Article
Speaking Truth and Love to Fear and Frustration
This is a time in our culture world where we need something to anchor us. We need to stand on something solid. We need our self-counsel to be something other than feelings. We need to encourage each other in God’s word. We need to both speak and receive the truth in love (Eph 4:15).
It would be so easy to focus on situational stress or get stuck on the horizontal limitations right now.
It would be so easy to focus on situational stress or get stuck on the horizontal limitations right now.
But it is an opportunity for those of us who follow Christ to help redirect our focus to the vertical reality of God’s trustworthy ways. David writes praise in Psalms 19, reflecting on the glory of God in general and special revelation. Let me outline a four-step example of how to interact with God’s Word to renew your mind and help others.
Step 1: Read Psalm 19:1-6 together and note general revelation (how God has revealed himself to all through the things he has created). Discuss the attributes of God. Examples: "heavens declare; the sky above proclaims" (omnipotent), "night to night reveals knowledge" (omniscient), "their voice goes out through all the earth" (omnipresent).
Step 2: Read Psalm 19:7-10 together and list anything that notates special revelation (how God has revealed himself to his children throughout Scripture). Discuss the specific terms (law, testimony, precept, commandment, fear, and rules) used to communicate God’s truth and have an open discussion of the differences.
Step 3: Review Psalm 19:7-9 again and write out things that point to the sufficiency of Scripture and the attributes that describe God’s truth.
For example: perfect (complete), "reviving the soul sure," "making wise the simple," etc.
Step 4. Read Psalm 19:10-14 together. Give time to write out the Psalmist's desires and discuss how each of them impact you personally.
Give time to write out the Psalmist's desires and discuss how each of them impact you personally.
For example: "keep back your servant from presumptuous sins" (v13a), "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight" (v14a).
Some application questions:
- God’s Word is more desired than gold and sweeter than honey. How does that impact your spiritual disciplines? Pray that the desires of your heart change to align with this truth.
- In verses 11-14, the Psalmist uses terms such as "errors", "hidden faults", "presumptuous (deliberate) sins". Pray for the Lord to bring to light these things in your heart and life, stirring any personal convictions so they may be confessed.
- How does this Psalm stir your affection towards the Lord? How can you live differently in this time of fear and frustration knowing God is your Rock and your Redeemer?
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