Author Archives: Rev. Dr. David Bissett

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About Rev. Dr. David Bissett

I pastor a church in upstate NY. I'm happily married and the father of seven kids. It's fun, really! Leave me some feedback...

Study Psalm 131

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PSALM 131 — CPCC, Prayer Meeting August 22, 2007

Warm–Up Qn:  
When it comes to body-language, what are the tell-tale signs of a proud person?

    Background:
    • a psalm of ascents (Pss. 120—134), often sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem
    • by David, and believed by several scholars to be from his younger (pre-king) years; perhaps related to his initial experiences in the palace of King Saul, and his sense of humility there while he awaited his own time to reign
    • verse 3 repeats one of the final thoughts (on ‘hope’) of the previous psalm (130:7)
    • this psalm may also speak of the Messiah, in the days of his humiliation on earth

Study & Discussion Questions:
• (1.1) What is the spritual posture of men who are sinful by nature? What is the spiritual posture of the psalmist here?  Cf: Psalm 101.5b
• (1.1) Why is “lifted up” or ‘high” a refernece to pridefulness?
• (1.1) Here the heart and the eyes are spiritually connected; what is the relationship between the attitude of our heart, and the activity of our eyes?
• (1.1) What is meant by “things too great and too marvelous for me”?
• (1.1) Is it wrong to think on such things? or place oneself on a par with them?See Jeremiah 45:5; Isaiah 57:15; and, Romans 12:16.
• (1.2) Verse two uses a simile [‘like’] of a child who is weaned, who no longer nurses close at his mother’s breast. Let’s first consider the imagery before we pursue the spiritual comparison.

What is a child like while nursing?
How difficult is the weaning process?
What does the completion of weaning signify? 

• (1.2) Where in this imagery does the psalmist claim to be? [done & weaned]What do you think this signifies about him spiritually?
• (1.2) How does one “calm and quiet” his soul? What would hinder reaching these? [discuss both practically] Do many believers today practice such things?
• (1.2) Which spiritual fruit [Gal 5:22] would help achieve this spiritual posture?
• (1.3) This final verse is a call to hope in the LORD. How does it connect to the previous verses about his spiritual posture?
• (1.3) How would this final call, and the whole psalm be useful to pilgrims on their way to a feast in Jerusalem?

AMEN.

Winning the Future

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While the primary allegiance of Christians is to the Kingdom of God (present and future), we are also citizens of the kingdoms of earth, and called to do well in that role.  One of the most encouraging developments in American politics in the past two years has been the re-emerging voice of an ex-congressman, and former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.  His current emphasis on helping America comes from his recent book, WINNING THE FUTURE.   This past week (8-7-07) he spoke at the National Press Club and in short measure gave a fine (yet alarming) speech about the disaster of the present primary & election process.  I urge you to view this speech, and get a whiff of how precarious our present political situation is!
One criticism of the recent party candidate debates, although hilarious, was right on:

These modern debates “are a cross between [TV shows] The Batchelor, American Idol and Who’s Smarter Than a fifth Grader!” 

Let’s be praying for Americans to do better with all the freedoms we (presently) enjoy in selecting our leaders, caring for one another, and preserving our heritage.