20 Days in the Psalms Psalms Journal

20 Days in the Psalms

Psalms Journal

INTRODUCTION

According to Norman L. Geisler in his book, A Popular Survey of the Old

Testament, (published by Baker Book House of Grand Rapids, Michigan,

1977) the Book of Psalms is divided into five sections:

1. Psalms about man and creation (1-41) -- corresponds to Genesis.

2. Psalms about Israel and redemption (42-72) -- Exodus.

3. Psalms about worship and the Temple (73-89) -- Leviticus.

4. Psalms about our sojourn on the earth (90-106) -- Numbers.

5. Psalms about praise and the Word of God (107-150) -- Deuteronomy.

(pp. 195-196)

Study days one through five will be spent looking at Psalms that epitomize

these five major divisions.

Also according to Norman L. Geisler, the Psalms can be classified into 11

main categories: Prophetic, Praise, Petition, Penitence, Pastoral, Precept,

Prayer, Profession of Faith, Patriotic, Pilgrimage, and Imprecatory. Study

days six through twenty will be spent studying Psalms that fall under each

of these main categories.

Day 1

Study a Psalm about man and creation from among Psalms 1-41.

1. Read Psalm 33.

2. Write out Psalm 33:6-9.

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3. Make a journal entry that discusses the following questions:

* By whom and how were the heavens and earth made?

* How should we respond to our Creator?

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4. Ask God to help you give Him the respect, honor, and glory that He

deserves.

Day 2

Study a Psalm about Israel and redemption from among Psalms 42-72.

1. Read Psalm 68.


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* Who reigns over Israel and all the earth?

* Who gives strength and power to His people?

* Who daily bears our burdens?

* Who delivers and redeems us?

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4. Thank God for being your burden-bearer, source of strength and

power, and your deliverer/redeemer.

Day 3

Study a Psalm about worship and the Temple from among Psalms 73-89.

1. Read Psalm 84.


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* What does God withhold from those who walk in His ways?

* What is better than a thousand days outside the house of God?

* Who is our shield and our supplier of grace?

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4. Praise God for being the Provider of every good thing.

Day 4

Study a Psalm about our sojourn on the earth from among Psalms 90-106.

1. Read Psalm 90.

2. Write out Psalm 90:1-6,12.

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* Who gave birth to the universe?

* Did anything or anyone come before God?

* Since nothing made God, what does this say about God in terms of

time?

* Since man's days on this earth are limited (as opposed to God

being eternal), what should we do with our days and why?

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4. Ask God to help you surrender your time to Him, so that your ultimate

goal in everything you do is to glorify Him.

Day 5

Study a Psalm of praise and the Word of God from among Psalms 107-150.

1. Read Psalm 148.


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* Who is to praise the Lord?

* Why is God praiseworthy?

* Will God's Law, His Word, ever pass away?

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4. Tell God you praise Him, and ask Him to help you respect and honor His

Word.

Day 6

Study prophetic verses from the Psalms.

1. Read Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8.

2. Write out Hebrews 1:8.

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3. Make a journal entry that discusses the following:

* Hebrews 1:8 tells us that Psalm 45:6 is talking about Jesus. What

does this tell us about the deity of Christ?

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4. Read Psalm 22.

5. Make a journal entry that discusses various aspects of Christ's crucifixion

as foretold in Psalm 22.

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6. Praise Jesus for having given up His heavenly position to come to the

earth as a man (yet still being fully God), and dying the death of a

common criminal (yet being sinless), in order to save us from our sin and

reconcile us to our heavenly Father (if we believe).

Day 7

Study a praise Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 145.


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* Where is the Lord in relation to those who call on His name?

* What does God do for those who revere Him?

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4. Lift up and bless God's name, and proclaim His holiness.

Day 8

Study a petition Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 6.


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* What does God do for those who cry out to Him?

* What does this say to me about what I should do when I am in

need?

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4. Thank God for always taking care of you and showing you His mercies

in your times of need.

Day 9

Study a penitence Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 51.


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* Who cleanses our hearts?

* Who renews our spirits?

* Who restores our joy?

* Who helps us to have willing spirits?

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4. Ask God to cleanse your heart, renew your spirit, restore your joy, and

help you to have a willing spirit that wants to honor and obey Him.

Day 10

Study a pastoral Psalm.

1. Read and memorize Psalm 23.

2. Write out all of Psalm 23.

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3. What is your favorite verse in Psalm 23 and why?

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4. Thank Jesus for looking after you as the Great Shepherd that He is.

Day 11

Study a precept Psalm. You will be studying Psalm 119 (the longest Psalm

and the longest chapter in the Bible) over five days.

1. Read Psalm 119:1-32.


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* What should I do with God's precepts?

* Should I begrudge or delight in God's statutes?

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4. Ask God to help you want to follow His ways and His precepts.

Day 12

Continue to study Psalm 119.

1. Read Psalm 119:33-72.

2. Write out Psalm 119:72.

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3. Make a journal entry that compares the value of God's Law to gold

and silver.

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4. Thank God for giving us a gift of immeasurable value, His Law.

Day 13


1. Read Psalm 119:73-112.


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* How long will God's Word last?

* How long will God's faithfulness last?

* What and who are servants to God?

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4. Praise God that His faithfulness will never end.

Day 14


1. Read Psalm 119:113-144.


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* What gives light?

* What gives understanding?

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4. Ask God to unfold His Word to you so you will have understanding of His

ways.

Day 15


1. Read Psalm 119:145-176.


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* What is given to those who love God's Law?

* Can anything cause those who love God's law to stumble?

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4. Thank God for His peace that surpasses all understanding that He gives

to those who seek after Him with all their hearts and souls and strength.

Day 16

Study a prayer Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 86.


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* What does God do when we voice our supplications to Him?

* What does God do when we are in trouble and we call out to Him?

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4. If you have any supplications or troubles to call out to God, do so now.

Day 17

Study a profession of faith Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 103.


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* How great is God's lovingkindness toward those who revere Him?

* How far does God remove our sins from us when we turn away

from our sin and toward God?

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4. Take time now to repent of any sins that you haven't yet handed over

to God.

Day 18

Study a patriotic Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 47.


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* Who is King of the earth?

* Who reigns over all the nations?

* What does God sit on?

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4. Personalize Psalm 47 by praying it to God.

Day 19

Study a pilgrimage Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 121.

2. Write out all of Psalm 121.

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* From whom does your help come?

* What does God not allow?

* Does God ever sleep?

* Who is your keeper?

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4. Thank God for always watching over you.

Day 20

Study an imprecatory Psalm.

1. Read Psalm 69.


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* Who can deliver us from trouble?

* Looking at verse 16, name two adjectives that describe God.

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4. Re-read verses 22-28.


* What is the difference between asking God to bring down His

divine justice on your enemies and asking God to curse your

enemies because of your personal grudge against them?

* Which one was the Psalmist doing?

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6. Praise God for His divine justice.

Log of Psalms Read During Personal Devotions Psalm Prophetic Praise Petition Penitence Pastoral Precept Prayer Profession

of Faith

Patriotic Pilgrimage Imprecatory

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Psalm Prophetic Praise Petition Penitence Pastoral Precept Prayer Profession

of Faith


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of Faith


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of Faith


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20 Days in the Psalms Psalms Journal

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