The Prayers of the Psalms Lifegroup Discussion Questions

May 24, 2020 – “The Benefits of Praise”

Get to Know Each Other

1. Go around the group and share something about yourself that nobody knows (including your spouse if possible). This could be a random fact, a story, a hobby, etc.

2. What is one plan for the summer you are looking forward to?

Going Deeper

3. What is one point from the sermon that stood out to you?

4. Share with each other one memory from your past and one memory from recent years when God did something wonderful in your life or the life of someone you love.

5. Do you tend to focus more on your needs and hurts in life, or your blessings and good fortunes? Do you think “counting your blessings” is harder to do? If so, why?

Application

6. For your time of prayer in the group, choose a couple of the Praise Psalms to read aloud (see below) and try to spend a set time (or all) of your prayer session solely focused on giving God praise and thanks.

Psalms of Praise

Psalm 8

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 34

I will extol the LORD at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me;

let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Psalm 48

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 65

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;

to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer,

to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins,

you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose

and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house,

of your holy temple. You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power,

having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

where morning dawns, where evening fades,

you call forth songs of joy. You care for the land and water it;

you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water

to provide the people with grain,

for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty,

and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 93

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;

the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;

indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Your throne was established long ago;

you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, LORD,

the seas have lifted up their voice;

the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

mightier than the breakers of the sea—

the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes, LORD, stand firm;

holiness adorns your house

for endless days.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 111

Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart

in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD;

they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works,

giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever,

enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people;

he ordained his covenant forever—

holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 113

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants;

praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised,

both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes,

with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home

as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 115

Not to us, LORD, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say,

“Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven;

he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold,

made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel,

feet, but cannot walk,

nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them. All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—

he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—

he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD—

he is their help and shield. The LORD remembers us and will bless us:

He will bless his people Israel,

he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the LORD—

small and great alike. May the LORD cause you to flourish,

both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the LORD,

but the earth he has given to mankind. It is not the dead who praise the LORD,

those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the LORD,

both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 116

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD:

“LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the unwary;

when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you. For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD

in the land of the living. I trusted in the LORD when I said,

“I am greatly afflicted”; in my alarm I said,

“Everyone is a liar.” What shall I return to the LORD

for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, LORD;

I serve you just as my mother did;

you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD—

in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 117

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 118

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever. Let Israel say:

“His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say:

“His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say:

“His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;

he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me,

but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side,

but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees,

but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the LORD I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall,

but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory

resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!

The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;

the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live,

and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely,

but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous;

I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD

through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes. The LORD has done it this very day;

let us rejoice today and be glad. LORD, save us!

LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God,

and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you;

you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another;

they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—

and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, LORD;

your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises

and faithful in all he does. The LORD upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all he does. The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes,

in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them—

he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,

the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,

the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner

and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever,

your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD. Psalm 147

Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit. The LORD sustains the humble

but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;

make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds;

he supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle

and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love. Extol the LORD, Jerusalem;

praise your God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates

and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders

and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool

and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob,

his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation;

they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 148

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens;

praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever—

he issued a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women,

old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn,

the praise of all his faithful servants,

of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD. Psalm 149

Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;

let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor

and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters,

their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them—

this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the LORD.