Search The Scriptures —Study 39—Psalms 46-48

Study 39 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 46-48

These psalms are a trilogy of praise in memory of a great deliverance, most probably that of Jerusalem from the king of Assyria. They should be read in the light of 2 Ki. 18 and 19.

1. Gather out what is said about God in these psalms: His power, His character, His relation to the world, and His relation to His own people.
2. What is the leading thought of each of the three psalms? What should be the response of God's people to such a manifestation of His power and love?

Notes

1. 46:5. 'Right early':better, 'When the morning dawns', i.e., the morning of deliverance. Cf. Mk. 6:48, 51.
2. 47:2 and 48:2. 'The great King': i.e., the true great king in contrast to the Assyrian monarch, who bore this title. Cf. Is. 36:4.
3. 47:9. 'Shields': meaning 'rulers'. Cf. Ps. 89; 18. The verse is prophetic of Christ's final victory. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:24, 25; Rev. 15:3,4.

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 38 — Psalm 45

Study 38 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 45

A marriage song of a king. If the king be a type of Christ (see Heb. 1:8, 9), the bribe may symbolize the church.

1. What features in Christ's character are here portrayed?
2. How can we apply to ourselves the counsel given to the bride concerning the winning of the King's favour?

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 37 — Psalm 44

Study 37 From the Book of Psalms : Psalm 44

A national appeal to God in a time of great suffering.

1. What does the psalmist say about (a) God's dealings in the past on behalf of His people, and (b) His relationship with them? See verses 1-8. In spite of past happenings, what seems to be the situation at the present time? See verses 9:22.
2. What can we learn form this psalm as to what we should do when it seems as if God has deserted us? Cf. Is. 50:10;Lk. 18:1.

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 36 Psalms 42 and 43

Study 36 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 42 and 43

These two psalms were probably originally one. Notice the trice-repeated refrain (42:5, 11; 43:5).

1. What phrase does the psalmist repeat four times in these two psalms to describe his spiritual conditions? What were the chief causes of his sorrow, and what his chief desire?
2. What can we learn from the psalmist's example as to how to deal with depression in our lives?

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 21 — Job Revision: Job 1-42

Study 21 From the Book of Job is: Revision of the book of Job: Job 1-42

With this lesson, we end the book of Job. Tomorrow we will go back to the book of Psalms and will be studying Psalms 42 to 51.

Re-read your notes on the main teaching of the book of Job. What have you learnt about (a) the origin and purpose of suffering, or so-called 'evil' (42:11); (b) the way to bear it; and (c) the way to help others to bear it?.

Search The Scriptures —Study 20 — Job 42:7-17. The Epilogue

Study 20 From the Book of Job is: Job 42:7-17. The Epilogue

1. Job's friends would certainly have agreed with all that God said to Job. Yet God is angry with them. “You have not”, He says 'spoken of me what is right'(verse 7). Why was this so? Was it their haste in condemning Job, their doctrinal prejudice, their lack of sympathy, or what was it?
2. Job had quarreled with God, doubted His justice, insisted on his own innocence, wanted to end his life. Yet God said he had spoken 'what is right''. Why?

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Job 40:6- 42:6. The Lord's second speech and Job's reply

Study 19 From the Book of Job is: Job 40:6 – 42:6. The Lord's second speech and

Job's reply

1. God brings before Job two powerful wild creatures—the hippopotamus (40:15-24) and the crocodile (41:1-34). What does God intend that Job should learn from these animals? What questions does He ask Job?
2. Job has been given no explanation of his sufferings. What brought him to the deep humbling and self-abasement described in 42:1-6?

Note. 'The point in these descriptions is the prodigality of Created Might' (H.R. Minn).

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Job 38:1 – 40:5. The first speech of the Lord and Job's reply

Study 18 From the Book of Job is: Job 38:1 – 40:5. The first speech of the Lord and

Job's reply

The speeches of the Lord and Job's Replies (38:1 – 42:6)

1. Consider the examples of God's handiwork here depicted. What relation had this to Job's condition and perplexity? What response ought this to produce in us? Cf. Pss. 97:1-6, 12: 104: 1, 24.
2. Job had pleaded for an interview with God in which his innocence could be established. See 13:3; 23:3, 4; 31:37. God proves his littleness. Why do you think Job is answered like this? What does Job confess in his reply?

Notes

1. 38:2. This means: 'You are obscuring the truth by speaking without thinking.'
2. 38:4ff. The reader should take good note of the bold, magnificent images employed here. The world is like a building erected by one man (verse 4). The sea's birth was like a child's issuing from the womb (verse 8). Dawn shakes the earth like an open-air sleeper rising and shaking out of his blanket the creatures which came in for warmth (verses 12, 13). 'God is now speaking to deeper need, to the hidden fear, hardly realized by Job and certainly unconfessed, that there might be somewhere where the writ of God did not run, where god was not all-sovereign' (H.L. Ellison).
3. 40:2. This means: Can you prove yourself right only by proving me wrong?

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Job 36 and 37. Elihu's last speech

Study 17 From the Book of Job is: Job 36 and 37. Elihu's last speech

1. What does Elihu here assert concerning (a) the character of God's rule, and (b) the evidences of His greatness? To what conclusion about his trouble does he seek to lead Job?
2. Of what is Elihu profoundly aware concerning (a) the character and the ways of God, and (b) his own attempts to describe them? Cf. Rom 11:33-36.

Note 37:20. Elihu expresses dread at the thought of contending with God.

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 16— Job 34 and 35. Elihu's second speech

Study 16 From the Book of Job is: Job 34 and 35. Elihu's second speech

1. According to Elihu Job says (a) that God is wronging him (34:5, 6) and (b) that there is no profit to be gained from delighting in God and doing His will (34:9; 35:3). How does Elihu answer these contentions? What precious truths about God does he declare?
2. 'In the setting of the book of Job it is not a question whether Elihu is right or not—obviously he is right, at least in large measure—but whether he contributes anything to the solution of Job's “Why” Obviously he does not' (H. L. Ellison). Do you agree with this judgment? Why did a man who knew so much fail to be helpful? Of what danger should this make us aware?

Notes

1. 34:13-15. The thought here seems to be that God as Creator has no motive for injustice; and that the existence and preservation of the universe in an evidence of God's interest in His creatures.
2. 34:23-30. There is no need for God to act as men do by process of trial and judgment. God knows all and acts at once.
3. 35:10. God is the only source of all true comfort. Cf. Ps. 42:8; 2 Cor. 1:3-4.

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED