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Sample study - may be duplicatedKnowing God Through the PsalmsLesson 1 — God Is Sovereign“Sovereign” means having supreme power or authority.ww He is Creator.ww He is King.ww He rules now, though creation is inrebellion.ww He will judge evil.ww He will reward the godly.ww He will establish His righteous ruleon earth. Remember, as you work through each day’s study,pray and ask God to help you know, understand,and apply His truth to your life.Sample study - may be duplicated Joy of Living Bible Studies 800-999-2703 www.joyofliving.org

Sample study - may be duplicatedGod Is Sovereign - Day OneRead: Psalm 33:6-7 Psalm 95:6-8a John 7:16-17 Psalm 119:73 Psalm 146:5-6The book of Psalms is the hymnbook of Israel. The 150 collected psalmspraise the Lord, His Word, and His goodness.In this study we will look at some of the themes found in Psalms. TheLesson 1 theme is “God is Sovereign.” Today we will see what thepsalmists say about God the Creator.Many psalms proclaim that God reigns or rules over everything. In otherwords, He is sovereign. This is because He is the Creator. He madeeverything that exists, and His power maintains all that He created.Lesson 1 — Knowing God Through the PsalmsCreation witnesses to God’s existence. HisWord, the Bible, also tells us this truth. Yet manystill choose to deny God’s existence. Do you believe that what He says through Hiscreation and through His Word is true? Why orwhy not? From John 7:16-17, what did Jesussay was the prerequisite to knowing if what Hetaught was from God? If you have doubts—buttruly want to know if it is true in order to knowand obey God—ask Him to show you His truth,and He will do it. From today’s Bible verses (printed on the right side of the next page), listsome of the things that God created. What does Psalm 119:73 ask Him to give us? If you have time, read the Bible passages listed under Additional readingon the next page. What else do you learn about God the Creator?1 From Psalm 146:5-6, how will God care for Hispeople, and for how long? He is able to do thisbecause He is the Creator and He is sovereign.If you would like to, write these verses in yourown words, putting your name into the passage. From Psalm 95:6-8a (at right), what are we called to do and why? Take time now to thank and praise God for allof Creation. What aspects of His creation andHis continuing care for it are most meaningful toyou?In Psalm 74:13b-14, when referring to “the monster” and “Leviathan,” the psalmist chose the languageof Canaanite mythology to celebrate Yahweh’s victory over the nations. (Frank E. Gaebelein, editor.The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990).1Page 8Today’s Bible Reading6By the word of the Lord theheavens were made, theirstarry host by the breathof his mouth. 7 He gathersthe waters of the sea intojars; he puts the deep intostorehouses.— Psalm 33:6-76Come, let us bow down inworship, let us kneel beforethe Lord our Maker; 7 for heis our God and we are thepeople of his pasture, theflock under his care. Today,if only you would hear hisvoice, 8 “Do not harden yourhearts ”— Psalm 95:6-8aJesus answered, “Myteaching is not my own. Itcomes from the one who sentme. Anyone who chooses todo the will of God will find outwhether my teaching comesfrom God or whether I speakon my own.— John 7:16-17Your hands made meand formed me; give meunderstanding to learn yourcommands.— Psalm 119:735Blessed are those whosehelp is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lordtheir God. 6 He is the Makerof heaven and earth, the sea,and everything in them—heremains faithful forever.— Psalm 146:5-6Additional reading:Genesis 1-2Psalm 74:12-17Psalm 100Page 9Sample study - may be duplicated Joy of Living Bible Studies 800-999-2703 www.joyofliving.org

Sample study - may be duplicatedGod Is Sovereign - Day TwoRead: Psalm 9:7-8 Psalm 67:4 Psalm 74:12 Psalm 103:2-5 Psalm145:13Today we will look at how the Psalms testify that God is King overeverything in heaven and on earth.Lesson 1 — Knowing God Through the Psalms What is most meaningful to you today from thelist in Psalm 103:2-5 of benefits God bestows onus? Why not write a prayer here, thanking Himfor these things?Today’s Bible ReadingHe rules the world inrighteousness and judges thepeoples with equity.— Psalm 9:8 From Psalm 9:8 and Psalm 67:4, over whom does God rule?May the nations be glad andsing for joy, for you rule thepeoples with equity and guidethe nations of the earth.— Psalm 67:4 From the same verses, how does the Lord rule? Look up “equity” in thedictionary. From Psalm 9:7 and Psalm 145:13, how long willGod’s kingdom stand?But God is my King from longago; he brings salvation onthe earth.— Psalm 74:122Praise the Lord, mysoul, and forget not all hisbenefits—who forgives all your sinsand heals all your diseases,34who redeems your life fromthe pit and crowns you withlove and compassion, As their King, the Lord redeems His people. He acts on their behalf. Whatdo Psalm 74:12 and Psalm 103:2-5 say about this? How does it make you feel to know that Godis and always will be King over everything inheaven and on earth? How will you live your lifedifferently in light of this knowledge?5who satisfies your desireswith good things so that youryouth is renewed like theeagle’s.— Psalm 103:2-5The Lord reigns forever; hehas established his throne forjudgment.— Psalm 9:7Your kingdom is aneverlasting kingdom, andyour dominion enduresthrough all generations.— Psalm 145:13Page 10Page 11Sample study - may be duplicated Joy of Living Bible Studies 800-999-2703 www.joyofliving.org

