[Preface] [Introduction] [Index]

Lesson 34

Psalms 65 & 68

PSALM 65

1. What in this psalm seems contrary to the Davidic authorship asserted by the title?

Is this conclusive against Davidic authorship?

Why or why not?

2. What is the connection between waiting, or silence, and praise? (verse 1)

3. Whose iniquities "prevail against me"? (verse 3)

4. Is a spiritual or physical house contemplated in verse 4? (cf. Psalm 15:1)

5. By what means does God answer us in righteousness?

6. These awesome deeds, or terrible things, are called what in verse 8?

7. Is the visit mentioned in verse 9 one of punishment or reward? (Also note the use of the word "visit" in Job 10:12; Isaiah 10:3, Jeremiah 8:12, 10:15, 11:23, etc.)

8. God's goodness toward what is extolled in the last verses of this psalm?

PSALM 68

1. Smoke is used as a figure of God's __________being driven away. (verse________)

2. _____________is used as a figure of the wicked perishing. (verse_____)

3. Who rides through the deserts? (ASV or NASB)

4. What is the significance of the Lord riding through the desert?

5. In what way might we cast up a highway for him? (Isaiah 57:14, 62:10, Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6, Matthew 11:11-14, Luke 1:17, Psalm 68:4a; Also, on the work of the one whose task it would especially be to prepare the way for the Messiah in connection with Malachi 3:1, see Is. 40:3, Mt. 3:3, Mk. 1:1-3 and Mt. 3:8)

6. In connection with Psalm 68:5, read Deuteronomy 10:18, Exodus 22:22 Isaiah 1:17, and Ezekiel 22:7. Then answer the following questions.

a. Whose law was represented by the passages listed above? (cf. John 10:34, Romans 9:4)

b. Who was it that was more concerned about the ritualistic aspects of the law than the weightier matters such as justice, mercy, and faith (true faith)? See Matthew 22:23, James 2:13-18.

c. Whom did James tell to visit the fatherless and the widows and what was the obvious authority for this command? (James 1:27)

7. Verses 7 through 10 contain a reference to what period of Israel's history?

8. What and where was the mountain of Bashan?

9. Verse 18 is quoted where and with reference to what event? (On the meaning of the words in Ps. 68, see Judges 5:12.)

10. Explain verse 23b. (cf. I Kings 21:19, 22:35-38, Jeremiah 15:3)

11. Benjamin's ruling refers to what?

12. Explain verse 30. (In Is. 36:6, 19:6 "reeds" are associated with what country?. The beast of the reed might be the hippopotamus on the basis of Is. 30:6 and Jb. 40:15, 21, but is more likely the crocodile - see Ezek. 29:3ff, 32:2ff, and Ps. 74:13-15.)

13. List the Messianic sections of this psalm.