Day 1 (1 hour of study - Monday, July 30th):
Mess hall: 10 mins - Carefully and thoughtfully read Ps. 88 & 42 in the New International Version (NIV) Version of the Scriptures *In your field journal, note what jumps out at you in each Psalm today
Swabbing the Deck & Peeling Potatoes: 35 minutes - Grab yourself a cold drink, turn on some light music without words… then, using any tools at your disposal (a study Bible, a Bible Encyclopedia, wikipedia, blueletterbible.com, crosswalk.com, google, etc), find the answers to the following questions:
Ps. 88:
1. Who wrote this Psalm and when did they pen it?
2. In what historical setting was this Psalm written?
3. What crisis or set of issues was the Psalmist dealing with when writing this?
4. What other background info did you uncover that can help with understanding the true spirit and message of this Psalm?
Ps. 42:
1. Who wrote this Psalm and when did they pen it?
2. In what historical setting was this Psalm written?
3. What crisis or set of issues was the Psalmist dealing with when writing this?
4. What other background info did you uncover that can help with understanding the true spirit and message of this Psalm?
Critical Thinking:
1. Why are these two Psalms in the hymnal of God's people?
2. What can we learn from these two Psalms?
3. How do these Psalms speak to us today (what do they teach us and how can they inspire us in our own worship)?
***Record all your answers in your journal.
Tidy cabin: 15 mins - Memorize Psalm 42:1-2 (15 minutes, using the phrase 15 method HERE) If you truly take the time to use this method, and don't cut corners with it, you will remember these verses - we have trouble recalling verses we memorized because we didn't memorize it well the first time *** NOTE: this week we will try a different approach based on your feedback - we will memorize 5 total verses - the first two and a half days will be used memorizing, and the last day and a half will be used reviewing these 5 verses.
Report to the upper deck:
5 mins - *Check-in on Facebook that you put in your hour of work with today's material
Day 2 (1 hour of study - Tuesday, July 31st):
Mess hall: 10 mins - Read Ps. 88 & 42 in the New Living Translation (NLT) Version of the Scriptures *In your field journal, note what jumps out at you in each Psalm today
Secure the Riggings: 30 minutes - Snag a warm drink and a pillow (but don't fall asleep :) - then find the answers to the following questions (Matthew Henry's commentary, or the opening notes on Spurgeon's commentary, or Wikipedia):
Ps. 88:
1. In the opening description of the Psalm, what does "According to Mahalath Leannoth" mean? What is the significance of "A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite" mean? Who was Heman?
2. What does "I am counted as among those that goe down to the pit" (in vs. 4) mean?
3. What are the significance the questions in verses 10-12? Why is he asking these questions?
4. This chapter is full of poetic literary devices - two of them are metaphors and similes. List 3 metaphors or similes in this chapter, and say what they represent or describe. (Look up metaphors & similes in the dictionary if you need to)
Ps 42:
1. Who was Korah and his sons? (from the description before the Psalm)
2. What is the significance of verse 4 - what is the Psalmist reminiscing about and why?
3. What are the 3 mountains in verse 6 and why might they be remembered in this Psalm?
4. Verse 7 describes water and waves and deep, etc - what does it mean? Why is the writer using this description?
5. A phrase of hope is mentioned twice during this Psalm - once in the middle and once at the end - what is the Psalmist saying here? What truth or truth is he encouraging himself with?
Tidy cabin: 15 mins - Memorize Ps. 42:3-4 (using the phrase 15 method), and spend a few minutes reviewing the two verses from yesterday (for example, quote each verse 5 times without looking, then quote them together - back to back, a few times). Remember - tomorrow we will only memorize one verse, then the rest of the week will be spent reviewing these verses to really make them stick.
Report to the upper deck: 5 mins - *Check-in on Facebook that you put in your hour of work with today's material
Day 3 (1 hour of study - Wednesday, Aug 1st):
Mess Hall: 9 mins - Read Ps. 46 & 91 in The Message (MSG) version of the Scriptures.
*Note what jumps out at you in each Psalm in your journal
Stargazing: 36 mins - Watch this teaching message by John Piper entitled "Spiritual Depression in the Psalms". As you watch, keep your journal and pen in front of you and note anything he says that jumps out at you. At the end, take a moment to jot down what stands out at you from this message. It is HERE. This is our main focus today.
Tidy cabin: 13 mins - Memorize Psalm 42:5 (using the phrase 15 method HERE), then practice quoting the first 4 verses (quote each one without looking five times). Tomorrow we won't memorize any new verses,instead we will only thoroughly review these 5 verses.
Report to the upper deck:
2 mins - *Check-in on Facebook that you put in your hour of work with today's material
Day 4 (1 hour of study - Thursday, Aug 2nd):
*** Today will be focused on listening to Jesus, and on preparing a short teaching yourself from these Psalms. Today's hour of study - it will be even more important to find a QUIET, UNINTERRUPTED place to study. ***
Mess hall: 10 mins - Read Ps. 46 & 91 in your favorite version of the scriptures.
What is the Lord saying to you as you read these today? Note it...
Conversing with the Captain: 35 mins - Listening and preparing…
1. Spend 5-10 minutes of open listening to God (with pen and journal in front of you, close your eyes and focus on Jesus. Ask Him in your heart, "Lord what are you saying to me today?" Then, jot whatever comes to your mind and heart - thoughts, feelings impressions, words, verses, etc.)
2. Spend another 5-10 minutes dialoguing with the Lord about what you heard - Ask Him questions about it, thank Him for it, talk to Him about it, etc.
3. Take 5 minutes to brainstorm, on paper, what you could share with others about what you have learned and heard from Jesus this week while studying Psalms 42 & 88. What thought, or concept, or truth would you share with others if you could share anything from this week with them that might strengthen and encourage them?
4. 15 mins - prepare a short teaching on this for others. Imagine going to a church gathering and spending 10 minutes teaching everyone in your church family on this topic. How would you share it? Here are a few ideas?
-What key verse or verses would you use? Would you read the whole Psalm together perhaps?
-Perhaps take the approach of an introduction, middle, and conclusion. What would you say in the intro, the middle, and at the end of the teaching?
-John Piper shared several personal stories and illustrations to help bring the point of his teaching home. Are there any stories or personal illustrations from your own life that you might share with the group to help bring the idea home?
-Make a simple outline of this teaching on paper.
-Consider sharing this with your own family, or with your church family. What is the Lord saying?
*Note any thoughts or impressions that come to your mind (That just might be the Captain speaking!)
Tidy cabin: 13 mins - Review Psalm 42:1-5 (practice quoting each of them 5 times without looking. If you can't do that, keep repeating it until you can :)
Report to the upper deck: 2 mins - *Check-in on Facebook that you put in your hour of work with today's material
Day 5 (No study - Friday, Aug 3rd): Only join in on the Friday discussion call.
SKYPE CALL - 1:00 pm * Have your notes from the week in front of you :)
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