Sample study - may be duplicatedGod Is Sovereign - Day ThreeRead: Psalm 106:7-8,13-15 Psalm107:10-15Even though creation is in rebellion against God, He rules today. BecauseLesson 1 — Knowing God Through the Psalms What did they finally do, and what happenedthen?of sin, the natural inclination of all people is to turn aside from God’s truthand go their own way (see Romans 3:10-12). The psalmists illustrated thispattern by looking back at the behavior of their own people, Israel. From Psalm 106:7-8, how did the Israelites rebel against God? Why didHe save them from the Egyptians? What was their response to the Lord for Hispowerful intervention? In Psalm 106:13-15, what was their next step of rebellion? How did Godrespond this time?Stop and think about how God loves you. HeGod saved His people from Egyptian slavery in spite of their rebellion.But later in the wilderness, He gave them what they asked for—andtheir craving ended in sickness. Today we also easily forget God’s manykindnesses to us. At times He sends trouble into our pathway, just to getour attention. How has God been kind to you? Do you sometimes forget to listen toHim? How has He called you back into fellowship with Him?doesn’t care whether you are a failure or a successby human standards. He has already providedeverything you need in Jesus Christ. (See page 4 ifyou aren’t sure what this means.)The first thing to do is to give thanks for that fact.Then allow His love to free you from your fears anddistress. Write a prayer to the Lord here. Tell Him whatyou have learned about Him and about yourselftoday. Ask Him to help you to trust Him and tostay in relationship with Him no matter what yourcircumstances. From Psalm 107:10-15, where did some people find themselves, andwhy were they there?Today’s Bible Reading7When our ancestors werein Egypt, they gave nothought to your miracles;they did not remember yourmany kindnesses, and theyrebelled by the sea, the RedSea. 8 Yet he saved them forhis name’s sake, to make hismighty power known 13But they soon forgot whathe had done and did not waitfor his plan to unfold. 14 In thedesert they gave in to theircraving; in the wildernessthey put God to the test.15So he gave them what theyasked for, but sent a wastingdisease among them.— Psalm 106:7-8,13-1510Some sat in darkness, inutter darkness, prisonerssuffering in iron chains,11because they rebelledagainst God’s commandsand despised the plans of theMost High. 12 So he subjectedthem to bitter labor; theystumbled, and there was noone to help.Then they cried to the Lordin their trouble, and he savedthem from their distress.14He brought them out ofdarkness, the utter darkness,and broke away their chains.1315Let them give thanks tothe Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds formankind.— Psalm 107:10-15Additional reading:Psalm 76Romans 3:10-12Page 12Page 13Sample study - may be duplicated Joy of Living Bible Studies 800-999-2703 www.joyofliving.org

Sample study - may be duplicatedGod Is Sovereign - Day FourRead: Psalm 9:7-8 Psalm 9:16-20 Psalm 51:3-4Today we will look at what the Psalms tell us about how God judges evil.Lesson 1 — Knowing God Through the Psalms Read Psalm 51:3-4. What did David, thepsalmist, recognize about himself, even thoughhe was one of God’s people and loved the Lord? From Psalm 9:7-8, since God is King, what does He have the right to doregarding all people?Today’s Bible ReadingThe Lord reigns forever; hehas established his throne forjudgment.78He rules the world inrighteousness and judges thepeoples with equity.— Psalm 9:7-8The Lord is known by hisacts of justice; the wicked areensnared by the work of theirhands.16Every person will be held accountable to GodFrom Psalm 9:16-20: How does God act on behalf of the needy and afflicted—those whom “thenations that forget God” have oppressed?the King. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the finaljudgment of all people. Verse 15 says, “Anyonewhose name was not found written in the book oflife was thrown into the lake of fire.” When you trustJesus Christ as your Savior, your name is recordedin that book. (See page 4 for more information.) What do you feel when you look ahead to thefinal judgment? Write down your thoughts andpray about this now.The wicked go down tothe realm of the dead, all thenations that forget God.1718But God will never forgetthe needy; the hope of theafflicted will never perish.19Arise, Lord, do not letmortals triumph; let thenations be judged in yourpresence.20Strike them with terror,Lord; let the nations knowthey are only mortal.— Psalm 9:16-203For I know mytransgressions, and my sin isalways before me. When the nations (the wicked) stand in God’s presence, what will theyrealize and how will this affect them?4Against you, you only, haveI sinned and done what is evilin your sight; so you are rightin your verdict and justifiedwhen you judge.— Psalm 51:3-4Additional reading:Revelation 20:11-15Page 14Page 15Sample study - may be duplicated Joy of Living Bible Studies 800-999-2703 www.joyofliving.org