Welcome to 2024 

The beautiful picture on the front of our lesson pamphlet brings us our theme hymn for this quarter with it’s two variations in melody: 
Hym 552/546 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

This week’s study shows that the Psalms were for us to give 
Praise To The Lord – Hymn 1, 
Praise Ye The Father – Hymn 70, 
Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven – Hymn 4, and a choral-type hymn 
Praise and Thanksgiving – Hymn 563

We may also ask 
Come, Holy Spirit – Hymn 268.

Psalms are also Inspired Prayers – Wednesday: 
Hymn 671 – As We Come To You In Prayer, 
Hymn 684 – Hear Our Prayer, O Lord and 
Hymn 658 – Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer.

“Ultimately, the Psalms envision when all peoples and the entire creation will worship God (Ps 47:1, Ps 64:9)”: 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-how-to-read-the-psalms-singing-with-inspiration/

Daily Lesson for Monday 1st of January 2024

King David, whose name appears in the titles of most psalms, was active in organizing the liturgy of Israel’s worship. He is called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). The New Testament attests to Davidic authorship of various psalms (Matthew 22:43-45; Acts 2:25-29,34-35; Acts 4:25; Romans 4:6-8). Numerous psalms were composed by the temple musicians who were also Levites: for example, Psalms 50:1-23 and Psalms 73:1-28−83 by Asaph; Psalms 42:1-11, Psalms 44:1-26−47, Psalms 49:1-20, Psalms 84:1-12, Psalms 85:1-13, Psalms 87:1-7−88 by the sons of Korah; Psalms 88:1-18 also by Heman the Ezrahite; and Psalms 89:1-52 by Ethan the Ezrahite. Beyond them, Solomon (Psalms 72:1-20, Psalms 127:1-5) and Moses (Psalms 90:1-17) authored some psalms.

The Holy Spirit inspired the psalmists and used their talents in service to God and to their community of faith. The psalmists were people of genuine devotion and profound faith and yet prone to discouragements and temptations, as are the rest of us. Though written a long time ago, the Psalms surely reflect some of what we experience today.

“Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave” (Psalms 88:2-3, NKJV). This is a cry of the twenty-first-century soul as much as it was of someone 3,000 years ago.

Some psalms mention hardships; some focus on joys. The psalmists cried out to God to save them and experienced His undeserved favor. They glorified God for His faithfulness and love, and they pledged their untiring devotion to Him. The Psalms are, thus, testimonies of divine Redemption and signs of God’s grace and hope. The Psalms convey a divine promise to all who embrace, by faith, God’s gifts of forgiveness and of a new life. Yet, at the same time, they do not try to cover up, hide, or downplay the hardships and suffering prevalent in a fallen world.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-meet-the-psalmists/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 31st of December 2023

The Psalms were composed for use in private and in communal worship. They were sung as hymns in temple worship, as suggested by the musical annotations that mention instruments (Psalms 61:1), tunes (Psalms 9:1), and music leaders (Psalms 8:1).

In the Hebrew Bible, the title of the book of Psalms, tehilim, “praises,” reflects its main purpose—that is, the praise of God. The English title Book of Psalms is derived from the Greek psalmoi, found in the Septuagint, an early (second and third century B.C.) Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

The Psalms were an indispensable part of Israel’s worship. For example, they were used in temple dedications, religious feasts, and processions, as well as during the setting down of the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem.

“The Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120:1-7−134), also known as the pilgrimage songs, were traditionally sung during the pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the three major annual festivals (Exodus 23:14-17). The “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 113:1-9:1-9−118) and the “Great Hallel” (Psalms 136:1-26) were sung at the three major annual festivals, including the festivals of the New Moon and the dedication of the temple. The Egyptian Hallel received a significant place in the Passover ceremony. Psalms 113:1-9:1-9 and 114 were sung at the beginning of the Passover meal and Psalms 115:1-18−118 at the end (Matthew 26:30). The “Daily Hallel” (Psalms 145:1-21−150) was incorporated into the daily prayers in the synagogue morning services.

The Psalms did not only accompany the people’s worship, but they also instructed them on how they should worship God in the sanctuary. Jesus prayed with the words of Psalms 22:1-31 (Matthew 27:46). The Psalms found a significant place in the life of the early church, as well (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-the-psalms-in-ancient-israels-worship/

The Mission program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is an opportunity for us to understand the needs of others and share in supporting them. Please click on the image below to watch the Mission Spotlight presentation for this week:

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-december-30/

Daily Lesson for Saturday 30th of December 2023

Read for This Week’s Study

1 Chronicles 16:7; Nehemiah 12:8; Psalms 25:1-5; Psalms 33:1-3; Romans 8:26-27; Psalms 82:8; Psalms 121:7.

Memory Text:

“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45, NKJV).

The Psalms have been a prayer book and hymnbook for both Jews and Christians through the ages. And though the Psalms are predominantly the psalmists’ own words addressed to God, the Psalms did not originate with mortals but with God, who inspired their thoughts.

Indeed, the Lord inspired them to write what they did, which is why, as in all of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21), God in the Psalms speaks to us through His servants and by His Spirit. Jesus, the apostles, and the writers of the New Testament cited the Psalms and referred to them as Scripture (Mark 12:10; John 10:34-35; John 13:18). They are as surely the Word of God as are the books of Genesis and Romans.

The Psalms have been written in Hebrew poetry by different authors from ancient Israel, and so, the Psalms reflect their particular world, however universal their messages. Accepting the Psalms as God’s Word and paying close attention to the Psalms’ poetic features, as well as their historical, theological, and liturgical contexts, is fundamental for understanding their messages, which reach across thousands of years to our time today.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 6.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-01-how-to-read-the-psalms/