Psalms 135-150
This last set of psalms is full of praise for the faithfulness, majesty, and power of the LORD. Enjoy!
Psalm 135
1. This psalm of praise helps to increase the Christian’s faith and gratitude, as God’s faithfulness, majesty, and power are recited. Can you think of instances in your life when God’s faithfulness, majesty, and power were evident? Write about one.
2. Add 135:15 to the “hand” page in your journal.
3. Read Exodus 10-14. Compare it to Psalm 135:8-9.
4. How does Deuteronomy 29:7 relate to Psalm 135:11-12?
5. Compare Jeremiah 10:3-5 with Psalm 135:15-18. Can you find any other verses which talk about the worthlessness of idols?
Psalm 136
1. What event is cited in Psalm 136:4-9?
2. What event is cited in Psalm 136:10-16?
3. What event is cited in Psalm 136:17-22?
4. Why do you think the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever” is repeated in each verse?
5. Add 136:7 to the “light” page in your journal.
Add 136:12 to the “hand” page in your journal.
6. What verses could you write where the second part of it would be “for his steadfast love endures forever”? Write verses about what God has done in your life.
7. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “His Mercy Never Fails.”
8. Sing John Milton’s song “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind.”
9. Sing Robert M. Copeland’s “Psalm 136.”
10. Sing Isaac Watt’s “Give to Our God Immortal Praise.”
Psalm 137
1. What is the setting of this psalm? Why are the singers in Babylon? Why are they weeping?
2. Add 137:5 to the “hand” page in your journal.
3. What does the psalmist hope will happen if he forgets Jerusalem; if he forgets God?
4. Obadiah is a prophecy against which nation? (Hint: verse 7)
5. How do you feel about the psalmist’s declaration in verse 9?
6. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “By the Waters of Babylon.”
Psalm 138
1. Add 138:1 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 138:7 and 138:8 to the “hand” page in your journal.
2. Compare Psalm 138:6 with Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5.
3. Compare Psalm 138:7 with Jude 1:24-25.
4. For what does the psalmist give God thanks? (verse 2) For what do you give God thanks?
5. How important does God consider keeping your word? (verse 2) If you say something, you had better do what you say.
6. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Lord, I Will Praise Thee.”
7. Sing “Blessed Be the Name.”
Psalm 139
1. Find some of the phrases the psalmist uses to describe how well God knows him. Write them in your journal.
2. Add 139:5 and 139:10 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 139:11 and 139:12 to the “light” page in your journal.
Add 139:23 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 139:4 to the “tongue” page in your journal.
Add 139:9 to the “wings” page in your journal.
3. If you were going to write an essay about what the Bible says about abortion, which verses from Psalm 139 would you use?
4. How does the psalmist feel about those who hate God?
5. Do you feel like the psalmist feels about God’s thoughts (verse 17)?
6. Where is God (verse 7-9)? Can you think of a minor prophet who found out that there was no where he could go that God would not be?
7. In verse 24, the way everlasting is the way that God set up from the very beginning. Along with all of the natural laws, like gravity and friction, God also created the right way to walk when He created the world. The way everlasting is the right way back as far as anyone can see and as far forward as anyone can see. Using your color tools, draw a picture which has a road with two vanishing points. God’s way goes beyond the vanishing point in both directions.
8. Read the NIrV devotion.
9. Sing the hymn “Cleanse Me.”
Psalm 140
1. Add 140:2 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 140:4 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 140:3 to the “tongue” page in your journal.
2. Who does the psalmist want to be delivered from? (There are two.)
3. What recompense does the psalmist want God to visit upon the wicked?
4. What does God do on behalf of the afflicted and the needy?
5. Where shall the upright dwell?
6. Is it wrong to want God to deal harshly with wicked people? Is it wrong to take your own vengeance? (YES)
Psalm 141
1. Verse 2 talks about the prayers being counted as incense before God. Where else do we see this connection in the Bible? (Hint: there are two places in Revelation.)
2. Do you ever feel like the psalmist does in verse 3 - that you want God to set a guard over your mouth to keep you from saying the wrong thing? Can you think of a time when you wish you had not said something?
3. Add 141:2 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 141:4 to the “heart” page in your journal.
4. David says that the criticism and rebuke of a righteous man is a kindness. What do you think? Write down your response first, and then go read Hebrews 12:5-11. Why is gentle, righteous criticism a kindness?
5. Using your favorite drawing tools, draw verses 9-10. Write the verses underneath as a caption.
6. Read the NIrV devotion.
Psalm 142
1. What should you do when you are in trouble? Why?
2. What tone does this psalm begins with? What is its tone at the end?
3. Have you ever felt like you needed to give voice to your troubles? There’s only One who can truly do anything about the trouble in which you find yourself.
