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Psalm 132

A song of ascents.

1 Lord, remember David
     and all his self-denial.

-          A song of ascents

o   15 songs Sang by God’s people on the way up to Jerusalem 3 times per year

o   15 is 3 x 5 (3 is the number for the trinity; 5 is the number for grace)

o   God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit (3 in 1)

o   One God with a single purpose (to save His children)

o   All 15 songs confirm his plan and purpose and prepare his children

-          Lord, remember David

o   Do we really need to ask God to remember anyone or anything?

o   It seems God would never forget so the purpose of this request is not to remind God but so the person asking gets comforted by asking and then believing that God will do it (that’s called prayer)

o   David means “beloved” – you would never forget your beloved

o   You are beloved of God like David, and God will never forget you

-          And his self-denial

o   David decided to deny himself certain things until he did something for God

o   David had been forgiven for much; therefore, David wanted to show God his appreciation by doing something for God

o   How about you?

§  How much appreciation do you have for God?

§  What do you want to do to show Him your appreciation?

2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

-          David swore an oath the Lord

o   This means he made a promise

o   Don’t make promises to the Lord that you can’t keep (it’s serious)

-          He made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob

o   Why does he call him the Mighty One of Jacob

§  Because God wrestled with Jacob and dislocated his hip

§  Because God protected Jacob against Esau’s anger

§  Because God changed Jacob (He who wrestles with God) to Israel (He who turns the head of God)

§  In short God ready, able and willing to do for you what nobody else can

§  Only God can truly protect you, bless you and keep you in good health and guide your path and connections until you enter the gates of heaven!

3 “I will not enter my house
    or go to my bed,
 4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
 5 till I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

-          Here we learn about the oath Jacob made

o   I will not enter my house

§  He didn’t want to go home and rest

o   Or go to my bed

§  He didn’t want to sleep in his own bed in comfort

o   I will allow no sleep to my eyes

§  He didn’t want to sleep and dream about anything else

o   Or slumber my eyelids

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Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
 I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.

-          A song of ascents

o   We know these were the 15 songs sang on the way to meet in the Lord’s house in Jerusalem

o   Israel had to travel up to Jerusalem three times per year to celebrate

§  Passover (saved by the blood of the lamb)

§  Pentecost (the law given 50-days after leaving Egypt; Holy Spirit poured out 50-days after Christ died and rose again – fulfilling the law)

§  Tabernacle  - temporary tents; God provided for the Jews for 40-years in the desert and He still provides for us today

-          Of David

o   David means “beloved of God”

o   These songs are for you and me too

§  You are beloved of God

§  He loves you!

-          My heart is not proud, Lord

o   This important because pride is a matter of the heart

o   Pride means you are proud of yourself and what you can do not what God did or does (it means your focus is on the wrong person)

§  You need to change your focus from yourself to God

§  God hates pride

§  Pride always comes before a fall

o   Here the Psalmist declares his heart is not proud (not self-centered)

§  This means his heart is right – it is God centered

§  Serving others not being served!

§  Bestowing honor and praise on others not lavishing in it yourself

§  Building up others not yourself (pour yourself out; Outbless others today)

-          My eyes are not haughty

o   The eyes are the window into your soul

o   Much can be learned or understood when you look into someone’s eyes

o   Haughty means “high eyes” or “lifted up eyes” – it is the idea that someone looks down upon others as if less worthy or intelligent or valuable.

o   It is the ultimate disdain of others or God as it assumes the highest position in heaven in hearth (instead of God)

o   God hates pride and prideful eyes seem to be the pinnacle of such arrogance

o   The psalmist says his eyes are not haughty

o   This mans his eyes are the opposite of haughty

o   This means he does not look down upon others but looks up

§  Meaning he holds other in higher esteem than himself

§  This virtue grows from the heart of humility & gratitude before God & man

§  It is the idea that there is nothing in me of value except God’s spirit & His word by grace

2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

-          But (this word means in contrast or instead)

-          I have calmed and quieted myself

o   This is what we all need to do

o   Calm and quiet yourself!  Calm down and don’t thinks so highly of yourself.

