Bible Study Notes 1/7/2025

WORD ALIVE! BIBLE STUDY ©2025

Journey in the Psalms: Prayer, Praise and Promise

Quiet Time: Tracy M. Summer, Psalms: An All-In-One Study on God’s Song Book

Lesson 1 – Introduction, Parts 1 & 2

Tues., 7 Jan. 2025

Journey In The Psalms – One of the most treasured books in all of the Bible is the Psalm, which is comprised of five books, These books or divisions, speak to the deepest yearnings of the human spirit, as well as to the essential desires of the soul.  Compiled over a thousand-year period the Psalms have preserved God’s communication with the human family in poetic, prophetic, and liturgical (worship, music, responsive) ways. Included in the psalms are meditative reflections on personal encounters – each of which ends with a strong affirmation of hope in God. The reader is called to moral and ethical responsibility, and the life of the godly and righteous person is honored by God. Evil and wrongdoing will be judged by God, so repentance is necessary in becoming reconciled to God. The most widely read of all the Psalms throughout the world is Psalm 23, The poetic words provide comfort and hope against any calamity one could ever face in life. Although these Psalms were written by many people, the power in all Scripture is that each is “breathed” (inspired) by God. The purpose is to both teach us what is true and how to live according to what is right. (Read, 2 Timothy 3:16, NLT). The Psalms became the worship book of Israel, and no fewer than 70 of the psalms are attributed to King David. The remainder mostly were written by the various worship and music leaders (Levites; descendants of Korah; and the sons of Asap). In the New Testament, the psalms are quoted by Jesus, the apostles over 100 times. This underscored their belief in the authenticity and reliability of the Scriptures as they knew them. The psalms, as the Word of God, engages the innermost parts of our thoughts and beings. They help us understand the deeper meaning of life, and God’s intended purpose for us. (Read, Hebrews 4:12, NLT). There is no replacement for God’s use of the Scriptures in the  development of our lives. The first of the five major divisions of the Psalms, Book I is Psalms  1-41; Book II is Psalms 42-72; Book III, is Psalms 73-89; Book IV is Psalms 90-106; and Book V comprises, Psalms 107-150.  In studying Psalms, we can apply the same reasoning to what we read, as the Apostle Peter said we should apply to prophecy in Scripture. Peter instructed Christians to understand what we read is governed by the Holy Spirit. (Read, 2 Peter 1:20-21, NLT). The prayers and ,laments in the Scripture were all genuine, for they shared the pain of human fears, sadness, anger, and pain. What we inevitably see is Acts of God’s compassion, mercy, and healing meeting the needs of the person praying. The first division of the Psalms, Book I opens with Psalm 1. The emphasis is on “what God expects of us,” and relatedly, what the consequences are for those who pursue evil instead of good. There is the promise of continuing life, vitality, growth, and purpose for all who obey God. Some understand Psalm 1 to be a summary of the entire book of Psalms.

Key Verses:

2 Timothy 3:16, NLT

16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”.

Hebrews 4:12, NLT

12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes  our innermost thoughts and desires.”

2 Peter 1:20-21, NLT

20 “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”

Psalm 1:1-6, NLT

1 “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted  along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Psalm 119:105 , NIV

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.”