Psalms: Wisdom, Praises, Prophecy

Lesson for May 13, 2018

Psalm 1, 100, 110

What are some of the artists and bands you listen to?  Think of three songs you've listened to recently.  What are they singing about?  Does their message stick with you?  Does it help you form opinions or inspire you to action?

The singers, rockers, rappers, bands, artists you listen to are the psalmists in your life.  A psalm is a sacred song.  Ultimately, anything you worship and adore, even if it is not God, is sacred to you.

The Lifeway Gospel Project author of today's lesson made the following comment:

Today, we are part of a generation that has largely forgotten how to pray and sing the psalms. Perhaps for the first time in all of church history, the psalms are no longer the bedrock for our individual devotion or corporate worship. This puts us out of step not only with the rest of church history, but the earliest Christians. The apostles quoted more from the psalms than any other book in the Old Testament. They were steeped in the rhythm, poetry, and theology of their people’s prayer book.

Have you ever been encouraged to pray and sing from the book of Psalms?
Do you know how you would do it if you wanted to try?

What can we learn from the book of Psalms? For example:
1. Wisdom to live a life right with God (Psalm 1)
2. Going to God with our troubles.
3. Praise and adoration for God as our creator, salvation, and provider of all good things (Psalm 100)
4. Confession for our sins against God (Psalm 51)
5. Prophecy of the coming Messiah, both when Jesus came the first time and when He returns (Psalm 110)
6. The value of the scriptures (Psalm 119)

Read Psalm 1

The very first Psalm encourages us to seek wisdom and guidance from God and his people.

How does God bless the righteous?
In verse 1, we are warned about leaning on the wisdom of the ungodly.  What is the progression of listening to evil that we must avoid?

What is the eventual outcome of the wicked?

What are ways that we follow the counsel of the world?

Read Psalm 100

The Psalms are songs.  That seems obvious.  Psalm 100 is an illustration of the joy of praising God, especially with other people.  We can speak and sing the psalms to God as prayer and as acts of worship.

Do you come into God's presence with singing? When we have worship time, are you wholeheartedly singing praises or distracted by other things?  What is preventing you from enthusiastically worshiping God with others?

Read Psalm 110

Psalms is also a book of prophecy.  A prophet is someone who shares a message from God.  Be wary, there are many false prophets both in history and claiming to be prophets today.  The acid test is that the prophet who truly speaks for God is not wrong, because God doesn't lie and he already knows the future.

Psalm 110 prophesies about a priest-king that would come to save us.  Jesus came as priest on earth when he offered the sacrifices for our sins.  Soon, He will return as king to rule.

Summary with a story:

Colossians 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

It is a New Testament command repeated twice that we are to speak, teach, admonish, encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.


We can get our counsel from the world, its music, its programming, or we can share Christian music and Christian wisdom with each other.

Action Plan
Read 1 Psalm each day, find Christian music that helps you know God's word better.

Job: The Question of Suffering

Lesson for May 6, 2018

Job 1; Job 16:1-5,18-22; Job 40:1-5, Job 42:7-9

If you were stepped on by a brontosaur,
dinner for a carnivore,
or your hair was singed by your pet dragon.

If the smoke from his nose is on your clothes,
his scales frightened all your bros
and your life is a drag--no fun

I agree you've faced some suffering,
and have a case for grumbling, but
remember Job, God, and the leviathan.

The family motto at my house is 'Bains don't complain'. Of course, it seems like no one ever pays attention to the family motto.  If anyone ever had a reason to complain, it was certainly Job.  Job was a man who probably lived some time before Abraham.  He was exceedingly rich and respected in his community, but above all else, he lived a life that demonstrated his love and reverence for God. God prospered Job in all he did and Job never forgot where the blessings come from.

However, things were about the change for Job.

Read Job 1:1-19.

What did Job have and what did he lose?
Why would God let Satan do something like this?

Read Job 1:20-22

What was Job's response to his calamity?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like Job?  How did you respond?

Circumstances that cause suffering fall upon the righteous and wicked alike, just like the rain.  Job did not do anything specific to deserve what he went through; but like Job, we live in a fallen world that has been corrupted by sin.  My sin, your sin, and all of humanity's sin is the reason for suffering in the world.  So, in fact, we ALL deserve the suffering that comes upon us.