§  Quiet yourself means stop speaking boastful things about yourself

§  This is the opposite of what prideful people do

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Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
 2     Lord, hear my voice.

-        The song of Ascents are a collection of 15 songs sang by the Jews on their way up to Jerusalem each year for the three feasts

-        These songs were also sang by the priests on the way up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem as well

-        Jerusalem means “in awe of peace” or “teaching peace”

o   We are in awe of peace brought about solely by God sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross a brutal death to pay for our sins

o   We learn that by faith in the price paid by Jesus Christ and asking for God’s forgiveness will get forgiven and get into heaven even though we don’t deserve it

o   The 15 songs are all about these themes and prepare us to meet in God’s house

-        Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord

o   Out of the depths is the deepest part of your heart & soul

o   It also implies the darkest places (like the depths of the sea)

o   If your cry, my cry, our cry comes from this place

§  God will hear it!

-        Lord hear my voice

o   This is a request with an expectation of a response

o   It is not an idle comment or suggestion

Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

-        Let your ears be attentive

o   This means to listen with intention of understanding and with a view toward taking action not merely listening to the mumbling of an irrelevant worthless person

-        What is this request about?

o   To my cry for mercy

o   Mercy is a pleading not to get what you deserve

o   It can only come from a contrite heart

o   A heart this sorry for the sin and willing to humbly admin it and turn from it

o   When the confession is real and real sorrowful, then there can be an anticipation of mercy (but not before)

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?

 -        If you, Lord, kept a record of sins

o   What a concept

o   What an indea

o   What if God wrote down in a book every sin you ever committed

o   How long would it take for God to read it to you (to remind you)

-        Lord, who could stand?

o   This is a very good question

o   We might ask this question ourselves

o   The answer is captain obvious

§  Nobody could stand

§  Nobody deserves to get into Heaven

§  The only sinless man that ever walked the face of the earth was Jesus Christ (Fully God, come in the flesh, born as a man, tempted as we are, yet without sin!)

 4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

-        But (this means in contrast to the facts)

-        With you there is forgiveness

o   This is a miracle

o   What a loving father to love us and be willing to forgive us

o   In spite of all we have done

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Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
    let Israel say;
 2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory over me.

-        A song of ascents

-        We know these songs were sang by the Jews when they returned to Jerusalem three times per year during the three feasts

o   Pesach (Passover) means to pass over (they retell the story of how God killed the 1st born of the Egyptians but pass over every door that had the blood of the lamb painted on the doorposts (a picture of Jesus Christ on the cross)

o   Shavout (weeks of Pentecost)

§  Celebration of the anniversary of the giving of the Torah (ten commandments which was 50-days after they were set free from bondage in Egypt). 

§  The Holy Spirit was first poured out on Christians in the upper room 50 days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

o   Sukkot (tabernacles or booths)

§  Temporary dwelling places celebrating God’s protection and provision for the entire nation of Israel in the desert for 40 years

§  It takes place 5 days after Yom Kippur

·       Yom Kippur is confession & repentance of sin

·       5 is the number for grace (given to all who ask for it)

-        They have greatly oppressed me from my youth

o   This looks back on all those who oppressed Israel from its youth

-        Let Israel say; they have greatly oppressed me from my youth

o   Let Israel say (this is a reference to the nation of Israel)

o   It’s their story

§  The Egyptians 

§  The Canaanites 

§  The Philistines 

§  The Syrians 

§  The Assyrians 

§  The Babylonians 

§  The Greeks

§  The Romans

§  The Roman Catholics

§  The Kings of Europe

§  The Muslims

§  The Czars

§  The Nazis

o   The phrase is repeated because its important to remember this

o   When you look at all the challenges God has already delivered you from you gain strength and perspective to handle the present challenge of the day

-        But they have not gained victory over me

o   Israel still stands today in spite of its many enemies

o   God formed the church upon the rock and said the gates of hell will not prevail against it; no matter how great the oppositive, God will always bring victory to His chosen children

 3 Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.

