Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Multiple choice: Psalm 115 : 3 tells us that God is in heaven and does:
(a) What is right; (b) what is  good; or (c) whatever He pleases.

(c) Whatever He pleases (Psalm 115 : 3 )

2. Fill in the blanks: According to Psalm 115, we should trust in God rather than
-------- , because God does whatever He pleases but an --------- can't do  anything.

Idols-----idol   (Psalm 115: 3-8 ).
If one reads the entire psalm, one finds that God "pleases" to be a help and shield for His people.

3. Multiple choice: According to Psalm 118, who rejected "the chief cornerstone"?
(a) The quarrymen; (b) the builders; or (c) the architects.

(b) The builders (Psalm 118 : 22 ).
Jesus is the  "chief cornerstone", and the "builders" were the Jewish people and leaders who rejected Christ (1 Pet. 2 : 1-8 ).

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Multiple choice:  According to Psalm 107, God "satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with: (a) Goodness; (b) truth; or (c) love."

Goodness (Psalm 107 :9 )

2. According to Psalm 110, the Messiah is a priest of what order?
(a) Levi; (b) Eli; or (c) Melchizedek

(c) Melchizedek ( Psalm 110 : 4 ). For a fuller explanation of this priesthood read Hebrews 7: 1-28.

3. Question: Psalm 115: 8 states, "Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them." To what does "them refer in this psalm?

Idols (Psalm 115 :3-8 ).  We become like that which we worship.

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice:  According to  Psalm 103, the ministry of the  Lord in our  lives renews our  youth like the:
(a) Lion's; (b) eagle's (c) tiger's.

(b) Eagle's ( Psalm 103 :5 )

2.  Fill in the blank:  Why members of the animal kingdom live and die and age is a mystery to man. According to Psalm 104,death occurs when God takes away the --------  of the creature.

Breath (Psalm 104:29 ). In Genesis 2 :7, we read that man became a living creature when God breathed into him the breath of life. God is sovereign over both the beginning and end of life.

3.  It is not always good to get what we want . The psalmist reminds us that God gave the Israelites what they desired in the wilderness, but it resulted in --------
in their soul.

Leanness (Psalm 106 : 15 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Question : Psalm 100 tells us how we are to approach the Lord. Four different words are used to express the attitude we should have. Name one of the four.

Gladness, singing ,thanksgiving, praise (Psalm 100: 2,4 )

2. Multiple choice: According to Psalm 101, whoever does what to his neighbor will be destroyed  by God? (a) Slanders; (b) robs; or (c) hates.

(a) Slanders (Psalm 101:5 )

3.  In contrasting the changelessness of God with the aging  of  His creation, the psalmist  states that the heavens will grow old like a garment and that God will change them like a what? (a)Tunic; (b) cloak; or (c) robe.

(b) Cloak (Psalm 102 : 26 ) Here is a foreshadowing of the new heaven and new earth described in Revelation 21 and 22.

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Multiple choice:  According to Psalm 95, what is withheld from a person who hardens  his heart against  the Lord? (a) Peace; (b) joy; or (c) rest.

(c) rest (Psalm 95 : 8-11


2.  True or false?  Man has been given the right by God to take vengeance on someone who has wronged him.


False. Vengeance belongs to God (Psalm 94 :1 ).


3. Fill in the blank:  According to Psalm 97, if we love the Lord we are to hate
------- .

Evil. (Psalm 97 : 10 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Question: According to Psalm 90, the average life span of a human being  is how many years?

Seventy years (Psalm 90 : 10 )

2.  Fill in the blanks:  As the psalmist  contemplates  the brevity of life  in Psalm 90,

he compares our lives to -------- that grows in the morning and is cut down in the evening.

Grass (Psalm 90 : 5,6 )

3. "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a ------ in Lebanon."

Cedar (Psalm 92 : 12 )

The cedars of Lebanon were symbols of strength and stability throughout the ancient world.

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Fill in the blanks: Psalm 78 tells of God's dealings with the nation  of Israel.

The psalmist writes it for the sake of the children so they will "set their hope in God, And not forget the ------- of God, But keep His  ------- ".

