Amen! - Prayers of the Scriptures

Psalm 146

September 1, 2024

Joel Miles

1. Types of Prayer: List the different kinds of prayers found in the Scriptures.

The Structure of Praise in the Psalms

2. Observing the Pattern:

• Read the first and last verse of Psalm 146, 147, 148, 149, and 150. What pattern do you notice?
• Why might it be significant that the last five psalms all begin and end with praise?
• Why do you think God chose to end this prayer book with five psalms focused on praise?

The Call to Personal Praise

3. The Soul's Call to Praise:

• Read Psalm 146:1. Why does the psalmist urge his own soul to "Praise the Lord"?
• Why do we need to pray in a way that teaches our hearts and souls to know God and Praise Him? 

Knowing God's Name in Prayer

4. The Significance of Yahweh:

• Why is it important that the word "Lord" here is the personal name of God, Yahweh?
• Why do we need to know the God of the Scriptures if we are going to pray to him? 

The Connection Between Praise, Trust, and Prayer

5. From Praise to Trust:

• Read Psalm 146:1-5. Notice how these verses move from praise to trust, and then to seeking help from the God of Jacob.
• How are these elements connected?
• How does praising Yahweh lead to trusting Him, and how does that shape our prayers?

The Nature of Yahweh

6. Who is Yahweh?

• Read Psalm 146:6-10. Who does Yahweh reveal Himself to be in these verses?
• What themes do you find here?
• How do these verses balance God’s power with His love and care?

Seeing Jesus in the Psalms

7. Christ in the Psalms:

• How does Psalm 146:6-10 point us to Jesus?
• How does God's work through Jesus fulfill this description of Yahweh?

Praise as the Foundation and Goal of Prayer

8. The Role of Praise in Prayer:

• How should knowing Yahweh’s character and His work through Jesus shape the way we pray?
• How does this show that praising Yahweh is the foundation of our prayers?

9. Praise as the Goal of Prayer:

• How does knowing Yahweh’s character reveal that praise is not only the foundation of prayer but also its ultimate goal?
• How does this understanding help us see that knowing and praising Yahweh is the greatest gift we can experience?