Search The Scriptures —Study 40 — Psalm 49

Study 40 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 49

An inspired meditation, addressed to all men, on the vanity of riches. It anticipates our Lord's teaching in Lk. 12:13 – 21.

1. How do men in general regard wealth? See verses 6, 13, 18. But what are the facts? What can wealth not do (verses 7-9)? And what is the end of the rich man (verses 10-14, 17-20)?
2. Why is it better to trust in God than in riches? See verses 14, 15. And what is the psalmist's counsel to himself and to us? See verses 5 and 16.

Note. Verses 7 and 9 should be read together, verse 8 being parenthetical. With verse 7 cf. Ex. 21:30. There were cases where, in human relationships, life could be redeemed with money; but it is not so when God summons, the soul.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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?

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