Sunday, July 5, 2015 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
“For His Mercy Endures Forever”
Psalm 118
The
118 psalm is the final psalm of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118)
that was used during the Passover and other occasions of the Jewish
year.
We
do not know who the author is, but some attribute it to David.
Vs. 1 of our psalm is a quote from 1 Chronicles 16:34 where David
praises the LORD after bringing the Ark into Jerusalem.
Some also see events in the life of David that could be addressed
in this psalm.
Portions of this psalm are also quoted in 12 New Testament passages
causing some to call it a messianic psalm (a prophetic psalm looking to
Jesus). We will notice some
of these as we examine this psalm.
In
this psalm there are numerous practical applications – too many to
address in great detail, so we will give passing thought to some we have
noted in recent psalms.
a.
The psalmist calls for
all the godly to give thanks to the LORD.
We have emphasized the importance of thanksgiving on numerous
occasions.
b.
“For His mercy endures
forever” – quoted 4 times here.
It is probable that in the singing of this psalm, this was a
responsive utterance (later in the 136th psalm, it is
recorded in response of each verse).
c.
God is worthy of our
thanks because of His mercy (also extensively addressed in previous
psalms). Here we are
reminded that His mercy and longsuffering are “forever.”
Our hope, even when we continually stumble lies in His grace and
mercy toward us (Eph. 2:4, 2 Cor. 1:3 – the Father of mercies).
d.
Let those who hear the
LORD now say – all who are godly ought to give thanks to Him.
a.
In distress he called on the LORD and He answered.
Many have experienced troubles.
Some wait for such times to call upon the Lord.
Let us not be that weak.
Call upon Him always (1 Thess. 5:17, Eph. 6:18, Luke 18:1-8,
etc.) and then when you seek His help during the difficult times, it is
not hypocritical.
b.
The LORD answered and
set him in a broad place.
The “broad place” is the idea of firm grounding.
Compare this to being on a mountainous road near the edge of a
steep drop or going through a construction zone with tight barriers on
both sides with no place to go, or someone afraid of heights who steps
out on a glass balcony. One
is “nervous.” But once
you are on firm ground, you are relieved.
Sometimes hardships can give us that apprehension.
The psalmist was facing difficulties, but he has been delivered and is
now “relieved”. We see
that in his confidence in the following verses.
The LORD can place us on a broad place too, if we put our trust in Him.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8 was “hard pressed, but not crushed.”
If our soul is anchored in heaven, we are firmly grounded (Heb.
6:19) and have hope.
c.
The LORD is on my side. I will
not fear. What can man do to
me?
Clearly a description of trust in our God.
The psalmist puts greater confidence in God than in man.
This verse is quoted in Hebrews 13:6, in a passage where the author
gives us hope that God will never leave or forsake us.
“So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear. What can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:6, NKJV)
NOTE, the quote is taken from the LXX which explains the
difference.
d.
The LORD is among those
who help me –
therefore he would see his enemies defeated.
In times of trouble, who do we surround ourselves with?
Is the LORD in that number?
e.
It is better to trust in
the LORD –
than in man. Man often
disappoints and fails, even though sometimes intentions are good.
But God is greater – 1 John 4:4, Romans 8:31 – if God is for us,
who can be against us?
f.
All nations surrounded me
– Vs. 10-14. These
verses demonstrate the psalmist’s confidence in the LORD.
Salvation as it is used here means deliverance.
God’s ability to physically deliver does give us hope that He can
save us as well. 2 Peter 2:9
tells us the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation.
“In the name of the LORD I will destroy them” is used 3 times here.
Perhaps responsive singing.
But, the message is to call upon Him and trust Him.
g.
The righteous rejoice in this salvation (15-16)
– The LORD does
valiantly His work. None can
resist Him.
h.
I shall not die, but
live and declare His works (17-18)
– sometimes, when we face hardships, it is Satan at work.
But perhaps there are times when we are experiencing the
“chastening of the Lord”. Do
not despise that as such can deliver us from death.
Heb. 12:5-11, James 1:2-4, cf. 1 Cor. 5:4-5 – when we
“discipline” an unrepentant sinner, our hope is to deliver His spirit in
the day of the Lord.
a.
