Welcome back for round two of Psalm 23! It’s one of the greatest “comfort” chapters in much of the world. It’s so popular that many non-Christians also recite it. In fact, some even memorize it.
APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: REVIEW
1. PRAYFERUL
Incline my heart to [your truths]. (Psalm 119:36) -- We need God’s help to focus on God versus self.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things [from your word]. (Psalms 119:18)
Unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11) – God focuses our scattered thoughts on Him.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love. (Psalm 90:14) – God helps us be satisfied in Him.
2. HUMBLY
“Any authentic knowledge of God hinges on His generous self-disclosure to us. Only through His words can we discover who He is, what He’s like, and what He’s after, and how we can know Him. This ought to humble us deeply. The Bible you possess is evidence that God loves you and wants a relationship with you. No matter who you are or how many times you’ve spurned his love, He is still moving toward you, still talking to you – still befriending you through [His] book” (Smethhurst,2019).
3. DESPERATELY
· Do I approach the Bible more like it’s a snack or a feast?
· Do I go to the Bible willing to hear from God or desperate to hear from Him?
· Am I just interested in the Bible, or am I keen to internalize them? (Smethhurst, 2019).
ASSIGNMENT #1 – LET’S REVIEW (5Ws & the H)
Who is thehuman author? The audience?
What is the topic and main point? What happened? What do other versions say?
When wastext written?
Where were the author, audience, others located? Where does the book fit in Bible’s scope?
Why was the text written? Focused on key issues noted above?
Howdelivered? Received? Something to be done? Should you respond?
ASSIGNMENT #2 – Your Why
How you feel about a passage is seldom a valuable issue. Remember, the point above about being humble. That’s not so true in the wisdom/poetry books.
There is merit in our feelings here, because these works help to connect us to God. This gives comfort, and we can learn from others who have gone through trials. The Psalms are emotional. They are largely God’s please to God. The Psalms push us to think about God and our relationship with God. Psalm 23 is specifically a “Psalm of Trust”. It emphasizes the trust we can place in God.
What resonates with you in the language of Psalm 23?
In what experiences has God use Psalm 23 in your life?
Similes say something is ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else. Metaphors do not.
Psalm 1:1 -- “who walks not in the counsel o the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…”
Psalm 1:3 -- “the godly man is like a tree planted by streams of water.”
Psalm 1:5 -- “the ungodly man is like chaff.”
Psalm 91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, & under his wins shalt though trust.”
Do you see metaphors in Psalm 23? Similes?
FOLLOWUP. Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).
How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
How does the truth here affect my relationship with others?
How does the truth here affect me personally?
How does the truth here affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
How do I apply this truth?
Is there a memory verse or verses for you here?
Is there something to share with others?
REFERENCES
Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.
PSALM 23 (Day 2)
Welcome back for round two of Psalm 23! It’s one of the greatest “comfort” chapters in much of the world. It’s so popular that many non-Christians also recite it. In fact, some even memorize it.
APPROACH YOUR BIBLE: REVIEW
1. PRAYFERUL
Incline my heart to [your truths]. (Psalm 119:36) -- We need God’s help to focus on God versus self.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things [from your word]. (Psalms 119:18)
Unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11) – God focuses our scattered thoughts on Him.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love. (Psalm 90:14) – God helps us be satisfied in Him.
2. HUMBLY
“Any authentic knowledge of God hinges on His generous self-disclosure to us. Only through His words can we discover who He is, what He’s like, and what He’s after, and how we can know Him. This ought to humble us deeply. The Bible you possess is evidence that God loves you and wants a relationship with you. No matter who you are or how many times you’ve spurned his love, He is still moving toward you, still talking to you – still befriending you through [His] book” (Smethhurst,2019).
3. DESPERATELY
· Do I approach the Bible more like it’s a snack or a feast?
· Do I go to the Bible willing to hear from God or desperate to hear from Him?
· Am I just interested in the Bible, or am I keen to internalize them? (Smethhurst, 2019).
ASSIGNMENT #1 – LET’S REVIEW (5Ws & the H)
ASSIGNMENT #2 – Your Why
How you feel about a passage is seldom a valuable issue. Remember, the point above about being humble. That’s not so true in the wisdom/poetry books.
There is merit in our feelings here, because these works help to connect us to God. This gives comfort, and we can learn from others who have gone through trials. The Psalms are emotional. They are largely God’s please to God. The Psalms push us to think about God and our relationship with God. Psalm 23 is specifically a “Psalm of Trust”. It emphasizes the trust we can place in God.
What resonates with you in the language of Psalm 23?
In what experiences has God use Psalm 23 in your life?
ASSIGNMENT #3 – Metaphors & Similes (exegesis tool)
Similes say something is ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else. Metaphors do not.
Do you see metaphors in Psalm 23? Similes?
FOLLOWUP. Learning the word is good but application makes that truth real. Remember, Pharisees & demons know God’s truth but don’t apply it as God desires (James 1:22).
REFERENCES
Smethhurst, Matt. 2019. Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s word. 10 Publishing.
Valcourt, Stephen. 2016, Oct. 13. “Which Bible translation should I read?” In Abundant Springs. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020 from https://abundantsprings.church/blog/2016/10/13/which-bible-translation-should-i-read.