Ascend: Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 129)

ASCEND – Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 129)

Imprecatory Psalms: Psalms that invoke judgment, calamity, or curses, upon one’s enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God.

Observations:

1. It’s important to keep a Biblical perspective on when we feel like cursing others.

Why do we suffer?

• Sometimes our suffering is simply a result of living in a
• Sometimes we suffer as a result of our own .
• Sometimes we suffer as a result of actions toward us.

God’s promises

• We suffer in this world.

John 16:33

• God will use our suffering for .

Romans 8:28

• God will all suffering.

Revelation 21:4

2. It’s important to keep a biblical perspective on when we feel like cursing others.

Romans 3:23

3. It’s important to keep a biblical perspective regarding our when we feel like cursing others.

John 19:1

Isaiah 50:6

Luke 23:34

Matthew 5:43-44

Application:

1. to God when we’re suffering.

2. Remember that we are too.

3. for our enemies.

4. Make sure that we are not others to suffer.

Family Discussion Points:

*Open by reading Psalm 129 aloud.

1. Talk about a time in your life that you’ve experienced suffering.
2. How did that make you feel?
3. Have you ever been so hurt by someone that you wanted God to curse them?
4. Do you think it’s easy to forget that we’re sinners when others hurt us deeply? Explain.
5. How does Jesus embody the suffering that is talked about in the Psalm?
6. How did Jesus respond to those that hurt him?
7. Do you think we should respond to those that hurt us like the Psalmist or like Jesus? Explain.
8. Because we all sin, we are all capable of causing others to suffer. Have you ever thought of yourself as playing the role of the oppressor rather than just the oppressed? Why or why not?

*Close by praying and thanking God for the honesty and the hard parts we find in the Bible. Share your honest hurts with Him and talk about the suffering you’ve endured. Finally, ask Him to help you respond to those that hurt you like Jesus responded to those that hurt Him.