SINKING: Drowning in Darkness (Psalm 69:1-36)

Desperation (Ps 69:1-4): "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal."

Folly (Ps 69:5-12): "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you" (Ps 69:5; 51:3-4). "...for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Ps 69:9).

God Knows and Sees All (Psalm 139)

Too Wonderful for Me: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me" (Ps 139:1). "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24).

• Do you want your children, parents, spouse or friends to know your every thought and desire just like God?

Is it scary that God knows everything about you? No one can ever escape from God, yet the psalmist finds nothing to fear or regret from such a "scary" truth.

Raising Disciples

• 
  Sadly, it's so much easier to teach others than to teach myself (Rom 2:21).

• Focus on "be" not "do," "being" not "doing," "being a disciple" (Mk 1:17a; Mt 28:19a) not "raising disciples" (Mk 1:17b; Mt 28:19b).
• Focus first on yourself (Ac 20:28a) and not primarily on others (Ac 20:28b).
• Focus on Jesus (Heb 12:2), not the Bible student (Isa 53:6a).

When the Foundations are Destroyed (Psalm 11-12)

* Your thoughts about having faith in God (Mk 11:22)?

1. When is it a very strong temptation to flee/run away (Ps 11:1; Mt 16:22; Lk 13:31; Ac 21:12; 1 Sam 26:20)? Why (Ps 11:2-3)? Why should we not (Ps 11:4; 9:7; 96:10; 99:1; 146:10; Dan 4:26; Rev 19:6)? What if your life is in great danger (Phil 1:21; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23; Ac 20:24)?
2. What should you know about the Lord (Ps 11:4, 7a)? About the righteous and the wicked (Ps 11:5-6: Gen 19:24; 2 Pet 2:6-9)? [Why-]Should you want to see God's face (Ps 11:7; 13:1; 34:15-16; 27:4; 63:2; 80:3; Exo 33:18; Num 6:25)?
3. Why do we need help from the Lord (Ps 12:1-4; Isa 6:5; Jas 3:5-6)? Where do lies come from (Gen 3:1, 4-5; Jn 8:44)? What does the Lord promise to do (Ps 12:5)?
4. 
   What counteracts the power of lying lips (Ps 12:6; 18:30; 19:7)? Why (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12; Jn 6:63; Mt 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33)? Knowing this, what should you do practically (Ps 1:2; 119:97, 11; Prov 23:23; Phil 4:8: Jn 8:31-32)?

• When the vile are honored (Ps 12:8) and foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do (Ps 11:3)? "When vileness is exalted" (Ps 12:8, NKJV). "What can an honest person do when everything crumbles?" (Ps 11:3, CEV)

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3) "...when what is vile is honored by the human race" (Ps 12:8).