Psalms                           by Dr. Ralph Wilson

Lesson 12

Psalms: Giving Thanks to Our Faithful God (Psalms 100, 107, 118, and 34) and Epilogue (Psalms 47 and 119)

Psalm 100 -- Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving

The key idea found again and again in this short psalm is giving thanks.

Giving Thanks with Joy (100:1-2)

Let's review some of the praise words:

• "Shout for joy" 

• "Worship" 

• "Gladness" 

• "Joyful songs" 

We Are the Sheep of His Pasture (100:3)

Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving (100:4-5)

Q1. (Psalm 100) What is the predominant emotion in Psalm 100?

How does this psalm make you feel emotionally about God? What are the reasons for praise given in verses 3 and 5?

What are the commands in this psalm?

Psalm 107 -- Give Thanks to the Lord for His Unfailing Love

Psalm 118 -- His Love Endures Forever

The Stone that the Builders Rejected (118:22-23)

This Is the Day which the Lord Has Made (118:24)

Hosanna! (118:25-27)

Q2. (Psalm 118) What does "the stone the builders rejected" (verses 22-23) have to do with the Messiah?

What do verses 25-27 have to do with the Messiah?

I Will Give You Thanks (118:28-29)

Psalm 34 -- Taste and See that the Lord Is Good

1. Rejoice with Me 

2. Learn from Me 

I Will Bless the Lord at All Times (34:1-2)

The psalm begins with David's praise and then a call for others to join him.

Magnifying and Exalting (34:3)

"Magnify" 

"Exalt" 

Q3. (Psalm 34:1-3) Why should we praise God continually?

What are barriers to continual praise? What does continual praise do to our spirit?

How are you training yourself to praise continually?

I Sought the Lord and He Delivered Me (34:4-7)

Taste and See that the Lord is Good (34:8-10)

• "Fear the LORD," 

• "Seek the LORD," 

I Will Teach You the Fear of Yahweh (34:11-14)

His Ears Are Attentive to the Cry of the Righteous (34:15-16)

Many Are the Afflictions of the Righteous, but the Lord Delivers (34:17-20)

The Lord Redeems His Servants, Does Not Condemn Them (34:21-22)

David, fresh from deliverance from Gath, concludes his psalm of deliverance with a word of hope. In the

1. Redeemer of Servants (34:22a)

2. Faithful Judge (22b)

(34:22b)"No one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."

Q4. (Psalm 34:18-22) What encouragement does David give to the brokenhearted?

What does it mean that God "redeems" you?

How can we avoid condemnation according to Psalm 34:22?

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms in Appendix 1. These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others.