Bible Study: October 22, 2025
- Stephen Bell
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Prayer
As always, we start with prayer. Is there anything we as a group can pray for concerning you or someone close to you? Also, are there any praise reports from the last week?
Praise
Fairest Lord Jesus
1 Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
2 Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.
3 Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.
4 Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.
Poem
The Hidden Life
by George MacDonald (1824–1905)
I said: “Let me walk in the fields.”
He said: “Nay, walk in the town.”
I said: “There are no flowers there.”
He said: “No flowers, but a crown.”
I said: “But the skies are black,
There is nothing but noise and din.”
And He wept as He sent me back—
*“There is more,” He said, “there is sin.”
I said: “But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun.”
He answered: “Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone.”
I said: “I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say.”
He answered me, “Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they.”*
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: “Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide.”
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said: “My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light divine,
The path I had feared to see.
Passage
Psalm 45
Ode for a Royal Wedding
A love song.
1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride on victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 Daughter Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people 13 with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
Ponder
1 What part of this psalm, poem, or song really stands out to you and warms your heart? Why do you think it has that effect?
2 The psalm starts with the poet overflowing with inspiration, addressing the king but inviting everyone to join in the celebration—like a wedding toast that gets the whole room cheering. It reminds us how public praise can become infectious, drawing others into worship. Can you share a time from a church event, like a baptism or wedding, where one person's words or actions sparked a wave of collective joy and worship? What made it so powerful?
3 In verses 2-5, the king is described as handsome, gracious, and a mighty warrior for truth and justice—showing both human royalty with divine qualities. This inner and outer beauty might remind us of Jesus. What New Testament images of Christ come to mind when you read this, like Him as the Good Shepherd or something from Revelation, or somewhere else you can think of? How does this imagery deepen your view of Jesus?
4 Verses 6-9 shift to an eternal throne, anointing with joy and fragrant robes, creating a vivid picture of a righteous and glad king. Does this echo any other Bible passages for you, maybe in the Psalms, Prophets, or even the New Testament? Where does your imagination take you when picturing this scene—what senses or emotions does it create in you?
5 From verse 10 onward, the bride is called to leave her past behind, embrace her new life with the king, and enter the palace with joy alongside her companions. It's a mutual desire—the king longs for her, too. How has God, as your King, shown His desire for you personally? What old things has He invited you to leave behind for something greater, and how did that bring joy into your life?
6 The psalm closes with a promise to celebrate the king's name forever, turning the scribe into a herald for generations. In our world today, how can you be like that scribe—spreading praise for God in everyday ways? What might that look like in 2025?
