INTRODUCTION

1. Reading the Psalms

a) The most read portions of the Bible

b) Instructive

c) Inspirational

2. Understanding the Psalms

a) They represent Hebrew poetry

b) But they were not written in rhyme

c) They were:

i) Prayers

ii) Praise

iii) Meditation

d) There was deep theology behind the Psalms

i) The writings of Moses (Deuteronomy)

ii) The teachings of the teachers/ elders of Israel

iii) Oral tradition

iv) Written sources

 

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

1. Acquired over time

2. Learned from life

a) Blessings

b) Problems faced

3. Discovered in the Scriptures

a) Reading

b) Meditation

c) Application in life

 

THE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MAN

1. Sinful

2. Wilful

3. Stubborn

4. Rebellious

 

AN UNRIGHTEOUS KING SAUL

1. He disobeyed God 1 Samuel 15:22

2. He did not heed God 1 Samuel 15:22

3. He was rebellious 1 Samuel 15:23

4. He was stubborn 1 Samuel 15:23

5. He rejected the word of God 1 Samuel 15:23

6. King Saul was a very strong adversary of David!

 

HOW DAVID COPED IN TOUGH TIMES

1. He trusted in God’s mercy

2. He believed in God’s faithfulness

3. He focus on God’s righteousness

 

HOW PROCLAMATIONS COME ABOUT

1. A special proclamation of Moses

a) Closing chapters of the Book of Deuteronomy

b) He had traced the mighty hand of God in Israel’s history

c) His own growth in faith and maturity

³ For I proclaim the name of the Lord:

Ascribe greatness to our God.

⁴ He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

For all His ways are justice,

A God of truth and without injustice;

Righteous and upright is He.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4

2. Features of God proclaimed

a) Greatness of God

b) A strong and immoveable Rock

c) The perfection of God’s work

d) His ways are characterized by justice

e) He is righteous and upright

3. Proclamation of David about God

a) Your mercy is in the heavens Psalm 36:5a

b) Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds Psalm 36:5b

c) Your righteousness is like the great mountains Psalm 36:6a

4. These proclamations

a) Personal

i) Conviction

ii) Affirmation

b) Preaching

i) Teaching

ii) Exhortation

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To ponder what the Scriptures teach

2. To pray a little more as we meditate on what we read

3. To come up with our own personal proclamations about the Lord in the New Year