⇒INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY HELPS⇐

Inductive Bible Studies Questions from the Psalms

The first and most important task is to find out if this Psalm gives us clues about when it was written.

David wrote almost half the Psalms and Asaph, who lived at the same time as David, wrote another 12 Psalms.

Please use Bobwetmore.com on each Psalm.  It may be helpful in answering questions, although it is fallible and probably often not quite correct.

A. There are different kinds of Psalms

1. 1. Some Psalms are laments, where the Psalmist is sad about bad things which have happened.  Does your paragraph have any lamenting?
   2. Some Psalms ask God to punish the psalmists’ enemies.  Does your paragraph include the psalmist asking God to judge enemies or oppressors?  What does the Psalmist ask God to do?
   3. Many Psalms include prayers for God’s deliverance or help.  Does your Psalm include a request for God’s deliverance or help?  What is your psalmist asking God to do?  What is the problem your psalmist is going through?
   4. Many Psalms include praise for God’s nature, character, promises, actions, words, creation, power, goodness and many other attributes.  If your Psalm does this, what does he say about God.
   5. Some Psalms are confessions of sin.  If you Psalm does this, what is the sin?  How does the Psalmist come to God?  What is the Psalmist seeking from God in reference to his confession?
   6. Some Psalms are wisdom teaching Psalms.  Does your Psalm give a teaching which might bring wisdom.  Does your Psalm talk about wisdom and why it is valuable?
   7. Finally, a surprising number of psalms are partially or even completely messianic.  Is your Psalm Messianic.  What does it say about the Messiah’s coming?  Is the Psalm about both the earthly king (perhaps David or Solomon) and the Messianic king?  Does your Psalm tell us something about the Messiah’s rule over all the earth or something like that?  If not, why do you think it is Messianic?