Psalm 42
1. Draw a picture of a deer panting for flowing streams (vs 1). Write vs. 1 as the caption.
2. Vs 5, 11: Why are you cast down, O my soul? What depresses you? Do you encourage yourself as the psalmist did - trusting in God for salvation and because He is God?
3. Why does the psalmist say "at night his song is with me"? (vs 8) What picture is portrayed by this language? (Because the psalmist trusts in God he can sing, even when things look the darkest.
4. Who do you think of when reading vs 9-10? (Jesus: Matthew 27:16; Psalm 22:1-2; Matthew 27:43: Psalm 22:8)
Psalm 43
1. Why could you make a case that Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 are actually one psalm? (Hint: 43:5)
2. How does the psalmist indicate God will vindicate him? (vs 1-3) By sending out His light and truth.
Psalm 44
1. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (44:3).
"heart" to the page in your journal (44:21).
2. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "O God, We Have Heard".
3. What does the psalmist say is the cause of the trouble they're experiencing? (They don't know.) So the psalmist appeals to God's what? (vs 26) steadfast love
Psalm 45
1. Is this psalm sad, happy, or angry?
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (45:5; 45:1).
"throne" to the page in your journal (45:6).
"hand" to the page in your journal (45:9; 45: 4).
3. Why is the king being praised? (vs 6-7) Because he acts righteously.
4. What does vs 16 mean when it says, "In place of your fathers shall be your sons"? The kingdom will endure to the next generation because the king is godly.
Psalm 46
1. Read NIrV devotional.
2. Draw a picture of God rescuing you from a bad situation. Does he send a strong wind to blow away the bees? Does he send wasps to drive away a scary dog? Then write vs 1 under the drawing as a caption.
3. Read 46:4. Then read Revelation 22:1-2. How are they similar? Draw a river which makes glad the city of God.
4. Read 46:10. Then read Isaiah 42:8. God is sovereign. There is coming a day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He's Lord (Phil 2:10-11). Practice being still. Set a timer for one minute. Think about God's greatness for that minute.
Psalm 47
1. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (47:1).
"shields" to the page in your journal (47:9).
2. Why does the psalmist say we should sing loud songs of joy to God? vs 2: because He's a great king, to be feared.
3. Why do you feel like praising God?
Psalm 48
1. Find a mountain picture. A magazine or a calendar is a good source for a picture. Write vs 1-2 on the top of the picture with a sharpie. Frame with construction paper strips.
2. Look up "citadel" in the dictionary. Write the definition in your journal.
3. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (48:10).
4. Who are you supposed to tell God's greatness to? vs 13: the next generation.
Psalm 49
1. Find a verse that gives a definition of wisdom. (Hint: Proverbs 9:10)
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal ( 49:3).
"shepherd" to the page in your journal (49:14).
3. How is 49:12 different from 49:20? What is this understanding?
4. What present day proverb can sum up the message of Psalm 49? You can't take it with you.
Psalm 50
1. Find seven names and titles for God in this psalm:
vs. 1: Might One, God, the Lord
vs. 6: judge
vs. 7, 22: God
vs. 7: your God
vs. 14: Most High
2. Use your favorite art tools to draw a picture of vs 10. Write the verse as a caption for the drawing.
3. What kind of sacrifice does God want? vs 14: a sacrifice of thanksgiving
4. a. For what are you thankful to God?
b. How will you show your thankfulness? vs 23b
Psalm 51
1. This psalm can be divided into four sections:
a. vs 1-6 plead for mercy, acknowledge sin, trust God's judgment;
b. vs 7-9 ask for cleansing from the One who forgives and wipes the slate clean;
c. vs 10-12 asks for restoration through the work of the Holy Spirit;
d. vs 13-19 shows the response to the restoration of the relationship.
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (51:10; 51:17).
3. What was hyssop used for? (Hint: Exodus 12:22).
4. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "In Thy Loving Kindness, Lord."
5. It's always a good idea to keep short accounts with God. Make sure you go before Him to acknowledge your sin, plead for mercy, ask for cleansing and restoration, and commit to changing your ways.