4. Which verse in 142 could be rendered, “When I’m in trouble, I feel like I’m all alone”?
Psalm 143
1. Which psalm do you think of when you read verse 6? (Read Psalms 42, 63, and 84 again)
2. To what is David appealing - what character trait of God? Do you ever appeal to God for mercy based on His righteousness?
3. What New Testament verse comes to mind when reading verse 2? (Romans 3:23) How are they similar? What is the only answer to our sin?
4. What has the enemy done to David? What has your enemy done to you?
5. Add 143:4 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 143:5 and 143:6 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 143:8 to the “trust” page in your journal.
6. Draw a pictoral representation of verse 7 using your favorite color tools.
7. Why does David ask God to teach him His ways (verse 10)? Many times I think we want to be taught God’s ways so that we’ll be blessed, but David goes one better.
8. Why does David believe that God will destroy all of his enemies (verse 12)?
9. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Give Ear to My Prayer, O LORD” or “Lord, Teach Me That I May Know.”
10. Sing “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord.”
Psalm 144
1. Add 144:1, 144:7, 144:8, and 144:11 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 144:2 to the “shield” page in your journal.
2. Write down the nouns which David equates to the LORD in verses 1-2. There are six.
3. Write down the nouns which David equates to mankind in verses 3-4. Compare them to the nouns in verses 1-2.
4. What three things does David ask God to do to defeat the enemy? (verses 5-7)
5. What will David do (verse 9) when God defeats his enemies?
6. What are the blessings cited by David in verses 12-15? What are the sons like? What are the daughters like? What are the grain harvests like? What are the sheep and cattle like? What is life in the city like? Why are these blessings given?
Psalm 145
1. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Can you write a song of praise using the successive letters of the English alphabet?
2. Read Deuteronomy 6:3-9. Compare it with verse 4. How are they similar?
3. Read Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, and Exodus 34:6. Compare these verses with Psalm 145:8. How are they the same? Who was the first one to cite these characteristics of God?
4. Read verses 13 and 17. How are they the same?
5. Add 145:16 to the “hand” page in your journal.
6. Give four examples of people the LORD helps.
7. Sing “Blessed Be the Name,” “How Great Thou Art,” “All Creatures of our God and King,” and “Nearer, Still Nearer.”
8. Read the NIrV devotion.
9. Sing the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” “I Will Bless the Lord,” and “Great is the Lord.”
Psalm 146
1. How long does the psalmist plan to praise God?
2. Add 146:3 to the “trust” page in your journal.
3. Make a list of the things God does from verses 6-10.
God made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.
God keeps faith forever.
God executes justice for the oppressed. (etc.)
4. Read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19. How are these verses like Psalm 146: 7-8?
5. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Hallelujah! Praise God!”
6. Sing Fanny Crosby’s “Praise Him, Praise Him.”
7. Sing Isaac Watts “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.”
Psalm 147
1. Make a list of the things God has done/is doing according to this psalm.
2. Read Genesis 15:5. Compare it to verse 4.
3. Choose a verse to depict pictorally, like verses 16 or 17. Write the verse underneath as a caption. Find a place to hang this verse to remind you to praise God for His majesty, power, and faithfulness.
4. Read the NIrV devotion.
5. Sing Gerald Henderson’s “Great are You, O Lord.”
6. Sing “Great Is the Lord Almighty!” or “Rise and Be Healed” or “Heal Our Land.”
Psalm 148
1. Make a list of who should praise the LORD according to this psalm. Be sure to put your name at the top of the list! (verse 11)
2. There are two reasons given for praising God. Find them in verses 5 and 13. God is Creator and He is King.
3. Add 148:14 to the “horn” page in your journal.
4. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Praise You the Lord.”
5. Sing the Foundling Hospital Collection’s version of “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him” set to music by Pranz Joseph Haydn.
6. Sing Dick and Melodie Tunney’s “Let There Be Praise.”
Psalm 149
1. Israel is to rejoice because God is his Creator and his King. Where did we just read that?
2. What two ways are given for praising God?
3. Add 149:6 to the “hand” page in your journal.
4. Read verse 6 slowly. As you were reading verses 1-6, you are ready to sing. From verses 6-9, there’s a different occupation. What is it? How do you feel about that?
Psalm 150
1. Answer these three questions:
Where does the psalm tell you to praise God?
Why does the psalm tell you to praise God?
With what does the psalm tell you to praise God?
2. Write your own psalm expressing praise to God.
3. Sing Charles Wesley’s “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.”
4. Arrange this psalm into a choral reading presentation with other members of your family. Make it crescendo into forte by the end.
5. Sing “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” or “Let All Things Now Living.”
This last set of psalms is full of praise for the faithfulness, majesty, and power of the LORD. Enjoy!
