Psalm 1:1-6 A life that Matters for Eternity

 

Sermon Title:  A Life that Matters for Eternity

Sermon Text: Psalm 1:1-6

(Introduction)

Attention: Imagine that you were allowed this night to eat a wonderful meal in the ship’s kitchen.  But now it is time for you to commence work.  So you are washing dishes on the Titanic, The ship hits an iceberg.  Now, should you keep on washing the dishes so that most will be done before water fills the kitchen?   It is all going to bottom isn’t it? At that point in time any further work on those dirty dishes will be futile, vain, empty, and valueless.

Need: Have you ever wondered, does my life’s work really matter?  Am I doing anything of lasting value?  Will the things I pour my time into be permanent?  Is there anything in my life of lasting value, or is all temporary and vain?  Can I choose a lifestyle that will give my life purpose, meaning, and permanence? Fund-raiser said, “a man reaches 50 he has a desire to have his name on a building.”  Men often look to their work for permanence and women often look to relationships. Solomon struggled with the same issues in Ecclesiastes.  His answer there was to have a relationship with God that was characterized by obedience. FCF We have outside & inside pressure to follow the wrong lifestyle.

Background:  Psalm chapter 1 is anonymous.  We don’t know who the human author was.  Certainly, David could be the author.  But because it is clearly an introductory chapter to the whole book of Psalms, Solomon, the author of Eccl. and Proverbs is also a likely candidate.  Regardless, - Divine author – God – Bible and this is for us.

Textual Idea:  In this passage, the Psalmist reminded Israel about the difference between the life of a righteous person and the life of an unrighteous person.             [read text here, pray]

Sermon Idea: Today, we need to examine the difference between the lifestyle of a righteous person and the lifestyle of an unrighteous person.

Interrogative: What are the differences between the lifestyle of a righteous person and the lifestyle of an unrighteous person?

Transition w/ Key Word:  In Psalm chapter one, we observe the characteristics of two lifestyle directions.

(Body)

Division 1 Statement: A PERSON’S BEHAVIOR & DESIRES REVEAL THEIR HEART’S PRIORITIES. vs. 1-2a (who they really are)

Explanation: “walks not.”  - a word picture for all of a person’s life, thoughts, and behavior.  There are some things the righteous person does not do: listen to – world’s advice or surrender – world’s influence. Do not let the world squeeze / instead, the righteous “delight” in God’s instruction - the Bible – they are in the world but not of it / The “Blessed” person knows God’s love & favor, & has a deep-seated contentment, a purposeful, meaningful life.  The 2nd type of person has a different lifestyle – “counsel” is to accept world’s belief systems / walking - standing - sitting – downward spiral – listening, joining -settling down in evil & mocking / for both types of people, the progression is from thinking – behaving to belonging. Walk – stand – sit. Another progression: ungodly – sinner – scornful (unlike God, to breaking His law, to mocking God and His true truth).

Illustration: Harold Morris was just riding with some friends.  He did not know that when two of them got out at the gas station that they had robbed it before getting back in the car.  When the police pulled it over, they all went to jail, including Harold.    Modern day Bonnie & Clyde. The Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  You see, ignorance was not an excuse for Harold, if you surrender to the wrong influences, things get worse and worse. Witness to the lost, but do not follow them.

Argumentation: - righteous delight –God’s Word.  NIV Psalm 119:70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. NIV Psalm 119:77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.  To not join in the world system means to separate from – close associations / it is not a separation from –people. In Mark 16:15 Jesus send us into the world to preach the gospel. Influence them / Life guard empathetic – coughing water out lungs, not a comfort – drowning person.

Application:  Cable, Satellite, internet, radio, educational institutions have the ungodly persons counsel, path, and scoffer seats. Evolution and - teaching that man is – measure of all things – are not just cute ideas.  They have deadly consequences.  You move from thinking to behaving to belonging.  You become a settler in evil town and mock - righteous.  How do you get off this runaway train?  You embrace Christ and the truth, and you move from correct thinking to correct behaving to assurance that you belong to Him.  Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.  Now, that sounds like permanence to me.

