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He is strong, I am weak
The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a hymn that celebrates Israel’s history of deliverance in spite of their continual rebellion (also called a narrative or story telling psalm). This psalm’s storyline begins with the nation in exile in Egypt with a focus on their repeated failures and God’s amazing patience and covenantal love. Grace that was greater than all of Israel’s sin. This is the last song in book 4 of the psalms.
I. A call to worship (vs. 1–2)
A. Sing praises to Yahweh
B. Yahweh alone is good
C. Yahweh’s covenant love is everlasting
D. Yahweh’s mighty acts of deliverance should be the subject of our praise
II. A prayer for God’s deliverance (vs. 3–5)
A. Yahweh standard: perfection brings blessing
B. We are to always be just in our dealings righteous in our actions
C. Only the Messiah can meet this standard, we are not good enough
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NKJV)
D. Thus the sinner prays for grace, forgiveness, and deliverance from sin
E. The righteous are concerned about the real believers, chosen one, God’s people
III. A confession of sin and declaration of Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 6–12)
A. We live in community and bear individual and corporate guilt
B. Miracles do not produce faith, but trials do
C. The people respond to the ten plaques with complaining and unbelief
D. Man’s natural direction is towards unfaithfulness, discontent, rebellion
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:1 NASB)
E. God saves sinners in spite of themselves for His own glory and according to His own faithfulness to His promises
F. The contrast between Yahweh and humans could not be greater
G. Amazing faithful love (hesed) in spite of the failures of sinners
H. The salvation (yeshua) news goes beyond Israel to result in the salvation of Rahab
I. The Red Sea: God is able to deliver His people and judge His enemies at the same time
J. Finally, a little mental assent and half-hearted singing occurred at God’s deliverance
IV. A history of Israel’s unbelief and Yahweh’s judgments (vs. 13–43)
A. Israel forgot the truth, complained, lived selfishly and brought God’s judgment
B. Impatience, lack of trust, dependance, love, and gratitude resulted in diseases
C. Jealousy and rebellion against God’s appointed leaders resulted in splitting of the ground and fire (Korah, Dathan, Abiram went into the earth, 250 were consumed by fire, Num 16)
D. Their idolatry brought them near to total destruction
1. Man’s heart is an idol factory, and the natural man is quick to forget God’s works
2. Miracles strengthen the faith of believers, giving evidence to the truth
3. The deliverance from Egypt was a redemptive saving event
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Pet 2:1 ESV)
4. Idolatry always denies the nature of the God revelation and salvation
5. Moses stood in prayer for God’s people and caused their judgment to be postponed
6. Moses was learning to be servant in this trying times
E. Then the people refused to believe the promise and obey the Word of God = DEATH
1. The downward spiral of sin, idolatry to unbelief and then to rebellion
2. At Kadesh Barnea the people rebelled instead of living by faith
3. Only two spies had faith, the rest of that generation passed away in the next 38 years
4. Even in this oath God warns them of the coming exile for these same sins
F. Immorality, fornication, adultery with the idol worshipers lead to further idolatry
1. Spiritually mixed marriages resulted in judgment
2. The priest Phinehas stopped the plaque by dealing with the compromisers (Num 25)
G. Further rebellion against God’s Word and further idolatry= EXILE
1. They murdered babies
2. They worshiped false gods
3. They became just like all the cultures around them
4. The innocent blood defiled the land and brought God’s chastisement on them
You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. (Lev 26:33 NASB)
5. The covenant curse of exile comes when all the other judgments fail to bring repentance
6. The wicked could bring themselves to judgment, but they could force their descendants to remain under it
7. Once a nation sins enough to bring God’s judgment it will fall
V. A declaration of Yahweh’s covenant love and postponed judgment (vs. 44–46)
A. God preserved the Jews during the captivity
B. He postponed (nacham) His severe wrath so they would remain as a people
VI. A prayer for Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 47)
A. Save us O Yahweh our God and return us from captivity
B. Let us again bring glory to your name by our worship and faithfulness
VII. A benediction of worship (vs. 48)
A. The author ends as he began, a command to praise Yahweh
B. This conclusion is fitting benediction, Praise Yahweh, His covenant love is everlasting
C. We are un-loyal and unfaithful, He is faithful, and loyal
Lessons to live by:
• God’s patient covenant love (hesed) is beyond our imagination
• Sin continues to control us and spiral us down deeper and deeper in its grip
• Spiritually mixed dating is the first step toward spiritually mixed marriage
• God always reserves the right to postpone pronounced judgment for repentance (vs. 45 nacham)
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