The Church of Divine Guidance Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group studying the book Psalms: A Guide to Prayer and Praise by Ron Klug. The Psalms are some of the most widely read and best-loved portions of the Bible. For thousands of years these songs of faith have spoken to the hearts and minds of people around the world. The Psalms are songs–music our spirits sing to the Creator. They are poems–full of vibrant imagery and strong rhythms. And they are prayers–our deepest emotions expressed to the Lord who feels with us. Most importantly, the Psalms are God’s Word to us, revealing the truth about him and our relationship with him. Study along with us by getting a copy of the book by clicking this LINK or the image of the book at the end of the study notes. You can also hear the audio of each session of the study by clicking on the YouTube Thumbnail
Psalm 33, the Psalm we're going to look at today much like Psalm 19 of last week, talks about the significance of God’s word. Psalm 19 said that God's word is:
- Perfect
- Sure
- Right
- Pure
- True
- Righteous
- Testimony
- Statues
- Commandment
It gives direction, sustains faith, judges actions, is invaluable, indescribable, and there is great reward in meditating, knowing, and obeying it.
Our study today starts with this statement:
“For warranty or repairs, send to manufacturer,” product labels tell us. Sometimes we learn the hard way that the company that manufactured an item is the best one to fix it when the item breaks. This is true of creation as well. The psalmist reminds us that not only is God our Creator, but he is also in control of history. When our lives “break down,” we can trust the one who made us to overrule in our circumstances and to be a help and shield.
1. Do you believe that God controls the events of our world? Why or why not?
Yes!
Examples from scripture:
Isaiah 41:10 NIV So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 46:1-3 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Luke 12:22-26 NIV Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NIV
Psalm 33:1-9 NIV Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord ; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
2. What commands or invitations are given in verses 1–3? To whom are they given?
These commands or invitations are given to the righteous.
- Sing joyfully
- Praise the Lord
- Shout for joy
In David's day the righteous would have been defined as people having ethical conduct.
Psalm 1:1-6 NIV Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Today who are the righteous?
Romans 3:21-24 NIV But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
3. According to these verses (Psalm 33:1-9), what reasons do we have for praising God?
- His word is right and true
- He’s faithful in all He does
- He loves righteousness and justice
- He has unfailing love for us
- He is the Creator
He spoke (His word)
Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 NIV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
What is your reaction to the creative power of God?
Awe!
God’s “word and his work are inseparable, for his words are never empty.… To know that nothing came into existence but by God’s command is … liberating and humbling.
Psalm 33:10-22 NIV The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you.
5. Compare the outcome of the nation's’ plans and purposes with God’s. Why is this so?
The plans and purposes of nations change or fail. We have example after example in scripture of this especially in the Old Testament.
Let's look at an example:
2 Kings 6:8-12 NIV Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my Lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
These are the plans and purposes of men who are mortal and sinful and God is immortal, knows the end from the beginning and who is good, faithful, and holy.
Psalm 94:11 NIV The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord ’s purpose that prevails.
6. What is the positive side of humanity’s relationship to God (verse 12)?
If we are His chosen people then there is joy in the nation.
Psalm 127:1-2 NIV Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Is our country a “nation whose God is the Lord”?
I think that it still is but moving away from God because we have eliminated Him in some public aspects but the church itself has compromised itself for selfish reasons.
Kind of like what Jesus said was happening to the churches in the letters he today John to write to them:
Ephesus
Revelation 2:2-5 NIV I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Pergamum
Revelation 2:13-16 NIV I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Thyatira
Revelation 2:19-21 NIV I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Sarsis
Revelation 3:1-3 NIV “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-16 NIV “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
But like all of those churches Jesus said there were some there who He approved of the church contains a remnant so the nation has a remnant that has not compromised. Just as there were still prophets in Isreal who had not bowed to Baal.
1 Kings 19:18 NIV Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
If not, how could it become that?
We need revival. The Hebrew word for “revive” is “chayah” and means “to be quickened, to be made alive,” and “to be restored”
Psalm 85:6 NIV Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7. According to verses 11 and 13–15, how is the Lord able to control history? (Note the repeated emphasis on the word all.)
Malachi 3:6 NIV “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
He created man, and knows the end from the beginning. - verses 13-15
Isaiah 46:10 NIV I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Numbers 23:19 NIV God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
8. If we do believe that God is in charge, what effect should this have on our reactions to circumstances?
We should try to see things from God's perspective.