Transition: Not only does a person’s behavior and desires reveal their hearts, but second,

Division 2 Statement:   A PERSON’S PRIVATE ACTIVITIES INFLUENCES THEIR LONG-TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS. vs. 1, 2

Explanation: The righteous “delight” in God’s instruction - loves the Bible – reading & reciting, Meditate, murmur, repeat it, live it. Could it be that this person has found – secret to a meaningful life that counts? Yes, following the narrow path through the difficult gate leads to life everlasting. They are reading the Bible night and day, put the time into – Word – change – thinking. But, the unrighteous goes deeper down the spiral of the world’s ideas and views, on the broad road to destruction.

Illustration Like a cow digests her food is a good example of what to do with God’s instructions in the Bible.  Hear it, Examine it, Read it, think about it, memorize it, repeat it, apply it, teach it.  This includes his commands and promises.

Argumentation: Societies move from deism to agnosticism to atheism.  The lifestyle of the dead is highlighted in Eph. 2.  The world, the devil, and spiritual deadness are powerful forces to contend with in the unrighteous person’s life. They are too strong for him / her to take on in their own strength and power. Paul applies this concept to direct business partners and potential marriage partners. The Bible says, “Do not be unequally yoked.”  This principle is for your protection and reveals truth about God person, Be holy, because I am holy.

Application: Christian, do you delight in, Love the Bible?  Does it have priority? Heb. – older Christians eat the meat / start with 5 minutes a day for six weeks. What you think is important.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Out of the heart proceed all types of wickedness. Guard your heart, for from it flow the issues of life, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you  -- Truth in, allows for truth to come out, Error in allows for confusion and error and sin to come out

Transition: Not only, does a person’s behavior and desires reveal their hearts, and a person’s private activities have an influence on their accomplishments, but third

Division 3 Statement: A PERSON’S PATTERN OF LIVING REVEALS THEIR DESINTY. vs. 3, 5, 6

Explanation:  Look at the word “fruitful” in verse 3.  Certain plants are designed to bear fruit, and so are humans.  Jesus told stories that rural societies understood.  Give the tree a little more time to bear fruit, and if it doesn’t chop it down.  Trees are supposed to bear fruit.  Unfruitful trees are cursed and wither up.

Illustration:  of the righteous. vs. 3.  This tree was planted in a specific place by a specific person.  God has a plan and He is working that plan.  Will you join Him in that plan?  God not only knows, but He also designs things for His children.  Now why is “rivers” plural?  This word was used for many man made irrigation canals dug by the farmer to water the fruit trees.  Not only is the tree planted near the source of water, but the water is channeled to the tree by kind gracious design. Not only does God have the resources to meet your needs, but He has the channels mapped out that He will use to meet your needs.  You can trust God! He is faithful!

Argumentation: If a farmer takes such good care of a fruit tree, how much more will – heavenly Father take care of His children?  That is why it makes so much sense to live for the glory of God.  He is so great, and He is great to us.  Blessings are sure to come on the day our works are evaluated, and the rewards are given out.  Heaven is not just a wonderful place, but it’s a place of great rewards for those who are fruitful and faithful believers in God.  And, if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide all that we need in the here and now.

Explanation: There is another group’s destiny pictured in this chpt. Look at vs.5, “not stand in the judgment” shows on judgment day, in – picture of a court scene the ungodly will have nothing to say and are afraid of their future.  They will not have a defense attorney. They will be alone. Permanently separated from the congregation of the righteous, the residents of heaven.  The unrighteous are seen as useless, temporary, rootless, and weightless.  But it does not have to be this way.

Illustration:  Look at vs. 4, The Bible compares the unrighteous to chaff.  This word picture is used in both Testaments.  The chaff is the light husk of the grain that is broken apart by the grinding wheel.  Then a winnowing fork, is used to toss the mixture into the air.  The heavy grain falls down, the light chaff blows away.  It is useless, temporary, rootless and weightless, no glory.  John the Baptist predicted Jesus would use His winnowing fork and separate the wheat & bring fire on the chaff.

