SOME STUDY QUESTIONS:
Looking at the whole Psalm:
(1) What does the Psalmist
do / what has he resolved to do?
How does he describe his
commitment to the LORD?
(2) What consequences does
he expect / what does he hope will result?
What are the blessings
which follow from commitment to the LORD?
Do you believe that apart
from God we have no good thing (v2)?
What does that mean?
What difference would it
make if we believed and felt and lived by that?
Which verse would you say
is the odd one out in this Psalm?
In this Psalm, what is the
alternative to faithful allegiance to the LORD?
And what are the consequences
of it? Why?
V4?
Do you think v4 is true?
Always?
What other gods would you
say people especially run after in our day and age?
What are some alternative
sources of what God offers in this psalm e.g. security, refuge, pleasure, delight,
wisdom, immortality, even?
What things are we tempted
to run after / look for refuge in?
How is it possible for
your heart to instruct you even at night (v7b)?
What is the Psalmist on about?
Look at both parts of v8.
Where is the LORD?
What does it mean to set
the LORD always before me? (v8)
How might we do that more?
What does it mean to have
the LORD at your right hand?
Compare vv8 and 11.
Where is the LORD according
to v8?
Where will the Psalmist
end up according to v11?
How would you relate these
two verses / ideas?
Where might we see Jesus
in this Psalm?
How is it used in the New
Testament?
What would your summary
and aim sentences be?
So, how might we resolve
to think and live in the light of this Psalm?
How would you use this
Psalm as fuel for praise and prayer?
OUTLINES:
Motyer:
Security in God
A1. Security in God as
refuge: a prayer (v1)
B. Life in the divine
refuge (vv2-8)
a1 – Yahweh (v2)
b1 – Yahweh’s people, a
pleasure (v3)
c1 – Spiritual commitment
(negative) (v4)
a2 – Yahweh (v5)
b2 – Yahweh’s provision, a
delight (v6)
c2 – Spiritual commitment
(positive) (vv7-8)
A2. Security in
perpetuity: a certainty (vv9-11)
* * *
Kidner:
All my delight
“The theme of having one’s
affections centred on God gives this psalm its unity and ardour.”
(1) Faithful servant
(vv1-6): the loyalty he has chosen
Singlemindedly throwing in
one’s lot with God with respect to:
Security (v1)
Welfare (v2)
Associates (v3)
Worship (v4)
Ambitions (v5f)
(2) Faithful Lord
(vv7-11): the blessings which flow from this loyalty
Guidance (v7)
Stability (v8)
NOTES:
The passage I normally read
at the burial of cremated remains!
Charles Wesley’s hymn
“Forth in Thy Name” cf. vv2, 8, 11 and the final line, “And walk closely with
Thee to heaven”
Title: michtam – meaning
uncertain
Also Pss 56-60
Kethem = golden – golden
truth? Priced? Precious?
Katham only Jer 2:22 –
something indelible, permenant
A prayer for our times and
for all times (v1)
V2 – a little cryptic
My good / merit is not
beyond / additional to you cf. 73:25
equivalent to saying God
is all I need
The LORD is my shepherd I
shall not want
V3 – saints, lit. holy
ones as in nt – often used of angels so who are on earth would clarify
V3 – land or earth
V4 – increase of sorrows
echoes the words spoken to Eve in Gen 3:16
V4 lit. many are their
pains who change to another – an alternative to Yahweh – the reference to false
religious practices implies that other gods are intended
V5 – God himself as the
Psalmist’s portion and inheritance – cf. 1 Sam 26:19; Num 18:20 – the priests
had God as their portion and heritage
V7 – lit. my kidneys
instruct me, my feelings, emotions, instincts, maybe conscience – cf. heart,
spleen, guts, bowels, liver
V8 – before me as standard
and guide that I might follow and aspire to him
At my right hand,
conveniently alongside me to help me – God will stand by me, at my side, maybe
like a helper in court or in battle
See also v11, right hand
Peter quoted vv8-11 at
Pentecost (Acts 2:25-33) saying they were about Jesus’ death and resurrection –
see also Acts 13:35-37 – these words are perfectly and literally true only of
Jesus
V10 – Sheol – the place of
the dead
V11 – abundance of real
joy comes with your face – fullness / satiation / satisfaction of every sort of
joy (plural of amplitude) is with your face (your personal presence and
pleasure, your smile)
V11 – lit. in God’s right
hand, ? in the gifts God gives with his right hand
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