Perhaps the “Gates of
righteousness” are a reference to the entrance to the house of God. If
so, the psalmist is seeking permission to enter into His presence so he
can worship Him. He
could also be petitioning the Lord to present him with opportunities for
righteousness. He desires to
walk in the path of the godly
b.
Gates are associated
with access. We
sometimes call them choices or opportunities.
Will we accept them?
Which gate will we enter?
Consider Matthew 7:13-14
c.
“And I will praise the Lord” – he
will do these things with joy!
What about us?
d.
It is the gate of the
Lord through which the righteous enter.
e.
He praises the LORD for
answered prayer.
f.
Are we letting our light
shine? Matt. 5:16
a.
In our psalm Vs, 22 is a
challenging verse. We are
more familiar with it because it is quoted in the New Testament which we
will notice in a moment.
b.
Here the psalmist notes
that the one rejected by the builders becomes “the chief cornerstone.”
If in this text, it is a reference to David, we find David who was
pursued by Saul and his followers for a long time.
Now David is King, “the chief cornerstone”.
This could be said of whomever this psalmist was – having faced
some sort of troubles, he has been delivered and now he praises the
Lord.
c.
NOTE: God is able to
take the weak and make them strong.
In the New Testament we read, “For you see your calling,
brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the
world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of
the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”
There are many examples of this in the Old Testament – Moses was weak of
speech, yet he led Israel out of Egypt.
Even David, was a shepherd and even overlooked by his father when
Samuel sought a king to replace Saul.
His beginnings were with great distress, yet God used him to
become the greatest king of Israel.
d.
This text in the New
Testament.
But we know that vs. 22-23 is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
It is quoted or referenced in the New Testament some 6 times (on
4 occasions). Jesus quoted
the psalm as recorded in Matthew 21:42 as He taught the parable of the
wicked vinedressers (also Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17)
IN Acts 4:11, Peter before the council quotes this verse and applies it
to Jesus being rejected by them.
In 1 Peter 2:6-7, Peter later quotes this verse again as he describes
the disciples of Jesus as a spiritual house built upon spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
He notes that those who reject the truth stumble being
disobedient to His word.
Finally, Ephesians 2:20 simply describes Jesus Christ as the “chief
cornerstone”.
e.
Vs. 24, This is the day
the LORD has made – we will rejoice in it.
Friends, every day is the day the Lord has made.
Be grateful for life, etc.
a.
The psalmist concludes
this psalm by praying unto the Lord again to save.
b.
He calls for the LORD to
send His prosperity.
Throughout Israel’s history, He sent prosperity to His people.
There is recorded numerous times where God greatly blessed the
people. One such period of
time was during David’s reign.
But ultimately, God would send His prosperity by sending His son to die
for the sins of mankind – John 3:16, etc.
c.
Vs. 26, “Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the LORD.”
Again, we find a text that is quoted in the New Testament –
twice, this verse is quoted in Matthew:
Matthew 21:9, as Jesus enters the city triumphantly (shall we say a
symbol of heavenly prosperity?), the multitudes are crying, “Hosanna to
the Son of David” (Hosanna means, “Save I pray” or “Help I pray” in
Aramaic) “Blessed
is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Matt. 23:39 where Jesus tells Jerusalem they will see Him no more til
they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
(Also found in Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, 19:18 which repeats Matthew’s
occasions.)
d.
Vs. 27 declares that God
is the LORD and He has given us light.
e.
There is a call to bind
the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar – this is another
difficult expression to understand.
In light of the call of this psalmist, perhaps it is a call to
offer sacrifices abundantly to God.
Bring them to be sacrificed as you are commanded.
To us, we must realize that as we submit to God, we to are sacrifices.
Romans 12:1-2 calls for us to present ourselves a living
sacrifice.
f.
Vs. 28 - You are my God,
I will praise You and exalt You – as well as a proclamation to others,
this is personal! While God
is a God for all creation (salvation is available to all – 1 Tim. 2:4 –
He desires that all be saved; 2 Peter 3:9 – His longsuffering is so that
many will not perish but come to repentance), He should also be your
PERSONAL God! This is where
true faith begins. Is God
dwelling within you (cf. John 14:23)?
g.
He concludes this psalm
just as he began it.
There are many reasons to give thanks to the Lord, chief among them
being His enduring mercy.
May we live our lives for Him in such a way that we can, like the
psalmist truly praise Him.
What about you?