Argumentation: There are two paths and two destinies. Isa. 29:5 chaff is temporary, Psa. 35:5 the chaff flies away in the wind, and it is without weight or value.  There you have it.  You can be like a well-watered tree or like stubble blowing in the wind. Is it reasonable to remain on the path of the ungodly?

Application: One of the lies of the scoffers from verse one is that man is basically good. In Psa 51 David tells us, we are born sinners.  We sin because we are sinners.  So if we are sinners, how then can we receive God’s righteousness and change His evaluation of us before His holy throne in His courtroom of justice? Or how can a person born a sinner be later called righteous?  By a substitute, embracing Christ in faith and repentance is the way from the path of the ungodly to godly, from unrighteous to righteous.  God has good plans for His people.  He can be trusted.  Do you want your life to matter, to count for something?  Then leave the Broad road that leads to destruction and enter by the straight gate of repentance and take the narrow way to the foot of the cross.  The virgin born Son of God became a sacrifice for sinners, and He was worthy to do so as the sinless God-Man.  You must receive Him; embrace Him, by a deep trust, a turning from sin, and surrender to Him as Boss and Master of your life from now on.  It is by grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone that we are saved.  But saving faith will never be alone, so we can see who someone is by the way they live, the path on which they stay.

Transition: What have we seen in this text?  Let’s pull it together.

(Conclusion)

Visualization: Picture Jesus on His throne, and the angel taking a group of sheep and putting them on His right and a group of goats on His left.  In Matt. 25 we learn this will be a permanent arrangement for both groups.  The goats go into the everlasting fire; the sheep go into everlasting purposefulness and enjoy heaven.

Reiteration: We have considered the life of a righteous person contrasted with the life of an unrighteous person.  We looked at some characteristics of these 2 paths. A person’s behavior and desires reveal their heart’s preferences, and a person’s private activities influence their long-term accomplishments and a person’s pattern of living reveals their destiny.

Action: Christian, act like who you are.  You go into the world to influence them, not to surrender to their influence.  Evangelism yes, influenced by the world, no.  And friend, if un-like-God describes you, you need to come to Christ.  Today you can switch paths, lifestyles, futures, and rewards. Today is – day of salvation, come to Jesus.

Appeal: Today is the day to think, act, and belong like who you really are or to become who you can be in Christ.

 

 

Psalm 126:1-6 Salvation Has Come!

Introduction

1) Illustration: God’s people were slaves in Egypt. They called out to God to deliver them; God came    in power and saved them.  The exodus stands as a testimony to anyone who is enslaved to sin, that    they can call out to the same God.  The God of - Bible can deliver them from slavery just like He did the Nation of Israel.  The term - Salvation - in - Bible has two close synonyms: Deliver and preserve. When one is drowning, they want to be delivered from the waters, saved from drowning, and preserved as one who can continue to breath air and stay alive. The true historical accounts in the Bible of how God saved people from their slavery & prison stands as a testimony to all who are slaves and prisoners today.  

2) Background: Psalm 126 deals with another deliverance of God.  The Jews from the southern

kingdom had been deported to Babylon.  This Psalm expresses - joy of Salvation, of God delivering His people from captivity and returning them to the Promise land.  Whenever a person is enslaved to sin, or needs to be delivered from a sinful habit, the song is for them.  This song gives us the principles of Salvation.  The Restoration has come.  Behold the salvation of our God.  Once we get saved we need to sing this song.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

We have been delivered and preserved by God. It appears that Jesus and Paul had this Psalm in mind when they taught about Evangelism.  Many teaching texts in the NT use the farming pictured in the Psalm to illustrate how to witness.

He was born in England, and his name was William. He was saved, and he was a Baptist.  He had only one problem, he kept reading his Bible.  In God’s book he saw God’s heart for those not yet saved, they needed to be delivered from darkness.  He saw we were God’s tools to reach the world, but no one wanted to go.  

William Carey challenged the Particular Baptists of his day to simply obey God’s command to go, make disciples, baptize and teach.  A missions society was formed and they sent William to India.  

The people in India needed to be delivered from captivity to sin and released from Satan’s prison house. This Psalm illustrates what Carey did in India and the fruit his work is still producing today.  If you are saved today this Psalm is for you.  When you were saved you were also enlisted in God’s army.

