enemies through shared passion for God, prayer, praise
His Word and most fully through Jesus Christ. The and song. David’s psalms show us how to come to God
psalms reveal God’s person, power and plan to redeem in transparent prayer in every situation of life, and to
and restore His good creation. find hope and joy in knowing Him.
God spoke through David in deep laments,
beautiful lyric praises and enlightening prophecies.
Will you read the psalms these psalms and practicing their so believers are equipped to go
Apply It
regularly and let God shape you truths in relationship with others? out and bridge gaps and build up
through their power? The psalms Like you, David lived with real communities with God’s message
renew our minds and restore our people with real problems and joys. of love, grace, faith, forgiveness
souls. As you discover the character His psalms reveal his focus on the and peace through Jesus Christ. As
and attributes of God, you join the person of God and his formation you work today, enjoy your friends,
psalmists by adopting their words as into a person centered on Him, on care for a child or tend to an aging
your own. You can offer their words the truth of His Word and the certain parent, will you focus on God? No
as wise counsel to others facing hope of His promises. Believers matter what bombards you, He is
all sorts of life experiences. How grieve with God that His creation is our all-sufficient strength. We, too,
might God plan to grow your faith, marred by sins of injustice and work can powerfully respond by choosing
perspectives and character to become for healing through gospel living. to gather with others to praise, pray,
more like Jesus through praying The psalms come with God’s power stand strong and sing.
Check out these footnoted references for further study of God’s Word in this week’s lesson.
Go Deeper
1: My shepherd: Psalm 23:1-3 10: Great Commission: Matthew 19: Divided kingdom: 1 Kings 28: Peter’s first sermon: Acts
2: Anguish: Psalm 51 28:19-20 11-12 2:29-41
3: Thanksgiving: Psalms 65, 103 11: Hate evil: Romans 12:9 20: Jesus’ reign: Philippians 2:9-11; 29: No decay: Acts 13:35
4: Examples of musical 12: Spiritual warfare: Ephesians Revelation 2:26; 22:3-5 30: Melchizedek: Genesis
directions: Psalms 13, 36, 39, 6:10-20 21: Never leave: Psalm 139 14:18-20
40, 51-62 13: Three festivals: Exodus 23:14-19 22: Why: Matthew 27:35-46 31: Order of Melchizedek: Hebrews
5: Worship: Psalms 57, 62-63 14: Answer: Jeremiah 29:11-13; 23: Crucifixion: Psalm 22:6-8, 12-18; 4:14-5:10; 7:1-8:13
6: Community worship: Psalms Matthew 6:6-8; 7:7-8 Matthew 27:27-44; John 20:20 32: “Lord”: Matthew 22:41-46
34, 47, 68, 84, 100, 149 15: Word created: Genesis 1:3; 24: It is finished!: John 19:30 33: At the right hand: Acts 2:33-36;
7: Jesus as King: Psalm 2:8-9; John 1:1-3 25: Will be raised: Matthew Hebrews 1:3
Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 16: Exact representation: 17:22-23; Mark 8:31 34: References to Jesus: Psalms
2:26-27 Hebrews 1:3 26: Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-6 34:20; 35:11; 41:9; 69:4, 21;
8: Martyrs: Revelation 6:10 17: Gospel: Romans 1:16 27: Alive through resurrection: 118:22, 26
9: Entrusted: 1 Peter 2:23 18: Eternal throne: 2 Samuel 7:11-16 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® NIV ®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
6 | AdNotes (06.2018) www.bsfinternational.org | People of the Promised Land I Lesson 11