Category: Psalms

Psalm 117

The end of this psalm is for us to consider whether indeed are praising God with our lives. Are we causing others to praise Him too?

Psalm 117

The fifth of the Hallel Psalms

Welcome to the shortest chapter in the Bible. This chapter has been presented as the central chapter in the Bible (Psalm 118 is argued by some to be the center). Paul quotes verse one in Romans 15.11 in his treatise on the gospel being presented to all the world. Being the center chapter, it would seem appropriate that the gospel is here presented to all mankind. Luther, it is believed, is to have said that the entire book of Acts was written because of Psalm 117.

The end of this psalm is for us to consider whether indeed are praising God with our lives. Are we causing others to praise Him too?

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

The fourth of the Hallel Psalms

  • Verses 1-2-We are to praise God, here it is due to God’s desire to hear and answer our prayers.
  • Verses 3-11-God hears our prayers and will deliver us from them. This deliverance may not be as we deemed but as He willed, which is better by far. The psalmist tells us that he believed even when he spoke forth doubt. Paul quotes this verse in 2 Corinthians 4.12-13.
  • Verses 12-18-We are to praise God for He is worthy of the praise. Verses 12-14 remind us to partake of the Lord’s Supper and of offering in the church assembly. Are you actively involved in your church? The Cup of Salvation is the third cup of the Passover.
  • Verse 19-Praise Him publicly not merely in your head, heart, or home.

Notice how the psalmist responds to God’s goodness (Henry, M, 1996). We call this worship.

  • He will love God (1)
  • He will continue to call upon him (2, 13, 17)
  • He will rest in him (7)
  • He will walk before him (9)
  • He will pay his vows of thanksgiving, in which he will own the tender regard God had to him, and this publicly (13–15, 17–19)
  • He will continue God’s faithful servant to his life’s end (16)

How does your worship measure up to this standard? What can you do today to change that?

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Psalm 115

The theme throughout this psalm is the glory belongs to God not to us, not to our possessions, not to our idols, but to Him alone. What have you chosen to replace Him within your life? Remove it!

Psalm 115 (Cf. Psalm 135.15-18)

The third of the Hallel Psalms

  • Verses 1-8-Honor Him for He is God alone.
  • Verses 9-11-Trust Him for He can help alone.
  • Verses 12-18-Praise Him for He is worthy alone.

The theme throughout this psalm is the glory belongs to God not to us, not to our possessions, not to our idols, but to Him alone. What have you chosen to replace Him within your life? Remove it!

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No Unto Us (Psalm 115) at Shadow Mountain Community Church Choir and Orchestra (Pastor Dr. David Jeremiah) sung by Joi Bowling

Psalm 114

When God is present, the world will know He is there. Does the world take notice when we are there? Do they see Him in us?

Psalm 114 (Cf. Exodus 14.1-31 with Joshua 3.17 and Exodus 17.6 with Numbers 20.1-13)

The second of the Hallel Psalms.

All nature trembles at the presence of its Creator. Shouldn’t we? If man were to stop praising God, the rocks would shout forth His praise (Luke 19.40). Why are we silent?

When God is present, the world will know He is there. Does the world take notice when we are there? Do they see Him in us?

Psalm 113

As God is in this world, so are we to be in this world. Do you walk by the poor and needy or do you stoop to help those in need? What would Jesus say about your actions and attitude? Take a moment to read Matthew 24-25 and listen to Keith Green’s song The Sheep and the Goats. There is no faith without action for faith creates action (James 2.14-26).

Psalm 113 (cf. Philippians 2.5-8 [He is immanent] and 1 Timothy 6.11-16 [He is transcendent])

This is the first of the Hallel Psalms or Praise Psalms used at the Passover Meal (Psalms 113-118, 136). Some have attributed this psalm to Samuel because the reference in verse nine imitating 1 Samuel 2.5, 8. Although this could be, it is not the view held here.

  • Verses 1-3-A call to praise God. All those who are His are to praise Him. We praise Him by thanking Him for who He is in our lives. We are to do this perpetually and everywhere our feet trod.
  • Verses 4-6-He is to be praised because He is great, He is without equal, and He has humbled Himself to be concerned with the affairs of man.
  • Verses 7-9-He is to be praised because He cares for the poor, needy, and barren, which are examples of His humbling of self to care for the needs of man.

As God is in this world, so are we to be in this world. Do you walk by the poor and needy or do you stoop to help those in need? What would Jesus say about your actions and attitude? Take a moment to read Matthew 24-25 and listen to Keith Green’s song The Sheep and the Goats. There is no faith without action for faith creates action (James 2.14-26).

Is God conceited? Read these articles by John Piper and NewLife Christian Fellowship to determine for yourself.

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Psalms 113-118

Psalm 113-118
These are the six psalms normally associated with Passover and are labeled as “Hallel” or praise psalms. The haggadah, or the “telling” is the order of the Passover that fulfills Exodus 13.8 of telling the children what the Lord had done for the Israelites in the leaving of Egypt. Psalms 113-114 are sung before the meal and the emptying of the second cup (the cup of affliction or judgement). While psalms 115-118 are sung after the meal and after the filling of the fourth cup (the cup of praise, Psalm 136 is sung here). The themes are as follows (Radmacher, 1999):
Psalm 113: Praising God for releasing the downtrodden.
Psalm 114: Escaping from Egypt.
Psalm 115: Praising God together as a people.
Psalm 116: Thanking God personally and giving oneself to Him.
Psalm 117: Calling non-Jews to praise God.
Psalm 118: Recalling God’s steadfast, enduring love.