Here are His orders for you.  Here is how to farm and to fight. You see farming, fighting, even eating is intentional. Evangelism to be Biblical, need to move from optional in our practice, to intentional.

3) Direction

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.

 I.  WE NEED TO RESPOND SUITABLY TO THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD.  vs 1-3

(Psalms 126:1-3 NIV) A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

     A.  The Joy of God’s people. v 1-2a

1.  The Bible prophesied that God would restore the captives to the land.

2.   In 538 B.C. it happened.

3.   What a wonderful experience to be out of captivity, back to God’s land.

4.   It happened so fast it was like a dream. Pinch me, is this real?

5.   The people of God respond to deliverance w/ shock, then joy and laughter.

6.    They couldn’t help shouting and telling everyone how God had saved them.

     B.  The proclamation among the nations. v 2b 

1.  This great act of restoration was talked about around - world.

2.  When God providentially steps in, His mighty works witness that He is                                                able to deliver His own people.

3.   The joyful people cannot stop testifying and declaring the mighty acts of God                                    who delivered them from darkness into His marvelous light.

     C.  The Thanksgiving for salvation.  v 3

          The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

1. The shock is over

2.  The prodigal is home; and it is now time to party.

3.  When God saves His people, the pagans recognize the greatness of God.

4.  God’s people are overflowing w/ joy because God has saved them.

(ILL.)  When a person really gets saved, there is relief from guilt, a change, and joy. Do you remember where Jesus found you? Do you remember the joy & happiness? When someone gets saved, it brings joy on earth and in heaven. If you have been delivered, saved, it is something to be joyful about. The greater our captivity, the thicker the prison walls, the greater the joy. Free at last.  Thank God, I am free at last.

II.  WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMAND TO JOIN GOD IN HIS HARVEST FIELD. vs 4-6

(Psalms 126:4-6 NKJV) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, As the streams in the South (Negev). Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

     A.  The prayer for God to make us fruitful.  v 4

1.  Judah was destroyed.  Everything was torn down and burnt.  We need to pray.

2.  God has delivered us, now we need Him to restore our fortunes, prosper our work.                            Do for us what you did for Job.

3.  When God sends the rains in the South, around Beersheba, the rain comes across that dry land in powerful flood streams. “God, open the flood gates of heaven and pour out your blessings on all our work.” We have repented of our sin. We are committed to obeying your command. Bless the labor of our hands

     B.  The promise of answered prayer.

1.  God will keep his promise.

2.  God raised up the prophet Haggai to speak to the returned captives.

(Haggai 2:19 NIV) Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.

3.  Is it a surprise that God wants His people to be fruitful? “Be fruitful & multiply fill the earth.” God commands physical fruit. And the number of disciples multiplied, they added daily to the church those whom God was saving. That is spiritual fruit.

(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

(John 15:5 NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

    Fruit = the fruit of the Holy Spirit, good works, praise to God, giving, and new Christians.                   If we are really concerned about bearing fruit, then vs 5-6 are very important to us.

     C.  The presentation of the law of the harvest. v 5-6

1.  Going: One of the things you learn from the Bible studies in MasterLife, God has not suggested that you share your faith. God has commanded us to do it. Five times the resurrected Christ told us to go, preach, make disciples, be His witnesses. There are no good excuses. We are going, or we are sinning. To not Go and Tell, is to directly disobey God. This in not asking people to come and hear. This is going to them and telling the gospel, Good News.

     a) Go is present tense.  Continually going. Forth, means we leave something behind.

     b) Every farmer must choose his field. Where will I start?

(Matthew 13:38 NKJV) The field is the world

(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

     c) We start casting seeds right here! Stand on your front porch and claim the three houses in front of you. Front porch evangelism. Claim the desks around yours in the class. Look at the text under 'going.' One GA preacher said, 'we have too many sitters and getters and not enough goers and tellers.'

2.  Weeping (Emotions)

     a) (ILL.)  Our second son, Jacob was born blue, they took him to Syracuse, & it started snowing, I visited him in ICU. The next day they operated on his heart. My wife, Deb, was in Elmira, our first son John in Valois. I did a lot of weeping when I prayed all alone in a strange city. When was the last time you asked God to save someone, & you asked w/ tears?

