Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
March 24, 2004
Introduction
We are going to look at the “Hallel” songs (Psalm
113-118), the songs of praise that were sung at the major feasts of Israel.
In particular, they were sung at the Passover.
Psalm 114 – Wilderness trembling
:1-8 Wonders in the wilderness
:1 When Israel
went out of Egypt
This is one of the songs sung at Passover. This psalm is a retelling of the
story.
:3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan
was driven back.
The Red Sea parted so the people could go through
it. The Jordan River stopped so the people could cross
over into the Promised Land.
:4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
When the Lord met Moses on Mount Sinai, there was an
earthquake (Ex. 19:18).
:5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest?
The writer talks to the earth to ask why they acted that way.
:8 Which turned the rock into a standing water
Moses struck the Rock and out came water (Ex. 17:6).
:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the
God of Jacob;
Lesson
God can handle it
The biggest problems we face can melt in God’s presence.
(Psa 97:5 KJV) The hills melted like wax at the presence of the
LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
We need to spend time in God’s presence.
Psalm 115 Idols
People have a lot of suggestions as to who wrote this psalm. Some say it
was Moses, after having been brought out of Egypt.
Others say it was written by Daniel’s three friends who were delivered from the
fiery furnace. Others say it was written by Jehoshaphat after having been
delivered from the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites.
:1-8 The heathen become like their idols
:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory
Lesson
Our lust for glory
There is something inside of each of us that is looking for recognition and
significance. We like it when at least certain people pay attention to us. We
like it when people cheer for us.
But that tends to get us into trouble.
Glory is something that belongs to God only:
(Isa 42:8 KJV) I am the LORD: that is my
name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven
images.
Paul saw that his thorn in the flesh came to keep him from getting too much
glory.
(2 Cor 12:7 KJV) And lest I should be
exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given
to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should
be exalted above measure.
:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
A great answer to those people who taunt you and say, “Where is your God
now?”
:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
Everybody worships something, even the atheist.
They may not give their “god” a name like Molech or Mammon, but they
worship something just the same. A man’s “god” is the thing that he’s
passionate about. It’s what he lives for. It’s what controls him.
Some people live for money. Everything revolves around getting more money
or keeping what you’ve got.
Some people live for pleasure. Everything in their life revolves around the
next high, the next thrill.
Some people live for power. They do everything they can to gain power,
influence, authority.
When man makes a decision to reject the obvious evidence around him that
there is a god, he begins to give up truth.
(Rom 1:20-25 KJV) For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Illustration
An atheist
A young woman teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class
of small children that she is an atheist. She asks her class if they are
atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is but wanting to be like their
teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. There is,
however, one exception. A beautiful girl named Lucy has not gone along with the
crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. “Because I’m
not an atheist.” Then, asks the teacher, what are you? “I’m a Christian.” The
teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks Lucy why she
is a Christian. “Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My mom is a
Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian.” The teacher is now
angry. “That’s no reason,” she says loudly. “What if your mom was a moron, and
your dad was a moron. What would you be then?” A pause, and a smile…. “Then,”
says Lucy, “I’d be an atheist.”
{21} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as
God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. {22} Professing themselves to be wise, they became
fools, {23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. {24} Wherefore God
also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves: {25} Who changed the truth of
God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,
who is blessed for ever. Amen.
When people refuse the truth of God, they become foolish and do and believe
foolish things.
:4 the work of men's hands.
Isaiah talks about how ridiculous it is that men would worship idols (Is.
44:9-20). They take a piece of wood and
cut it up. With one piece a man makes
his idol. With another piece he stokes a
fire and bakes his bread. Really quite
ridiculous.
I think one of the most hilarious stories in Scripture is that of the Ark
of the Covenant being taken by the Philistines and put in the temple of their
fish-man god Dagon (1Sam. 5). When the
Philistines visit their temple in the morning, their “god” has fallen down
before the Ark. The next morning, after having propped up
their god, he’s fallen down again and broken into pieces.
:8 They that make them are like unto them
Lesson
People become like what they worship
Some people have the notion that people’s pets look like them. Don’t know
about that.
Have you noticed how people begin to look like the people they hang out
with? When you see people who have been married for fifty years, I think they
begin to look like each other.
I do believe people tend to act or dress like people they admire. You can
tell the Britney fans because of how they dress. You can tell the heavy metal
fans by their clothes.
People do become like their god, the thing they worship.
The idols of the people had hands but they didn’t work.
Do you think the people who serve that god ever
accomplished much in their life?
They had eyes, but they couldn’t see.
The people become blind to what’s true and important.
They had mouths but couldn’t speak.
The people who worship those gods don’t really have much
to say.
:9-16 We bless the Lord
:17 The dead praise not the LORD
The idea isn’t that dead people somehow cease to exist. The idea is that the highest praise of God
comes from people who are here, alive on the earth.
:18 But we will bless the LORD …Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD – The Hebrew is “hallelujah”
Lesson
Worship and be changed.
We too become like our God.
He transforms us from glory to glory
(2 Cor 3:18 KJV) But we
all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(1 John 3:2 KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Think of what He’s like.
God is light, no darkness; God is merciful; God is love
Psalm 116 Answered prayer
This is a psalm of praise from someone who has received physical healing
from the Lord. Some have suggested that
Hezekiah might have written it since he was healed from some type of
affliction.