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Psalm 112

We become consumed with raising our families and making ends meet in this life. We become anxious for everything. This psalm states that God will care for the family and provide for those who earnestly seek Him (Matthew 6.25-34). We can remove anxiety by trusting Him to do what He said He would do (Philippians 4.4-9).

Psalm 112
This psalm begins where Psalm 111 ends. It also mimics the acrostic in the same manner (eight verses with two letters and two verses with three letters). It mimics the outline with a change at the ending. The topic of Psalm 111 is God in His holiness and this psalm is the holiness of the man who follows God.
Verse 1-A call to praise God
Verses 2-9-God is worthy of praise based on what He has done. As with Psalm 111, we should praise God because He is upright, righteous, gracious, compassionate, generous, true, steadfast, benevolent. The rewards for those who fear Him are also great. We will prosper, have insight into His Word, find goodness and security, be generous, have no fear, while growing in honor.
Verse 10-The wicked will be destroyed because they do not seek Him, He cannot bless them as He does those who fear Him.

We become consumed with raising our families and making ends meet in this life. We become anxious for everything. This psalm states that God will care for the family and provide for those who earnestly seek Him (Matthew 6.25-34). We can remove anxiety by trusting Him to do what He said He would do (Philippians 4.4-9).

Psalm 111

True worship is to see God’s works and praise Him for them, to see the truth of God’s Word and praise Him for it, and, then, to go out and apply what you have seen and what you have read. Is this your daily activity of worship (Romans 12.1-2)?

Psalm 111
This is a well-constructed acrostic psalm meant to draw us into praising God. The Hebrew alphabet is presented in each line as presented in the English. The acrostic is presented with two letters for each of the first eight verses with the final two verses having three letters each, which make the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Again, try doing this with the English alphabet and you will see how difficult it is to present a cohesive truth with an acrostic. Great and marvelous is He who reigns.

  • Verse 1-Praise God! We are called to praise God when we are with those who praise Him and when we are among those who may or may not praise Him. Regardless of our station in life, we must praise the Lord.
  • Verses 2-9-Why we should praise God. He is great, glorious, wonderful, gracious, compassionate, provider, powerful, true, upright, holy, redeemer, just to name a few from this psalm.
  • Verse 10-Praise God! When we stand in awe of Him, revere Him, we are beginning to see what wisdom truly is for He is wisdom.

True worship is to see God’s works and praise Him for them, to see the truth of God’s Word and praise Him for it, and, then, to go out and apply what you have seen and what you have read. Is this your daily activity of worship (Romans 12.1-2)?

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Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin

Psalm 127

What we do with our time, finances, and efforts determine the direction of our life and of our family (both present and future). If your time, finances, and effort are based on your desires, your strength, and your understanding, the final outcome may be good but it won’t be great. What are you doing today in light of God’s work and God’s purpose for you?

Psalm 127

This is our first psalm of Solomon or of David for Solomon. He provides wise insight into a home blessed by God. This chapter is also reminiscent of the book of Ecclesiastes.

  • Verses 1-2-If God is not the foundation of the household it will not become that for which God created the family. If you desire more on the family, please post your request. Workaholics are not meant for God’s work. When we do His work, allow Him to create His family, His life in us, we find that His work is not a burden and His work is productive (Matthew 11.29-30). Verse two provides us insight into the makings of the body. God created the body so that it repairs itself while we sleep. Solomon tells us that God provides for us during our sleep. This can be read as God being at work in our work as we rest and it can also be seen as God working in us to rebuild and strengthen us as we rest. Either picture is wonderful.

These verses should be a warning to those who are in school and cram the night before to complete a project that should have been completed over time. A job done for His glory is done as we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. It does not come in a frenzy.

Zechariah 4.6 directs our attention to this truth. We cannot accomplish greatness apart from Him who is great.

Do your job, your house, your finances take away from the time spent with God, family, and friends? If so, you are building your house on the sand. Jesus reminds us in John 15.5 that we can do nothing apart from Him. What are you trying to do without His strength and understanding?

  • Verses 3-5-We are called to a great responsibility as parents. God has given us a great and precious gift in our children. If we do not submit our lives to the Lord, and give this example daily to our children, they will not submit to the Lord. Our labor is in vain when we choose our own path. Solomon tells us it leads to destruction.

What we do with our time, finances, and efforts determine the direction of our life and of our family (both present and future). If your time, finances, and effort are based on your desires, your strength, and your understanding, the final outcome may be good but it won’t be great. What are you doing today in light of God’s work and God’s purpose for you?

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Psalm 145

We should understand that praising God is not determined by whether we feel like praising Him no more than forgiving another or loving another is based on a feeling. Each one of these is based on a conscious choice to do so. We must choose to praise, forgive, and love despite what we feel or our circumstances.

Psalm 145

In this semi-acrostic psalm (it is missing the letter “nun”), we are called to praise God. We are called to make known His fame to the generation of people to follow. David entreats us to tell of God’s greatness and goodness (1-7), grace and kingdom (8-14), and desire to hear and answer our prayers (15-21). Do people understand this about God as they see your life and hear your words? After reading verse one, we should understand that praising God is not determined by whether we feel like praising Him no more than forgiving another or loving another is based on a feeling. Each one of these is based on a conscious choice to do so. We must choose to praise, forgive, and love despite what we feel or our circumstances.

After reading through this psalm, you should see God as “active, compassionate, faithful, generous, good, gracious, great, judge, king, loving, majestic, near, powerful, righteous, and watchful” (Elwell, 1995). With God being these, it is only natural that the psalm uses nine separate terms for our response: extol, bless, praise, declare, meditate, speak, utter, sing, and make known. Are you doing this?

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