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Psalm 122

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
 “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

-        Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

o   Prayer is something we should do daily.

o   Today I want to bring into focus praying for the Peace of Jerusalem

§  First of all Jerusalem means

·       In awe of peace

·       Teaching peace

§  We are in awe of peace because God sent His Son to die on a cross in order for us to be forgiven of our sins and have peace with God again (restored)

·       We should be awe of this forever

·       If God didn’t do this we would not have any peace at all

§  Next, God teaches us about peace through His Word

John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So when you think about Jerusalem we should:

1 – be in awe of God’s peace

2 – Learn according to His Word and be thankful that Jerusalem serves a beacon of God’s plan upon the earth for all to behold!

3 – so when we pray for the Peace of Jerusalem we are praying for God’s plans to come to pass because there is no peace in Jerusalem now there are daily rockets from its enemies

-        But a time is coming that Jerusalem will be the most peaceful place on earth because Jesus Christ is coming again to rule & reign from Jerusalem.

-        Now we come to the verst 1

o   I was glad when they said to me

§  This sentence is prophetic looking forward to the time of Christ’s return

o   Let us go the house of the Lord

§  It’s time to Go (finally)

§  We are weary of the world and waiting for God’s will to be done 

2 Our feet are standing
 Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
 3 Jerusalem, that is built
 As a city that is compact together;
 4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of [a]the Lord—
[b]An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.

-        Our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem

o   This is picturing yourself there already

o   You are looking forward to the day

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-        121 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
 From where shall my help come?

o   It all starts with verse one

§  I will lift my eyes to the mountains

§  In other words look up yonder where God lives

§  Focus your eyes, your heart and your thoughts on Him & His house

o   From where shall my help come from

§  Sometimes we are like the Psalmist

§  We wonder where are help is going to come from

 2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
 He who keeps you will not slumber.

-        My help comes from the Lord

o   This is the answer

o   This is the only right answer

-        Who made heaven and earth

o   God almighty made heaven and earth (not a big bang or belch)

o   If God is powerful enough to make heaven & earth, He could probably help solve your little problem… and mine too

-        He will not allow your foot to slip        

o   This means He won’t let you fall down

o   He won’t let the devil trip you up

-        He who keeps you will not slumber

o   God is not asleep or slack

o   He is awake; He knows; He hears; He takes action

o   He will not slumber means He is on-guard (on watch)

o   Looking over you to make sure you get to your destination safely

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
 Will neither slumber nor sleep.

-        Behold, He who keeps Israel

o   This means check it out

o   You can see Him doing it

o   There was a 6-day war when Israel’s enemies tried to take over

o   But Israel conquered their enemies even though their enemies had far more people in their army and far more technology

§  20,000 enemies died

§  1,000 Israelis died

§  And Israel took over more land than they previously occupied

§  But they still only occupy a small portion of what God gave them

o   This outrageous victory is example He who keeps Israel

o   Even toward the end in the war of Armageddon 

§  Mankind will come against Israel with all their armies and technology with a view toward wiping Israel off the face of the map

§  But God will intervene again and wipe out mankind’s army & tech

§  And the blood of man will be as high as horses bridles in the valley of Megiddo 

5 The Lord is your keeper;
 The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

-        The Lord is your keeper

o   That means He keeps clean, watered, fed and safe

o   The Lord is keeping Israel for His own purposes

o   This means the Lord is standing right behind you on the right side

o   He is your right hand man so to speak

o   His shadow is  over your right hand (God’s presence & power is with you)

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120 In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
 And He answered me.

-          In my trouble I cried to the Lord

o   Notice its when he was in trouble again

-          And He answered me

o   Notice God faithfulness again

o   He answers time and time again

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
 From a deceitful tongue.

-          The trouble the Psalmist was in was related to lies spoken against him

o   These lies were made with intent to harm or kill

o   Not surprising when you consider the devil is the father of all lies

o   And that his purpose is to kill, steal and destroy

 3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
 You deceitful tongue?

-          The Psalmist gives a warning to the who lie

o   What shall be given to you

o   And what more shall be done to you

o   This seems to imply a fierce payback much worse than the damage they intended

 4 Sharp arrows of the warrior,
 With the burning coals of the broom tree.

-          Sharp arrows of the warrior

o   Sharp arrows have the intent to kill

-          With burning coals of the broom tree

o   These arrows will cause whatever they hit to catch fire & burn up

o   Death and torment by fire is certainly implied (a picture of hell)

 5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech,
 For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

-          Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech

o   Meshech means “drawing out”

o   The people who lived there were heathen and corrupt

o   The Psalmist is unhappy he lives among them

-          For I dwell among the tents of Kedar

o   Kedar means dark

o   A son of Ishmael

§  the result of Abraham & Sarah taking matters in their own hands

o   the Psalmist goes back and forth in the land and is surrounded by people who did not follow Jehovah

o   He considered it WOE 

 6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling
 With those who hate peace.

