September 10, 2017 – Psalm 23 – From the lives of David and Jesus – Goodness and Mercy

-            The

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” KJV Psalm 23:6a

Psalm 28 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.
² Hear my cry for mercy
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your Most Holy Place.

³ Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.
⁴ Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
    and bring back on them what they deserve.

⁵ Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

How does David describe the Lord (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what does David mean when he says he “will be like those who go down to the pit” if the Lord remains silent (verse 1)?

What does David cry for (verse 2)?

What word does David use to describe those “who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, how can David cry to the Lord for mercy in verse 2 but to ask for those he called evil to be repaid “for their deeds and for their evil work” (verse 4)?

What do those who David called evil have for the “deeds of the Lord” (verse 5)?

Why is David praising the Lord (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what does David mean when he says the Lord is “my strength and my shield” (verse 7)?

How does David’s heart react to the Lord (verse 7)?

What is the Lord “for his anointed one” (verse 8)?

What does David ask the Lord to do for His people as their shepherd (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Luke 6:43-45 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

What can a good tree not bear (verse 43)?

What can a bad tree not bear (verse 43)?

How is each tree recognized (verse 44)?

Where does a good man bring good things from (verse 45)?

Where does an evil man bring evil things from (verse 45)?

What does the mouth speak (verse 45)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does Jesus’ statement that “no good tree bears bad fruit” in Luke 6:43-45 reveal about David crying for mercy in Psalm 28?

Ephesians 2:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Where does Paul say the Ephesians were (verse 1)?

Who had the Ephesians followed (verse 2)?

What did “all of us” gratify at one time (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “we were by nature deserving of wrath” (verse 3)?

What is God rich in (verse 4)?

How have we been saved (verse 5)?

Where has God seated us (verse 6)?

How are the “incomparable riches of his grace” expressed (verse 7)?

Where is the grace that saves by faith from (verse 8)?

What are we (verse 10)?

What has God “prepared in advance for us to do” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, when Jesus says “a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” in Luke 6:43-45 and Paul says that we are were dead in our transgressions and sins in Ephesians 2:1-10 then how can he also be right when he says that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”?

In your opinion, how does David’s discussion of those who “have no regard for the deeds of the Lord” in Psalm 28 help us understand what limits the mercy that Paul says in Ephesians 2:1-10 God is “rich in”?

James 2:8-13 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What law found in the Scripture must you keep to do right (verse 8)?

What happens if you show favoritism (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does James mean when he says that whoever “stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all” of the law (verse 10)?

What do you become if you “do not commit adultery but do commit murder” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom” (verse 12)?

Who will be shown “judgment without mercy” (verse 13)?

What “triumphs over judgment” (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Paul’s statement that all were “dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-10) become more real to each of us when James teaches that someone who shows favoritism is as guilty of breaking the law as someone who commits adultery or murder (James 2:8-13) and how does this reality make James’s statement that “mercy triumphs over judgment” more wonderful and powerful?

In your opinion, how are we who have received the mercy that “triumphs over judgment” that James talks about in James 2:8-13 to translate into action Jesus statement in Luke 6:43-45 “for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”?

In your opinion, how is David, who says in Psalm 28 that he cried to God for mercy and whose heart trusted in God, an example to all of us who James, in James 2:8-13, indicates have received mercy that triumphs over judgment and are to “speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom”?

In your opinion, how do these passages from Psalms, Luke, Ephesians, and James help us understand today’s passage from Psalm 23 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”?

In your opinion, how can these passages help us to have a greater appreciation of the God’s transforming mercy and goodness?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

September 3, 2017 – Psalm 23 – From the lives of David and Jesus – Anointest My Head

“Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” KJV Psalm 23:5b

1 Samuel 16:4-13 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

What did Samuel do (verse 4)?

Who ask Samuel “do you come in peace” (verse 4)?

Who did Samuel consecrate and invite to the sacrifice (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why would Samuel think that Elian was the Lord’s anointed (verse 6)?

What did the Lord tell Samuel not to consider (verse 7)?

What does the Lord look at (verse 7)?

How did Samuel react to Abinadab (verse 8)?

Who had Shammah pass by (verse 9)?

How many of Jesse’s sons passed in front of Samuel (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why was David “tending the sheep” (verse 11)?

How was David described (verse 12)?

What did the Lord tell Samuel to do (verse 12)?

When did “the Spirit of the Lord” come powerfully upon David (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 1:29-34 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

What does John say that Jesus “takes away” (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what does John mean when he says that Jesus “was before me” (verse 30)?

Why did John come “baptizing with water” (verse 31)?

What did John see (verse 32)?

What will the one “on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain” do (verse 33)?

Who does John testify that Jesus is (verse 34)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what do the anointing of David in 1 Samuel 16:4-13 and the baptism of Jesus in John 1:29-34 have in common?

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Who does Paul not want to be uninformed about the “gifts of the Spirit” (verse 1)?

When were they “influenced and led astray to mute idols” (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why is it that “no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed”” (verse 3)?

What do the “different kinds of gifts” have in common (verse 4)?

