Unit 3: Worship In The Psalms
Lesson 10
Topic: Worship God In Times Of Trial
Memory Verse: Psalm 56:12.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee (KJV).
Central Truth
Praising God can lift us up in any situation.
The Lesson Outline
1. Trust God when Afraid
A. When We Find Ourselves under Attack - Psalm 56:1-7.
B. The Lord Is Greater Than Our Fears - Psalm 56:8-13.
2. Praise God When Overwhelmed
A. The Lord ls Our Refuge - Psalm 61:1-4.
B. We Will Praise God in Song and in Action - Psalm 61:5-8.
3. Rely on God When Opposed
A. What if the Lord Were Not on Our Side? - Psalm 124:1-5.
B. Praise God for Preserving Us - Psalm 124:6-8.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Recognise the reality of trials even in the lives of God's people.
2. Describe what the Book of Psalms teaches about why we can worship God amid hard times.
3. Appreciate the value of praise at a means of redirecting their focus toward God when they fee burdened or ovenwhelmed.
Introducing the Lesson
In the Old Testament, the root meaning of the word worship is "to bow," a reference to giving due honour and acknowledgment to an individual (most often toward God).
When applied to God, the word speaks to external acts that reflect internal attitudes and values. For this rason, while this word only appears seventeen times in the Psalms, worship to God is present throughout his book, seen in responses such as trustst, praise, glory, acclaim, and magnification directed toward God.
As we move through this unit, note the many ways we can show our heartfelt worship to Him. Today we begin this journey by examining worship amid times of trial.
Psalm 56:3-9,13.
[3] What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
[4] In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
[5] Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
[6] They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait formy soul.
[7] Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
[8] Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
[9] When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this | know; for God is for me.
[13] For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Psalm 61:1-5,8.
[1] Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayers.
[2] From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
[3] For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
[4] I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
[5] For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
[8] So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Psalm 124:1-5.
[1] If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
[2] If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
[3] Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
[4] Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
[5] Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Commentary and Application
1. Trust God When Afraid
A. When We Find Ourselves Under Attack - Psalm 56:1-7.
Danger from enemiesand the fear that resultsis a common theme in the Book of Psalms. Often, these enemies are foreign rulers and armies.
However, in psalms such as Psalm 56, the threat is individual. As a result, the fear and danger can be more subtle, yet just as real.
Commentators note that the attacks mentioned here often come from people who do not take the Lord or His Law seriously, and it shows in how they speak to and treat the people of God. Just as real as attacks of an invading force, these are aimed at our faith in God. Our attackers can present real dangers, whether they are physical or dangers to our reputation, emotional well-being, or even our faith.
This psalm of David records the cries of his heart as he desperately fled to Gath while Saul pursued him. There, he felt threatened by the king of Gath and fled yet again (see 1 Samuel 21:10 through 22:1).
And so, we find David pleading to God for mercy, fearful of the bold attacks of his enemies (Psalm 56:1-3, NLT).
It's worth noting that the terrm rendered "man" in verce 1 is not the usual word for man. The term used here usually emphasises the weak and mortal aspect of the human race. (Note its use in Isaiah 13:7; 24:6, KJV.) In short, the Psalmist provided a reminder that while his attackers were real, they were weak in comparison to the Almighty God.
It is not surprising, then, that David can proclaim his trust in the Lord; he does not need to fear whatever human flesh can do to him, Psalm 56:4).
Mere mortals are no match for God. This is not to say that the battle is not real. David's enemies twisted his words and looked for opportunities to bring him trouble and harm (verses 5-7). Yet he held tightly to the confidence that God would not let them get away with their wicked schemes, but would inflict real consequences upon them for their wickedness.
David included danger. of physical harm in his lament. While we may not face this kind of danger, we know what it means to have our words twisted and our beliefs attacked by those who reject the power and authority of our God.
When attacks come, and fear arises, we can rest in the knowledge that God is greater than any foe.
Questions for Application
What are some specitic ways believers are attacked today?
How can the trust in God expressed in Psalm 56 help us endure those attacks?
B. The Lord Is Greater than Our Fears - Psalm 56:8-13.
Psalm 56:8 provides beautiful imagery and illustration to the incredible compassion of our Lord. David calls upon God to remember his sorrows and recall the tears he has shed.
This, of course, was not so that God could reopen the wounds of the past that David had endured. Rather, such remembrance would testfy of God's faithful care through the difficult times of life.
