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The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
The Glory of God and Examination of Self-Esteem
Psalm 8
The Bible Teaching Commentary
Study Questions: Basic & Advanced
Paul J. Bucknell
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Psalm 8:1-9
Purpose
Basic and advanced study questions for Psalm 8 helps us understand the glory of God and examine modern man's concept of high and low self-esteem. See Psalm 8 study here!
Questions for Understanding! (Approach)
Psalm 8:1-9
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1) Examine verses 1 and 9. Who wrote the Psalm? How do these verses differ? How are they the same? (Psalm 8:1,9)
2) What does the Psalmist say that He has done to His splendor? (Psalm 8:1)
3) Where does General David (the Psalmist) say God has established strength? (Psalm 8:2)
4) For what purpose has God done this ? (Psalm 8:2)
5) What are the objects that the Psalmist is meditating on in Psalm 8:3?
6) After such meditating, does he think God should think highly of man? (Psalm 8:4)
7) What are two things that God crowned man with? (Psalm 8:5)
8) What position did God make man over the earth? (Psalm 8:6)
9) List the different things that man was to rule over? (Psalm 8:6-8)
10) Close this study by memorizing Psalm 8:9.
Questions for Impact! (Approach)
1) Read Psalm 8 until you are familiar with it. Would you say that David, the author, is focusing on God or man?
2) Both verses 1 and 9 use the phrase "O LORD, our Lord." The three major English translations of the Bible (KJB, NASB, NIV) capitalize the word LORD for the first Lord. What does this stand for? Check the beginning of your Bible for help.
3) What might the phrase "displayed Thy splendor above the heavens" (Psalm 8:1) mean?
| "But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABES THOU HAST PREPARED PRAISE FOR THYSELF’?” (Matthew 21:15-16). |
4) Read Matthew 21:15-16. How does Jesus use this passage to affirm the truth of Psalm 8:2? Application: What NT spiritual truth might this teach? Do you know of any illustrations of this?
5) Psalm 8:3 tells us of the great universe. Application: Have you spent any time lately stargazing? Spend some time looking at the recent pictures from space. Then think whether you can make the same conclusion as the Psalmist in Psalm 8:4.
6) We see Psalm 8:5 speaks primarily of Christ in Hebrews 2:9-10.
"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:9-10).
What has happened to Adam and his original command? Why was it necessary for the Christ to come to help? Does the original command still relate to man? If so, how so?
7) The message on Psalm 8 focuses on three ways this Psalm counters the popular high self-esteem movement. Examine the three passages (8:2; 3-4; 5-8) and see if you can see three ways God is not at all impressed with the way man is preoccupied about seeing good in himself. Application: How has your church responded to this movement? Try to say in your own words what is wrong with it.
8) Summary Application: Do you personally build your life around God's glory or do you seem to want God to keep serving you? How so? Explain. Have you grown in this way?
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The Approach: There are two kinds of questions.
1) Questions for Understanding
These questions will always find the answer clearly in the text itself. The verse number where the answer is found is put in parenthesis at the end. Do your best at finding the answers in the text. Anyone who can read with some sense of comprehension can do these questions. The NASB text is supplied at the right. This material is great for personal or family devotions. As one is able, he goes on to the next questions.
2) Questions for Impact
These questions do not have clear answers in the text. Either one must check a Bible dictionary or other references to find the answer for some fact, or one must do his best reflecting on other scriptures to find an answer. One must guess at them. Don't be frustrated over them. Some of the questions will be found in the associated message. . Answers often vary depending on what perspective one is coming from. These questions help us think through the purpose of the passage and most importantly apply it to our lives.
3) Bible Studies
These questions are good sources for designing group Bible studies. We should realize that some questions can be found in the text while others cannot be and therefore require a greater amount of Bible knowledge. We suggest that, depending on the group's purpose and knowledge of the scripture, that one interweave both basic and advanced questions together. Do not use all of the questions. Be strategic. Choose a theme, clarify your purpose (keep in mind the passage's purpose(s)) and then add some good application questions with your group specifically in mind.
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