:1-4 God answers prayer
:3 The sorrows of death compassed me
He thought he was going to die.
:5-11 Praying out of faith
:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
simple – p@thiy – simple, foolish, open-minded
(Psa 116:6 NLT) The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was
facing death, and then he saved me.
Don’t you like that? I do. I feel I
qualify.
:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul
We can find peace and rest in the Lord.
Lesson
Prayer brings peace
(Phil 4:6-7 KJV) Be careful
for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
:9-10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
The idea is this: The psalmist felt
as if God has promise him that he would live, and because he believed what God
said, he spoke that he would live.
Lesson
Speak what is true.
The Psalmist spoke out what he believed.
Paul took this verse and applied it to his life when he was going through
great difficulty.
(2 Cor
4:7-18 KJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. {8} We are troubled on
every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; {9}
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; {10} Always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body. {11} For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. {12} So then death
worketh in us, but life in you. {13} We having the same spirit of faith,
according as it is written, I believed,
and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; {14}
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus,
and shall present us with you. {15} For all things are for your sakes, that the
abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of
God. {16} For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet
the inward man is renewed day by day. {17} For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; {18} While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
This is not about positive confession, that somehow we create what we
speak.
But it’s about encouraging ourselves in what is true. Sometimes we tend to say silly things that
just aren’t true, and sometimes those negative falsehoods only tend to make us
upset, anxious, and depressed.
We’ve got some cool things that are true for us:
(Rom 8:28
KJV) And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose.
(Rom 8:31
KJV) What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
:12-19 Praise God for His answers
:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
What can I do in response to all God has done for me?
:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
Perhaps this is talking about the drink offering given in gratitude for
salvation (Lev. 23:13)
Perhaps it could be a picture of communion, receiving what Jesus has done
for us in dying on the cross.
:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
If God has been kind to you, then keep your promises to the Lord.
:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
precious – yaqar – valuable, prized, weighty, precious,
rare, splendid
The psalmist realizes that death isn’t that horrible after all.
Lesson
The believer’s death
God doesn’t think about our death like we do.
We get all stressed out about death and it’s something we work hard to
avoid.
To God, our death is precious.
As believers, when we die we go home to be with Him immediately.
(Phil 1:23 KJV) For I am in a strait betwixt two,
having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
(2 Cor 5:6-8 KJV) Therefore we are always
confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from
the Lord: {7} (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) {8} We are confident, I
say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the
Lord.
Look at the kinds of things that happen when we go to heaven:
(Rev 7:14-17 KJV) And I said
unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out
of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. {15} Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him
day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them. {16} They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. {17} For the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Death is not something to fear.
:19 Praise ye the LORD.
Praise the LORD – The Hebrew is “hallelujah”
Psalm 117
This is the shortest chapter in the Bible. It is also the middle chapter of
the Bible.
:1 O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
all ye nations – gowy – nation,
people; usually of non-Hebrew people; Goyim = “nations”
Paul quotes this in:
(Rom 15:11
KJV) And again, Praise the Lord, all ye
Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
It was part of Paul’s reasoning to show that God intended that the Gentiles
would one day be saved.
Sometimes we become like the Jews who didn’t feel that God could save
anybody but them. Not so. God wants to save lots of people. God wants to use you.
:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD
endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Reasons for praising God:
merciful – checed – goodness, kindness, faithfulness
kindness – checed – goodness, kindness, faithfulness
It’s really just one word in the Hebrew.
truth – ‘emeth
– firmness, faithfulness, truth
for ever – ‘owlam – long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever,
ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
God’s truth is faithful, it lasts and lasts.
Praise ye the LORD – the Hebrew is “hallelujah”
Lesson
Praise for God’s mercy
This sounds very much like what we’ve called the “theme song” of Israel:
(Psa 118:1 KJV) O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
because his mercy endureth for ever.
And yet it is much more than the theme song of Israel,
it’s the theme song of the whole world.
(2 Pet 3:3-15 KJV) Knowing
this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after
their own lusts, {4} And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
the creation. {5} For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of
God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the
water: {6} Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water,
perished:
People like to think that the world has just gone on for
millions and millions of years – uniformitarianism –
yet men are ignoring the fact that there once was a flood in the days of Noah
that wiped out the entire world. Worldwide judgment happened once, it can
happen again.
{7} But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word
are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition
of ungodly men.
There will be a day of judgment coming to the world. God
will judge mankind.
{8} But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day
is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
God’s idea of time isn’t the same as ours.
{9} The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
God isn’t slow to keep His promise and send Jesus back. God
is being patient (merciful kindness) with mankind, giving people a chance to
repent.
Isn’t it amazing the day we live in – where there is this
open rebellion of homosexual marriage, and yet a movie like “The Passion of The
Christ” is the top grossing movie? We are watching God extend His merciful
kindness to men, perhaps for the last time.
{10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up. {11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
{12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?
The thought of the coming judgment ought to make us want
to live for Jesus 100%. We can “hasten” the Lord’s coming by talking to people
about Jesus, giving people a chance to find Jesus, when that last person will
say yes to Jesus and we’ll be out of here.
{13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. {14} Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found
of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. {15} And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…
For now, we ought to be grateful that the Lord hasn’t come
back yet. There are just a few days left …