1.

Verse 1 employs one’s soul and his inmost being to praise the Lord’s holy name, indicating that man’s soul and inmost being are capable of knowing and praising the Lord’s holy name. What does this passage suggest about: 1) the way God created man; 2) the purpose of creation; 3) the way to praise the Lord; and 4) the reason to praise the Lord? 

** God created man to be a soul being, capable of knowing God, and praising Him.

** It is to know God and praise Him, reaching His dimension, attaining to His greatness.

** We need to employ all the faculties of our entire being, (lips, mouth, mind and heart, soul and spirit), to praise Him, in the spirit of great thanks to Him, in shouts of joy and exultation. 

** For the holiness of His name. Holiness has the meaning of perfection especially in his morality and spirituality, in power and glory. It refers to the infinite greatness of his love, mercy, and grace. The word “holy” means “set apart” and he is set apart in the sense described above.

Name refers to his essence or attributes. The call to praise the Lord for his holy name indicates that we are to praise him for who he really is. There is no one like him, for he alone is truly and infinitely great. All greatness stems from Him. 

He is the ideal of true ideals. He is our true model; he is our true hero. He is the one we are to copy in every way conceivable. 

2.

Compare verse 2 with verses 3-5. How are the benefits described in verses 3-5 related to one another? Why are they necessary for us? What does the expression “forget not” indicate about the problem which is common to many? Why is it important for us “not” to forget “all” his benefits? Instead of forgetting all his benefits, the author exhorts us to “praise” the Lord. What does his exhortation teach us about the significance of praising the Lord? The reasons to praise Him? 

** 1) First of all, it is necessary for us to participate in His greatness. When we are in sin, we cannot reach his glory. Romans 3:23. 

The bottom line is that God not only gave us the potential to attain to His greatness, but also the means by which to attain to his greatness, that is, forgiveness of our sins,   redemption, and satisfaction (particularly through the infilling of His Spirit).

2) Reality teaches us that all people sin and go astray. God knows this, so he has made available his benefits for all to receive and  be able to overcome this problem. 

** 1) We are so forgetful, especially after we get so blessed by God. When we are poor, we groan and cry out in humility. But as soon as He satisfies us with all the good things, we end up forgetting what kind of terrible sinners we have been. We then grow proud and become useless again. 

2) We are not as thankful as we are supposed to be. This lack of thankfulness is the real cause of the fall of the first man Adam. 

** God is in the business of perfection. What God demands is all or nothing. A little bit of complaint sounds harmless. But we should watch out for even a little hint of unthankfulness (complaint) creeping in our heart. In addition, we must remember all the benefits (all three of them – forgiveness, redemption, and satisfaction), for once we fail to remember and give thanks to God for each of these benefits, we end up falling  from grace. For example, when one does not remember that the Lord is the true source of true gratification, one ends up sinning, and thereby getting himself enslaved by all kinds of worldly passions. 

** Praising the Lord is the best remedy for the chronic habit of forgetting all of his benefits, and complaining about everything. 

Praising the Lord is also the best cure for human pride, for it reminds us of how in the past we were in sins, and thereby keeps us humble. 

** The reasons to praise him are the bestowal of all of his benefits upon us. 

3.

Verse 6 offers good news for “all the oppressed”. What is “oppression”? Why does it occur? (Matthew 23:37; Deuteronomy 28:15-68) The word “works” is a present tense indicating the Lord’s “ongoing work” for “all the oppressed.” How can one practically experience the Lord working on him or her? (Matthew 11:28)

** Miriam Webster: a : unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power b : something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power
2 : a sense of being weighed down in body or mind :

Oppress - to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority;  to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily upon

Usually oppression results in depression.

** The above definition indicates that it occurs due to the authority or power being abused. God created authority and power to serve the creation, not to suppress his creation. 

** We can personally experience a release from oppression by humbling ourselves, and coming to Jesus Christ who is gentle and kind. We can then take his yoke (the yoke of learning from him and going by his precepts, particularly the gentle guidance of His Spirit and Word). 

4.

Read verse 7. How are “ways” different from “deeds”? Why did the Lord reveal them? Why is it important to know them? 

** Ways represent guiding principles which cause deeds to become manifested. Ways concern the issue of why and how, whereas deeds represent the issue of what. Deeds follows ways.

** He does this out of His love, for love desires to share all that are good with the one whom one loves. 

** It is important to know them, so we would grow to His greatness, developing in us His character.. 

5.

Skim through verses 8-18. How many times is the word “love” repeated? How is his “love” described? What has the Lord done in love? Why is it so important for a man as limited as grass or a flower of the field to know this love? The passage indicates that it is only those who fear Him that finds this love. What does it mean to “fear” Him?  (Luke 12:4,5; Isaiah 8:13) Why do people end up not fearing Him? 

** 3

** 1) abundant;

2) as high as heavens are above earth;

3) great

4) everlasting

** It is important for it is the only way to overcome our limits and participate in His infinite life.

** It means to know that he alone is the cause of all causes, causing all things to come to pass the way they come to pass, either good or bad. 

** It is because of their lack of thankfulness. First they become proud, and then they become unthankful to God. They then go astray. They try to live on their own. They then fall from grace. 

6.

Verse 19 says, “[H]is kingdom rules over all.” What does it mean? Yet, why is it that not all experience His rule in them? Why is it important to know that his kingdom rules over “all”? 

** It mainly means “superiority” of His kingdom which is above all. The word “over” is different from “in”. 

** It is because not all opened their hearts and accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

** It motivates us to absolutely trust Him and obey Him, in and despite all circumstances.

7.

Read verses 20-22. What does “do his bidding”, “obey his word”, or “in his dominion” indicate about the one who is truly qualified to give thanks to God fully and praise Him fully? 

** Those who truly repent and remain obedient to Him can truly praise Him. Thanksgiving is NOT for everyone.