Timeless Biblical Truth.
Believers who suffer for their faith need to persevere in asking God to deliver them, knowing that He will not forsake His afflicted people but will hear their prayers and give them a reason to praise Him to others.
- Introductory cry: Believers who have a mature faith in the LORD may pray with growing assurance when circumstances are against them (1-10).
- Complaint: Believers may suffer circumstances when it appears that the LORD is ignoring them (1-2).
- Confidence: In times of distress, believers need to remember how the LORD has answered their prayers (3-5).
- Complaint: Believers may face times when, feeling the LORD is ignoring them, they may be mocked for their faith (6-8).
- Confidence: Believers who have a mature faith may by strengthened by recalling a lifetime of trusting the LORD (9-10).
- The lament proper: Believers who completely trust the LORD may, in their pain, cry out to Him (11-18).
- Believers who suffer from those who would make themselves their enemy, may appeal to LORD in their pain (11-15).
- In their distress, believers must continue to pour out their complaint to the LORD until He answers (16-18).
- The petition: Believers must continue to pray to the LORD with confidence for His deliverance until He answers (19-21).
- Declarative praise: Grateful believers praise the LORD for His answers to their prayer that others believers in distress may be encouraged to persevere in trusting the LORD (22-31).
- Praise encourages others to keep on praying (22-26).
- Praise is the immediate response for answers to prayer (22-23).
- Praise focuses on the LORD (24).
- Praise benefits other believers (25-26).
- Spreading the word about how the LORD delivers believers from their distress helps to bring others (wherever or whenever they live) to believe in the LORD (27-31).
Questions for Second Milers
- What emotional and physical experiences caused the outcry of verses 1-2?
- Note how closely this psalm pictures the sufferings of Christ (cf. Mt 27:35-46; Jn 19:23-24; Heb 2:12).
- What moods do verses 1-10 express? Is the psalmist basically negative or positive? What moods do you experience during times of distress? Can you relate to this psalmist?
- In these sufferings upon what does the faith of this man say about himself? What is the basis for his belief in God? Do you use a similar method to encourage yourself in the LORD?
- Contrast the beginning (1-21) and ending (22-31). What makes the difference?
- Note in verses 22-31 (i) how far-reaching is the effect of praise, and (ii) to whom do they mean most. Does your praise influence and encourage others?
- At what points does this psalm depict your experiences? How?
- Give your own title to this psalm.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
