Welcome to the Weekly Digest!
Below you will find resources to help you on your journey through the Book of Psalms. We've provided you with a reading plan for the upcoming week, journaling prompts, a weekly Spotify playlist, and ideas for prayer. Be sure to check in every week to see what we have for you next as we continue to enrich our journey through the Psalms.
Reading Plan March 27th - April 2nd
Psalms 111-115. Read and reflect on Psalm 106 in preparation for Sunday, April 3rd's teaching. You can download the reading guide for the entire series here.
Scripture Memorization
Scripture memorization is an important discipline to introduce to our lives as a way to actively hide God's word in our heart. It allows us to not only internalize the text, but to share that truth with others more readily.
Memory Verses for March: Psalm 101:6
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.
Journal Prompts
* A quick note on journaling: if you're new to this practice, our journey through the book of Psalms will be a great way to get started. The most important step to forming this discipline in your life is to write anything and write often. Journaling is an incredible way to slow down, digest the content of a text, let your brain internalize thoughts that may come up, and keep a record for future reflection on what God was speaking to you during your reading. Journaling can take many forms such as written prayers, bullet points, stream of consciousness, or even poetry. Try some different methods and find the one that works best for you.
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions from Today's Teaching
1. What do you do with passages that don't "seem" to apply to you or the day and age we live in?
2. What does it mean to you that Jesus is King?
3. Are you practicing deceit or walking with integrity? What areas of your life are you presenting an image that is not true to who you really are?
4. Are you living in complete submission to King Jesus? What areas of your life have you not given to him?
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions for This Week's Reading
Psalm 111 – The Works of the Lord
How do we draw faith and encouragement from the works of God in history? What
about when the works of God cause suffering?
Psalm 111 brings together the works of God (the redemption of His people from
Egyptian captivity) and the Law of God (the commandments recorded in the torch). How
does this Psalm bring these two together? How do you see God’s hand and directives
working in your life?
What does the Psalmist mean “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”?
Psalm 112 – Immovable Righteousness
How does God cause light to dawn in the midst of darkness for those that follow Him?
How is this not based on our good works?
What does living a generous life look like according to Psalm 112?
Read Psalm 112:6-7 and meditate on what the writer is saying regarding living a life free
from fear. What does the Psalmist say is the condition to living a life free of fear?
This Psalm is the “real” literary work on the blessed life. How does the Psalmist
characterize a blessed life in God?
Psalm 113 – There is no one like our God
How does our praise of God actually become a picture of who He is? What is your
personal model of God? Authoritarian? Benevolent? Critical? Distant?
Psalms 113 defies us to place God solely in any of these models yet places Him in
tension between them. He is enthroned on high over the universe yet lifts people from
the ashes of life. How do you see God in these roles?
Read Psalm 113:7-9 and meditate on this description of the works of our God. How
have you seen Him work in this manner in your life and the life of others?
Psalm 114 – God’s presence
Psalm 114 is what is called a theophany. The appearance of God intervening in the
lives of His creation. We are reminded in this Psalm that during certain moments God
breaks into the lives of people in the Old Testament.
What would you consider to be the major theophany of the New Testament? How has
God broken into your life in a more recent event?
How does God’s intervention in humanity contrast to the “can-do” mentality of our
culture? Your culture?
Psalm 115 – Glory to His Name
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us…” In your own words describe what you feel the Psalmist
is communicating in this powerful statement.
Does God act on our behalf, or does He act on behalf of His glory? How does this
benefit us knowing His character and nature?
It is not that our God is better than the gods of other faith systems, it’s the truth that our
God is the only true God. What does the Psalmist have to say about this truth?
Example: They are made by human hands…
How does knowing and understanding the monotheistic (one God) truth of our God help
you navigate the moments of your life that just don’t seem to make sense?
Prayer
Father, you have given me work to do: give me also the ethical stamina to do it right. No work will be a burden as long as I know I am sharing your will; no task will be demeaning when I know that I am participating in your ways. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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