" Works-----commandments" (Psalm 78 : 7 )

2. Psalm 78, which recounts God's dealings with the unfaithful nation of Israel, was written so that the children would not be like their  --------- .

Fathers (Psalm 78 : 8 )

Because God dwells in eternity, not in time, a thousand years to us are as a -------

in the night to God.

Watch (Psalm 90 : 4 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1.Fill in the blanks:  Both Jesus and the psalmist of Psalm 73 affirm the goodness of God to those who are --------- in heart.

Pure  (Psalm 73: 1 )  Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God"
(Matt. 5: 8).

2. In Psalm 73, the psalmist  wrestles with the problem of the ------- of the wicked.

Prosperity (Psalm 73: 3 ) Jesus taught that God causes the sunshine and rain to come on both the just and the unjust (Matt. 5: 45 ) Material blessings do  not come automatically for being good, nor does poverty necessarily result from evil acts.

3. According to Psalm 76, God is in such control of the affairs of man that even the ------- of man shall praise Him.

Wrath (Psalm 76:10 ). Joseph told his brothers that when they sold him into slavery they meant it for evil, but God meant it for good (Gen. 50:20 ).

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice:  When the psalmist was looking for the Lord in a "dry time" in his life as described  in Psalm 63, he was looking for what two things to be manifested by the Lord ?
(a) Wisdom and might; (b) power and glory; or  (c) love and truth.

(b) Power and glory (Psalm 63:1,2 ).

2. In Psalm 68 and throughout Scripture, God is pictured as being especially favorable in helping what two groups of people?
(a) Poor and needy; (b) children and mothers; or (c) widows and orphans.

(c) Widows and orphans (Psalm 68: 5 ).
In James 1: 27, James describes pure and undefiled religion before  God as visiting orphans and widows in their trouble.

3. Psalm 68 states, "Our God is the God of salvation; And to  God the Lord belong escapes from " what? (a) enemies; (b) death; or (c) fear.

(b) death (Psalm 68: 20 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Multiple choice: According to Psalm 51, what aspect of the psalmist's salvation had to be restored  before he could teach transgressors the ways of the Lord?
(a) Joy of salvation; (b) peace of salvation; or (c) assurance of salvation.

(a) Joy of salvation (Psalm 51) was written as a confession of David's sin with Bathsheba. In it we discover how devastating sin is to the physical body.

2. Question: According to Psalm 53, how many are there who do good?

None (Psalm 53: 1,3 ) Paul uses this verse in Romans 3:12 to show that all are guilty before God. No one can stand in his or her own works.

3. Fill in the blank: The psalmist expresses the godly attitude toward life in Psalm 56, when he states, "In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can ---do to me?

"Man" (Psalm 56:11 ).

Wisdom and Instruction

1.  Multiple choice: Psalm 34 asks, "Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good ?" The answer says that this man keeps something from evil. What is it? (a) His eyes; (b) his hands; or (c) his tongue.

2. According to Psalm 40 , what did God not desire even though it was required in the Law of Moses?  (a) Tithes and offerings; (b) sacrifice and offering; (c) obedience to parents.

3. According to Psalm 46, what must we do to know that the Lord is God ?
(a) Pray constantly; (b) meditate on the Scriptures; or (c) be still.

1. (c) His tongue (Psalm 34 : 12,13 ) 

To gain a New Testament perspective on the tongue read James 3: 1-12.

2. (b) Sacrifice and offering (Psalm 40 : 6 ) 

It  was not that  God  wanted  His people to stop their sacrifices. Rather, He was displeased because they were disobeying  Him, but attempting to cover up by their religious activities, Obedience from the heart is what He desires (vv. 7,8)

3. (c) Be still (Psalm 46: 10 )

Wisdom and Instruction

 

1. Multiple choice:   Often in Hebrew poetry the writer requests that the Lord lead him in a certain kind of path. What adjective is used in Psalm 27 to describe that path?  (a) Straight; (b) smooth; or (c) short.

