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“May you and I stay faithful to God.” <>< (07/29/20)
Please read Psalms 36 through 40. If you don’t have a Bible handy just click here -> Biblegateway.com. The Biblegateway website should open for you to use. Type in the chapters you want to read and select the translation you want to read them from. Click search and the chapters should appear. Once you read the suggested chapters close the screen and you should return here.
Psalm 36 Theme
The heart of sinful man versus God’s faithfulness, justice and love.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, despite our sinfulness You are willing to pour out Your love on those of us who seek to know You (v. 10).
Something to think about
Because those who are wicked have no fear of God and don’t seek to know Him nothing holds them back from sinning (v. 1).
Something to experience
Our knowledge of God’s holiness should hold us back from sinning though (v. 5-7).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 36:1 A revelation is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: “There is no fear of God before his eyes.”
Psalm 36:5-7 5 Your loving kindness, O Lord, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and animal. 7 How precious is Your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of Your wings.
Psalm 36:10 Oh continue Your loving kindness to those who know You, Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
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Psalm 37 Theme
Trust in the Lord and wait for Him to act.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, there is a vivid contrast between the wicked and the righteous.
Something to think about
We should never fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong.
Something to experience
WHAT WILL WE DO? and WHAT WILL THE LORD DO?
Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Psalm 37:4 Delight ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart.
Psalm 37:5 Commit our way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this: make our righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of our cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath.
Psalm 37:9 Hope in the Lord and then we will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:17 … the Lord upholds the righteous.
Psalm 37:18. The day of the blameless are know to the Lord and their inheritance will endure forever.
Psalm 37:20 … The Lord’s enemies will … vanish like smoke.
Psalm 37:21 … the righteous give generously.
Psalm 37:22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:23 If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm.
Psalm 37:24 … the Lord upholds him (the one the Lord delights in) with His hand.
Psalm 37:26 They (the righteous) are always generous and lend freely and their children will be blessed.
Psalm 37:27 Turn from evil and do good then you will dwell in the land forever.
Psalm 37:28 For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever.
Psalm 37:29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
Psalm 37:34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He (the Lord) will exalt you to inherit the land.
Psalm 37:37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright. There is a future for the man of peace.
Psalm 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord, He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
Psalm 37:40 The Lord helps them (the righteous) and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
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Psalm 38 Theme
God alone is the true source of healing and protection for those who confess their sins to Him (v. 9).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, repentance of our sin brings hope (v. 15).
Something to think about
The psalmist acknowledged that he deserved to be punished. But he asked God to temper His discipline with mercy (v. 17-18).
Something to experience
We, too, are able to ask for mercy, but we should also realize we deserve punishment when we sin (v. 20-22).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 38:9 Lord, all my desire is before You. My groaning is not hidden from You.
Psalm 38:15 For I hope in You, O Lord. You will answer, Lord my God.
Psalm 38: 17-18 17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
Psalm 38:20-22 20 They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. 21 Don’t forsake me, O Lord. My God, don’t be far from me. 22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
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Psalm 39 Theme
Life is fleeting and empty without God.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, life is empty without You (v. 4).
Something to think about
Many people spend so much time focused on their lives on earth (v. 5). But spend little or no thought about where they will spend eternity. Amassing wealth and accomplishing worldly tasks will not make a difference in eternity (v. 6).
Something to experience
Life is short no matter how long we live. Don’t neglect anything that is truly important. Don’t put off anything that is truly important. Our only hope is the Lord (v. 7).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 39:4 O Lord, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
Psalm39:5 Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath. Selah.
Psalm 39:6 “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
Psalm 39:7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
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Psalm 40 Theme
Sometimes we may need to patiently wait for God to reveal His will to us.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, patience is needed to follow You (v. 1).
Something to think about
There are benefits from waiting for God’s instructions. He will lift us up out of our despair (v. 2a). He will set our feet on a rock (v. 2b). He will give us a firm place to stand and (v. 2c) He will put a new song in our mouth (v. 3).
Something to experience
As believers we should desire to do God’s will (v. 8); proclaim righteousness (v.9); speak of God’s faithfulness and salvation (v. 10); rejoice and be glad (v. 16).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, O Lord, you know.
Psalm 40:10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.
Psalm 40:16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let the Lord be exalted!”
Prayer