PSALMS OF TRUST AND THANKSGIVING

Transcription

1 topical psalms May 9, 2017 PSALMS OF TRUST AND THANKSGIVING 1) Trust (Psalm 3; Psalm 16; Psalm 20: Psalm 27; Psalm 31; Psalm 34; Psalm 42; Psalm 61; Psalm 62; Psalm 91). 2) The Shepherd (Psalm 23). 3) God our refuge (Psalm 46). 4) "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving" (Psalm 100). 5) "Pay thy vows unto the Most High (Psalm 50). 6) "My help cometh from the Lord" (Psalm 121). Psalm 46 One of the Songs of Zion (Pss 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122; cf. 137) o Jerusalem's most beloved name, Zion, evoked history, tradition, pride, faith, and loyalty in her people. Zion designated the Jebusite fortress, straddling the hill crest between the Kidron and Tyropeon Valleys captured by David. The name was extended up the hill to what became the temple mount and eventually to the whole city of Jerusalem and its residents. Songs of Zion are uniquely devoted to extolling this city of [God] the Great King. No other city or place, including the temple, receives this adulation. Source: Bible Gateway God is the Defense of His saints (46:1 3) We are His saints God is present in Zion (46:4 7) He is omnipresent today God will be exalted in the earth (46:8 11) Every knee will bow TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF THE SONS OF KORAH. ACCORDING TO ALAMOTH. A SONG. God is the Defense of His saints (46:1 3) We are His saints 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Matthew 21:21 And Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but

2 even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, it will happen. God is present in Zion (46:4 7) He is omnipresent today 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah In the midst o The special relationship God had/has with Jerusalem It was the place of the tabernacle on earth the temple. The place of worship and atonement. The New Testament witnesses a shift in attitude towards Jerusalem. It affirmed the special nature of Jerusalem s past, but it denied its continuing role in the present. The pattern of restoration ends with the age of grace. Looking to Jerusalem s future spoken of in Mark 13. Jerusalem would be judged, but so would the world. It would also indicate what lay in store for those who had not taken refuge in Jesus, the one who had already borne in his own body the judgement which he had predicted was awaiting Jerusalem. The resurrection of Jesus was the promise of a way through that judgement. Yet, above all, Jerusalem s fall spelt the end of the city s significance. From that day forward, the divine focus was upon Jesus, not Jerusalem. Source Jubilee Center o The special relationship Christians have with Jerusalem In one of his sermons, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, St. Sophronius, expressed the city's primacy in the following: Here it is Jerusalem we proclaim, where God has lived bringing about miracles. Here we announce Golgotha, where God took the Cross upon himself. Here we sing the resurrection, where God rose from the tomb. Here we preach Sion... where Christ appeared risen from the dead. Here we glorify the Mount of Olives from where God ascended to the heavens. o Jerusalem s references in the future

3 Romans 11:26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob ; Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Revelation 20:9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, Revelation 21:1 2 (ESV) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. God will be exalted in the earth (46:8 11) Every knee will bow 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Behold the works of the LORD o For the Jew this could be seen in their history o For Christians the greatest work is Jesus sacrifice on the cross.certainly to be beheld Behold=ecstatically observed

4 Psalm 100 (ESV) The superscription states that this psalm (or song) is for giving thanks. It was used in the temple with the sacrifices of praise.. The psalmist exhorted the congregation to serve the Lord with gladness because He is the Creator, and to enter His temple with much thanksgiving because He is good and faithful A Psalm for giving thanks. 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

5 Psalm 121 (ESV) The pilgrim, contemplating his journey through the hills to Jerusalem, found assurance that the Lord, the Keeper of Israel, would keep him at all times on his journey. A SONG OF ASCENTS. This diverse group (Psalms ) includes individual and corporate laments, songs of confidence, thanksgiving hymns, a song celebrating Zion, wisdom psalms, a royal psalm, and a psalm for a liturgical occasion. It is probably enough to take them simply as suited to the ascent to Jerusalem for worship. Psalm 121 seems to be intended to instill confidence in those making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship The successful journey becomes a parable for the whole of one s life, in which the faithful can be confident of God s tireless care. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. PILGRIM PSALMIST CONTEMPLATES HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (1-2) AND QUICKLY FINDS ASSURANCE OF GOD S PROTECTION (3-8) 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

6 PSALMS THAT PRAISE GOD 1) Extolling the goodness of God (Psalm 85; Psalm 95; Psalm 100; Psalm 136). 2) Praising God's glory, wisdom, power and majesty (Psalm 18-19; Psalm 29; Psalm 62; Psalm 66; Psalm 93; Psalm 97; Psalm 99; Psalm 118: Psalm 147). 3) God as Creator and Preserver of all of His works (Psalm 33; Psalm 89: Psalm 104). 4) His infinite knowledge (Psalm 139). 5) God's eternity contrasted with man's temporal nature (Psalm 90). 6) Divine providence seen in God's wonderful works in behalf of His chosen people, Israel (Psalm 105). 7) The Source of all help, who keeps His people (Psalm 121). 8) The whole creation praises Him (Psalm 148). Psalm 147 (ESV) The psalmist praised the Lord God for His greatness in sustaining all Creation, and for His grace in healing afflicted believers and giving them His Word. He called the congregation to join him in praise for they too received His many benefits. God is to be praised for His grace and His greatness 1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. 10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. 12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

7 Psalm 139 (ESV) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. OMNISCIENCE 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. OMNIPRESENCE 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. OMNIPOTENCE 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. THESE NATURES OF GOD FORM DAVID S PLEA. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

8 PRAYER PSALMS 1) For mercy in time of trouble (Psalm 6). 2) Prayers of assurance (Psalm 27; Psalm 116). 3) Penitence, seeking forgiveness (Psalm 51). 4) For destruction of the deceitful (Psalm 55). 5) For deliverance (Psalm 70). 6) For mercy (Psalm 86). 7) For help in trouble (Psalm 142). 8. For guidance (Psalm 143). Psalm 6 (ESV) Mercy in time of trouble TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDING TO THE SHEMINITH. A PSALM OF DAVID. 1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

9 Psalm 143 For guidance A PSALM OF DAVID. 1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! 12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.