Psalm 99
Praising God’s holiness as seen in his dealings with Israel.
1-3 God rules from Israel
4-5 God is righteous in Israel
6-9 God forgives Israel
- God’s holiness is (1) his majestic transcendence—he is separate from all creation and (2) his moral purity—he is separate from all that is morally impure.
- What does “his holy hill” refer to (v. 9)? Why was God to be worshiped there?
Psalm 98
A call to praise the Lord for his grace to Israel.
1-3 Praise God for his grace to Israel
4-6 All humanity should praise the Lord
7-9 All creation should praise the Lord
- What is the historical reason all people and creation should praise the Lord (vv. 2-3)?
- Note from v. 6 how people are called to view the Lord—as the King. What does a king do? What authority does he have? Now apply these truths to God!
Psalm 97
Praising God for his righteous reign.
1-6 All should praise the Lord
7 Call to worship God exclusively and universally
8-12 Jerusalem’s joy in the Lord
- How extensive is God’s rule? As a believer how does that give you hope and comfort?
- What characterizes true believers (v. 10)? How does your life demonstrate this?
Psalm 96
Praising the one true God for his future worldwide rule.
1-6 Praising the one true God
7-9 All nations called to worship God at Jerusalem
10-13 God will rule and judge the world
- Why are “the gods of the peoples” called “idols”? What reason is given for this?
- What truth does the psalmist rely on to call for exclusive worship of God and refute all non-biblical religion?
- Where and how did the psalmist call all to worship the one true God (vv. 8-9)?
Psalm 95
A call for joyful worship of believers.
1–5 Sing for joy
6–11 Bow in worship
- There are two calls to God’s people in this psalm—where and what are they? What reasons are given for God’s people to do so?
- God wants more than merely bowing down before him—what else does he want (vv. 7–8)?
Psalm 94
Crying to God the righteous judge to deal with the wicked.
1–3 A plea to God the judge
4–7 The deeds of the wicked
8–11 A rebuke of the wicked
12–15 The blessing of the righteous
16–19 The security of the righteous
20–23 The trust of the righteous
- Meditate on verse 14.
- What is verse 20 saying? Why is this so?
Psalm 93
A hymn of God’s unending reign.
1–2 God rules the world
3–4 God rules creation
5 God rules his people
- Think about the power and sound of crashing sea waves—can any human stop them? As God can, what does that say about his rule?
- Why did God give laws to his people (v. 5)?
Psalm 92
Praising God for his righteous rule.
1–5 Praising God for his love and deeds
6–9 God’s judgment of the wicked
10–15 God’s blessing of the righteous
- Compare verse 5 with Isaiah 40:13, 28; 55:9; Romans 11:33
- Note how the righteous (vv. 10–15) compare with the wicked (vv. 6–9). What is the difference? Is that difference seen in your life?
Psalm 91
Trusting in God for protection.
1–2 Trust in God
3–13 God’s protection
14–16 God’s promises
- What are the different ways “trust” or “faith” are expressed in this psalm?
- “Knowing God’s name” (v. 14) is far more than mental knowledge of what God is called—it is personal, dependent, and submissive. “Name” refers to all that God is characterized by. Do you “know the Lord’s name”?
Psalm 90
A prayer for God’s wisdom and grace due to life’s shortness.
1–2 Safety in an eternal God
3–6 Man’s short life
7–12 The need for God’s wisdom
13–17 Prayer for God’s grace
- Read and sing Isaac Watt’s hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past” with this psalm.
- We tend to think—and life—like we will live forever. Meditate on verses 3–6, and pray verse 12.
- Moses wrote this psalm—can you see how 40 years of wondering in the wilderness would evoke the feelings in verses 7–11?
- Verse 12 is this psalm’s main point—wisdom is skillfully and accurately applying God’s Word to everyday life. Why is wisdom so important given how short life is?
Psalm 89
Mourning the demise and praying for the restoration of the house of David.
1–4 God’s grace toward and covenant with David
5–18 God’s grace toward David
19–37 God’s covenant with David
38–45 God’s rejection of David’s house
46–Prayer for God to renew his grace and remember his covenant
- Verses 5–18 show God’s glorious greatness that he will uphold his covenant with David
- Verses 19–37 is an elaboration of the covenant God made with David in 2 Samuel 7:8–16
- Compare the end of this psalm with its beginning; what does the psalmist always rely on? What application can you make?
Psalm 88
Crying to God while in dark despondency
1–2 Crying to God
3–5 Living on the edge of death
6–9a Feeling forsaken by God
9b–12 Calling to God for mercy
13–14 Crying to God for help
15–18 Existing in darkness
- As you read this psalm—the gloomiest of all the psalms—keep the psalmists’ opening words in verses 1–2 in mind. A gloomy and difficult life is never a reason to abandon and not seek God.
- Is this psalm nothing but complaint and lament? What verses are not? What application can you make?
- How long has the psalmist experienced these hardships?