-        This is a picture of your adversaries running over your back with a plow

-        It would make deep lines in it

-        A picture of the stripes Jesus took upon His back from the cat of nine tails

o   Yet by Jesus Christ’s stripes we were healed

-        This speaks of the painful reality of oppositive against God’s people

o   It is brutal, painful and leaves scars

o   Yet Jesus gained the victory for against all working against us

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Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.

-        A song of assents

o   Songs practiced on the way up to Jerusalem

o   Jerusalem means “they will see or be in awe of wholeness or completeness”

-        It’s a good idea to sing songs on the way up to visit God’s house

o   Get ready, get prepared

-        Blessed are all who fear the Lord

o   Blessed means happy

o   Happy are all who fear the Lord

-        Who walk in obedience to him

o   If you fear the Lord you will walk in obedience

o   Jesus said if you love Me, keep my commandments

o   When you keep the Lord’s commandments you show that you love & respect Him

o   When your faith reaches the pinnacle it proceeds in obedience

§  This always turns into blessings and happiness to those who apply obedience to their faith

§  If you want more blessing and happiness in your life get more obedient

 
 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.

-        You will ear the fruit of your labor

o   You get to enjoy that which you plant, water and cultivate

o   It takes time to grow fruit and it takes consistent behavior

o   Keep doing the right thing and your obedience will produce amazing fruit

-        Blessings and prosperity will be yours

o   Blessings “eser” is happiness

o   Prosperity “Tob” is good, rich, prosperity

o   It means you will be happy because you will have more than enough

o   Notice it’s a reward of obedience and the fruit of your labor

o   Walk the straight and narrow line and keep doing good and God’s will rain blessing and prosperity down upon you

 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;

-        This means your wife will be fertile and will produce a lot children

-        Your house will become full (each child a Reward from the Lord)

-        A fruitful vine also implies lots of grapes or wine

-        It’s a picture of celebration and happiness

-        When a Godly man outblesses his wife, we blossoms

-        When a Godly woman outblesses her husband, he blossoms

-        When Godly parents Outbless their children they blossom

-        Try and Outbless each one every day

your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.

-        Olive shoots produce so many olives you can’t eat them all

-        They make a bit of a mess but what abundant blessings

-        Around you table means during mealtime 

o   The stories, the conversations, the memories

o   God blesses everyone in the family when Mom & Dad are obedient to the Lord and keep working for good (outblessing).

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Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.

-        A song of accents

o   These songs were song by the Jews when they returned to Jerusalem to celebrate three festivals

§  Pesach (Passover)

·       Jews celebrate the new planting season after the winter rains in early spring

·       Christians celebrate that the death angel passed over the houses with blood of the door posts (a picture of Christ on the cross)

·       The reason blessings will come again & again

§  Shavout (Weeks or Pentecost)

·       Celebrated seven weeks after Passover which 50 days exactly

·       Jews celebrate the late spring harvest and giving of the Torah (the ten commandments)

·       The law was given 50 days after the Jews were set free from bondage in Egypt

·       Pentecost means “50” and also refers to 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit was poured out in the upper room and they all spoke in tongues

§  Sukkot (Tabernacles, tents or booths)

·       Jews celebrate their release from bondage in Egypt and how God provided for them for 40 years in the desert relying solely on God

·       They make temporary huts from sticks and leaves and live in their backyard to remember the occasion and teach their children

·       Christians celebrate that our bodies (temporary dwelling places) will be replaced when we die or get raptured.

·       This happens 5 days after Yom Kippuer

o   Yom Kippur is a time of confession & repentance asking God to forgive us for sins

o   Five is the number for grace

-        Of Solomon

o   Solomon means “recompense, completeness, peace”

o   To be or make whole or complete

o   Our connection to God was broken by sin but restored by Jesus Christ

Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.