(b)Smooth  (Psalm 27:11). When a person walked upon a smooth path it meant that someone else had leveled it and removed the stones and other hindrances. The psalmist is asking God to do that for his walk in life.

2. A theme running throughout the Old Testament wisdom literature is that of the Lord preserving what kind of person? (a) Famous; (b) kind; or (c) faithful.

(c) Faithful (Psalm 31:23 ) God does not ask that we be successful in men's eyes. He only asks that we be faithful (cf. Matt. 25:14-30 ).

3. How does Psalm 33 describe the nation whose God is the Lord?  (a) Good (b) blessed; or (c) lasting.

(b) Blessed (Psalm 33:12).

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: As a result of the Lord being his shepherd, what two things is the psalmist assured will follow him all the days of his life ?

(a)Truth and beauty; (b) hope and love; or (c) goodness and mercy.

2. Question: According to Psalm 23, if the Lord is your shepherd, how long can you expect to dwell in the house of the Lord?

3. Multiple choice: According to Psalm 24, one who may ascend into the hill of the Lord or stand in His holy place must possess what two qualities ?

(a) A good conscience and pure lips; (b) clear eyes and swift feet; or (c) clean hands and a pure heart.

1. (c) Goodness and mercy (Ps. 23:6 ). Goodness and mercy are linked here to show that God always gives that which is good for His people and that it is not because we deserve it. In fact, it is not what we deserve at all.

2. Forever (Psalm 23 :6 ) . In both the old and new Testaments, the writers saw that their relationship to God would continue beyond this life. That relationship is eternal.

3. (c) Clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24: 4 )

Regular confession of sin is absolutely necessary to be able to come into the presence of God in prayer. We are not sinless, and we must not attempt to hide our sin.

Wisdom and Instruction

1.Question: According to Psalm 23, what shepherd's instruments does the Lord use to comfort those who are His ?

2. According to Psalm 23, when the Lord is your shepherd, where does He prepare a table for you ?

3. The Lord's abundance toward us as our shepherd is pictured in Psalm 23 as our cup doing what?

1. Rod and staff (Ps. 23:4 )

The rod was used to drive off enemies. The staff was used as an instrument of guidance and extracting the sheep from a difficult place.

2. In the presence of your enemies (Ps. 23:5 )

When the shepherd was present., the sheep could graze peacefully even if their natural enemies were lurking in the same area.

3. Our cup running over (Ps. 23:5 )

A cup being full means satisfaction because needs are fully met. The cup running over shows that God more then meets our needs.

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Question: According to Psalm 23, beside what does the Lord lead the psalmist?

2. According to Psalm 23, what does the Lord restore?

3. According to Psalm 23, if the Lord is your shepherd, where will you be able to walk without fearing evil?

1. Beside the still waters (Ps. 23:2 ).

The sheep will only drink from "still water". God always quenches our spiritual thirst.

2. The soul (Ps. 23:3 ) A restored soul is one put back in the condition God

intended it to be.

3. Through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23: 4 ) .

The "valley of the shadow of death " is a figure for the most hopeless

situations of life through which a person passes.

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: In Psalm 19, the psalmist requests that the Lord keep him from a certain type of sin. What kind of sin concerns him? (a) Vicious sin ; (b) immoral sin ;or (c) presumptuous sin .

2. According to Psalm 22, where does God live among the people of Israel?

(a) In the temple; (b) in their hearts; or (c) in their praises.

3. Question: According to Psalm 23:2, where does the Lord cause the psalmist to lie down?

1. (c) Presumptuous sin (Ps. 19: 13 ) . A presumptuous sin is one done in arrogance without regard for God. Pride is at the heart of this kind of sin.

2. (c) In their praises (Ps. 22: 3 )

3. In green pastures. The green pastures symbolize the spiritual nourishment given by God to the believer. That he may lie down in them shows the abundant comfort God gives to His own.

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: Psalm 19 states that the law of the Lord is perfect. How is the testimony of the Lord described in the next phrase? (a) It is good; (b) it is right or (c) it is sure

2. If, according to Psalm 19:7 the law is perfect and the testimony of the Lord is sure, what are the statutes of the Lord according to verse 8 ?