      (ILL.) Daimon: The call came, I have wonderful news, let me share it w/ you. Amway, I listened, then it was my turn, and I shared about Jesus taking away my sin, paying for them

b) We need a passion for souls.

c)  We must pray w/ earnestness, passion

        d) We need a burden from God for souls. Moses & Paul

        e) Jesus wept.

      1. Over a man, Lazarus and the pain and sorrow of sin & death.

              2.  Over obstinate Leaders, the Leaders of Jerusalem keeping the people from                         salvation.

                      3.  Over a world, ours. In the Garden of 'the crushing' (John 11:35, Mat. 23:37,                     Lk. 22:39-46)

3.  Sowing (The Mind)

(Luke 8:11 NIV) This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

          a) Sowing the seed is sharing the gospel.

          b) We must cultivate the ground before we sow

          c)  We simply go and tell what Jesus did for us and in us.

          d) If no one goes and sows, nothing will come up.

      (ILL.) An unbelieving neighbor through a tomato at the church building next to the parsonage. I washed it off the building. The next year 3 healthy tomato plants came up at that spot. 

e) Cultivating and sowing must be intentionally scheduled in our weeks like eating.  If not, it won't happen. Two Monday night a month are set aside for evangelistic visitation. This is not for just deacons; it is for Christians.

      (ILL.)  John MacArthur plane

f) Get the training you need so you can share w/ o fear and effectively.

4.  Reaping (The Will)

a) The promise to the Jews, God will make you fruitful.  Pray and sow, and guess what? You will have to reap. The same is true for the Church. Look at the book of Acts. Sowing produces reaping. Paul said, what you sow, you will reap. If you sow nothing, you will reap nothing.

       b) (ILL.)  Tomato plant S.C., removed rocks, planted, watered, weeded, fertilized, and reaped.

       c) (ILL.) Bee Gee was the WMU leader at Darrel Robinson’s church in Texas, she attended the witnessing training so she could teach others. She told the pastor, I have tried to witness, I get emotional and cry. I can’t witness, but I will teach others. She took her witnessing book to the beauty parlor, Cookie asked, What are you reading? I am reading a little book about Jesus.  May I share it w/ you? Cookie read the book and wanted to get saved.  Bee Gee panicked and went to see Pastor.  He set up a time for them to go together and meet w/ Cookie and her husband.  That hour God saved them both. After surrendering to the Lord Christ, Cookie asked Bee Gee, you have invited me to come to your church for all kinds of things.  But how come You never told me about Jesus till now? Bee Gee never said she could not witness again.

Conclusion

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.  JOY.  Happiness.  Change.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.                                                        We must Go, weep, sow, and reap. More of the same never produces change.                                            Will you commit to intentionally obeying Jesus' command to you to share your faith?                            What are you willing to do under:

Going

Weeping

Sowing

Reaping

(ILL.)  Robert M. McCheyne’s weeping over his congregation in prayer

Do business with God today. Agree to join Him in His harvest field. There is grain ready to be picked.   There are fields ready to be cultivated, some are ready for sowing. There are projects away from home, but we must first start at home. Then we can go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 106: Yahweh’s love and Israel’s disobedience

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)

Psalm 105: Yahweh will Keep His Promise to Ethnic Israel

The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a hymn that celebrates Israel’s history of redemption (also called a narrative or story telling psalm, which there are only five: 78, 105, 106, 153, 136). This psalm’s storyline begins with God’s covenant with Abraham and then displays that covenant beginning to be fulfilled in the nation of Israel. Eight of the ten plagues of Egypt are mentioned.