Psalm 52
1. What happens to the evil man? vs 5
2. Why does the psalmist (David) compare himself to a green olive tree? (It's an image of vitality and fruitfulness.)
3. How long will David trust in the steadfast love of God? vs 8: forever and ever
4. Do you trust God's steadfast love? Why or why not?
Psalm 53
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (53:1).
2. Where else does the Bible say there is not one who does good? (Psalm 14:1-7; Job 15:16)
Psalm 54
1. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "Save Me, O God, By Thy Great Name."
2. Who did David trust to save him from Saul?
3. Who do you trust to help you when you need it? Your own arm, your money, your parents, your friends, your government? Who should you trust? Why?
Psalm 55
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (55:4; 55:21).
2. Who is it who is oppressing David? vs 13: his friend!! This foreshadows even Christ's friends forsaking him (Judas: John 13:18). We saw this same language in Psalm 41:9.
3. Where is Psalm 55:22 repeated in the New Testament? 1 Peter 5:7.
4. Regardless of the fate of anyone else, David ends this psalm by reaffirming what? His trust in God.
Psalm 56
1. Read the NIrV devotional.
2. Depict vs 1 in a drawing with your favorite drawing/coloring tools.
b. variation: divide the paper in half. On the first side, draw vs 1 and write the verse below as a caption; on the other side, draw vs 13 and write the verse below the drawing as a caption.
3. Add "In God I trust" to the coin page in your journal (56:3-4).
4. David says God collects his tears. Where does God keep them? vs 8
5. Can you think of a time when God rescued you or rescued a family member? Write about it.
Psalm 57
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (57:7).
2. Why is vs 5 repeated in vs 11? Because the psalms are songs.
3. Make a list of the nouns in vs 4. David employs very vivid imagery with the use of these nouns.
4. What happened to those who spread a net for David's feet? vs 6: They fell into their own pit.
5. What two attributes of God does David praise? (Hint: vs 3 and vs 10)
6. If you were going to write a psalm, what attributes of God would you praise?
1. Draw a picture of a deer panting for flowing streams (vs 1). Write vs. 1 as the caption.
2. Vs 5, 11: Why are you cast down, O my soul? What depresses you? Do you encourage yourself as the psalmist did - trusting in God for salvation and because He is God?
3. Why does the psalmist say "at night his song is with me"? (vs 8) What picture is portrayed by this language? (Because the psalmist trusts in God he can sing, even when things look the darkest.
4. Who do you think of when reading vs 9-10? (Jesus: Matthew 27:16; Psalm 22:1-2; Matthew 27:43: Psalm 22:8)
Psalm 43
1. Why could you make a case that Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 are actually one psalm? (Hint: 43:5)
2. How does the psalmist indicate God will vindicate him? (vs 1-3) By sending out His light and truth.
Psalm 44
1. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (44:3).
"heart" to the page in your journal (44:21).
2. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "O God, We Have Heard".
3. What does the psalmist say is the cause of the trouble they're experiencing? (They don't know.) So the psalmist appeals to God's what? (vs 26) steadfast love
Psalm 45
1. Is this psalm sad, happy, or angry?
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (45:5; 45:1).
"throne" to the page in your journal (45:6).
"hand" to the page in your journal (45:9; 45: 4).
3. Why is the king being praised? (vs 6-7) Because he acts righteously.
4. What does vs 16 mean when it says, "In place of your fathers shall be your sons"? The kingdom will endure to the next generation because the king is godly.
Psalm 46
1. Read NIrV devotional.
2. Draw a picture of God rescuing you from a bad situation. Does he send a strong wind to blow away the bees? Does he send wasps to drive away a scary dog? Then write vs 1 under the drawing as a caption.
3. Read 46:4. Then read Revelation 22:1-2. How are they similar? Draw a river which makes glad the city of God.
4. Read 46:10. Then read Isaiah 42:8. God is sovereign. There is coming a day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He's Lord (Phil 2:10-11). Practice being still. Set a timer for one minute. Think about God's greatness for that minute.
Psalm 47
1. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (47:1).
"shields" to the page in your journal (47:9).