Psalm 135
1. This psalm of praise helps to increase the Christian’s faith and gratitude, as God’s faithfulness, majesty, and power are recited. Can you think of instances in your life when God’s faithfulness, majesty, and power were evident? Write about one.
2. Add 135:15 to the “hand” page in your journal.
3. Read Exodus 10-14. Compare it to Psalm 135:8-9.
4. How does Deuteronomy 29:7 relate to Psalm 135:11-12?
5. Compare Jeremiah 10:3-5 with Psalm 135:15-18. Can you find any other verses which talk about the worthlessness of idols?
Psalm 136
1. What event is cited in Psalm 136:4-9?
2. What event is cited in Psalm 136:10-16?
3. What event is cited in Psalm 136:17-22?
4. Why do you think the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever” is repeated in each verse?
5. Add 136:7 to the “light” page in your journal.
Add 136:12 to the “hand” page in your journal.
6. What verses could you write where the second part of it would be “for his steadfast love endures forever”? Write verses about what God has done in your life.
7. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “His Mercy Never Fails.”
8. Sing John Milton’s song “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind.”
9. Sing Robert M. Copeland’s “Psalm 136.”
10. Sing Isaac Watt’s “Give to Our God Immortal Praise.”
Psalm 137
1. What is the setting of this psalm? Why are the singers in Babylon? Why are they weeping?
2. Add 137:5 to the “hand” page in your journal.
3. What does the psalmist hope will happen if he forgets Jerusalem; if he forgets God?
4. Obadiah is a prophecy against which nation? (Hint: verse 7)
5. How do you feel about the psalmist’s declaration in verse 9?
6. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “By the Waters of Babylon.”
Psalm 138
1. Add 138:1 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 138:7 and 138:8 to the “hand” page in your journal.
2. Compare Psalm 138:6 with Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5.
3. Compare Psalm 138:7 with Jude 1:24-25.
4. For what does the psalmist give God thanks? (verse 2) For what do you give God thanks?
5. How important does God consider keeping your word? (verse 2) If you say something, you had better do what you say.
6. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Lord, I Will Praise Thee.”
7. Sing “Blessed Be the Name.”
Psalm 139
1. Find some of the phrases the psalmist uses to describe how well God knows him. Write them in your journal.
2. Add 139:5 and 139:10 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 139:11 and 139:12 to the “light” page in your journal.
Add 139:23 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 139:4 to the “tongue” page in your journal.
Add 139:9 to the “wings” page in your journal.
3. If you were going to write an essay about what the Bible says about abortion, which verses from Psalm 139 would you use?
4. How does the psalmist feel about those who hate God?
5. Do you feel like the psalmist feels about God’s thoughts (verse 17)?
6. Where is God (verse 7-9)? Can you think of a minor prophet who found out that there was no where he could go that God would not be?
7. In verse 24, the way everlasting is the way that God set up from the very beginning. Along with all of the natural laws, like gravity and friction, God also created the right way to walk when He created the world. The way everlasting is the right way back as far as anyone can see and as far forward as anyone can see. Using your color tools, draw a picture which has a road with two vanishing points. God’s way goes beyond the vanishing point in both directions.
8. Read the NIrV devotion.
9. Sing the hymn “Cleanse Me.”
Psalm 140
1. Add 140:2 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 140:4 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 140:3 to the “tongue” page in your journal.
2. Who does the psalmist want to be delivered from? (There are two.)
3. What recompense does the psalmist want God to visit upon the wicked?
4. What does God do on behalf of the afflicted and the needy?
5. Where shall the upright dwell?
6. Is it wrong to want God to deal harshly with wicked people? Is it wrong to take your own vengeance? (YES)
Psalm 141
1. Verse 2 talks about the prayers being counted as incense before God. Where else do we see this connection in the Bible? (Hint: there are two places in Revelation.)
2. Do you ever feel like the psalmist does in verse 3 - that you want God to set a guard over your mouth to keep you from saying the wrong thing? Can you think of a time when you wish you had not said something?
3. Add 141:2 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 141:4 to the “heart” page in your journal.
4. David says that the criticism and rebuke of a righteous man is a kindness. What do you think? Write down your response first, and then go read Hebrews 12:5-11. Why is gentle, righteous criticism a kindness?
5. Using your favorite drawing tools, draw verses 9-10. Write the verses underneath as a caption.
6. Read the NIrV devotion.
Psalm 142
1. What should you do when you are in trouble? Why?
2. What tone does this psalm begins with? What is its tone at the end?
3. Have you ever felt like you needed to give voice to your troubles? There’s only One who can truly do anything about the trouble in which you find yourself.
