Sermon Tone Analysis

Q: We have been reading Psalms in our year through the Bible plan.

So be honest, DO YOU ENJOY READING PSALMS?

(Typically some people love and some people do not and others are indifferent or like it just as much as other books of the Bible)

Q: We have been reading Psalms in our year through the Bible plan.

So be honest, DO YOU ENJOY READING PSALMS?

(Typically some people love and some people do not and others are indifferent or like it just as much as other books of the Bible)

FOR ME I happen to love reading Psalms.

Psalms and Proverbs are two of my favorite books of the Old Testament.

I’m not the only one, many people love the Psalms and we will talk about why in just a minute.

This is one of the reasons for choosing Psalms

THE REASONS FOR CHOOSING PSALMS:

One of the reasons for choosing Psalms to study this summer is because I love it so much but that is really a secondary reason.

There are so many other reasons...

Q: BUT LET ME ASK YOU FIRST; WHY DO YOU LIKE PSALMS, IF YOU DO, OR WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE IT SO MUCH?

Perhaps one of the main reasons is that we often find ourselves in the words of Psalms.

The different Psalms often express our emotions and condition at times.

Q: HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER AT SOME TIMES BEEN READING PSALMS AT FELT LIKE IT WAS SAYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE FEELING?

This has happened to me many times.

This is not just true of the Psalms of grief but Psalms can say what we are feeling about our joy, pain, struggle, suffering and emotions that factor into worship of God.

Psalm can be hard to get into if you do not like poetry style writing but in many ways it is not poetry as we think of it.

It is so much more.

It is inspired of God.

THE INCREDIBLE THING IS THAT IT IS INSPIRED OF GOD AS GOD USING THE LIFE, MINDS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE WRITERS THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO EXPRESS TRUTHS.

It can be hard to get into because it is not in story form usually but IT GIVES GREAT TRUTHS IN SHORT PLAIN PHRASES THAT WE CAN QUICKLY GRASP BUT ALSO MEDITATE ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

I LOVE PSALMS BECAUSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM IT.

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT PSALMS TEACHES US?

It teaches us about (1) The nature of God, (2) His relationship and love toward us, (3) His care, concern and compassion for us, but also (4) how we need to be as (patient, humble, hopeful and cheerful) as God’s people.

It shows us that we need to be obsessed with God as our Father, in love with His word (as shows) and very concerned about righteousness while hating wickedness and understanding where it will lead.

PSALMS TEACHES US ABOUT LIFE

IN JUST ONE PSALM WHEN WE ARE STRUGGLING, NEED GUIDANCE, FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE OF SIN, WHEN WE FEEL TRAPPED.

YOU ARE STRUGGLING (look at )

WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING: how to make it through difficulty

by TRUSTING IN GOD

Psalm 25:1

by HOPING IN GOD: When we trust in God we can have hope instead of be in a state of worry, stress and despair.

Q: When we trust in God

pSALMS 25:

Q: What does this verse imply that we will do if we trust in the Lord?

If we trust in God we will hope and wait on God, even if He doesn’t respond on our timeline.

WHEN YOU FEEL TRAPPED:

TURN TO GOD.

For example (from this weeks reading): says,

Psalm

ps 25:15-

WHEN YOU NEED GUIDANCE:

ASK GOD FOR GUIDANCE TO KNOW HOW TO LIVE

Notice our desire should be guidance to know how to live in God’s ways.

Before we focus on which way we should go in a certain area we should be desiring to know how to better live for God by His ways!

WHEN YOU HAVE SINNED

Psalm 25:

Q: what all do these verses teach us about how to deal with sin?

If we have sinned we need to admit it to God and not hide it, we need to be humble enough to realize we have sin and how serious it is.

The most important thing is that God is a God of forgiveness because of His “goodness” and “steadfast love.”

HOW TO PRAY: () (We can grow so much in seeing how to pray deeply, with all of our emotions and heart.)

We are going to read a few verses and let’s pick out the lessons we can get on how to pray from this one Psalm.

Q: WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS PSALM ABOUT PRAYER?

PS 5:1-3

(1) When we pray we should believe that God hears us (as Jesus also said), (2) if we are praying to God for help we should also consider if He is really the Lord of our lives (we do not want to only pray to God when we are in need), (3) morning is a great time to pray to give God our day before it ever starts, (4) when we pray and believe we need to wait (trusting in Him) and expectantly (because we know He is going to come through.

Without all the other things you could learn one huge prayer from just the thing in verse 3 that says, “wait expectantly.”

Q: Do you pray with any excitement, expecting anything to happen?

Q: WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS ABOUT PRAYER?

TRANS: one of the things that I love the most about Psalms is what is shows us about the nature of God.

If you want to understand God more Psalms is good to study!

PSALMS TEACHES US ABOUT GOD.

AND (HOW WE SHOULD FEEL TOWARD HIM!)

WHO GOD IS!

There are so many things about God that Psalm reveals.

For example: : God watches over the righteous, : God rules over all, : God is a protector (shield) and He answers our cries for help, : God is a God of peace and we can feel safe because of Him.

These are all great but one of the greatest truths about that is extremely prevalent in Psalm is that God’s love endures forever.

This is said in a number of ways but it is very prominent in the phrase “unfailing love.”

(It is the reason we can trust in Him.

Not just because He can help but because He loves us enough TO help.)

For example: ,

Also has this as its theme: for example verse 1-3...

Q: WHAT DESCRIPTION OF GOD IN PSALM IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?

Rock, redeemer, fortress, dwelling place, King, Shepherd, judge, light, shield, our chosen inheritance, our strength, helper, our comfort, refuge, our portion, King over the flood, counselor, love, Father, protector,

2. WHO GOD IS TO US!

Rock, redeemer, fortress, dwelling place, King, Shepherd, judge, light, shield, our chosen inheritance, our strength, helper, our comfort, refuge, our portion, King over the flood, protector, Father, provider, sovereign, worthy of praise, guide, maker, all knowing, all powerful, trainer, merciful, leader, creator and others...

3. WHO WE ARE TO GOD! (And should be to Him)

Q: WHAT DOES PSALMS SAY ABOUT WHO WE ARE TO GOD?

WE ARE: His creation, His treasured possession, the apple of His eye, His beloved, His children,

We also get insight into what it is to have a close relationships with God.

For example seeking God and wanting to be near Him more than anything else is shown.

Psalm 73:

Now let’s test our knowledge of Psalms...

Q: WHAT TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE DOES PSALMS OFTEN CONTRAST?

Psalms often contrast the righteous and the wicked as in .

(Read)

Q: WHY DO YOU THINK GOD DOES THIS SO MUCH IN PSALMS AND PROVERBS?

(1) We need to be reminded which way is best and which way God is pleased with.

The enemy often gets us (just as he did Eve) by turning our focus away from any consequences, (2) We need to know that in the end living for God brings great blessings (even if it brings persecution).

(ill: When I was a kid, even though I did learn the content of Psalms very well I got overarching theme that it is good to be good (righteous) and that helped me to have a mindset that rejected just doing whatever everyone else was doing.)

Now to clarify what happens to good and bad people:

Q: HOW IS IT THAT PSALMS SAYS SO MUCH ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE RIGHTEOUS WHILE MANY RIGHTEOUS SEEM TO SUFFER?

Those who are righteous will reap the benefits of their actions just as the wicked will (both in the end and in this life.)

and 6:9

Also, these who are living with God have all the benefits of that relationship, both spiritual, physical and mental.

(God watches over, cares for, guides and hears us.)

Those who are not do not have those benefits and also suffer certain consequences.

For example: I have never had to suffer the consequences of...