Wow! We are already halfway through the study. Although I found it a full week of study the pacing was easier for me having divided the days. The little things we do to make it more manageable!!!
I really needed this week of study this week. It was so right for the situations. God is good and does good!
Here is the question on page 62, @ the end of the day...
In the Vav, Zayin, Heth, Teth, and Yodh stanzas the psalmist turns the jewel of Scripture (love that analogy!)to show us his delight in and love for God's Word, which brings liberty and comfort, calls for obedience and shows forth the goodness and compassion of God.
What facet of this jewel has shone most brightly in your life this week? is there an area of your life God is calling you to turn your feet from to His testimonies, to hasten and not delay?
Another specific question to comment on:
p58 - Do you know for sure that God is good and does good? Does anything ever cause you to question this? If so, how can you resolve this question for yourself?
Comments on how you processed, "delayed obedience is disobedience." p 53
Looking forward to our discussion of this weeks material. Please again, feel free to take a tangent wherever your heart has gone this week.
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God is good and does good! What a good verse to keep to memory, especially when we think things aren't going good. There is always cause to rejoice!
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot covered this week, but yes very uplifting, as we again learn from the psalmists example.
As I'm typing, I'm turning back on my notes to try to recollect my thoughts, and sum it up as easily as possible.
I like the connection we see b/t delighting in and keeping God's word...how I'm finding that the more I'm in God's word, the more I hunger for more, which does cause so much delight...causing us to live out the word.
I was challenged to "remember purposefully"...again coming back to the earlier weeks of seeking God with all our heart, and how we need to commit everything, everyday to God. I know if I remember more purposefully than I find being a thankful person follows easier.
I think the Heth stanza was my favourite this week.
I found myself meditating on it the most...how the psalmist so much wants God's favour, and he shows us how to keep God's words:
1. He thought on God's ways, he thought beforehand what he should
do. (v59)
2. he turned his feet to God's testimony (v59) He was determined to
make God's word his rule and to walk by it.
3. He did this immediately. (v60)
When we are under conviction of sin we must act according to
God's word immediately.
Also how he did not neglect to give thanks. He would rise @ midnight to give thanks to God. Great and good thoughts kept him awake and refreshed him instead of sleep. Something to again remember when awake at night.
I so want to pure before God and delight in His ways, and to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, remembering that delayed disobedience is disobedience.
Yes, there was a lot covered.
ReplyDeleteRegarding verse 60
I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
This has been real to me in two instances with our neighbours this week. I mentioned the rain example to you already - just being ready to sensitively proclaim trust in God whenever given the opportunity. I have been challenged with the complete trust of the Psalmist in God. He believed God. He completely believed in the goodness of God.
I had to ask myself, so whatever God calls us to - do I believe He will give me what I need to be obedient in it? I had to recite verses this week to believe this and to fight the condemnation that was happening in my heart. God is greater. God is faithful to give that peace and assurance as we remain in fellowship with Him.
I have also been wrestling with the afflicting question this week. I believe strongly that God has a greater good in mind and needed this week to solidify more solid answers to why I believed this based on the character of God. The story that completely resonated with me was from Exodus 3 - the digger deeper section on page 59.
I needed to be reminded of God's concern for His people, for their misery and crying, His promise to be with them and care for every detail of their lives. It wasn't immediate as He wanted others to know of His glory too. In the end He even gave the Israelites the Egyptians plunder. Sweet!
I pray that God will etch these bedrock truths in my heart.
There are two thoughts that brought me delight this week at very heavy times.
I had to come to grips with the fact that God is good and does good 12 years ago when we went through Ruth-anne's, Geralds and Dad's passing. Of course I felt God had abandonded me and I just read the Psalms over and over again and He showed me that He loved me and that His ways are always good and I just had to claim that over and over again. It was very freeing b/c He was in control, not me. That has increased my faith. It is in our culture to praise God only if things are going good. What would happen if we praised God, not only in the good times, but hard as well? I think our community around us would look different.
ReplyDeleteI loved the study this week too. I see how important it is to be "persistant"in God's Word.