-        Man likes to think he is in charge

-        He builds cities and places guards to watch over it & protect those inside

-        But unless the Lord watches over the city

o   The guards stand watch in vain

o   In other words, the guards cannot really protect the city

o   Only God has the power to protect the city from all the forces of evil

-        Man’s pride is in vain

o   He is really powerless

 2 In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
 toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.

-        In vain you rise early and stay up late

o   In vain, means it’s stupid and its not necessary

o   You don’t need to rise up early and work until late using every waking minute

-        Toiling for food to eat

o   This is man trying to make it on his own without God’s help

o   So he toils (works hard) to make money

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Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion,
     we were like those who dreamed.[b]

-          a song of accents are the songs sang on the way up to Jerusalem

-          on the way to meet the Lord in His house

-          these songs would be preparation

-          notice it’s a song of ascent not descent

o   it is for those in pursuit of God; therefore, they are going up

-          when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion

o   when implies a previous time (past tense)

o   this looks back upon the time the Jews left 400 years of bondage in Egypt and they carried out all the gold and jewels they could carry

o   never forget that this actually happened

-          We were like those who dreamed

o   It was like a dream

o   They could not believe it happened

o   What are you dreaming about that you want the Lord to do?

o   What dream do you think is too big for God?

o   God is able to do abundantly above all you can ask or hope for

§  Do you believe it?

§  Do you expect to receive it?

§  Or do you doubt it?

o   If it happened for them

§  It can happen for you

 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.

-          Our mouths were filled with laughter

o   Have you ever been so full of joy you can’t help but laugh

o   Have you ever been “filled with laughter”?

o   This implies all the way to the top and overflowing

-          Our tongues with songs of joy

o   Has your tongue sang songs of joy to the Lord

o   Because He answered some urgent prayer or outblessed you!

o   Joy comes in the morning (when the Son rises)

o   Faith in the risen Lord and Savior can bring great laughter and joy!

Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”

-          Then it was said among the nations

o   Everyone was talking about the miracle of God

o   Everyone was talking about how God set them free

o   Everyone was talking about how God let them carry out the gold and the jewels

o   Everyone could see their laughter and joy in song as they walking along

o   Notice what everyone said

§  The Lord has done great things for them

§  It was the Lord’s doing

§  And everyone knew and understood that size blessing could only be possible from the Lord

§  God forgave them, God freed them, blessed them, prospered them, fed them, clothed them, protected them, guided them, cooled them, warmed them and caused them to prosper!

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

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Psalm 125

The Lord Surrounds His People.

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in the Lord
 Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.

-        The Lord Surrounds His Peoples

o   What a great opening statement

o   If the Lord surrounds His people than nothing can harm them without going through the Lord first

-        A Song of Ascents

o   This another song that would be sang on the way up to Jerusalem

o   Something to be sang on the way to meet with the Lord in His house

-        Those who trust in the Lord

o   This is an exclusive group

o   Are you one of those who trust in the Lord

-        Those in this exclusive group

o   Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever

o   Mount Zion is a picture of strength & stability

o   It is also the future home Jesus Christ when He returns and rules and reigns forever

o   If you trust in the Lord, your future is SOLID

 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
 So the Lord surrounds His people
 From this time forth and forever.

-        This is incredible !!!

-        As the mountains surround Jerusalem            

o   This is what this compares too

-        So the Lord surrounds His people

o   Praise the Lord He surrounds us all like the mountains!

-        From this time forth and forever

o   It started immediately and continues today and tomorrow & forever

o   This is our present condition!

o   Have you considered that you are, I am, we are surrounding by the Lord

 3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the [a]land of the righteous,
So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.

-        The scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous

o   The scepter is the power to judge and/or to punish

o   God promises that evil rulers will not continue to rule over the land given to Israel

§  It may granted or given to them for a time but it will end in God’s timing

§  God allows Israel’s enemies to come into power over His children because they sinned and deserved punishment for disobedience

§  But like a father to a son, discipline is necessary but not permanent

§  Nobody other than God knows best when enough is enough

-        So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong

o   Even Godly people can reach the end of their rope

o   If evil rulership continued for too long, countless believers may finally give up and give in to the demands and habits of evil people

o   God is not going to let this happen

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good
 And to those who are upright in their hearts.