At this point, the psalm becomes a kind of celebration of trust in God-of recognition that God is greater than David's enemies: "My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!" (verse 9, NLT). David's proclamation reminds us of Paul's exaltation, in Romans 8:31-39, that nothing can separate us from God's love, because if He is for us, nothing can stand successfully against us.
Such an assurance (be it from David or Paul) is rooted in the promises of God: promises that can be trusted. Psalm 56:10-11 is quite similar to verses 3-4, and serves as a kind of poetic refrain for what is contained in the passages bracketed by these pairs of statements. David recognised that his enemies were real. Had he been left to fend for himself, there was genuine reason for fear.
He would no doubt have been overwhelmed by his enenmies and their wickedness. But he trusted God to intervene. Such trust reassured him that no mortal could take away God's promises.
From there, the psalm ends with David accepting his responsibility to respond properly to the loving and trustworthy God he served (verses 12-13).
David vowed to faithfully follow God's commands. It is critical, however, that we see David's commitment in the context of what has come before. He would obey with an attitude of heartfelt praise. This is the nature of what it means to walk with God.
Life as His follower is not a cold transaction of service-for-protection. It is a relationship built on a recognition of who God is, gratitude for all He has done, and joy in walking in His presence daily. Such a life can be gloriously free of fear.
Questions for Application
Why is it important to recognise that spiritual battles cannot be won without the intervention of the Lord?
What are some ways we can respond to God for His gracious intervention?
2. Praise God when Overwhelmed
A. The Lord Is Our Refuge - Psalm 61:1-4.
In Psalm 61, David began with a statement that can resonate with every follower of God: "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, Icry to you for help (verses 1-2, NLT).
He projects a sense of desperation, capped by the phrase "from the ends of the earth.
This refers to remote places that are far from his known surroundings. For a king such as David, this coud take the form of leading his forces in a faraway military batlle in an unknown land. For other God-followers, it can be more personal|and more unseen, with the unknown comes uncertainty, and even anxiety, as one struggles to grasp the battles he or she is facing. Believers today confront a wide range of uncertainty, whether financially, relationally, or culturally with political and social upheaval. In' these unfamiliar settings, the heart of the believer instinctively cries out to God.
These cries are well-founded and rooted in God's past blessings:
"For you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me" (verse 3, NLT). David had often enjoyed the safe harbour of God's refuge amid the storm of life. God had protected him from the with great military murderous intentions of Saul and provided him victories. It is important to highlight, then, that the fortress of verse 3 is unreachable by any human, including David himself. Even this great king knew that only God could protect him. It is no surprise, then, that David would pray to live forever in God's sanctuary, "thy tabernacle" (verse 4, KJV), where God's people met God. David longed to rest safely in God's presence.
There is a temptation in the overwhelming moments of life to adopt the battle as our own-to trust our own instincts and strength in a struggle to figure out, or even fight, our way to victory. We do well to learn from David.
The battle belongs to the Lord. He desires that we seek out the refuge that only He can give. Instead of filling our hearts with anxious and fearful thoughts, we can choose to fill our hearts with praise.
Questions for Application
What are some common issues that cause the believer to feel overwhelmed?
How do you normally respond when life overwhelms you, and how might you better respond?
Psalm 61:5 is a natural continuation of verse 3 (NLT):
For you are my safe refuge..."and "For you have heard my vows verse 5, NLT), God's mércies do not exist in a vacúum, Rather, they exist in a relationship between God and His people, While "vows" can seem like a daunting term, it basically refers to a commitment to God, Here, David did not take such commitments lightly" instead, he honoured God.
This healthy communion with God gave David the assurance that he had been given the inheritance of the Lord"an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name" (NLT).
Verses 6-7 are especially important for Christians today, for they foreshadow the everlasting reign of the Messiah, who would arise from the line of David. God's promises of preservation are rooted in the hope we hold so dear in Christ.
And so, what began as a heartfelt cry from a lonely, distant place in the beginning of the psalm became an intimate moment with God
in the sanctuary. of His presence. Despite whatever overwhelming circumstances David may have faced, God's precious promises were unmoved.
The future was secure. God would preserve King David and his line, ultimately fulfilling His unfailing love for humanity through Christ.
Verse 8, then, serves as a fitting capstone on this psalm. for it describes worship by voice and by action: "Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day" (NLT). An ongoing relationship with God is a relationship of praise unto Him. David offered praise to God by prayer and by song. Yet as he did, he also lived a life of commitment to God that reflected such praise. He fulfilled his commitments to God as an act of praise, recognising that God was always near to him. God's presence and His promises would never leave David.