I. The call to worship (vs. 1–6)

    A. Sing praises to Yahweh

    B. Seek the LORD

    C. Express gratitude to the LORD

    D. Glorify the LORD, Look to the LORD in dependent trust

    E. Remember His signs, wonders and judgments in connection with redemption and revelation

II. The Abrahamic covenant of promise (vs. 7–11)

    A.  Yahweh is faithful to His covenant promises, “Yahweh our God,” Exodus 20

    B. Covenants are established by God, commanded, sworn oath, decree, confirmed

    C. The promise of the land is to the physical seed, ethnic Israel

    D. A thousand generation promise

    E. Focus is on the unconditional aspects of the covenant here

III. The covenant people’s protection by Yahweh (vs. 12–15)

      A. God protected the patriarch’s as Genesis recorded

      B. The Jews survive because Yahweh decreed it, not because of their strength

      C. Those who God chooses He anoints with His Spirit

      D. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob received direct revelation like the prophets

      E. Pharaoh, Abimelech and his son were all rebuked by God 

IV. The covenant people’s providential preservation by Yahweh (vs. 16–23) ***

      A. The famine of the Land moved God’s people to Egypt

      B. God providentially sent Joseph first

V.  The covenant people’s further protection by Yahweh (vs. 24–36)

      A. The people expanded, multiplied, just like Yahweh promises

      B. Pharaoh order gender specific post-birth abortions, Yahweh overruled 

      C. Eight of the ten plagues are mentioned in a different order than Exodus 10–12

      D. These are the judgmental signs and wonders connected with redemption and revelation

VI. The fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant promise (vs. 37–45b)

    A. Yahweh must bring the people out of Egypt to give them Canaan

    B. He must provide them with the resources they needed

    C. He must give them a constitution and legal system

    D. He must give them property

    E. He must provide for them food and water for the trip

    F. He must provide them a Messiah in which to trust

 . . . and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit - for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. (1 Cor 10:4 CJB)

   G. He must provide them reasons to rejoice and be glad

   H. He gave them tree groves and vineyards already planted

    I. He blessed them

   J. He gave them His worship regulations and His moral laws, which as a couplet stands for the         entire law, which includes Civil, Ceremonial, and Moral as categories of law

VII. The benediction of worship (vs. 45c)

        A. The author ends as he began, a call to praise

        B. This conclusion is fitting benediction, Praise Yahweh, He is faithful to keep His covenant               promises

       C.  Because the nation was unfaithful, violated the covenant, and brought the chastisements             of the covenant on themselves, the remnant had to take hold of the promises of Yahweh                      by faith. It has always been that way

Lessons to live by:

• In every era of time it is impossible to please God without faith. See Hebrew 11

• If God keeps His promises to the ethnic seed of Abraham, how much more will He keep His promises to the Spiritual seed of Abraham (Galatians 3)

• If God protects the ethnic seed, will He not also protect the Spiritual seed? (Romans 8)

• The chosen ones today are in the New Covenant with Jesus the Messiah as the mediator of the new and better covenant

• There is no safer place on the earth than living in a committed obedient relationship to Yahweh and His book, the Bible and following His guidance

• Salvation is through faith by grace and never by works, however, the saved will display their salvation by their actions (Eph 2:8–10; James 2)

Psalm 104: Yahweh provides for His Creation and Creatures

The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a Hymn that is a descriptive psalm of praise. The author may have been correcting an ancient Egyptian poem written to worship the sun. If so, he surely displays that the suns maker, Yahweh, is the one to be worshiped rather than His creation. At the very least he had Genesis chapter 1 firmly in his mind as he wrote this psalm. Derek Kidner notes the Creation week of Genesis chapter 1 showing up in this hymn in an orderly way. William Kethe’s, “My Soul, Praise the Lord” and Robert Grant’s “O Worship the King” are based on this psalm.

Days Genesis 1 verses Psalm 104 verses             Subjects

Day 1     3–5                        2a                 light

Day 2     6–8                        2b–4                         atmosphere and water vapor canopy 

Day 3     9–10, 11–13        5–9, 10–13,14–18 land and water distinct; vegetation, trees

Day 4     14–19                        19–24                 luminaries as timekeepers

Day 5     20–23                        25–26                 creatures of sea and air

Day 6     24–28, 29–31        21–24, 29–30         animals and man, food appointed for all

I. The praise of God’s majestic splendor in creation of the earth and sky (vs. 1–4)

    A. I will praise Yahweh with my whole being

    B. God’s creative acts declare His glory and give us a lot for which to praise Him

    C. God is active yet separate from creation. This refutes both deism and pantheism 

    D. God is light, dwells in light, created natural light first, and light is vital to all life

    E. God set up the atmosphere on earth for life and His manifold creation

    F. God is in control of the wind, rain, and lightening

                                                                Hymn

O worship the King, all glorious above, O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace,           O gratefully sing God's power & God's love; whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,          our Shield & Defender, the Ancient of Days,  whose chariots of wrath - deep thunderclouds form;  pavilioned in splendor & girded with praise.      & dark is God's path on - wings of the storm.