(a) Right ; (b) pure or (c) clear.

3.According to Psalm 19, what quality of the commandment of the Lord enables it to enlighten the eyes of those who spiritually see and obey?

(a) It's holiness; (b) its purity; or (c) its firmness.

1. (c) It is sure (Ps. 19:7 ).

It is sure in the sense that it can be trusted to do what it says it will do.

God's testimony is that which He has said about Himself and His work.

2. (a) Right (Ps. 19:8 )

All three terms --law, testimony, and statutes--are ways of referring to the Word of God. Each term emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the Word.

3. (b) Its purity (Ps. 19:8 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: According to Psalm 15, only certain people may abide in the Lord's tabernacle. What do these people speak in their heart?

(a) Wisdom; (b) truth; or (c) religion.

2. According to Psalm 16, what are at the right hand of the Lord forevermore?

(a) Blessings; (b) joys; or (c) pleasures

3. According to Psalm 19, the law of the Lord has an effect on the receptive soul. What effect does it have?

(a) Converting effect; (b) convicting effect;or (c) sobering effect.

1. (b) Truth (Ps 15:1,2 ).

To abide in the Lord's tabernacle means to live in His presence. A person must be honest on the inside to live in that kind of fellowship with God.

2. (c) Pleasures (Ps. 16 :11 )

3. (a) Converting effect (Ps. 19: 7 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: In Psalm 1, the righteous and ungodly are contrasted. The righteous are likened to a flourishing tree. To what are the ungodly compared ?

(a) Dirt; (b) the chaff of grain; or (c) a dying tree.

2. According to Psalm 2, how will wise earthly leaders serve the Lord?

(a)With fear; (b) with joy; or (c) with love.

3. According to Psalm 14, what kind of person says in his heart that there is no God? (a) The wicked ; (b) the fool; or (c) the proud.

1. (b) The chaff of grain (Ps. 1:4 )

2. (a) With fear (Ps. 2 : 11 )

To fear the Lord means to have total respect and reverence for Him. The wise leader will always have a sense of God's total authority over life. He will not be proud.

3. (b) The fool (Ps. 14 : 1 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. True or false ? Job was so confident of his innocence of offense against God and man that he felt no need to evaluate his past conduct.

2. Elihu, the young companion of Job's three comforters, was closer to understanding Job's spiritual need then his older friends.

1. False He carefully catalogued his blameless conduct in several areas

(Job 31:-34 )

2. True He did not connect suffering so directly to sin, and he foresaw God's line of reasoning with Job (Job 32-37 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. True or false? Job admitted that if he were in his friends place he would have acted toward them as they did towards him.

2. Job was terrified of God because he felt God was capricious, acting without a design or purpose in his life.

3. Job said that misfortune makes a man despised in the eyes of those who feared him when he was successful.

1. False He said he would offer strength and comfort (Job 16: 2 -5)

2. False He feared because God was changeless and acting on a

careful plan (Job 23: 13-15 ).

3. True ( 30 :1 -15 )

Wisdom and Instruction

1. Multiple choice: To what did Job compare his comforters who tormented him rather then showing kindness?

(a) A stream that vanishes when it gets really hot; (b) vultures on a carcass; or (c) ocean waves beating against a cliff.

2. True or false ? When Job began to argue with his friends, he admitted that a man could not contend with God, but as the argument wore on, Job relished the idea of vindicating himself before God.

3. Multiple choice: Job used a proverb in which he compared the mouth tasting food to what act of wisdom ?

(a) The eye spotting a fool; (b) the ear testing words; or (c) the mind analyzing philosophers.

1. (a) A stream that vanishes when it gets really hot (Job 6: 15-17.

The metaphor points out the unfulfilled promise of comfort rather then the destructiveness of their remarks.

2. True (Job 9:32-35; 31 : 35-40 )

Job's conviction of his innocence led him to lose some humility before God.

3. (b) The ear testing words (Job 12: 11 )

His point was that true wisdom utilizes the most basic nature of an organ, not a derived quality.