Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!
We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!
The Passage
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Post? Check out Thankfulness Is Not…
Psalm 118:5-9, 28-29 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
The Questions
1) What response does the Psalmist say he gets when he calls upon the Lord?
2) What rhetorical question does the Psalmist ask?
3) In verses 6-9, what point is the Psalmist trying to make?
The Findings for Intention
1) What response does the Psalmist say he gets when he calls upon the Lord?Sometimes there isn’t a need to look beyond what is on the page. It is written clearly and even finding the “original” intent would not give deeper insight. The Psalmist has the awareness of His God. He trusts in the solid truth that when he calls on God, the Lord will answer and set him free. The circumstances of the trial did not end, but reliance and trust in the Lord gives freedom from the distress of a situation or trial.
2) What rhetorical question does the Psalmist ask?
“What can man do to me?” is asked by the Psalmist. This particular question is asked at least two other times in Scripture, in Psalm 56 and Hebrews 13. In all three contexts the question is asked in comparing God to man. If God is on our side, then what could this world and the persons of this world possibly do to me or give to me that would surpass my relationship with the Lord.
3) In verses 6-9, what point is the Psalmist trying to make?
The Psalmist is making a series of comparison statements between taking refuge in the Lord and trusting in the world or the rulers of the world. The writer is secure in his knowledge that God is indeed his helper and deserves full confidence because of His ability to offer refuge to those who trust Him. By the end of the Psalm, he is secure and thankful that God endures!
The Everyday Application
1) What response does the Psalmist say he gets when he calls upon the Lord?
In times of trial and tribulation God simply asks that we trust. He asks that we trust that He is able, He is present, and most important He is in control. Our faith, our trust in Lord, isn’t dependent on circumstance. Actually, what we find here in Psalm 118 is that in the deepest of distress, the one place that we can turn is to the Lord. The Psalmist expresses his distress but is singing songs of thanksgiving because he is aware that God is able, good, and steadfast despite the distress.
2) What significance does the rhetorical question have for my life?
The Lord gives protection to those who put their trust in Him. Does it mean that life doesn’t happen? No, quite the opposite. It means life happens, maybe even more so, but in the midst of life, we can know beyond a shadow of doubt that there is something more. This world will offer tribulation and turmoil, but in Christ, and Him alone, we can find peace in midst of personal war. (John 16:33)
3) In verses 6-9, what point is the Psalmist trying to make?
The world we live in would like us to believe that it has the best and brightest options for whatever we need. If it is peace, it can give it. If we are looking for money, they have it. If we need a fix of just about anything, the world is ready and willing to help us out. The problem is that nothing the world has to offer is of eternal value. As believers, God desires us to follow Him first and foremost and when we do that, giving ourselves fully in pursuit of Him, the perishable things of this world are no match for the imperishable inheritance found in Christ. We can be thankful in the midst of trial and tribulation, joy and sorrow because we serve a God that his steadfast love endures forever and circumstances don’t change that!
Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
I Can Do That!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!
The Community!
Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Adoring Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
The Tools!
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources. Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
The Why!
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.
Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Adoring!