Rather than looking at things from our perspective we should pray that God gives us His perspective into the things we are praying about. We must realize how small we are and how big God is, and how short our time of existence is compared to eternity.
Understanding that we are limited by time and space and while God is not changes our perspective on everything
Psalm 90:2 NIV Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 39:4 NIV “Show me, Lord , my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
We are not in control of the world God is. We are not in control of our futures, God is. The only response to our problems or our condition is to be still and turn them over to God.
Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
When we see things from God’s perspective it helps to not become frustrated or angry with God and His timing. When our prayers aren’t answered the way we expect, it helps us to trust without hesitation that God knows what He is doing far better than we know how we think things should be done.
God wants us to always keep eternity in mind, because that is His perspective. When we do, it helps us to understand that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”
Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
9. What sources of false trust are warned against in verses 16 and 17?
We should not trust in man or our own strength or the strength of anything or anyone but God.
10. What promises are made to those who fear the Lord?
That they will be delivered.
Psalm 33:19 is not an “ironclad guarantee that all believers will be delivered from death and starvation.… God can (and often does) deliver his followers from pain and death, though sometimes, for purposes known only to him, he chooses not to”
We have talked about this before. That God often allows us to go through things for our benefit and/or to bless others. I have an entire blog category on not being discouraged when faced with trials (Don't Be Discouraged)
Psalm 34:19-20 NIV The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
The righteous are certainly not promised a life free of afflictions, or adversity, but God promises never to leave or forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Meaning that Christians, the righteous, are to derive their comfort from God's own presence and provision, for he neither leaves them nor fails them.
God does ultimately deliver the righteous from all our adversities. We aren’t promised release but we are promised deliverance. Just maybe not how or when we want it, but it will come..
Revelation 21:1-4 (KJV)1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
If you wish, give an example of how God has “delivered” you in some way.
11. What does it mean to “wait” for the Lord?
What does waiting on God involve?
Resting - Resting in the Lord requires patience. That doesn’t mean doing nothing because patience is active. Patience requires an act of your will. You determine that you will wait on the Lord.
Listening - Actively listening for further instructions instead of running headlong toward our idea of a solution. We listen by reading and studying God’s word, talking to other believers, listening to the Holy Spirit during our quiet times with God. When we get further instructions then we follow them even if the instruction is to continue waiting.
Accepting - When we wait we must accept what God is doing in our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Surrendering Some of us may have to give up what seems like an immediate need and then resist the temptation to set our own timeline. Surrender the timing to God.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NLT) for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.
Anticipating - Our waiting is purposeful anticipation that God will accomplish His purposes for our lives.
Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
What is God doing while we wait?
Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 NIV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
What is your reaction to the creative power of God?
Awe!
God’s “word and his work are inseparable, for his words are never empty.… To know that nothing came into existence but by God’s command is … liberating and humbling.
Psalm 33:10-22 NIV The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you.
5. Compare the outcome of the nation's’ plans and purposes with God’s. Why is this so?
The plans and purposes of nations change or fail. We have example after example in scripture of this especially in the Old Testament.
Let's look at an example:
2 Kings 6:8-12 NIV Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my Lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
These are the plans and purposes of men who are mortal and sinful and God is immortal, knows the end from the beginning and who is good, faithful, and holy.
Psalm 94:11 NIV The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord ’s purpose that prevails.
6. What is the positive side of humanity’s relationship to God (verse 12)?
If we are His chosen people then there is joy in the nation.
Psalm 127:1-2 NIV Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Is our country a “nation whose God is the Lord”?
I think that it still is but moving away from God because we have eliminated Him in some public aspects but the church itself has compromised itself for selfish reasons.
Kind of like what Jesus said was happening to the churches in the letters he today John to write to them:
Ephesus
Revelation 2:2-5 NIV I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Pergamum
Revelation 2:13-16 NIV I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Thyatira
Revelation 2:19-21 NIV I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Sarsis
Revelation 3:1-3 NIV “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-16 NIV “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
But like all of those churches Jesus said there were some there who He approved of the church contains a remnant so the nation has a remnant that has not compromised. Just as there were still prophets in Isreal who had not bowed to Baal.
1 Kings 19:18 NIV Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
If not, how could it become that?
