July 10, 2022

Ridgeline Study Prompts

Psalm 36

Prayer and Preparation

As you prepare to study, stop to spend a few minutes in prayer. Ask the Lord to focus your mind and open your eyes to the truth of His Word. Then read Psalm 36:1-12 slowly and thoughtfully.

Study

Verses 1 through 4 reveal the mindset of the wicked. What stands out to you about the description of how the wicked think and act?

Verses 5 through 9 stand in juxtaposition to the preceding verses, as they describe the steadfast love of God. What elements of these verses stand out to you, and what do they reveal about the Lord?

In verses 10 through 12, David applies the truth of God’s steadfast love, asking God to continue His kindness as he faces opposition. How do the previous verses influence the confidence of these three verses?

Application
There are two narratives at war in this psalm. One narrative says that we know what’s best for us and we don’t need to acknowledge God. The other is that God can be trusted and should be feared and obeyed. In your life, are there places you are deceiving yourself and living the first narrative - that has you determining for yourself what is good and acceptable? Are there areas of your life in which you are turning an eye from what God has said is right? Earnestly pray Psalm 139:23-24. Write down anything God put on your heart and ask a friend to pray with you.