-          The Psalmist complains that he dwelled among these people for too long

-          This means he expected to move or relocate much sooner

o   Sometimes, things take much longer than we want

o   This means they love the opposite of peace (enemies of peace)

 7 I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.

-          I am for peace

o   The Psalmist was for peace

§  He wants peace

§  He loves peace

§  He longs for peace

-          But when I speak, they are for war

o   The Psalmist speaks about God’s peace (Shalom)

§  Was for war (the oppositive of peace)

§  The enemy of peace and Christ

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Psalm 119

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Aleph.

119 How blessed are those whose way is [a]blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
 Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
 They walk in His ways.
 4 You have [b]ordained Your precepts,
[c]That we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be established
 To keep Your statutes!
 6 Then I shall not be ashamed
 When I look [d]upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
 When I learn Your righteous judgments.
 8 I shall keep Your statutes;
 Do not forsake me utterly!

-          Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and means three-in-on.

-          The alpha (first letter) or creator is three in one (Father, Son & Spirit)

-          The message is “how blessed are those whose way is blameless”

o   The only way to be blameless is to believe on God’s Son Jesus Christ

Beth.

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
 By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
 Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
 That I may not sin against You.
 12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
 Teach me Your statutes.
 13 With my lips I have told of
 All the ordinances of Your mouth.
 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
[e]As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
 And [f]regard Your ways.
16 I shall [g]delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

-          Beth is the 2nd letter in the Hebrew alphabet

-          Beth means God oath or pledged to God

o   A God oath is His word or His promise to you (an oath that cannot be broken)

o   Pledged to God to means betrothed to be married (to be one with God)

§  This speaks of heart, mind and soul

-          The Psalmist writes “how can a young man keep his way pure”

o   The answer is “by keeping it according to Your word”

o   Your word I have treasured in my heart (super valuable like Gold)

-          I will meditate on Your precepts

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Psalm 118

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Saving Goodness.

118 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
 For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

-          Thanksgiving is made up from two words “Thanks Giving”

o   We should thank the Lord for giving us something BIG

o   For the Lord’s Saving Goodness

o   He saved us because of His Goodness!

-          Verse 1 then gives us instruction

-          Give thanks to the Lord

o   This is what we should do every day

o   For He is good (we should never forget how Good He is)

-          For His lovingkindness is everlasting

o   This is why He is so good

o   His lovingkindness is everlasting (it never ends)

o   Thank God He is loving and kind and good!

 2 Oh let Israel say,
 “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
 3 Oh let the house of Aaron say,
 “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
 4 Oh let those who [a]fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

-          We learned a few chapters back why these three are important

-          Israel was Jacob (He who wrestles with God) who was renamed Israel (He who turns the head of God)

o   He learned not to depend on his own strength but to trust God

o   Faith not works

-          The house of Aaron represents Moses’s mouthpiece 

o   Aaron was also a priest and a teacher of the law

o   You could say he was very religious

o   We learned that religious people are not necessarily saved

o   Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are

-          Those who fear the Lord

o   Includes everyone else

o   If you humble yourself and cry out to the Lord you get saved

-          So all three should say “His lovingkindness is everlasting”

o   What a great testimony for us all!

5 From my distress I called upon [b]the Lord;
[c]The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
 What can man do to me?

-          From my distress 

o   We often call upon the Lord from our distress

o   Maybe you need to call upon the Lord today in your distress

-          The Lord answered me and set me in a large place

o   Notice the Lord heard and answered!

o   To be set in a large place is a place of security (rescued)

-          The Lord is for me

o   If the Lord is for you too why fear?

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Psalm, Chapter 117

A Psalm of Praise.

117 Praise the Lord, all nations;
 Sing His praises, all peoples!

-          The title is A Psalm of Praise

o   What is a Psalm?

o   It is “a sacred song or poem”

o   It would be something to be remembered

o   It would be something passed down generation to generation

o   It would an eternal truth

-          A Psalm of Praise

o   This would be a sacred song or poem to praise God

o   What does it mean to praise?

§  Eight meaning of the word praise

1. Hallah

"Hallah” is the most common word for praise. This word simply means to boast, brag, or rave about God even to the point of appearing foolish. 

2. Yadah

“Yadah” means to worship with extended hands.

 “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord” (Psalm 134:2).

