DAY 28: Psalm 67

Day 28: Psalm 67 – Praise God 

As a Christian, why do you praise God?  

Spend a few minutes reflecting on all that God has done in your life.  What is the reason the people praise God in this psalm? (look at the repetition)  

Check out the context of what God has done for Israel. Read Deuteronomy 26:1-11. 

How does this psalm point to Jesus?  

In seeing what God has done for you in Jesus, do you want to make God known (v2) and do you want all the earth to fear him (v7)?

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Jared & Verena Bradley

DAY 27: Psalm 66

Day 27: Psalm 66 – What’s so great about God? 

This psalm seems like it was used to celebrate God's national deliverance.  Do you notice how it moves from corporate worship (v1-12) to personal worship (v13-20)?  

What does this psalm tell us about God and what he’s done? (For some background read Exodus 14:15-31 and Joshua 3)  

What are the responses we see from the psalmist?  

As Christians we are called to a life of suffering. How do we see in this psalm that this is a good thing?  

In v18-20, how do we know that God loves and has heard our prayers in Jesus?

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Griffith Christian Students

DAY 26: Psalm 65

Day 26: Psalm 65 – God answers 

In v1 David states that praise awaits God. Why? What does he tell us about who God is?  

What has God done for his people and what has he done for the land? 

As Christians we often worry about whether God will answer our prayers.  What does this psalm say about that?  

David remembers that God answers prayers because he forgave sin in v3.  We have rejected God and often continue to reject him but he still chooses to bless his people with awesome and righteous deeds. Consider Jesus.  

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. UQES

DAY 25: Psalm 64

Day 25: Psalm 64 – Plot & Punishment 

This psalm is a prayer. It's about the futile plotting of men to overthrow the godly, resulting in condemnation.  Think about a time when you have been treated unjustly. How did you feel?  

This psalm is split into two sections (1-6 & 7-10). What’s the main idea of each?  

What is the state of the enemy surrounding David?  

How does David find peace in God? 

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Frasers in Slovenia

DAY 24: Psalm 63

Day 24: Psalm 63 – In the desert 

Even though David is in the desert away from the sanctuary in Jerusalem  he still remembers God. What is it about God that he remembers? 

How does David desire God?  

Do you ever “thirst” for God? At what times in your life does this usually happen?  

How does David know he has security in God from his enemies? 

The New Bible Commentary states that “all who swear by God”...can be read as all who acknowledge and obey him shall rejoice because they know God’s caring goodness. 

Think about how God has been good and cared for you in Jesus.  

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Dan & Rachel Djamaludin

DAY 23: Psalm 62

Day 23: Psalm 62 – God our refuge 

Psalm 62 is a song of trust. Even though the psalmist feels as though he’s  struggling for words, how does he describe God?  

This psalm is split into two halves, what are the contrasting markers (1-2 &  5-6)?  

What are people trying to do to David (v3-4)? 

What is God for David?  

Romans 2:6-8 references this psalm. How might this be pointing to Jesus and not us?  


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Linda McKerrell

DAY 22: Psalm 61

Day 22: Psalm 61 – Remember our God in the lonely times 

Psalm 6 is a prayer and poem of loneliness.  

When you’re lonely what do you long for?  

What is David crying out for?  

Take a look at psalm 42, are there similar themes or feelings?  

Back to Psalm 61; this psalm seems to be split into two parts v1-4 & 5-8.  What is the second half saying about God’s character?  

The prayer concludes with a vow to worship God daily with a glad heart. 


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Mark & Anne Osborne

DAY 21: Psalm 60

Day 21: Psalm 60 – Please don’t forget 

Have there been times in your life where you feel like God has forgotten about you?  

What does the psalmist tell us about God?  

What would you say the vibe is and how does it change throughout the psalm?  

What does this psalm say about the trust of the psalmist?  

How does it feel to know that God has dealt with our biggest enemy of sin in Jesus and He hasn’t forgotten or rejected us? 


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. QUT Christians

DAY 20: Psalm 59

Day 20: Psalm 59 – Our fortress 

Can you see the similarities between the last 3 psalms (57, 58, & 59)? Have you ever been accused for something you didn’t do?  

David is in his house being pursued by enemies. Why are they pursuing him?  

How powerful is God shown to be? Look at 8-13. What does it say about God’s power? 

David begins and ends (v16 & 17) the psalm with exclaiming that God is his fortress. It seems that David knows who his God is. How do we know God is  our fortress? 


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Thang Bwee - Myanmar

DAY 19: Psalm 58

Day 19: Psalm 58 - How do you conduct yourself? 

David begins this psalm by questioning the justice and judgment of rulers and kings around him.  What does he say about their conduct and where that stems from? 

Do you feel like he’s questioning your behaviour? What would your response be to v1?  

David only uses God’s name twice in this psalm. What does he ask/say about God?  

How can you apply this psalm to your understanding of judgment?  

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. J & R

DAY 18: Psalm 57

Day 18: Psalm 57 – In the hard times 

The next few psalms are songs to the tune of “Do not destroy”. What are  your feelings about the tone of this psalm based on the tune?  

When you have faced hard times how have you responded?  

Take another look at the descriptions used for God and for David’s pursuers – they’re pretty colourful. 

How does David respond to the way God treats him?  

