Sunday, June 7, 2015 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU
GENTILES
Psalm 117
Tonight we continue our study of the psalms.
This psalm is another of the “Hallel” psalms (113-118) which are
cited during Jewish feasts and throughout the year.
It is a series of psalms designed to praise the Lord (from which
we derive the word, “Hallelujah”) acknowledging all that He has done for
mankind.
The
psalm we will examine this evening is the shortest psalm (and chapter)
in the Bible. Some say it is
also the center of the Bible (it is certainly close to that).
While only 2 verses, it is an important psalm that is quoted in
the New Testament. Let us
examine this psalm.
a.
Praise the LORD – again
we are reminded of the need to praise Him.
b.
One of major themes in
the New Testament is that salvation is for all mankind.
While the Gentiles rejoiced in Jesus, many Jews had a hard time
accepting that. One of the
ways Paul dealt with Jewish acceptance was to quote from the Old
Testament how Gentiles were intended to be a part of God’s law all
along.
c.
Romans 15:11 actually
quotes Psalm 117:1. Actually
in that text Paul quotes 4 different Old Testament verses that addressed
the Gentiles. It is in a
context where Paul is challenging brethren to treat each other properly
and bear with differences.
He emphasizes that whether you are Jew or Gentile you are one.
d.
Other Old Testament
passages point toward the Gentiles
i.
Throughout the prophets
numerous Gentile nations were addressed, often being condemned for
rejecting God, following various idols and general cruelty.
Obadiah was sent to Edom.
Jonah and Nahum were both sent to Nineveh the city that was
capital of Assyria, a nation God used to punish Israel and Judah.
We read in numerous prophets concerning, Assyria, Babylon, even
MedoPersia, their sins and strengths.
ii.
Genesis 12:3 – all
nations shall be blessed…
Worthy of note is that Abraham was not a Jew, since Israel as a nation
did not come into existence until about 400 years later.
Thus God was speaking to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and others
as Patriarchs and not as part of Judaism (the Law of Moses).
iii.
2 Samuel 22:50 (Psalm
18:49) – when David praises God having been delivered from his enemies
and Saul he says, “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among
the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.” (2 Samuel 22:50)
The Gentile nations were often
mentioned as acknowledging God.
iv.
Deuteronomy 32:43, ““Rejoice,
O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His
servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide
atonement for His land and His people.””
v.
Throughout Isaiah, the
Gentiles are mentioned numerous times.
Often it is associated with the Messiah (Jesus) coming.
For example:
Isaiah 11:10, ““And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who
shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.””
Isaiah 49:6, “Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You
should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the
preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the
Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ””
Isaiah 62:1–2, “For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for
Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as
brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall
see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by
a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name.”
Isaiah 66:18–19, ““For I know their works and their thoughts. It
shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come
and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who
escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw
the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not
heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among
the Gentiles.”
vi.
In Joel 2:28-32 we find
a passage that Peter quotes in Acts 2:17-21 on the day of Pentecost.
He speaks of that prophecy being fulfilled on that occasion.
He is speaking to a Jewish audience about the beginning of the
kingdom. But it is
interesting to note that part of Joel’s prophecy is also quoted later in
Romans 10:11-13 where the message extends beyond Jews to include the
Greeks. As a matter of fact,
we read the context, “For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on
Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew
and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
vii.
These are just a few
passages that point to the redemption of the Gentiles.
The point here is that this was in God’s plan from the beginning.
viii.
In Ephesians 3:1-13 Paul
speaks of the grace of God granted to him, to reveal among the Gentiles
“the unsearchable riches of Christ” which included declaring that
Gentiles would be fellow heirs within the church.
IN vs. 10-11 he notes, “to the intent that now the manifold
wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities
and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose
which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
This was according to God’s
eternal purpose.
ix.
One final thought here,
Romans 2:12–16 says, “For as many as have sinned without law will
also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be
judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight
of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles,
who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these,
although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work
of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing
them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel.” In this text we find that Gentiles, even in
the time of Moses were accountable to God, though they were not
obligated to keep the Law of Moses (it’s purpose is reserved for another
time).
x.
BACK to our psalm.
The Psalms have been calling for the Jewish nation to “praise the
LORD”. Now he calls upon
Gentiles also. NOTICE that
it is “ALL you Gentiles” (“All ye nations”).
a.
We find here once again
descriptions of who God is.
Here He is described as:
b.
Merciful – the idea of
the mercy of God is His compassion toward us.
In spite of our pitiful, sinful state – God has shown His mercy!
Ephesians 2:4 speaks of God being rich in mercy – by sending Jesus do
die for us.
Jesus in coming to this earth was made like us in all things that He
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17).
Hebrews 4:16, again addressing Jesus as our High Priest, the author
says, ““Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 5:11 – James notes that the Lord is very compassionate and
merciful.
In describing us, Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of
God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
We rejoice in His mercy.
c.
Merciful is a
description of His kindness toward us.
The ASV, NASV says here, “his lovingkindness.”
The ESV says, “his steadfast love”.
The mercy of God is a product of His love and grace toward us.
Again we are humbled when we consider His goodness and love
toward us (cf. Eph. 2:4 –
His rich mercy was a product of His great love with which He loved us.”)
Paul continues by saying that in Christ Jesus, “that in the ages to
come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)
Titus 3:4-6, says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our
Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”
HIS merciful kindness is GREAT toward us.
As with every other quality of God, how do we truly grasp its
greatness?
a.
As we have noted on many
occasions, the truth of God is unchangeable.
We can count on His word.
b.
In our psalm, recall how
it begins with a call to the Gentiles.
Now the reminder is that His truth endures.
We have shown in this example that His truth endures.
c.
IF we see His truth
fulfilled in other things, we can take great consolation in the promises
He made for us that are yet future.
Hebrews 6:13-18 reminds us that God keeps His word.
Vs. 18 says it is impossible for Him to lie.
d.
Psalm 110:5 tells us
that His truth endures to all generations.
e.
1 Peter 1:22-25 tells
us, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through
the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower
of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word
of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel
was preached to you.”
f.
John 17:17, what is
truth? His word is truth!
IV.
Hallelujah
– May our understanding of this provoke us to “praise the LORD” always!
This psalm is short but it is powerful.
IT includes YOU! We
have hope because of what Jesus did.
God planed it, even before the foundations of the world.
Will we accept it?