(Psalm 43:1-5; 134:2; 2 Chronicles 20: 1- 21; Nehemiah 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:8)

 Yadah pictures a three-year-old child, hands raised, running towards daddy, crying, “Hold me, daddy, hold me!”

 3. Barak

 “Barak” is used to denote blessing. 

 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” 

(Job 1:21). 

 4. Tehillah

 “Tehillah” means to sing or to laud.

 “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises” (Psalm 22:3). (Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 61:3; Deuteronomy 10:21)

 5. Zamar

 “Zamar” means to pluck the strings of an instrument.

 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge… I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1-3).

 (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 18:1-4, 46-50; 68:1-4; Ephesians 5:19)

 6 & 7. Todah and Shabach

 6. “Todah” means to shout or to address with a loud voice.

 But Todah goes even further. It includes an attitude of gratitude for God’s promised deliverance even while we are still in need. This type of praise also refers to lifting of the hands in inviting God’s help. Todah praise is having faith and assurance that is well even before the victory actually comes.

 7. “Shabach” also means to shout or to address in a loud tone. For example, the pagan king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was struck insane by God because of his pride. When God restored his sanity seven years later, Nebuchadnezzar shouted words of Shabbat praise:

 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).

8. Hallelujah

“HALLELUJAH” is the premier word for praise in the Bible. Hallelujah transcends the languages of the world. It is not translated; it is transliterated.

“Hallel” means to boast or to brag on, to make a show, even to the point of looking ridiculous.

“Jah” is the short form of the name for God.

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Psalm, Chapter 116

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death.

116 I love the Lord, because He hears
 My voice and my supplications.

-        The title explains the true reason to give God thanks

-        For deliverance from death

o   That is was God gave us by sending His son Jesus Christ

o   He delivered us from death by making a way for us to be forgiven for our sin

§  By grace you are saved not of works lest any man should boast

-        I love the Lord, because Hears

o   We should love the Lord because He hears us cry out or pray

-        My voice and my supplications

o   My voice is used to talk to God

o   My supplications are urgent requests (911)

 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
 Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

-        Because He has inclined His ear to me

o   Notice the Psalmist knows God heard him

-        Therefore I shall upon Him as long as I live

o   If you know God is listening to you

o   You would talk to Him over and over

o   Only people who don’t think God listens or God cares don’t pray

§  The devil wants you to think God doesn’t listen to you but He does!

§  So talk to the Lord often (pray without ceasing)

3 The cords of death encompassed me
 And the [a]terrors of [b]Sheol [c]came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.

-        This is a description of absolute desperation

-        It seems its all over

o   The cords of death encompassed me (entangled)

o   The terrors of Sheol came upon me (fear of death& hell)

o   I found distress and sorrow (it’s what he found)

-        It seems like a critical moment

o   You must decide to give up or turn to God

o   Cry out to the Lord and He will help you

4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
 “O Lord, I beseech You, [d]save my life!”

-        Then I called upon the name of the Lord

o   When the Psalmist was at the end of his rope

o   He decided to call upon the name of the Lord

§  The name of the Lord is Jesus Christ

§  This is the only name that can save you from Sheol

-        O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!

o   Notice he beseeched

§  ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something

§  what did he ask the Lord “to save my life”

o   this is what we need to ask the Lord

§  please save my life

·       this will literally save your life for eternity

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Psalm, Chapter 115

Heathen Idols Contrasted with the Lord.

115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
 But to Your name give glory
 Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your [a]truth.

-        The title of this message sets the table for a compassion

o   Its like comparing two meals

o   If you eat one you will experience consternation and stomach pain

o   If you eat the other one you will experience health, joy and happiness

-        Heathen Idols

o   These are false gods

o   Anything that is worshiped other than Jesus Christ is a heathen idol

o   Anything you think about more than Jesus Christ is also an idol

§  Some people worship their car and clean it with a diaper

§  Some people worship their money or power or position

§  Some people worship the creation rather than the creator

·       Physical attributes of body or the mountains, beach or sunsets, etc

§  Some actually work the sun god or the moon god, or the of fertility, etc

-        Contrasted with the Lord

o   The contrast is start and worth noting

o   He is not a thing

o   He is not a creation

o   He was before creation and into eternity

o   He is THE CREATOR

o   THE ONE TRUE GOD (CAPITAL G)

-        Not to us, O Lord, not to us

o   The phrase “not to use” is spoken twice

o   This is for emphasis

o   In other words, this is not for us (no way)

-        But to Your name give glory

o   The most important thing to give glory too is “His name”

o   The name of Jesus Christ our Lord

-        Because of Your lovingkindness

o   God is loving and kind

o   That is the heart of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost

-        Because of Your truth

o   This is the Word of God (the sole source of real truth)

o   And the truth is “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whomsoever believes on the name of Jesus Christ will be saved”

o   Faith in the name of Jesus Christ is the only way to get to into heaven

§  That’s the truth

o   And it’s only because God so loved the world (that includes you and I) that He gave His Son to die on a cross to pay for our sin out of His love!

