The Music of a Righteous Soul A Study in Psalm 71 (Part 5) Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Music of a Righteous Soul ----------------------- Date: 08/3/1999 Keywords: "harp" "lyre" "music" "praise" "soul" "tongue" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The following is the fifth of five studies in Psalm 71 as it relates to resisting Web porn. Feel free to study and/or download the entire set. Click here to send us any feedback. Passage: Psalm 71:22-24* 22. I will also praise Thee with a harp, Even Thy truth, O my God; To Thee, I will sing praises with the lyre, Thou Holy One of Israel. 23. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee; And my soul, which Thou hast redeemed. 24. My tongue also will utter Thy righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt. Questions 1. What is a psalm?   2. What is worship?   3. Do you think worship is a waste of time? Useful, but optional? Or vital to life? Why?   Practical help In the past five studies we have looked at: 1. The best place to hide (it is in God as our refuge) 2. What others might do as we trust God more (some will marvel and others will plot our downfall) 3. Choosing hope over despair and giving God room to deal with people who harm us 4. How our perspective in life changes when God revives us Finally the psalm ends on a musical note — that’s what a psalm is after all — a hymn to God. What does this have to do with pornography and smut? After viewing X-rated web sites, are you inclined to break out into song? Whether you are talented in music personally, your soul thirsts for the beauty of an enchanting melody. When your spirit has been injured as it is when it is degraded by viewing erotic images, the music of joy and contentment fades from your life. The opposite is also true, however. When you begin to seek God and His righteousness, you start to experience a healing within your soul. With this healing returns the music of the life you left behind. To combat temptation, may I suggest you turn on some beautiful music as soon as you can. Listen to it with your full attention and enjoy its beauty deep within yourself. Ask God to bring the joy of music and praise back into your life. Pornography is a lie. It promises pleasure, but robs the soul of music and life. Note that the life of praise is not a silent quiet life. The life God gives you needs to be shared in healthy relationships with others. Don’t let computer-sin rob you of this joy. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1999 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."