Next week we are looking at Psalm 23 but after that we will be doing some studies in Philippians by way of a change!
STUDY QUESTIONS:
What’s going on in this
Psalm?
Who are the characters in
this Psalm?
What are the main scenes
and what happens in them? Can you give them titles?
Where is the turning point
in this Psalm?
Do you think David being
forsaken by God is real or imagined?
What might it mean / feel
like / look like / be to be forsaken by God?
Is he forsaken completely
and permanently?
Is verse one a cry of
despair or a prayer of faith or…?
Where might we see hope
even in v1?
When does the Psalmist
pray (v2)?
How does God respond?
Have you ever felt
forsaken by God or as if he did not seem to hear or help?
(Look at the words like
“but” and “yet”)
What mismatches /
contrasts does the Psalmist feel?
How do verse 3-5 encourage
confidence in God?
What arguments does the Psalmist
use with God?
What is the basis of his
prayer for help?
What metaphors and imagery
are used in the Psalm? With what meanings and to what effects?
Like me, are you slightly
unclear what a “potsherd” is? (v15)
Is there anything else in
the Psalm you’re not sure you understand?
What does the Psalm tell
us about God?
What does the Psalm tell
us about Christian experience / what the life of a believer might include?
What might vv9 and 10 mean
for how we seek to bring up our children?
Who is affected by the
vindication of the sufferer in the Psalm?
How would you relate the
Psalm to Jesus?
Why do you think Jesus
quoted this Psalm?
When Jesus quotes this
Psalm, do you think he means to refer just to the verse he quotes or more of
the Psalm? What in particular?
How does the Psalm reflect
events in the life of Jesus?
Does the final verse of
the Psalm provide an echo of the cross? (Or of the cross and resurrection?)
Any other comments or
questions about this Psalm?
Theme sentence?
Aim sentence?
Praise and prayer in the
light of this Psalm?
* * *
OUTLINES:
Wilcock:
(1) The sufferings of
Christ (vv1-21)
(2) The glories that
would follow (vv22-31)
* * *
Kidner:
The Psalm of the Cross
(1) Vv1-21: The power
of darkness
V1 – why?
Vv3-5 – yet thou…
Vv6-8 – but I…
vv12-18 - Ravening and
roaring
vv19-21 – but thou…
(2) vv22-31: The spread
of joy
vv22-26 – the votive feast
vv27-31 – the boundless
kingdom
* * *
Motyer:
The One and the Many:
One Suffering, Many Worshipping
A: Perplexity in
suffering (vv1-10)
An Unanswered Cry (vv1-5)
Unrewarded trust (vv6-10)
B: Prayer for Divine
Nearness (vv11-21)
C: Praise on a
universal scale (vv22-31)
Festival time for Israel
(vv22-26)
Festival time for the
world (vv27-31)
* * *
Expositor’s Bible:
Anguish and Joy
A: God’s abandonment, rule
and praise of Israel (vv1-5)
B: Public spectacle
(vv6-8)
C: God’s covenantal
responsibilities (vv9-11)
C’: Abandonment and prayer
for covenantal favour (vv12-21)
B’: Public praise
(vv22-24)
A’: God’s presence and
rule: the praise of Israel and the nations (vv25-31)
* * *
NOTES:
An individual lament with
the community drawn in to thanksgiving
The suffering servant
brings deliverance to the nations
The humility of the
sufferer (not seeking vengeance here, though other Psalms do include this
element)
The inclusion of the
nations
The mocking of enemies
will give way to the praise of the people
Nothing in David’s life
really fits this description of suffering and death - Acts 2:30f – being a
prophet, David foresaw and spoke of the Christ
Title:
the word for doe or hind (‘ayyeleth) is very like the word for help (‘eya),
which seems appropriate – see v19
Notice the contrasts in
the Psalm – the “yet”s and “but”s e.g. v3, v6, v9
Vv1-21 – a throbbing
alteration of I / me sections with increasing length vv1-2, 6-8, 12-18 with
thou sections of increasing urgency and immediacy vv3-5, 9-11, 19-21
V1 – Kidner suggests the
Psalmist’s concern here is likely practical not theoretical – why have you
forsaken me to this predicament and don’t seem to be rescuing me any time soon?
– The cry does not suggest a lack of faith or a broken relationship but
disorientation at the lack of God’s familiar protective presence as the
Psalmist’s enemies close in
V1 – groaning = roaring, a
strong word, also used of the lion in v13 – the Psalmists enemies roar at him
and he roars to God for salvation
V8 – cf. the way Jesus is
scorned when on the cross – Mt 27:39, 43
V8 – could be an
imperative – commit it to Yahweh – commit = roll it (onto), turn it over to,
entrust it to
Vv11-21: Trouble is near
(v11), enemies are rampant (vv12-13), suffering is intense (vv14-15),
wickedness is unrestrained (vv16-18). A renewed appeal and sudden sense of
response (vv19-21).
V14 – bones dislocated, as
perhaps they would be by crucifixion – or the idea might be something like
separate themselves, come apart, stick out
V15 – potsherd – a broken
piece of pottery
V15 – cf. Jn 19:28 – Jesus
thirsts on the cross
V17 - The counting of
Jesus bones – John 19:36 – none of Jesus’ bones broken
V18 – Mt 27:35-36 – the
casting of lots for Jesus’ clothing
Turning point v21: the
alternate cries and prayers give way to praise and the vision broadens to God’s
perfect rule – a rapidly expanding circle
V22 quoted in Hebrews 2:12
– Jesus unashamed to be called our bother says, v22
Vv25-26 – a major answer
to prayer might be followed by a sacrifice and a feast- Lev 7:16; Dt 12:17-19
V29 – lit. the fat ones,
the rich and prosperous, who would be tempted to think themselves self sufficient
Vv1, 31 - It is as if the
Psalm begins and ends with cries from the cross, not only the cry of
dereliction but also “It is finished!” – Jn 19:30
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