2. Why does the psalmist say we should sing loud songs of joy to God? vs 2: because He's a great king, to be feared.
3. Why do you feel like praising God?
Psalm 48
1. Find a mountain picture. A magazine or a calendar is a good source for a picture. Write vs 1-2 on the top of the picture with a sharpie. Frame with construction paper strips.
2. Look up "citadel" in the dictionary. Write the definition in your journal.
3. Add "hand" to the page in your journal (48:10).
4. Who are you supposed to tell God's greatness to? vs 13: the next generation.
Psalm 49
1. Find a verse that gives a definition of wisdom. (Hint: Proverbs 9:10)
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal ( 49:3).
"shepherd" to the page in your journal (49:14).
3. How is 49:12 different from 49:20? What is this understanding?
4. What present day proverb can sum up the message of Psalm 49? You can't take it with you.
Psalm 50
1. Find seven names and titles for God in this psalm:
vs. 1: Might One, God, the Lord
vs. 6: judge
vs. 7, 22: God
vs. 7: your God
vs. 14: Most High
2. Use your favorite art tools to draw a picture of vs 10. Write the verse as a caption for the drawing.
3. What kind of sacrifice does God want? vs 14: a sacrifice of thanksgiving
4. a. For what are you thankful to God?
b. How will you show your thankfulness? vs 23b
Psalm 51
1. This psalm can be divided into four sections:
a. vs 1-6 plead for mercy, acknowledge sin, trust God's judgment;
b. vs 7-9 ask for cleansing from the One who forgives and wipes the slate clean;
c. vs 10-12 asks for restoration through the work of the Holy Spirit;
d. vs 13-19 shows the response to the restoration of the relationship.
2. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (51:10; 51:17).
3. What was hyssop used for? (Hint: Exodus 12:22).
4. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "In Thy Loving Kindness, Lord."
5. It's always a good idea to keep short accounts with God. Make sure you go before Him to acknowledge your sin, plead for mercy, ask for cleansing and restoration, and commit to changing your ways.
Psalm 52
1. What happens to the evil man? vs 5
2. Why does the psalmist (David) compare himself to a green olive tree? (It's an image of vitality and fruitfulness.)
3. How long will David trust in the steadfast love of God? vs 8: forever and ever
4. Do you trust God's steadfast love? Why or why not?
Psalm 53
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (53:1).
2. Where else does the Bible say there is not one who does good? (Psalm 14:1-7; Job 15:16)
Psalm 54
1. Sing Dwight Armstrong's "Save Me, O God, By Thy Great Name."
2. Who did David trust to save him from Saul?
3. Who do you trust to help you when you need it? Your own arm, your money, your parents, your friends, your government? Who should you trust? Why?
Psalm 55
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (55:4; 55:21).
2. Who is it who is oppressing David? vs 13: his friend!! This foreshadows even Christ's friends forsaking him (Judas: John 13:18). We saw this same language in Psalm 41:9.
3. Where is Psalm 55:22 repeated in the New Testament? 1 Peter 5:7.
4. Regardless of the fate of anyone else, David ends this psalm by reaffirming what? His trust in God.
Psalm 56
1. Read the NIrV devotional.
2. Depict vs 1 in a drawing with your favorite drawing/coloring tools.
b. variation: divide the paper in half. On the first side, draw vs 1 and write the verse below as a caption; on the other side, draw vs 13 and write the verse below the drawing as a caption.
3. Add "In God I trust" to the coin page in your journal (56:3-4).
4. David says God collects his tears. Where does God keep them? vs 8
5. Can you think of a time when God rescued you or rescued a family member? Write about it.
Psalm 57
1. Add "heart" to the page in your journal (57:7).
2. Why is vs 5 repeated in vs 11? Because the psalms are songs.
3. Make a list of the nouns in vs 4. David employs very vivid imagery with the use of these nouns.
4. What happened to those who spread a net for David's feet? vs 6: They fell into their own pit.
5. What two attributes of God does David praise? (Hint: vs 3 and vs 10)
6. If you were going to write a psalm, what attributes of God would you praise?