Sabbath: In the Psalms: Part 1
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 17th of May 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 9:11-15, Psalms 122:1-9, Psalms 15:1-5, Psalms 24:1-10, Exodus 33:18-23, Psalms 5:1-12, Psalms 51:7-15.
Memory Text:
“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1, NKJV).
As Seventh-day Adventists, we are used to searching for the symbols of Revelation in the stories of the Old Testament to help us understand those symbols. These narratives, though far from the only good source, are found all through the Old Testament.
One particularly rich source of information is the book of Psalms, a collection of sacred poetry that explores many human experiences and possible interactions with God—ranging from despondency over sin and suffering to unbridled joy in His presence and His repeated promises for forgiveness and salvation.
A careful reading of the Psalms yields details that make the book of Revelation come alive, especially Revelation 14:1-20, which describes the final work of God’s remnant church on earth. God’s last-day people have been given the same assignment as Israel of old: we are to be a light to the nations, a final merciful call to all people to worship and obey their Maker.
Some details provided in God’s songbook can give us new ways to understand and appreciate our role in the final moments of earth’s history.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 24.
(21)
Several prophecies and themes in the Book of Psalms are well echoed and fulfilled in the Book of Revelation. This demonstrates that the Bible is not simply a collection of books but a divinely unified narrative about the plan of redemption. What was anticipated in the Book of Psalms was completed in the Book of Revelation. This coherent narration points to one person, Jesus Christ. This tells us that the Bible is alive, powerful, and can be trusted.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” – Hebrews 4:12
We studied poetry at school. When I say "studied", what I mean is that we learned poems off by heart so that we could parrot them back in tests and examinations. I can still do a passable recitation of Wordsworth's "Daffodils". At the time, I wondered what all the fuss was about. There wasn't even the glimmer of possibility that I would emulate the poets and write eloquent rhyme and metre, so why spend time "studying" it?
I studied science and forgot all about literature and particularly poetry. It wasn't until I was mature and studying computer science in later life that I discovered the significance of poetry. I met a man at one of our computer science conferences who also happened to be the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, one of our most prestigious research universities. He had a classics education and no background in computer science at all. But, his conversations with us nerds were inspiring. They were liberally sprinkled with ideas from great poetry literature. He knew how to instil ideas into our workshops that were both challenging and encouraging. My encounter with him gave me a new sense of the deep meaning in poetry that I had ignored all along.
The book of Psalms is the Hebrew poetry book, and I guess that human nature being what it is, they rote-learned it and recited and sang it, because it was there. They thought it was good to learn but few took time to think about the deeper meaning that the ancient poets had embedded in it.
So, how do we "mature?" Christians approach our study this week? I will leave that question hanging on purpose!
Maranatha!
We can approach this week's study as with anytime we study God's word: with prayer; with a childlike attitude; with structured bible study principles.
This past week I discovered The Psalms Project. It's a group of musicians that set the Psalms to music They have a goal to set all the Psalms to music, yes, all 150 of them. For the most part they are enjoyable, and a blessing, but some are needlessly "rocky." They have a YouTube channel with over 60 Psalms set to music.
One of the best ways to memorize the Psalms and other scripture is to set it to music. I believe that we were created with a musical mind. Music is a nearly universal language known in every culture, granted there are personal and cultural preferences of musical styles. Scripture songs are often used when teaching children and I believe that they could be helpful to those of us that are still young at heart, but not a youthful age.
Here's a link to "taste and see," for yourself. Singing through the Psalms, what a way to enjoy and learn them.
The Psalms Project YouTube playlist
another resource: the Maranatha Singers and their Psalms Alive series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFpwYoMyXLg
I love the Psalms. Yet I use the rest of the Bible too. I would say, since Christ quoted the Psalms,and Revelation is all about Christ victorious,it would be logical for Revelation to be linked to Psalms in one form or another.
I would like to give my opinion on The Spirit of Prophecy. My Bible says if any one takes away from these words.. Simply if you spend more time with The Spirit of Prophecy,than the Bible you are in the wrong. Just like TV, if it consumes your life you are in the wrong. Read every word of the text and let the Holy Spirit guide you, He will if you ask. Revelation 22:19. Psalm 48:14.
:
George Whitefield, the great eighteenth-century evangelist, was hounded by a group of people who called themselves the “Hell-fire Club.” They poked fun at his work and mocked him. On one occasion one of them, a man, was mimicking Whitefield to his pals, delivering his sermon with amazing accuracy, perfectly imitating his tone and facial expressions, when he himself was so affected that he sat down and was converted on the spot.
God’s word says this – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12. Just as the Psalms teach that God's word is a light to our path and a source of spiritual revival, this story serves as a vivid example of how Scripture, even when spoken in mockery, can still reach the heart, convict the soul, and lead to repentance—showing that no human resistance can ultimately dull the penetrating truth of God’s word.