II. The divine formation of the land and the seas (vs. 5–9)

    A. On day 3 the water that covered the mountains and valleys was assigned to the oceans

    B. The dry land had already been formed, it was now visible from the sky

    C. God’s covenant promise to Noah and mankind is the earth will never be flooded again

    D. The poetic language for the earth’s rotation and spot in the solar system is used here

The earth with its store of wonders untold, 

Almighty, thy power hath founded of old; 

hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, 

and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

III. The divine creation and preservation of land bound life on earth (vs. 10–18)

      A. God is the source and sustainer of life through streams, rain, and snow

      B. Man and many animals require O2 and H2O to survive

      C. All the plants and animals are in the service of man, made in God’s image

      D. God also provides food and medicine for all His creatures

      E. Man’s purpose is not to work, but to glorify God by his work

      F. Even the trees, birds, ibex and rock badgers get what they need from God’s created order

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; 

it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, 

and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

IV. The divine order and design in God’s created universe (vs. 19–23) **

      A. The ancients all went by a lunar calendar which marked the four seasons

      B. The moon has 29.5 days for each cycle, but visible there are 28 different moon phases

      C. There are 7 visible planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn

      D. God has put His order in creation, the lunar calendar gave a point of reference of time

      E. Daylight and night are additional boundaries set by God

V.  The divine wisdom in creation and usefulness of the oceans of the earth (vs. 24–26)

      A. The natural world reveals God’s creativity and awesome wisdom

      B. The sea reveals many amazing creatures at every depth

      C. Even the amphibious dinosaurs reveal God’s great power

VI. The divine sovereignty in creation and recreation on the earth (vs. 27–30)

      A. Yahweh provides what both man and animals need to survive

      B. Yahweh sets the time for births and deaths

      C. God life giving Spirit gives life and breath and new life

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, 

in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; 

thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, 

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

VII. The praise of God’s royal glory, awesome power, and holiness (vs. 31–35)

        A. All of life is about the glory of God, this world displays His glory

        B. God is powerful and holy; thus, He hates sin and His people hate sin

Lessons to live by:

• The triune Godhead created the universe; however, the Eternal Son of God was the primary agent of creation

• Paul says of Jesus: "because in connection with Him were created all things - in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers or authorities - they have all been created through Him and for Him. He existed before all things, and He holds everything together." (Col 1:16–17 CJB)

• We can do nothing greater in our lives than bringing God glory. This is the main thing.

Psalm 102: A Heavenly Prospective from a Suffering Man of Faith

The author of this Psalm is unknown. It is an individual lament of a righteous person going through trials because of the wicked with unexplained sufferings like Job. Many Bible students think it reveals the pain of one of the righteous remnant in exile during the Babylonian captivity. He does not ask to be personally delivered from the trail. He wants Yahweh to listen to the details of his difficult lot, for Him to keep His covenant promises to Israel, to not allow the suffer to die prematurely, and for the future presence of his descendants with God. Part of this Psalm is quoted in Heb 1:11 in the New Testament.