Likewise, the Christian life today is a life of praise to the Lord. This praise is offered in word and song, and it is demonstrated by faithfulness to the commitment we have made to God as His children.
Both of these forms of praise can be challenging at times. Sometimes words do not come easily when life is hard.
But in such moments we can reflect upon God's faithful promises. Likewise, living for Him can be challenging in the face of temptation to sin, or even fear of what may happen to us for serving Him. Then, yet again, we find peace and security in knowing that the Lord is near, and He is faithful to His promises.
Questions for Application
What are some of your favourite songs for worshipping the Lord, and why do they mean so much to you?
How do you dermonstrate your praise to the Lord through your lifestyle?
3. Rely on God When Opposed
A. What if the Lord Were Not on Our Side? - Psalm 124:1-5.
Psalm 124 is a Psalm of Ascent. That is, this psalm was sung by God's people as they made their way through Jerusalem toward the temple to worship. (The fifteen Psalms of Ascent are Psalms 120-134.) The people would pass through the Kidron Valley, ascend toward the temple steps, and then climb those steps to the entrance of the temple. These psalms, which are usually quite joyful, extol and exalt the Lord, recognising His might, His grace, and His mercy - a fitting prelude to a time of corporate praise in His presence.
Psalm 124 is believed to have been written upon return from the Babylonian Exile, a fact that adds to its rich meaning and beautiful poetry. God's people were well aware of the horrors that an evil enemy could inflict upon them. They, or their immediate ancestors, had personally witnessed what happens God is not on their side.
Psalm 124:1-2, then, is a rhetorical question with a terrifying answer. They knew beyond any doubt that all was lost if God were not on their side.
Note the vivid imnagery of verses 3-5. They contain two analogies that compared common dangers that faced God's people living in Israel to the dangers of their enemies. The first analogy is wild animals that stalkeda person who wandered out alone. When the Jordan River overflowed its banks during the rainy season (see Jeremiah 12:5, KJV).
Wild animals especially Iions would venture from their normal hunting grounds looking for food. If not for the Lord, God's people would have become like the helpless prey of ravernous animals. The second analogy is the flash floods brought on by seasonal rains in the mountains. The powerful floods could sweep people away and drOwn them. So the Psalmist was saying that their lives were being overwhelmed by their enemies, similar to being swamped by raging flood waters.
We, too, face dangers in our world. We are opposed by enemies of the faith in ways that could impact our relationships, our standing in a community, and even our livelihood. Like the Psalmist, we need to ask ourselves in those moments, What if the Lord were not on my side?"
Such a question can compel us to trust Him and remind us that since He is with us, we have nothing to fear!
Questions for Application
What are some forms of opposition that confront Christians today, and what would happen to us if God were not on our side?
How can you find reassurance that God is indeed on your side?
B. Praise God for Preserving Us - Psalm 124:6-8.
God was not merely a passive, impersonal force to His people.
He was deeply involved in their lives, helping them and blessing them.
They knew that their enemies could have torn them to pieces and destroyed them. But God intervened, and for that they offered exuberant praise (Psalm 124:6).
God's people recognised that their enemies had the ability to ensnare them. Without the Lord's help, they could find themselves in a trap, the prey of a crafty hunter. But the Lord had broken that trap, providing reason to praise the Lord.
Verse 8 forms a fitting conclusion to the psalm, in stark contrast to the opening in verse 1. While God's people could not defeat their enemies on their own, they had the help of the Lord, "who made heaven and earth." No trial is any match for the Almighty Creator, So, while the trials of life are real, they pale in comparison to the One who made us. He is worthy of all our praise.
Questions for Application
What are some specific reasons to praise God today?
How can recalling that God is Maker of heaven and the Earth help us endure trials?
Being a child of God does not always spare us from trials, but our position in Christ gives us the peace and confidence of knowing that God is with us. So, if you are struggling with a trial today, take time to praise God-not as a way of denying the trial, but to recognise that God walks with you and sustains you.
Ministry in Action
Identify someone in your life who is enduring a trial. This week, take time to tell him or her that you are praying and offer to help if possible.
If you are enduring a trial or feeling overwhelmed, ask someone in the class to join you in prayer throughout this week.
Spend some time in corporate praise, and continue in that attitude of praise throughout the week.
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