Bible Study Notes 3/25/2025

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 6 – Parts 1 & 2

Tues., 18 & 25 March 2025

Lesson 6, Part 1 “Confident Victory in God!” – A “confident faith” is one of the most important and essential aspects of maturity for a Christian. The “hope” we possess as followers of Jesus Christ is a “confident belief” in the assurance of God’s power, protection, and presence in our lives. This is why the Scriptures boldly states, “We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we have this hope, we don’t have to [look] for it.” (Romans 8:24, NLT).  In Psalm 20, comprised of verses 1-9, we hear the words of a godly king. It appears the king is preparing to face his enemies in battle. Although the king, thought to be David, admits trouble looms before him, a strong confession of confidence in God is given. David extols the Lord who “hears” the cries of His people, and “answers” their petitions. The psalmist is “confident” in the knowledge that the help needed will come from a holy place. Some translations describe this place as Mt. Zion, the holy mount where the great Temple would later be constructed and completed during Solomon’s reign as King of Israel. David is confident that the gifts we offer to God brings delight to Him. In times of our needs, the Lord remembers the sincerity of our gifts, and how we have been obedient in honoring Him. David observes while others put their confidence in tangible instruments of power, confidence and obedience to God only, will bring victory. The opposition will fail and fall because of their prideful boasting; the righteous will “rise,” God is given shouts of victory because of His righteousness and goodness!

Verses & Observation for Psalm 20:1-9:

Observe         Interpret     Apply

(Verses 1-2) – The Lord’s Help in times of trouble.

(Verse 3) – The Lord receives our honest sacrifices.

(Verse 4) – God fulfills our desires and purposes.

(Verse 5) – The Lord answers our prayers; fulfills needs.  

(Verse 6) – God will save all who trust Him.

(Verse 7) – We can have confidence in the name of the Lord.

(Verse 8) – Trusting in ourselves and our plans alone is futile.

(Verse 9) – We can depend on God for victory over opposition.

Lesson 6 Part 2 “Confident Victory in God!” – A Christian’s confidence is not always in what we can do, but what the Lord can do with and through us. This is evident in the psalms. It is at the core of the “confidence” the psalmists possess. This confident spirit is attributed solely to what God has done, is doing; and will do in the lives of God’s faithful people. In sharing a message of confidence, the psalmists are transparent about their feelings and thoughts. Although brutally honest, these disclosures are never an indictment of God’s power and ability to aid one who is suffering, but they express the freedom of the psalmist to seek God’s help in times of need. In seasons of victory or trial, unabashed praise is expressed with great confidence.  This often is expressed in the poetic break in language by such phrases as “but there is hope;” or “but the Lord comes…” and so on.  Psalm 27expresses the theme of “Confidence” we see in Psalms 20 and 33. This is one of the most intensely personal psalms among the many King David wrote. It is apparent from the beginning verses of Psalm 27, that David’s intention is to defend his abiding confidence in a God who leads Him (“my light”) and rescues him (“my salvation”) over and again from the perils he faces. It seems to be a consistent pattern of David to be transparent in stating the source of both his discomfort and his ultimate relief in each situation. There is always a confident ending in the psalms of nature David has given us. After extoling God and being “confident” that he will experience more goodness in life, David encourages the reader to “wait” on the Lord. By this he means, be prepared for relief in God’s timing. Psalm 31:15 reads: “The course of my life is in Your power, deliver me from the power of my enemies, and from my persecutors.” (NIV)

Verse Divisions and Observations for Psalm 27:3-14, NIV

Observe        Interpret      Apply

(Verse 3) – We can be “confident” regardless of trials.  

(Verse 4) – A “confident spirit” always seeks to be near God.

(Verse 5) – There is always “safety” in the place God dwells.

(Verse 6) – God provides a “space” of protection and praise.

(Verses 7-8) – Seeking God with honest and transparent need.

(Verses 9-10) – Desiring dependability of God’s abiding presence.

(Verse 11) – Prayer to be “taught, lead, and directed” in life.

(Verse 12) – Prayer to be protected from slander and libel.

(Verse 13) – Expression of a “confident hope” in God.

(Verse 14) – Maintaining “enduring trust” in God’s redemption.

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 20:1-9, NLT 1 “In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. 2 May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. 3 May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude 4May He grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.  6 Now I know that the Lord rescues His anointed king. He will answer Him from His holy heaven and rescue Him by His great power.  7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. 8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise and stand. 9 Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.”

Helpful Word Meanings:

Trouble – The Hebrew word used often is Tsarah (sar-raw), which describes a situation of distress or adversity. It is something a person needs to be released from; out; or, beyond.

Psalm 143:11 – David prays, “For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of my trouble.” (NIV)

Sanctuary – The Hebrew word used often is Mikdash (me kash), which describes a sacred place. It means “to be in a holy place.” It is to be surrounded by God’s presence and protection.

Psalm 27:5-6 –“For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord.” (NLT)

Psalm 27:3-14 NIV 3 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord  and to seek Him in His temple.  5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. 7 Hear my voice when I call Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you. “Seek my face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me nor forsake me, God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a plain path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desires of my foes. For false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Philippians 1:3-6, NIV

3 “I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you. I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have put you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel. All of you share in god’s grace with me.”