The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the definition and blessedness of those who fear God.
Scripture
Psalms 34:7-16
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Observations
From this Psalm define in your own words what it means in practice to fear of the Lord. (v11-13)
List the blessings of those who fear the Lord in your own words (v7-15).
Reflection and Prayer
This Psalmist wrote to inspire and instruct the hearer to fear the Lord. Reading this definition (v11-14) would you say that you live with the fear of the Lord? Why / why not? Reflect on your tongue, your behavior, and your relationships – and pray where there Lord needs to instill His fear in you.
What needs do you have in your life? James says “you have not because you ask not” (4:2). With thanksgiving, pray boldly through the promises in this Psalm, including:
The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the rewards the righteous – of those who fear the Lord.
Scripture
Psalms 112:1-4
1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Observations
Note: To fear the Lord means to live with the knowledge that God is our creator and judge, and therefore we his servants who live according to His will and depart from evil (See Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Psalm 34:11-14, Proverbs 3:7; 8:13)
According to verse one, what do we learn of “the man who fears the Lord”? Why would that be characteristic of such a person? (See the definition above).
List the blessings reserved for those who fear the Lord (verses 2-4). Then explain what you understand by each of those phrases.
What are the characteristics of “the man who fears God” according to the second halfof verse 4?
Reflection
As a New Testament believer, do you usually read the Bible and see commands that God and his Son Jesus gives?
How do you relate to those commands – more like suggestions to guide you, or like clear instructions to be obeyed? [note: try to distinguish here between what you KNOW to be true and what you DO or FEEL].
How do you understand God feels about the commands he writes in the Bible – such as those contained in Matthew 5-6?
How do you feel about the promise in this Psalm that “Wealth and riches are in [the] house [of him that fears the Lord”?
Why do you think God can trust a man who fears him with possessions? (hint: look at the definition on one who fears God in the previous section]
Do you believe that God delights to prosper you?
Prayer
In Isaiah 11:2 the Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Spend some time and pray that God will give you a greater knowledge and fear of Him through the revelation by His Holy Spirit. And then boldly ask God to bless you as promised in Psalm 112.
The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the rewards of those who fear God.
Scripture
Psalms 25:8-14
8 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
Observation
Note: To fear the Lord means to live with the knowledge that God is our creator and judge, and therefore we his servants who live according to His will and depart from evil (See Eccl 12:13-14; Psalm 34:11-14, Proverbs 3:7; 8:13)
What does the “good and upright Lord” do with sinners according to verse 8?
Verse 9 qualifies the disposition/ attitude of those who are taught by the Lord – which sinners does he teach?
Comparting verses 9 and 12, what link do learn about the fear of the Lord?
List the blessings reserved for those who fear the Lord (verses 12-14). Then explain what you understand by each of those phrases.
Reflection and Prayer
In verse 14 the Psalmist promises “the secret of the Lord is with those who fear him.” The ESV renders the translation “friendship with the Lord is for those who fear him.” Would you say that God regards you as friend and trusts you with the secrets and plans on his heart? How do you feel about the fact that God wants to befriend you in that way? Talk to God about that now!
The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the blessings of a life devoted to God.
Scripture
Psalms 1:1-6
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Observations
The opening line of the Book of Psalms (v1) starts with “Blessed is the man who does not…” – list the three things; how do these three things relate? (hint: note the progression).
What is the secret of a blessed / good and successful life according to the Psalmist? Why would this lead to a good life?
The Psalmist writes the blessed life metaphorically as a fruitful tree; can you translate the figurative speech to everyday, real life?
Then the Psalmist writes the life of the ungodly figuratively – what type of life does this speak of? Compare this with the life of a righteous.
What do you think v5 means?
Reflection and Application
If you consider secular entertainment in movies, television, magazines and also advertisements – what does contemporary philosophy describe as the “good life”? Think and write it down. How does that compare to what the Bible prescribes as God’s blessed life?
Have you noticed that as you spend time in secular movies / literature / conversations that you long more and more for what the world promises as “the good life”? Why?
Would you say that – based on the truth contained in this Psalm – your life has the promise of success and longevity because of your commitment to God’s Word? How do you wish to respond?
Meditate on this Psalm by reading it out loud a few times and then personalize it in your own prayer to God. (Look at your watch and take 5-10minutes of praying only about the content in this Psalm’s content to God). What did God reveal to you in this Psalm and in your life?
The Aim of this devotional study is to increase your appreciation and hope for Christ Jesus’ work of salvation.
This short sermon jam of Judah Smith will greatly enhance this Bible Study:
Scripture
Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Observation
Note: you will notice very clear correlation between Ephesians and Colossians since they were written in the same time, to similar congregations who shared a similar challenges by the same man, Paul.
Read through the passage and list the benefits we have in God because of Christ’s saving work in our lives.
Write down what you understand with these phrases Paul uses to describe Christ’s work of salvation in our lives:
Blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places:
Chose us:
To be holy and blameless:
Predestined for adoption as sons:
To be the praise of his glorious grace:
Has blessed us in the Beloved:
Redemption through his blood:
Forgiveness of sins:
Unite all things in him:
Obtained an inheritance as sons:
Predestined according to his purpose:
Sealed with the Holy Spirit as guarantee of our inheritance:
What does Paul mean with the phrase “hope in Christ”?
Application
Reflect on what you know of Scripture (and even what is above). What are you sure of is yours eternally because of what Christ has accomplished for you. What is your inheritance in Christ – what do you hope for in the life to come?
Prayer
Pray the following five things for yourself and your small group (or someone you love) the first prayer of Paul for the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:17-21
17 [I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.Seal
Shofar Durbanville Bible Studies 