Jesus told us that in the Last Days, the love of many will grow cold. That hurts. It hurts to be excluded and rejected and misunderstood and not loved fully, ...and it hurts to feel one's own love not warm enough towards those precious family, church family, friends, neighbors, strangers, all who are made in God's own image and cherished by Him.
I looked ahead to next week's lesson because it continues with Part 2 of the Psalms connected with prophecy, and I don't see the following psalm in either this week's lesson or next's....so here it is for us to bask in. It reminds me of Romans 8:31-39. The poet David reveals that he desires and seeks after only one thing...What is that?
Psalm 27, NKJV
An Exuberant Declaration of Faith
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,(and we can add in here whomever rejects us)
Then the Lord will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Sis. Esther, thank you for this lovely reflection. I have long been moved by, and grateful for your insights - which I am sure are a reflection of your journey with God. Thank you for sharing so beautifully as the Holy Spirit enlightens you.
To answer your question: my plea is as David's is: One thing that I desire of the Lord: to dwell within His house, to inquire in His temple, and to behold the beauty of the Lord. His presence is everything. And our God is beautiful.
The other thing I desire is: for His glory, in gratitude for His grace, mercy, love, patience, sustenance, provision, watchcare, teaching and providence on this journey, to bless His kingdom as much as I can the remainder of my journey through this life.
my dear Sister Sharen, Yes Yes and Amen to your prayer!! Lord God, may I add to my Sister's prayer...there is no One like You. Please cleanse our thoughts and memories and vision, and give us pure hearts so we might see You clearly and love You more dearly.
God has been so powerfully acting in my story since I posted Ps. 27 on Sabbath. My Mom fell and broke her hip. It's been a couple of intensive 12-hour days in the hospital so far for me, and more certainly for her. There have been several errors in the care system, including prepping her for surgery without giving us a diagnosis or getting family permission, almost giving her dangerously wrong meds twice if I had not been in the room, and not attaching the IV properly so that she was covered in blood and still bleeding alone with no call bell when I returned from a short time out to my car. Through it all, God is giving us strength, watchcare, patience, mercy, grace, providence...all of the beautiful praises in your prayer. All of our comfort is in Him. And your encouragement re: my shares here on this blog... God sent that uplift to me through you at just the right time, so thank you. I've been reading Mom psalms and a new favorite is Psalm 46....God is a VERY present help in trouble!
Amen and amen, Sis. Esther. Thank you also for the comforting reminder: Be still, and know that I am God. The Lord of hosts is with us. He is our Refuge. Our strength. Our Shepherd. Our Life. Our very present Help.
Oh, blessings to your mother, and to you through such a trying ordeal— the fall, the break and the trying care challenges. I am lifting you and your mother in prayer— that God would be your Strength, Shield, Cover and Healer. That He will hide you both under His wing as He heals. Hm. What a blessing and a comfort it must be to have raised a child who whispers Psalms in life's trying hours. And what a blessing and comfort to be inclined by His grace to lean on His Word. To know, and be still.
Speaking of our very present Help, I must share this with you— because my encouragement about your shares didn't solely originate from me. I'm sure you already know it had to flow from our Father through me. What you don't know is, I've been so deeply blessed by your ministry on this blog that I tried long ago to connect via FB— to express thanks and perhaps to share tidbits now and then along the journey. Because I'm impressed that God must be with you. And I love His presence in the earth. As a writer myself, I sense our Father in your shares and my heart is (literally, always) lifted by your expressions. I've often wanted to share this with you, but of course (smile), God impressed me to share it now, in due season. Hm. What an honor, a comfort to know He is with us. A very present Help when we need Him most.
Blessings to you and your mother.
Thank you again, sweet Sister Sharen! Praying for each other is the best gift we can give each other in the family of God! May He continue teaching us how to be still and trust Him. 🙏🏻
When I switched phones I lost all social media accounts like FB. I’m not online as much anymore.
God’s many blessings to you this day! 🙏🏻🥰
Thank you for your prayers. Blessings to you as well.
Sis. Esther - Your reflection on Psalm 27 as guided by the Holy Spirit was indeed divinely given and received. I needed this faithful reminder as a family member reached out in anguish for prayer (on a delicate yet powerful matter) not only from me, but from prayer warriors. Psalm 27 is fitting, and touched me again in such a way that I immediately sent it on. Sometimes we are so intimately close to those in need that we need the support ourselves, and you have given it across the waters.
May God bless you and your Mom abundantly!
Wow, God is so tender the way He brings His Living Word to each of us, and amazing the way It fits every circumstance throughout the ages! Praying for your family, Sister Tammy.
Maranatha Singers Psalms 27 in song:
https://youtu.be/2mSkHw7E9sw?feature=shared
Thank you, Brother Anthony, for sharing this musical setting of Psalm 27. Can't wait to sing a "New Song" together in heaven!
It is not difficult to be a light in a world of darkness. The difficult task is keeping the light on when everyone is comforted by the dark. Our source cannot be found in the peer, but in the infinite donor of all energy: in God solely.