Bible Study Notes 2/25/2025

WORD ALIVE! BIBLE STUDY ©2025

Journey in the Psalms: Prayer, Praise and Promise

Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton – Conley Hughes, Jr., Senior Pastor

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

Lesson 4 -  Part 1 & 2

Tues., 18 & 25 Feb. 2025

Lesson 4, Part 1  “Faithful Confidence” – This engaging Psalm 16 has a note at its beginning. The Hebrew term miktam appears which is either a music term or simply identifies the genre (source-type) of the message given. Clearly, the psalmist follows a three-fold pattern in communication the message. A Petition is made (Verse 1); followed by a Lament. or expression of concern (Verses 2-4). It ends with . expression of Confident faithfulness in by acknowledging security and help that comes from God. (Verses 5-11). The issues the psalmist are confronted with are no different that our own. David, for whom the psalm is attributed, says he identifies with the godly who each day strive to do what is right. He refuses to champion or concede to the misdeeds others are committing. In the New Living translation, David says, “The godly people in the land are my true heroes. I will take pleasure in them.” (Verse 3). As for the ungodly, he says, “Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.” (Verse 4).  Our move away from God, giving devotion to beliefs, causes, and actions which are contrary to God is a form of idolatry. Turning to God and being faithful to all that He instructs us to do,  will bring security and confident hope to our lives. Psalm 16 can help us attain and maintain faithfulness to God, safety, and help in an uncertain world.

Verses Observation:

(1-2)  –   A prayer for safety and protection.

(3)    -   David’s confidence in observing the righteous..

(4)    -  David laments the evil of others.

(5-6) –   God is the source and sustainer of provisions.

(7-8) -   David extols God for security and protection.

(9-11) -  The joy of knowing and obeying God!

David’s confidence in God increases with His awareness of the Lord’s presence in his life. He refuses to let the adverse circumstances bring death, for there is life and joy in knowing God: “You will show me the way to life!”

Lesson 4 Part 2 “Faithful Confidence” – Someone has said, our trials can be like the wind behind the spine of a kite. The wind propels the kite higher into the sky, rather than causing it to topple to the ground. The lives and testimony of the psalmists describe how their confidence in God is strengthened because of the forces they encounter. There is in Psalm 16 a heightening awareness that God is always on the side of what is right and just. Being challenged and harmed by others does not exempt any of us from living righteously. We must treat others right, regardless of how we are treated. There is a need for acknowledgment of our own failures, as we entreat God to prevent the harm of others. David said on an occasion in Psalm 32:3-5, NLT: 3 “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally. I confessed my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”  Interlude It is the result of our own soul searching with God, that brings us joy and confidence in God’s presence and work in our lives. Our fellowship with God reveals that although God is just, wrong and injustice has consequences. We have an abiding confidence in God, that every act that’s contrary to His divine nature will be avenged by the Lord. (Read, Psalm 7:10-15, NLT). We may harbor no ill-will toward others who harm us, but we cannot prevent God’s judgment from going forth. The confidence we see in the life of Esther was renewed after the intervention of her godly relative Mordechi, and the period of fasting and prayer she ordered her fellow Jews to engage in to prevent their genocide. Esther’s further intervention to  King Xerxes, whom she was appointed to marry, sealed the fate of the adversary Haman. (Read, Esther 7:1-10, NLT). Haman’s death was not the sole result of Esther, but it was God’s judgment for Haman’s wickedness and oppression of the Jews. Esther, initially reluctant, entered the royal room and pleaded her case to the king.

Key Idea:

What We Believe!

1. “Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path!”  - Psalm 119:105

Key Verses:

Psalm 16: 1-11 NLT

1 “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. 2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from you.” 3 As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent  ones, in whom is all my delight.” 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names on my lips. 5 O Lord, you are the portion  of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.  6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. 7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.  8 I have set the Lord before me. Because He is my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol. Nor will you allow your holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 12:5-8, NLT

5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” 6 The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. 7 Therefore, Lord we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from  this lying generation, 8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.”

Psalm 7:1, NLT

“I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me… rescue me.”

Psalm 7:10-15, NLT

10 “God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. 11 God is an honest judge.. He is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If a person does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He will bend and string His bow. 13 He will prepare His deadly weapons and shoot His flaming arrows. 14 The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. 15 They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. 16 The trouble they make for others backfire on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. 17 I will thank the Lord because He is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”

Esther 7:1-10 NLT

1 “So, the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet. 2 On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request?” I will give it to you, even if it is half of my kingdom!” 3 Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. 4 For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had never been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.” 5 “Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “What would be so presumptuous as to touch you?” 6 Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our adversary and our enemy.” Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.

7 Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him. 8 In despair he fell on the couch where Esther was reclining, just as the king was returning from the palace garden… 9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordechi… “Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered. 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordechai, and the king’s anger subsided.”