I mentioned this awhile ago -- but for any who may have missed it, I'm posting each Sunday about a simple study of Psalms that I worked on last summer. It was such a good one to be working on in 2020 -- and some of it was while I sat at picnic tables as we camped at places like Grand Canyon and Coral Pink Sand Dunes. There just couldn't have been a better backdrop --so awe-inspiring and so many great reminders of how amazing God is!
This Psalms study is another from Good Morning Girls. These are simple studies but I really do enjoy them and get a lot from them. I very much enjoy more in-depth Bible studies as well, but these simpler ones are also a blessing to do. I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the journal from GMG uses a very similar method. I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so.
Today's study is from Psalm 118. Verse 8 was the one we were to zero in on, but I also chose to study verses 5-6, and also verse 29.
S= "I called upon the LORD in distress, and the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
"The LORD is on my side: I will not fear. What can man do unto me?
"... It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
"Oh, give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever." (Psalm 118:5-6, 8, 29)
O= Verses 1 through 4 and 29 all speak of God's enduring mercy. In verse 5 the psalmist testifies of having called upon God in distress and how God answered him. With God on his side, what could man do to him? He declares that he will not fear, and goes on to state that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. My reference Bible tells me that the word "trust" occurs 152 times in the Old Testament and that it is "the rendering of Hebrew words signifying to take refuge; to lean on; to roll on; to wait for." The psalmist thanks God for His goodness and His enduring mercy.
A= I have called upon the Lord in distress and have seen Him answer me and "set me in a large place". It has been truly glorious to observe how He has answered and has seen me through incredibly distressing times. It is indeed far, far better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in in even the best or most godly man. People will let us down every time. God is a safe and trusted refuge!
P= "Lord, I cannot even begin to thank You for Your magnificent working in my life. Through truly distressing times, You have been there and have seen me through difficulty, every step of the way. Sometimes it has felt like groping my way along in the dark, but as I have sought to keep my eyes on You, You have brought me through. I do feel as if you have set me in a large place, such a place of blessing! I praise You for being my safe and trustworthy refuge, in Jesus' name, Amen."
And there is this week's study. I hope it was a blessing to someone today.
Yes, it gives me much to ponder. For example, it says He set me in a large place in a time of stress. Fascinating because in times of stress, I like to be in small, even tight, cozy spaces. ☺️ Don't mind me, Friend. I think funny. I liked your description of stressful times being like "groping along in the dark." That is exactly how I feel as well.
ReplyDeleteYou do put that well. I've felt that groping along in the dark too much this year. I signed up for the GMG e-mail. I decided to at least check it out. Thank you, Mrs. T.
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