Bible Study Notes 2/11/2025

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 3 –  Parts 1 & 2

Tues., 4 & 11 Feb. 2025

Lesson 3, Part 1  “Endurance” – A recurring theme in the psalms is the ability of a faithful person to persevere amid conflict. The language of the psalmist is concise and transparent. Whether human opposition, a natural disaster; or personal pain due to some illness or distress, the psalmist identifies their pain and fears. The person understands prayer as being an “audience or appearance” before God. What may appear to be ranting or complaining, is really the soul of the person seeking help from God. The translation from the Hebrew language, found almost exclusively in the Old Testament, is “Yahweh (Jehovah) Ezer.” The literal meaning of the term is, “God helps;” or “God helps us.” The prophet Samuel erected a stone monument to remind Israel that God had helped them all along their journey. In 1 Samuel 7:12 we read, “Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mispah and Jeshanah. He named it Eben-Ezer (which means “the stone of help.”) Up to this point the Lord had helped us.” (NLT) The “help” of God whether immediate or at the right time, was praised by the psalmists. (See, Psalm 46:1, NIV). In Psalm 9:1-20, David praises God as he “perseveres” through his conflicts. In Lesson 3, Part 1 the following explanations for David’s prayer are given:

Verses Observation:

(1-2)  –   David praises God despite his conflicts.

(3-5)  –  David praises God’s defense of him.

(6-8) -   God’s victory over David’s foes is celebrated.

(9-10) –   God is extolled as a safe refuge.

(11-12) -  God never forgets His people

(13-14) -  David pleads for God’s mercy.

(15-16) -  The destiny of the ungodly.

(17-18) - God’s divine judgment for the evil and good. Different from a lament, where there is weeping and sadness; in Psalm 9, David persistently praises God and speaks of His power, even as he acknowledges having to confront enemies. This reveals the faith of all who trust God!

Lesson 3, Part 2 “Endurance” – Many people do not believe in finality. They think very little, if all, of the consequences for their actions. However, when others are harmed by the activities or actions of others there always is a need for relief and recovery. While the perpetrator of harm, or the source of pain, lacks any empathy for the harm of others, God will judge the wrongs perpetrated against the innocent. In the final two verses of Psalm 9 (19-20), the psalmist boldly takes the following actions:

Verses Observation:

(19) – The psalmist cries out to God, pleading with Him to defend His divine integrity by judging those who commit egregious wrongs.

(20) – The psalmist pleads that the nations come to respect and submit to God’s divine authority.

The psalmist has shifted his attention from personal enemies and circumstances that harm him, to nations and leaders who cause destruction and harm to people. Just as wisdom is gained from personal suffering (Read, 119:71-72, NLT), so must nations come to learn righteousness and justice from God’s judgment. (Read, Psalm 46:6-11, NLT). God is exalted on high, yet He is involved in our personal affairs. (Read, Psalm 121:3-8, NLT). We are never defeated by what we experience. We are made wiser and become more resilient because of what we go through. (Read, Isaiah 43:2; 5-7, NLT).

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 9: 1-20, NLT

1 “I will praise you Lord, with my heart; I will tell of the marvelous things you have done. 2 I will be filled with joy because of you! I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. 3 My enemies retreated; they staggered and died when you appeared. 4 For you have judged in my favor; from your throne you have judged with fairness. 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have erased their names forever. 6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins; the cities you uprooted are now forgotten. 7 But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from His throne. 8 He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. 9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. 11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about His unforgotten deeds. 12 For He who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer. 13 Lord have mercy on me. See how my enemies torment me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death. 14 Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me. 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set. 16 The Lord is known for justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. 17 The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God. 18 But the needy will not be ignored forever, the hopes of the poor will not always be consumed.”

Psalm 9:19-20, C’td., NLT

19 “Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Judge the nations! 20 Make them tremble in fear, O Lord. Let the nations know they are merely human.”   Interlude  (Selah)

Psalm 119: 71:72, NLT 

71 “My suffering was good for me. for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. 72 Your instructions are more valuable to me  than millions in gold and silver.”  

Psalm 46:6-11 NLT

6 “The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! 7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude 8 Come see the glorious works of the Lord: See how He brings destruction upon the world. 9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; He burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored throughout the world.”11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

Psalm 121:5-8, NLT

5 “The Lord Himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

Isaiah 43:2; 5-7 NLT

2 “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of Oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” 5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. 6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. 7 Bring all who claim me. as their God, for I have made them my glory. It was I who created them.”