We need revival. The Hebrew word for “revive” is “chayah” and means “to be quickened, to be made alive,” and “to be restored”
Psalm 85:6 NIV Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7. According to verses 11 and 13–15, how is the Lord able to control history? (Note the repeated emphasis on the word all.)
- All generations
- All the sons of men
- All the inhabitants of the earth
- All their works
Malachi 3:6 NIV “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
He created man, and knows the end from the beginning. - verses 13-15
Isaiah 46:10 NIV I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Numbers 23:19 NIV God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
8. If we do believe that God is in charge, what effect should this have on our reactions to circumstances?
We should try to see things from God's perspective.
Rather than looking at things from our perspective we should pray that God gives us His perspective into the things we are praying about. We must realize how small we are and how big God is, and how short our time of existence is compared to eternity.
Understanding that we are limited by time and space and while God is not changes our perspective on everything
Psalm 90:2 NIV Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 39:4 NIV “Show me, Lord , my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
We are not in control of the world God is. We are not in control of our futures, God is. The only response to our problems or our condition is to be still and turn them over to God.
Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
When we see things from God’s perspective it helps to not become frustrated or angry with God and His timing. When our prayers aren’t answered the way we expect, it helps us to trust without hesitation that God knows what He is doing far better than we know how we think things should be done.
God wants us to always keep eternity in mind, because that is His perspective. When we do, it helps us to understand that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”
Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
9. What sources of false trust are warned against in verses 16 and 17?
We should not trust in man or our own strength or the strength of anything or anyone but God.
10. What promises are made to those who fear the Lord?
That they will be delivered.
Psalm 33:19 is not an “ironclad guarantee that all believers will be delivered from death and starvation.… God can (and often does) deliver his followers from pain and death, though sometimes, for purposes known only to him, he chooses not to”
We have talked about this before. That God often allows us to go through things for our benefit and/or to bless others. I have an entire blog category on not being discouraged when faced with trials (Don't Be Discouraged)
Psalm 34:19-20 NIV The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
The righteous are certainly not promised a life free of afflictions, or adversity, but God promises never to leave or forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Meaning that Christians, the righteous, are to derive their comfort from God's own presence and provision, for he neither leaves them nor fails them.
God does ultimately deliver the righteous from all our adversities. We aren’t promised release but we are promised deliverance. Just maybe not how or when we want it, but it will come..
Revelation 21:1-4 (KJV)1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
If you wish, give an example of how God has “delivered” you in some way.
11. What does it mean to “wait” for the Lord?
What does waiting on God involve?
Resting - Resting in the Lord requires patience. That doesn’t mean doing nothing because patience is active. Patience requires an act of your will. You determine that you will wait on the Lord.
Listening - Actively listening for further instructions instead of running headlong toward our idea of a solution. We listen by reading and studying God’s word, talking to other believers, listening to the Holy Spirit during our quiet times with God. When we get further instructions then we follow them even if the instruction is to continue waiting.
Accepting - When we wait we must accept what God is doing in our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Surrendering Some of us may have to give up what seems like an immediate need and then resist the temptation to set our own timeline. Surrender the timing to God.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NLT) for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.
Anticipating - Our waiting is purposeful anticipation that God will accomplish His purposes for our lives.
Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
What is God doing while we wait?
- Reveals His will.
It is possible to know God’s will.
Colossians 1:9 (NLT) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT) You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
- Guides our choices.
- Shields us.
Psalm 91:4 (NLT) He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
- Heals, comforts, and empowers us.
Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
- Encourages, answers prayer, and gives us peace.
What are the requirements of waiting on God’s timing?
Faith - Trust Him even when the waiting gets hard.
2 Samuel 22:31 (NLT) “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Patience - Set aside your own agenda and allow Him to work.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Humility - People often disobey God out of pride. They think their plans are better than His, or they worry too much about what others will think.
Proverbs 29:23 (NLT) Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.
Proverbs 3:34 (NLT) The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.
Courage - In order to resist the temptation to do things your way, disregard negative comments and pressure, and stand firm against the fear of failure you need courage.
Psalm 27:14 (NLT) Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
12. In what area of your life do you find it hardest to wait for the Lord? Why?
13. List all the reasons we can trust God with our lives, according to this psalm.
- His word is right and true
- He’s faithful in all He does
- He loves righteousness and justice
- He has unfailing love
- He is the Creator
- He is in control
- He delivers those who fear Him and hope in His mercy
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