 2 Why should the nations say,
 “Where, now, is their God?”

-        This is a rhetorical question

-        The nations should not say “where is their God”

-        Because the nations should see their God in action in their lives

-        People worshiping false gods seem to take please in watch God’s children suffer or go through trials and then they point their finger and mock God

o   In other words, God please remember your covenant to save and bless your people and take care of business so these heathens get schooled and humbled

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Psalm, Chapter 114

God’s Deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

114 When Israel went forth from Egypt,
 The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
 2 Judah became His sanctuary,
 Israel, His dominion.

-        God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt

o   God’s deliverance of Israel

§  This was a miracle account

§  This was based entirely on His grace & mercy

§  Israel was in slaver to Egypt because of their sin

§  They paid a heavy price for 400 years

§  Jacob wrestled with God all night until his hip was dislocated

§  Jacob would have to face his brother Esau 

·       Not based on his own power to deal with Esau

·       But based on the power of God would have to protect Jacob

·       It’s a picture of how we need God to save us

o   And only He can!

§  God renamed Jacob Israel

·       Israel means he retained God or

·       God is upright (became a man)

·       With God’s help he survives

o   From Egypt

§  Egypt is a type of or picture the world and sin

§  In order to save Israel from Egypt, God had to bring 10 plagues on Egypt until Pharoah finally let God’s people go

§  God does the impossible to save His people (which He did)

§  The Jews (Israel) walked out carrying all their gold & silver and valuables

-        When Israel went forth from Egypt

o   They went forth once God set them free 

-        The house of Jacob from a people of strange language

o   Jacob means “he wrestles with God” or “He turns the head of God”

o   The strange language was Arabic instead of Hebrew or Aramaic

-        Judah became His sanctuary

o   Judah means “praise”

o   In other words God made his home among the praise of His people

-        Israel, His dominion

o   Dominion means the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority

o   In other words, God is the sovereign sole authority of His people

3 The sea looked and fled;
 The Jordan turned back.

-        The sea looked and fled

o   This is impossible

o   The point is God did the impossible

o   God parted the red sea and let his people walk through it on dry ground

o   But God also closed the red sea on the Egyptian army when they tried to pursue God’s people and they were all killed

-        The Jordan turned back

o   This is impossible as well

o   When the time came, God directed Joshua to lead the people across the Jordan River, with the priest carrying the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the caravan. When the priests stepped into the river, and stood in place, the Jordan immediately parted for the people to cross through on dry land (Joshua 3)

o   God continues to do the impossible

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Psalm, Chapter 113

The Lord Exalts the Humble.

113 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!

-        The Lord Exalts the Humble

o   The Lord Exalts

§  This means He lifts them up

§  Hold them in high esteem

o   The Humble

§  If you humble yourself in the sight of the Lord

§  He will Lift you up!

§  Humility = great reward

-        Once you understand the title

o   Praise the Lord!

o   Notice the exclamation

o   Once we again we learn this is what we should be doing

 Praise, O servants of the Lord,
 Praise the name of the Lord.

-        Praise, O servants of the Lord

o   Do you serve the Lord?

o   Is the Lord your boss?

o   Then praise Him!

-        Praise the name of the Lord

o   The name of the Lord is Jesus Christ

o   His name is the only name under heaven whereby a man or woman can be saved

o   We should praise His name because its better than any other name

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
 From this time forth and forever.

-        Blessed be the name of the Lord

o   The focus remains on the name of the Lord

-        From this time forth and forever

o   From this time (this means right now)

o   And forever (means every day hereafter)

§  Starts now and the blessings just keeps going!

3 From the rising of the sun to its setting
 The name of the Lord is to be praised.

-        From the rising of the sun to its setting

o   This means from morning (the crack of dawn – early)

o   To its settings in the evening (until it becomes dark)

o   This implies every hour while the light is present or we are awake

-        The name of the Lord is to be praised

o   This is a command its not optional

o   It must be important to praise Him

 4 The Lord is high above all nations;
 His glory is above the heavens.

-        The Lord is high above all nations

o   This means His position and power is far above all the powers of the earth

-        His glory is above the heavens

o   This means He shines more than the stars (more famous & glorious)

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