Psalms (Speer) - Course Study Guide (Print)

An in-depth study of the book of Psalms by Charles Speer

Contents:

Lesson 1:     INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS……………………….....1

Lesson 2:     INTRODUCTION-PART TWO…………………………....6

Lesson 3:     PSALMS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING (I)…12

Lesson 4:     PSALMS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING (II).18

Lesson 5:     THE GOD OF THE PSALMS……………………………...26

Lesson 6:     THE GOD OF THE PSALMS (I)………………………...31

Lesson 7:     GOD'S REVELATION IN THE PSALMS (I)…………38

Lesson 8:     GOD'S REVELATION IN THE PSALMS (II)……….42

Lesson 9:     THE GOD OF ISRAELITE HISTORY…………………..47

Lesson 10:  THE ROYAL PSALMS (I)…………………………………....53

Lesson 11:  THE ROYAL PSALMS (II)………………………………...…58

Lesson 12:  SONGS OF ASCENTS (I)……………………………..…….64

Lesson 13:  SONGS OF ASCENTS (II)……………………………..……69

Lesson 14:  DELIVERANCE PSALMS………………………………....….74

Lesson 15:  IMPRECATORY PSALMS…………………………….....……80

Lesson 16:  THE ETHICAL PSALMS………………………………....……86

Lesson 17:  FORGIVENESS IN THE PSALMS (I)……………..…….92

Lesson 18:  FORGIVENESS IN THE PSALMS (II)……………..……97

Lesson 19:  THE MESSIANIC PSALMS (I)………………………...…..102

Lesson 20:  THE MESSIANIC PSALMS (II)…………………………....109

Lesson 21:  THE MESSIANIC PSALMS (III)……………………...……115

Lesson 22:  THE MESSIANIC PSALMS (IV)…………………......……120

Lesson 23:  THE MESSIANIC PSALMS (V)…………………....……….125

Lesson 24:  HOW TO USE THE PSALMS……………………….....…….130

INTRODUCTION:
Have you occasionally wished to know better the heart of God? Would it not be a great
source of joy and teaching to encounter someone (or ones) who knows God
intimately and can teach us how to relate to Him on a more personal level?
Juan Carlos Ortiz, in a book called DISCIPLE, wrote a chapter entitled “The Language of
the Kingdom.” He says that the Psalms can help us develop the language of the kingdom,
which is the language of praise. Likening the book of Psalms to a symphony, he says it begins
in Psalm 1 with a few violins, but ends in the last few psalms with a thunderous refrain by the
whole orchestra in creation! Why all the noise? Because of God’s awesome and impeccable
nature and character. Because of His mighty deeds–in times past and in the present. If we are
to adopt the language of the kingdom, we must learn to praise the Lord. However, we can’t
simply repeat the word “praise” or endlessly refrain “Hallelujah’s.” We must know the “why”
and the “how” of praise. Then, like the psalmists, “His praise will always be on my lips”
(34:1). Our new vocabulary will replace the old, some of which is complaint and murmur. Unlike the
ungrateful and disbelieving Israelites in the wilderness who constantly complained, we must
learn to praise instead of complain. Out of the same Christian mouth should not come blessing
and cursing. We need new language, praise, added to our spiritual vocabulary. We Christians
seem to run out of praise language–a part of the language of the kingdom–pretty quickly! We
need to let this language displace the language of the worldly kingdom, which is not in
harmony with praise of God, and that is that complaining and murmuring syndrome.
This book has great personal value. It is meditation material. It is reflection reading. It is
personal pondering.