When Job did not sin by accusing God of wrongdoing, Satan requested permission to test Job by afflicting him directly with painful sores all over his body.  Job's friends came to visit him and attempt to comfort him.  For a whole week they sat with Job, and no one said anything.  Then Job complained in ways no different than the rest of us.  His friends listened patiently for a while, but then made the mistake of arguing with Job about what was happening.  They made the mistake of assuming that Job had done something to bring his troubles upon himself.

Read Job 16:1-5

Like many of you, I want to 'fix' things.  Sometimes rather than attempting to 'be helpful', it is best to be a quiet comforter as people go through things rather than attempting to fix things that can only be resolved in God's timing.

Think about a time when someone you know was going through some troubles.  Were you helpful or not?

Job 16:18-22 reminds us that our true comforter and intercessor is in Heaven.  His name is Jesus.

At the end of it all, God interceded for Job and restored him.  God admonished Job for his complaints by reminding him of the Behemoth (Job 40), an animal Job would have been familiar with.  It ate grass like an oxen, had powerful legs and muscles in its belly.  Its tail swung like the trunk of a cedar tree. It was certainly no elephant or hippopotamus.  Then God reminded Job of the Leviathan (Job 41): a creature whose scaly body was impenetrable, who poured out smoke from his nostrils and flames from his mouth.  This was also a living animal Job was familiar with that demonstrated the chasm between God and man.  Job repented from questioning the sovereignty of God in prosperity and in suffering.  Job prayed for his friends and they were forgiven as well.

Read Job 40:1-5, Job 42:7-9

Ultimately, there has only been one man that has suffered unjustly.  Jesus accepted unbelievable suffering to restore all who believe to a right relationship with God, and also, to give people a home in Heaven where there are no more tears.

What are you suffering from today?  How can you give it over to God's will and let him take you through it?  Ask God to help you through your area of suffering.

Solomon: The Meaning of Life

Lesson for April 29, 2018

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, 4:1-2,13, 12:9-14

What are the most important inventions of all time?
the wheel
the printing press
the light bulb
the telephone
penicillin
integrated circuits
the internet
?

The printing press changed the world, but as technology advances, printed documents are less and less necessary in our lives.  This year's innovations will soon be discarded in America's landfills.  The shelf life of every great advancement for mankind gets shorter and shorter.

But... we look for ways to leave a meaningful legacy.

Solomon was the same way. He concluded that everything that is about making this life on earth more pleasant, is ultimately meaningless.  Life is NOT meaningless, but living for THIS life is vanity.

Take a breath and hold it as long as you can.  While you are holding your breath, do whatever you want.

1. Your life is like that breath
2. Some can hang on longer than others, but none can last long
3. After that breath is gone, whatever you did is probably meaningless because now you need another breath.
4. Psalm 144:4 says about humans, "They are like a breath;
       their days are like a fleeting shadow."

 Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

How do you feel about Solomon's view of life in Ecclesiastes 1?

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes later in life.  He had already experienced just about everything that a person could want.

• wisdom, scientific understanding, recognition and glory for being so smart
• accomplishments like building the temple, palaces, beautiful gardens, he lived for his work
• fabulous riches of gold, silver, chariots, animals, slaves, etc
• parties, pleasures, wine, women, and song
• he experienced a relationship with the true God, and worshiped many others too

If Solomon had everything a person could want, why did he say life was meaningless?

Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-2,13

In light of the suffering that faces both the righteous and the wicked, what should be our purpose in life?

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your
labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

When everything else in life is vanity, meaningless, or even chasing after wind, serving the Lord by serving others is not in vain.

Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

After all the mistakes Solomon made in life, God gave him the wisdom in the end to say, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."

How do you decide if your activities are meaningless or meaningful?

 Homework assignment:  Identify ten things you spend a lot of time doing, for each, rank it from 1 to 5 where 1 is totally meaningLESS and 5 is totally meaningFULL.  How can we make the ordinary daily stuff we do have ETERNAL value?

