Month 27

Psalm 124

1. Read vv1-2. What is stated in v1 is repeated in v2. What is the state of mind of the psalmist here?
2. In v3, there appears to be a multitude of causes of anger against the psalmist and his people. Place yourself in a similar situation: what might have caused you to be so enraged that perhaps you could not think logically?
3. Continuing from the previous question, on other occasions when someone else’s anger is directed at you, to what extent your mental health able to deal with the pressure?
4. The imagery of the waters in vv4-5 recalls that of the Great Flood and the crossing of the Red Sea. Today, gossip and innuendo of the least significance can cause great harm to a single person or a group. What steps have we taken to reduce such negative consequences on us and others within and without our church community?
5. V6: why does the psalmist say “Praise the Lord?”
6. What made it possible that we escaped, in v7, from the waters, teeth and snare?
7. Many prayers, songs and hymns help us remember v8, that our help is from the Lord. Reflect on this from the entire psalm, and commit your praise and request to the Lord for the following week.

Arus Menenggelamkan, Tuhan Menyelamatkan Jiwa Kami

In Malay / Borneon / Indonesian.
Translated as “God Saves Us from Raging Torrents”

Psalm 124: anthem

Psalm 101

1. This psalm looks like a checklist. List three more important “I wills” and “I will nots” out of the 8 verses.
2. What might the question about God helping us (v2) be relevant in the lines after lines of I will (not)?
3. Staying away from evil is not as easy as it might seem. A friendly chat might be the seed of an unchecked scheme we are part of, leading to slander . How have we applied this verse in our lives?
4. What are examples of conceit and pride (v5) in how people relate to each other?
5. Discrimination might be a fitting word for vv6-7; it’s judgemental of us to say something is bad, and worse when we reject and exlucde them. How might we apply these verses in our lives?
6. V8: To make identifying bad people as our daily task might be a step too far for us, and to free the city from the control of the evil, a task beyond our means. Recall examples of people who have worked hard in this way with varying outcomes. For example, those who healed the sick, championed the rights of the marginalised, provided amenities for the young and old, and etc.
7. What is the “I will” or “I will not” that we strive to keep to this coming week? This might be from the psalm, a modernised version, an alternative. Pray that God enables us to achieve it.

Music compositions pending

Psalm 127

1. Verses 1-2: God does not physically build the house or protect the city; what does the psalmist really mean then?
2. Verses 3-5: Having large families was a common practice in the time of the psalms. The psalmist used this to illustrate that God can provide at the right time for the right reasons. In what ways does God provide for us today?
3. A friend has stopped seeing their doctor because the medication does not help their traumatic recovery and panic flashbacks. In what ways might this psalm help or hinder those who are suffering to accept that this psalm is relevant to them?
4. Some will conclude this psalm is about having faith, others will say this is about God protecting us in all circumstances. What do we think? Share this in the group.
5. Believe in God, and then we can stop working and pursuing anything. What are basis for and against this in this psalm?

God Provides and Protects Us

Psalm 127: hymn

Psalm 125

1. V1 reads like a promise about those who trust God. What examples have we come across that affirm this verse?
2. How far do we find the “mountain” a good analogy about God’s relationship to us, in v2?
3. What is described in v3 does not seem to reflect reality – many “lands of the godly” have been, and are, ruled by the “wicked” people. Firstly, what does the verse really say? Share the group’s different opinions; different English translations can help too. (The next question deals with the second half of v3)
4. Regarding “the godly be tempted to do wrong”, one example might be the assumption (with some proofs) that the more we spend time and effort on a piece of work, it is more likely to succeeed, but we might have begun the downward spiral of less and less intimate relationship with God. Do we agree this is a valid example? What other examples can the group draw from our own experience?
5. In v4, who are the people we urged God to show favour to?
6. God will punish those who hold conflicting agenda against God, what attributes do these people have? (For example, are they rich or poor, full of anger or people of peace?)
7. To what extent does this Psalm speak about our relationship with those without faith in God?
8. What have we learned in this study? Commit this in the group prayer to end the study.

Psalm 19

1. What might be the “message” or “words” in v4?
2. V5 paints two situations that deviate from the norm: the athlete celebrating and the radiant bridegroom. What does the church think the meanings of these metaphors?
3. “Pick one attribute about God in vv 7-11. What might be a beneficial activity for the church or related group?
   
   For example, verse 8b regarding God’s commands. These can be the Ten Commandments, the Beattitudes (Matthew 5), church governance (e.g. 1 Timothy; 1 Peter 5 and Roman 12), fellowship (Galatians 5:22), the laws of Love (1 Corinthians 13) and etc.
   
   For this example, we choose the church governance verses to ensure we have appropriate training for those who are in pastoral, teaching, and practical roles. We do this to include everyone of varying capacities, skills and needs. This helps us see and understand how pleasant God’s kingdom is.”
4. Encourage our church or fellowship the prayer in v14, and on-going encouragement on how God enriches our lives in the coming weeks and months.