PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SERMON BY LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER HEARING GOD'S WORD.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Psalm 97. 
• List out all the activities of the Lord in this Psalm. What does the Lord do according to this Psalm?
• What is the future response that is to be had to the Lord’s activity in verse 1?
• Where else do we see this response show up in the Psalm?
• According to verse 1, who is to respond?
• What is the foundation of the Yahweh’s throne? What does this say about Yahweh?
• What triggers the mountains to melt?
• What attribute of God is displayed in verse 6 and who ascribes this?
• What is the extent of God’s reign according to verses 4,5, and 9?
• What commands do you see in this psalm? How do these responses fit with the content of the psalm and descriptions of God?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Consider Isaiah 42:8-12. How does this passage enhance the way you understand this Psalm? How does it give clarity to the term “islands” found in verse 1?
• Considering their context, read Exodus 20:21, Deuteronomy 4:11, and Zephaniah 1:15. How might these verses shape your understanding of verse 2a?
• How does verse 7 relate to the previous discussion? What does any of this have to do with idols?
• How is God’s activity toward his godly ones contrasted with the ungodly in this Psalm? Make a list of examples.
• Consider Isaiah 60:1-3. How might this inform how you understand what vs 11 means? How is the light of verse 11 contrasted with verse the light of verses 3-4?
• How is it possible that God can command his people to be glad and to hate? What does that say about our emotions?
• How is God’s judgment related to rejoicing according to this passage? Why is this to be an appropriate response to God’s judgment?