4. Which verse in 142 could be rendered, “When I’m in trouble, I feel like I’m all alone”?
Psalm 143
1. Which psalm do you think of when you read verse 6? (Read Psalms 42, 63, and 84 again)
2. To what is David appealing - what character trait of God? Do you ever appeal to God for mercy based on His righteousness?
3. What New Testament verse comes to mind when reading verse 2? (Romans 3:23) How are they similar? What is the only answer to our sin?
4. What has the enemy done to David? What has your enemy done to you?
5. Add 143:4 to the “heart” page in your journal.
Add 143:5 and 143:6 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 143:8 to the “trust” page in your journal.
6. Draw a pictoral representation of verse 7 using your favorite color tools.
7. Why does David ask God to teach him His ways (verse 10)? Many times I think we want to be taught God’s ways so that we’ll be blessed, but David goes one better.
8. Why does David believe that God will destroy all of his enemies (verse 12)?
9. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Give Ear to My Prayer, O LORD” or “Lord, Teach Me That I May Know.”
10. Sing “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord.”
Psalm 144
1. Add 144:1, 144:7, 144:8, and 144:11 to the “hand” page in your journal.
Add 144:2 to the “shield” page in your journal.
2. Write down the nouns which David equates to the LORD in verses 1-2. There are six.
3. Write down the nouns which David equates to mankind in verses 3-4. Compare them to the nouns in verses 1-2.
4. What three things does David ask God to do to defeat the enemy? (verses 5-7)
5. What will David do (verse 9) when God defeats his enemies?
6. What are the blessings cited by David in verses 12-15? What are the sons like? What are the daughters like? What are the grain harvests like? What are the sheep and cattle like? What is life in the city like? Why are these blessings given?
Psalm 145
1. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Can you write a song of praise using the successive letters of the English alphabet?
2. Read Deuteronomy 6:3-9. Compare it with verse 4. How are they similar?
3. Read Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, and Exodus 34:6. Compare these verses with Psalm 145:8. How are they the same? Who was the first one to cite these characteristics of God?
4. Read verses 13 and 17. How are they the same?
5. Add 145:16 to the “hand” page in your journal.
6. Give four examples of people the LORD helps.
7. Sing “Blessed Be the Name,” “How Great Thou Art,” “All Creatures of our God and King,” and “Nearer, Still Nearer.”
8. Read the NIrV devotion.
9. Sing the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” “I Will Bless the Lord,” and “Great is the Lord.”
Psalm 146
1. How long does the psalmist plan to praise God?
2. Add 146:3 to the “trust” page in your journal.
3. Make a list of the things God does from verses 6-10.
God made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.
God keeps faith forever.
God executes justice for the oppressed. (etc.)
4. Read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19. How are these verses like Psalm 146: 7-8?
5. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Hallelujah! Praise God!”
6. Sing Fanny Crosby’s “Praise Him, Praise Him.”
7. Sing Isaac Watts “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.”
Psalm 147
1. Make a list of the things God has done/is doing according to this psalm.
2. Read Genesis 15:5. Compare it to verse 4.
3. Choose a verse to depict pictorally, like verses 16 or 17. Write the verse underneath as a caption. Find a place to hang this verse to remind you to praise God for His majesty, power, and faithfulness.
4. Read the NIrV devotion.
5. Sing Gerald Henderson’s “Great are You, O Lord.”
6. Sing “Great Is the Lord Almighty!” or “Rise and Be Healed” or “Heal Our Land.”
Psalm 148
1. Make a list of who should praise the LORD according to this psalm. Be sure to put your name at the top of the list! (verse 11)
2. There are two reasons given for praising God. Find them in verses 5 and 13. God is Creator and He is King.
3. Add 148:14 to the “horn” page in your journal.
4. Sing the Dwight Armstrong song “Praise You the Lord.”
5. Sing the Foundling Hospital Collection’s version of “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him” set to music by Pranz Joseph Haydn.
6. Sing Dick and Melodie Tunney’s “Let There Be Praise.”
Psalm 149
1. Israel is to rejoice because God is his Creator and his King. Where did we just read that?
2. What two ways are given for praising God?
3. Add 149:6 to the “hand” page in your journal.
4. Read verse 6 slowly. As you were reading verses 1-6, you are ready to sing. From verses 6-9, there’s a different occupation. What is it? How do you feel about that?
Psalm 150
1. Answer these three questions:
Where does the psalm tell you to praise God?
Why does the psalm tell you to praise God?
With what does the psalm tell you to praise God?
2. Write your own psalm expressing praise to God.
3. Sing Charles Wesley’s “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.”
4. Arrange this psalm into a choral reading presentation with other members of your family. Make it crescendo into forte by the end.
5. Sing “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” or “Let All Things Now Living.”