Sunday, August 10, 2014

Enduring Trials and Calamities

Monday, August 11, 2014
Psalm 71:17-24

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come. 
19 Thy righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee! 
20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 
21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [even] thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What had God done for the psalmist and when? (v.17)
2) What does the psalmist ask of the Lord and why? (v.18)
3) What does the psalmist declare about the Lord? (v.19)
4) What difficulties has the psalmist endured from the Lord? (v.20)
5) What confidence does the psalmist have in God despite his difficulties? (v.21)
6) How will the psalmist worship the Lord in spite of his troubles? (v.22-24)
7) What does the psalmist believe will happen to his enemies as he worships God? (v.24b)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) How do you typically interact with the Lord when you're facing trouble?
9) How do you typically respond to those who trouble you (your enemies)? Please descibe one such instance.
10) Have you ever praised and/or worshipped the Lord when you were troubled? If so, what happened?

PRINCIPLES
11) The best response to trials is praise!
12) The Lord often allows hardships to test our hearts!
13) Our enemies are often defeated when we praise God in the midst of our calamities!

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