  I. The petition to be heard by God (vs. 1–2)

     A. Yahweh, hear my prayer is an opening to prayer often used (Ps 39:12, 54:2, 61:1, 64:1)

     B. The parallel phrase, “Let my cry for help come to you” (Ps 69:17) is part of the address

     C. Human idioms or metaphors are used to ask God to attentively listen to this prayer

          1. The prayer is full of Scriptural phrases

          2. It honestly lists the current situation without one selfish plea

          3. It includes God’s prophetic promises that by faith the praying one claims for Israel                            “Faith mighty faith, the promise see’s and looks to God alone”                                                                “And Lord haste the day when faith shall be sight                                                                                     – the clouds be rolled back like a scroll

           4. Faith is the certain substantive conviction that what God has promised in the Bible that                         we cannot yet see with our eyes is true and real

 II. The lament of a lonely righteous person who is suffering (vs. 3–11)        

     A. Man’s life is temporary, all is temporary

     B. The suffering one short life is like smoke that blows away, burning embers that die out                    summer grass that dies out, an evening shadow that is swallowed by the darkness

     C. The anguish in is heart and body include heat stroke, being without shelter from the sun,                    intense pain, fever (his skeleton is burning like a furnace), sleeplessness, frailty,                                     dehydrated and emaciated from the lack of food and fluid, depressed, appetite gone,                                isolated, in mourning and sadness, wailing loudly, just skin and bones left, lonely and                             alone like an owl, crying alone on the roof like a widowed sparrow

          1. Many can relate to parts of this in the midst of sickness or grief

          2. It has similarities to cancer treatments and Nazi concentration camps

          3. An owl that has lost his mate will cry out on a roof top for several days

          4. His time is short on the earth, it seems he has only days or hours to live

          5. Sadness and solitude often go together, God has made us for community

          6. The delights and joys of life are all hidden from his sight

      D. A major human source of the suffering is this man’s enemies

           1. They mock him continually, they use his name as a curse word

           2. Where is your God now? You are abandoned by Him.

           3. Ashes used in mourning are his food instead of the forgotten bread

           4. There are more tears in his cup than grape juice

      E. A major divine source is the anger and wrath of God against sin

         1. God has lifted the suffer up, like an eagle with a lamb, and thrown him away

           2. The remnant grieve and weep at the thought that they are not pleasing Yahweh

           3. It grieves them to be part of a nation so wicked God must judge them

           4. The shadows lengthen right before sunset; it looks as if his life is coming to an end

           5. The grass that withers finally turns to dirt

      F. Surprisingly, there is no personal request for relief

III. The covenantal promises for Israel claimed in faith (vs. 12–22)

     A. The God of Israel, Yahweh is enthroned forever and over the captors

     B. Yahweh’s name will continue to future Jewish generations

     C.  The time to restore Judah is coming by the power of God

     D. Yahweh’s visitation, compassion, and grace are all promised

     E. He will come with His angels and the destroyed city will be rebuilt

     F. The Gentiles will fear and worship Yahweh because of His great work

     G. Yahweh will allow Jerusalem to be rebuilt and will display His glory there (John 1:14)

     H. The captive's prayer to return will be answered right on time

      I. A future people not yet created (church and millennial Jews) will praise Yahweh

      J. Oppression will be removed when Yahweh shows up to rule

      K. Yahweh’s name will be praised by redeemed Jews and Gentiles in Israel during this time

IV. The final lament of one suffering (vs. 23–27)

     A. The concern over the briefness of life on earth, days compared to generations

     B. The request to die at the right time, not prematurely

     C. Yahweh is the creator of the universe, which also is time bound and cursed

     D. The earth and heavens will one day change, but God’s character remains the same

V. The final promise claimed in faith (vs. 28)

     A. The Jewish descendants will continue and not be destroyed

     B. The faith-line descendants of the remnant will continue and not be destroyed

     C. All the redeemed children of Abraham will be in God’s presence forever 

VI. The New Testament Insight into Psalm 102

     A. This psalm has a topological prophecy that has more than one fulfillment 

     B. Heb 1:10–12, Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God is also a suffering one

     C. Israel and individual men of faith during the captivity suffered

     D. The Psalm touches on both the first and second coming of the Messiah

Lessons to live by:

• The Messiah as God the Son has always existed and will have no end. He came and suffered a lonely vicarious substitutionary penal death in our place.

• He is coming again to rule and reign on the earth from Jerusalem

• Yahweh created the universe through Jesus and redeemed His people through Him and will rule through Him on earth for one thousand years. King Jesus is on the throne in heaven right now until all enemies are put under His control and destroyed

• God keeps His covenant promises to all the real believers who love, trust, and obey Him