Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Psalm 8:1  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  This is another Messianic Psalm, meaning that it is applied to Jesus Christ. King David wrote this Psalm full of worship, praise and adoration of God.  It richly reflects what David knew to be true of God. What is a "gittith" ? It has two meanings. First, it can refer to a harp and that would certainly be fitting to include it in the title of this Psalm. The other meaning of this word is a winepress, which generally represents God's blessing on the harvest such that it yields an abundance of good wine. Thus, a "gittith" represents an instrument used to worship God and it reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes to us from our Father in heaven. King David ascribed excellence to the name of God as a reflection upon the very perfect and unchanging character of our LORD. The word translated ...

Psalm 7:1-2  Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:  2  Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.  The word "Shiggaion" is a song of wandering, a song of various parts woven together by the Spirit of God. In this case, the heading provides a Biblical context for David's Psalm.  David served King Saul faithfully, but Saul was often moved by a dark spirit and sought to kill David on many occasions. David was brought into the palace to play his lyre when Saul was under the influence of a evil spirit, and this usually soothed the king. At other times, Saul would hurl a javelin at David, trying to kill him Eventually, David was forced to flee Jerusalem but Saul and his army hunted him down. In this specific instance, David and his men were hiding from Saul in a cave, and ...

P salm 6:1  To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  This is another Psalm of David, a poem set to music for stringed instruments. This Psalm focuses on David being corrected or rebuked by the LORD for some unknown sin. When the Spirit of God does not tell us what the specific circumstances were that prompted this Psalm, it is best not to speculate. If God wanted us to know why He rebuked King David, He would have included it in the inspired record. Therefore, this prayer can serve as a reminder for us about God's loving work of chastening each one of His children when we need it. His reproof is always meant for our good, to help us confess and forsake sin and to draw us closer to God. The Lord sometimes rebukes us by His spirit, and sometimes by His word  and sometimes by His providential ordering of our lives. His goal is to make us aware of our sin so that we ca...

Psalm 5:1-3  To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.  2  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  3  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.  King David wrote this psalm and it was to be accompanied with a flute like instrument. David begins with a plea to God for a hearing, having full confidence that the LORD will indeed be attentive to his prayer. David did not beat around the bush when praying to God.  He asked the LORD to hear his prayer and to consider all the things that weighed upon his heart at that point in time. David had political pressures to contend with and many difficult family issues that arose.  Yet,  more than anything  as we read David's psalms,  we sense that he desired to be in the presence of God. The King wanted to worship H...

Here is where to find indexes to all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. Click on the drop down menu and look for the archives tab. Then find the date listed below to find the appropriate index. I hope this will help you find lessons on a particular book of topic that we have studied through. An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021 , was published on September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022 , was published J anuary 24, 2023. An index for all lessons posted in 202 3 was published on February 28, 2024.  An index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21, 2025. An index for all lessons posted in 2025 was published on January 24, 2026. Below is the link to our church's YouTube channel where you may view the livestream of the lesson I taught in the adult Sunday School, on August 16, 2026. The phrase "house of God" is found 90 times in scripture and 84 of those are in the Old Testament. The phrase...

Psalm 4:1-2  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.   The heading of this Psalm tells us that David composed it and sent it to the chief musician. A "neginoth" refers to a Psalm that is accompanied by stringed instruments. David asks God to hear him when he prays.  In this Psalm, King David is looking back, reflecting upon God's consistent faithfulness to him. Because God granted him relief in past times of stress and prayer, David knows that he will receive mercy and that God will hear his supplication. In this specific prayer, David is dealing with political enemies who spread lies about him or his administration. Some scholars say that this was David's prayer about those who sought to seat ...

Psalm 3:1-2  A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  2  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  Jewish scholars have always taught that the headings to a Psalm are part of the inspired scriptures. In Psalm three, King David is the Spirit guided author and this Psalm was written at a point of great distress and sorrow for him. King David was not always a king. He was the youngest son of Jesse who tended their flocks of sheep. Being a shepherd shaped David into a usable man who served God and wrote the beautiful Shepherd Psalm (Psalm 23). More than seventy of the 150 Psalms were written by King David. 2 Samuel 23:1-3  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  2  The Spirit of the LORD...