Is your response to sing & praise God when you are in trouble? (not metaphorically)  

Can you see how v3 could point to Jesus being sent from heaven to truly show justice and grace?

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Jared & Verena Bradley

DAY 17: Psalm 56

Day 17: Psalm 56 – When troubled by the enemy 

The psalmist shows David crying out to God for help and it shows David trusts God and his sovereign control over all things. 

 

When was the last time you cried out to God in a time of need? Was it a last resort or did you foresee the consequences of an event?  

This psalm, like many of the psalms, is split into 2 sections. What are the two sections about?  

In v10 why does he say, “in God’s word I will praise”?  

How do you know that God is real and isn’t our enemy from this psalm?  What about from outside this psalm?

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Jared & Verena Bradley

DAY 16: Psalm 55

Day 16: Psalm 55 – The true companion 

Again this is another psalm that expresses the heart of David: a heart deeply wounded which turns to God in prayer and confidence.  The psalm is divided into three sections: v1-8, v9-15 and v16-23. What are  the themes that divide these sections?  

David’s reliance on God is really put to the test. What does he say about the relationship of someone close to him?  

How does God deal with the wicked and righteous in this psalm? Why should we trust His judgment? 

This psalm reminds us of the true companion we have in our God who does not leave us. He has shown us this by sending Jesus: our true friend, peacemaker and reconciler by his blood (Colossians 1:21-23).

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Griffith Christian Students

DAY 15: Psalm 54

Day 15: Psalm 54 – Help has come 

This psalm is a song for strings. It presents David’s cry for help as he is  pursued by Saul (1 Sam 23:15-20).  

What is the tone of this psalm?  

How does David describe his enemies and the situation he is in? 

Unlike David's foes, David could go to God for help. Did he go to anyone or anything else for help? 

In v7, how has God delivered us from all our troubles in Jesus? 

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Griffith Christian Students

DAY 14: Psalm 53

Day 14: Psalm 53 – A foolish people 

Psalm 53 has many similarities to psalm 14. The two obvious differences according to commentators are the words used to address God (God is used in psalm 53 and LORD – Yahweh, God’s name, is used in psalm 14).  The suggestion was made that maybe a phenomenal deliverance of the nation of Israel occurred from the earlier psalm.  

In vs1, it’s the fool who is described as someone who says, “There is no God.” What other ideas are connected with the fool?  

What does God see? What’s visible about people's hearts from their behaviour?  

Take a look at Romans 3:10-12. How does it feel to be amongst this group?  

Where does David look for hope? 

What does your life say about where your hope is?

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. UQES

DAY 13: Psalm 52

Day 13: Psalm 52 – Justice will prevail  

This psalm is one of eight that are associated by their titles with David’s experiences as an exile from Saul. It’s an expression of David's righteous anger at Doeg’s betrayal of himself and Abimelech the priest (1 Samuel 21:1-9 and 22: 9-23).  

What are David's reasons for being angry at Doeg? Is there more to it than just a personal grudge?  

How do you feel when you see evil in the world? 

How does David respond to the evil? 

What does this psalm tell us about God’s feelings towards evil?


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Frasers in Slovenia

DAY 12: Psalm 51

Day 12: Psalm 51 – A personal prayer of confession 

If you read the heading and also the context (2 Samuel 12:1-14) you can feel the shame and guilt that is about to be laid bare by David.  What has happened? 

David now knows where he stands with God (v3). You can see David wants God to save him. What does David say about God’s reaction to sin? 

From v13-15, what is David's response to God for dealing with his transgressions? How does he show trust and reliance on God? 

How should we respond when we realise our sin? Revisit 1 John 1:9.

Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Dan & Rachel Djamaludin

DAY 11: Psalm 50:16-23

Day 11: Psalm 50:16-23 – The wicked and the one righteous 

This is the first psalm of Asaph. Is there a different vibe compared to the psalms produced by the Sons of Korah?

 

The whole psalm seems to be broken up into three sections. Read the Psalm again and divide it into three sections, giving each a title.

  

Read v16-23. Where do the wicked sit with God? Why is God angry at them?  

In the end what does God require from us all? Do we live up to what He requires?  

Check out 2 Corinthians 5:21.


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Linda McKerrell

DAY 10: Psalm 50:1-15

Day 10: Psalm 50:1-15 – The just judge 

What response do you think the opening phrase deserves in v1?  

In this half of the psalm we see God summoning his people. Why and for what reason? 

Why does God testify, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens”?  

If God is not bloodthirsty what is the point of these offerings and sacrifices?  

We now know that God has dealt with sin in Jesus (Rom 3:25), how does this psalm along with 1 John 1:9 comfort and make you thankful to God? 


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. Mark & Anne Osborne

DAY 9: Psalm 49:12-20

Day 9: Psalm 49:12-20 – Our redeemer and shepherd 

Read the whole psalm again and consider the situation for all people. Verse 12 sums it up well.  

Where do we see joy from the psalmist?  

Both v7 and v15 mention the word “redeem”. What does it mean to “redeem” something? How do the verses compare and contrast?  

v14 says that “they (people) are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd”. How does Jesus differ/change this? Read John 10:11-18.  

What is some good wisdom that can be taken away from this psalm? 


Prayer points:

1. Thank God for one thing from the passage

2. Ask God for help with one thing you've been challenged by from your reading and reflection today

3. QUT Christians