 

The Foolishness of Chasing Other gods

Lesson for April 22, 2018

1 Kings 11:1-13, Luke 11:31, Deuteronomy 17:14-17

The wisest man in the world, Solomon, still had human weaknesses such as lust, greed, an unhealthy pursuit of pleasure, and allowing idolatry to be an everyday part of his life.

Wisdom is putting God first and loving others as Jesus loves.  Foolishness is placing our own happiness above the needs of others.

What did Solomon do right to begin his reign as king?

• He asked God for wisdom to rule rather than long life, riches, or victory over enemies
• He wisely judged his people such as when the two prostitutes argued over a baby
• He wrote down the wisdom God gave him in the books of Proverbs, Psalms, and Song of Solomon.
• He completed a temple for God's glory and sought God's blessings.

When King David named Solomon as heir to his throne, he gave him some very important instructions:  1 Kings 2:2-4  “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,  and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,  that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

Read  1 Kings 11:1-13

What were the consequences of Solomon's sin?
Why do you think Solomon turned from following God with all his heart?
What similar things, relationships, and pursuits affect our hearts and love of God?

Solomon made all the mistakes that God warned about in the time of Moses.
Read  Deuteronomy 17:14-17

How would these warnings apply to us today?

If God gave Solomon more wisdom and blessings than any other person in HUMAN history, what can we do?

Read  Luke 11:31

 God fulfilled his promise to David about a forever king when Jesus came to earth, and more importantly, when He returns as ruler over everything.

Like Solomon, we will be tempted to chase after other gods.  Putting anything in front of God is idolatry, even when God blesses us with those things.

Jesus is the only one worthy of our worship and adoration.

 

The Wisdom of Proverbs

Lesson for April 08, 2018

Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8, 22:1-10

When you make a choice, what do you base your decision on?

After you make your choice, do you follow up and do it?

What characteristics do you want from those that give you advice for your choices?

Three points

1. God inspired Solomon to write Proverbs so we could gain understanding, receive instruction in prudence, and to acquire knowledge and discretion.  Proverbs 1:1-7
2. Seeking wisdom and making wise choices is rewarding.  Proverbs 3:1-8
3. The book of Proverbs gives practical help on just about any topic. Proverbs 22:1-10

Point 1: Why were the Proverbs written?
Read Proverbs 1:1-7
Who would you go to for advice on:
- a class at school
- how to make money
- how to get better at sports
- how to get the attention of a hot girl at school?

Can the proverbs written by Solomon help with any of those topics?  Think about the life and experiences of Solomon.  Consider that his teachings were inspired by God.  Have you ever read God's Word to help you with a decision?  What are God's credentials?

V. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

When we don't respect someone, we tend to ignore their advice.  If we respect a person, we may follow their advice even when it is bad.  The ultimate test of how much we love and respect God, how much we REVERE God, is determined by how we seek His counsel and do what He says.

Because God is omniscient and completely knows our past, present, and future, we can count on God to have the best advice for us in every area of life.  Most the time, he reveals insights when we read His Word.

Point 2: Wisdom's rewards
Read Proverbs 3:1-8

List the blessings of seeking wisdom and obeying God's teachings:
 - peace for all the years of your life
- favor and a good reputation with God and people
- straight paths
- good health

What are the conditions for these rewards of wisdom?

What is a blessing you have experienced when you made a choice that you knew God would be happy with?

Point 3: Practical advice
Read Proverbs 22:1-10

For each verse, what is the practical help?  How can you apply it in your own situation? 

What are some areas of your life where you seek the counsel of the UN-Godly?

No matter how old we are, we will be influenced by immoral people (at school, television, music), greedy people (get rich quick sellers), humanistic people (universities, intellectuals), worldly people (anyone whose only focus is  on this life, YOLO), and others that distract us from God's teaching.

When we truly fear the Lord (and submit to HIM), then we are able to make right choices with eternal benefits.  Even with all of the God-given wisdom that Solomon had, he still made a lot of wrong choices and failed to live wholeheartedly for God.

Only by experiencing the salvation that comes from faith in Jesus can we overcome the penalty of all the wrong choices we have made, are making, and will make in the future.