God's Perfect Way

Monday, October 5, 2015
Psalm 18:20-30 KJV 

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments [were] before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. 28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he [is] a buckler to all those that trust in him.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) According to the psalmist, why did the Lord reward him? (v.20-24)
2) How does the Lord reveal Himself to His people versus the people of this world? (v.25-29)
3) How does the psalmist describe the ways of the Lord and the word of the Lord? (v.30)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How has the Lord revealed Himself to you?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The Lord is faithful to those who trust in Him, but a stumbling block to those who do not.

Justice: A Joy to the Righteous

Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Proverbs 21:10-15 NIV

10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. 11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. 12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. 13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. 15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What do the wicked crave and what becomes of their neighbors, as a result? (v.10)
2) What happens when a mocker is punished? (v.11)
3) Who takes note of the house of the wicked and what does He do to it? (v.12)
4) What happens to those who close their ears to the cries of the poor? (v.13)
5) What soothes anger and pacifies wrath? (v.14)
6) What happens to the righteous and to evil doers when justice prevails? (v.15)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How do you treat the poor when you are around them?

LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord blesses those who are merciful to the materially and spiritually impoverished.