Who is in all the different kinds of working and in everyone (verse 6)?

Why does each person receive “the manifestation of the Spirit” (verse 7)?

What are the different gifts the Spirit gives (verses 8, 9 and 10)?

How does the Spirit distribute each gift (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 help us understand about the Holy Spirit that John the Baptist says that Jesus will baptize with in John 1:29-34?

In your opinion, how is the “Spirit of the Lord” who came powerfully on David in 1 Samuel 16:4-13 similar to the Spirit who manifests gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11?

1 John 3:1-3 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

What is the result of the great love has the Father “lavished on us” (verse 1)?

Why does the world not know us (verse 1)?

What are we (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why is what we will be not yet known (verse 4)?

Who will we be like (verse 2)?

What do “all who have the hope” do (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does it make you feel to know that the “brothers and sisters” who receive manifestations of the Spirit for the common good in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 are called “children of God” who will be like Christ He appears in 1 John 3:1-3?

In your opinion, what does it mean to you that the “Lamb of God who takes away” our sins and baptizes with the Spirit in John 1:29-34 has a Father who lavishes great love on us and calls us His children in 1 John 3:1-13?

In your opinion, how does the “Spirit of the Lord” coming powerfully on David after he was anointed in 1 Samuel 16:4-13 help us begin to understand how we will be like Christ when He appears according to 1 John 3:1-3?

In your opinion, how do these passages from 1 Samuel, John, 1 Corinthians, and 1 John help us understand the blessing of today’s passage “Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over”?

In your opinion, how do these passages help us grow more comfortable with the anointing that we receive from the Holy Spirit as Christians, and the “great love the Father has lavished on us” following that anointing?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

August 27, 2017 – Psalm 23 – From the lives of David and Jesus – A Table Before Me

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” KJV Psalm 23:5a

2 Samuel 9:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

² Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

³ The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

⁴ “Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

⁵ So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

⁶ When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

⁸ Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

⁹ Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.

Why did David ask if there was anyone still “left of the house of Saul” (verse 1)?

What was Ziba (verse 2)?

How is Jonathan’s son described (verse 3)?

Where is Jonathan’s son (verse 4)?

What did King David do (verse 5)?

Why did Mephiboseth bow down when he came to David (verse 6)?

What did David do “for the sake of your father Jonathan” (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why did Mephibosheth say “what is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me” (verse 8)?

What did David give to Mephibosheth (verse 9)?

Where will Mephibosheth eat (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why is there the comment about Ziba having 15 sons and 20 servants (verse 10)?

How did Mephibosheth eat at the king’s table (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 6:32-40 - New International Version (NIV)

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Who did not give the “bread from heaven” (verse 32)?

Who gives the “true bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (verse 32)?

What is the “bread of God” (verse 33)?

In your opinion, why did the listeners say “always give us this bread” (verse 34)?

What does Jesus declare (verse 35)?

Who will never “go hungry” (verse 35)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say “you have seen me and still you do not believe” (verse 36)?

Who will Jesus “never drive away” (verse 37)?

What did Jesus come to do (verse 38)?

What is the will of “him who sent me” (verse 39)?

Who will have eternal life (verse 40)?

What will Jesus do for those who have eternal life (verse 40)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is David taking care of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:1-11 similar to Jesus giving the “bread of life” to all who come to Him in John 6:32-40?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - New International Version (NIV)

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

What did Paul pass on (verse 23)?

What did Jesus take “on the night he was betrayed” (verse 23)?

What did Jesus do before He broke the bread (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “do this in remembrance of me” (verse 25)?

What will “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (verse 26)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what do Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, reveal to us about the “bread of life” that Jesus promises to those who believe in Him in John 6:32-40?

In your opinion, how is a Christian participating in the Lord’s Supper as instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 similar to Mephibosheth eating at David’s table in 2 Samuel 9:1-11?

Revelation 3:14-22 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Whose words are sent to the “angel of the church of Laodicea” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus wish the Laodicean Christians were either hot or cold (verse 15)?

What will Jesus do because they are lukewarm (verse 16)?

What do the Laodiceans, who think they are rich, not realize (verse 17)?

Why does Jesus counsel them to purchase “gold refined in the fire” (verse 18)?

Who does Jesus “rebuke and discipline” (verse 19)?

Where is Jesus (verse 20)?

What will Jesus do if “anyone hears my voice and opens the door” (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does the image of Jesus standing at the door and knocking before coming in and eating from Revelation 3:14-22 add a rich and wonderful dimension to the eating of the bread and drinking of the cup that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26?

In your opinion, how are those from John 6:32-40 who saw Jesus and “still do not believe” similar to the people from Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22?

In your opinion, what do Mephibosheth, who calls himself a “dead dog” in 2 Samuel 9:1-11 and the Laodiceans of Revelation 3:14-22 have in common?

In your opinion, how do these passages from 2 Samuel, John, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation help us understand today’s passage from Psalm 23 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies”?

In your opinion, how can these passages help us to have a greater appreciation of the Lord’s Supper?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)