-        This is a please for God to reward the good and the bad

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Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say—

-        A song of ascents

o   These songs were meant to be sung on the way up to Jerusalem.

o   Jerusalem means “in awe of peace” or “teaching peace”

o   Man learns about peace by visiting Jerusalem

§  We learn that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son to pay for the sins of mankind

§  Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin

§  Jesus rose again 3-days later proven that He was God’s Son and the Savior of the whole world

§  God promises to save mankind from their sin by faith in the name of the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

·       By faith you are saved not of works, lest any man should boast

o   David means “beloved”

o   In other words the title of this message is jammed packed with an important message

§  You are beloved by God so He sent Jesus Christ to die on a cross to pay for your sin and redeem you to Himself

§  Jesus suffered for your sin so you don’t have too

-        Now verse 1

o   If the Lord had not been on our side

§  This is a radical statement

§  If the Lord was not on our side He would not have sent Jesus Christ to die on a cross to save us

§  If the Lord had not been on their side

·       They would not be forgiven

·       they would have remained in bondage in Egypt

·       they would not have been able to cross the Red Sea

·       they would not be able to survive 40-years in the desert

·       they would not make it to the promised land

 2 if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
 3 they would have swallowed us alive

-        their were seven nations living in the promised land before they got their

-        these nations were had been established for a long time

-        these nations had armies and resources

-        they were stronger than Israel

-        they would have swallowed us alive

o   ate up and swallowed 

o   in other words they had no chance of winning

o   so too, sometimes we must depend of God to do something miraculous

o   and if God had not been on our side we would have been toast too!

    when their anger flared against us;
 4 the flood would have engulfed us,

-        when their anger flared against us

o   when is a specific time; a critical time

o   when anger flared (it’s like fire; ready to burn them up & destroy them)

-        the flood would have engulfed us

o   a flood rises quickly and can wash you away or go over your head

o   the idea is quickly rising trouble (and you are way over your head)

§  not able to survive without God’s help

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Psalm 123

Prayer for the Lord’s Help.

A Song of Ascents.

123 To You I lift up my eyes,
 O You who are enthroned in the heavens!

-          Psalm 123 is short and simple like 123

-          The title is “Prayer for the Lord’s Help

-          Yesterday we prayed for the Peace of Jerusalem and we learned that means praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven

-          Today are going to pray for the Lord’s Help

o   You probably needs the Lord’s help today

o   I need, we need, everyone needs the Lord’s help today

-          A Song of Ascents

o   On the way up the hill or up yonder to Jerusalem

o   On the way to meet with the Lord is the idea

o   So get ready to take the right steps

§  Remember the Lord is God Almighty

·         Nothing is too big for Him or difficult for Him

·         God is able

§  Remember that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son

·         God loves you and paid dearly to restore you

·         God has your best interest in mind

·         God is willing

§  God is ready to listen to you

·         God is ready to forgive you if you ask in Jesus name

·         God is ready to bless you and answer your prayers in Jesus name

·         God is ready look up and ask the King upon His thone!

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.

-          The eyes of servants look to the hand of their master

o   This means those who work wait for their pay; their provision

o   They look to their master (their employer)

-          The eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress

o   This is a house keeper / helper 

o   She looks to the hand of her mistress (the wife)

-          So our eyes look to the Lord our God

o   Just like the workers wait for their pay

o   Just like maids wait for their mistress to provide & reward them

o   We look to the Lord in the same way

§  We wait for Him to provide to reward us

§  Do your best and try and please Him

·         Your reward will be great

-          Until He is gracious to us

o   Until means you are waiting until God does something

o   You wait with expectation to receive.

o   Until He is gracious to us

§  Gracious means that He gives generously. 

§  More than was earned or deserved

§  To us (implies we are all waiting together not just some of us)

§  We need to understand that we are all codependent on the Lord

Intro to Outbless Weekly

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