Thursday
Evening Bible Study
May
11, 2017
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid
to die? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk
– Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Target 3300 words Video
= 75 wpm
The English word psalm comes
from a Greek word that means “a poem sung to musical accompaniment”, or in
particular, “stringed instruments”.
The Hebrew name is tehillim,
which means “praises.”
The book of Psalms is the hymnbook
of God’s people.
It’s also the “Him” book as well.
It’s all about Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews quotes from
Psalm 40:8 when he writes,
(Hebrews 10:7 NKJV) Then I
said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the
volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”
The author was talking about Jesus.
We’re going to see a lot of Jesus
in the Psalms.
Soul Music
Music touches the soul. It’s
“soulish” in nature. It touches the emotions.
We’re going to find every kind of
emotion possible expressed in the Psalms.
For every sigh there is a Psalm.
For most of us, this is what makes
the Psalms so wonderful. We can identify. We can relate.
If we were honest, even darkest
most depressing Psalms describe the very things we go through day by day.
It is my prayer that as we continue
on this journey through the Psalms, we won’t just look at these songs
academically, with our mind, but that we may also grow as worshippers.
We are now in a group of fifteen Psalms (Ps. 120-134) known as the “Songs
of Ascents” (King James – “Song of Degrees”)
Some have suggested that the title
has to do with the music, that perhaps the melody for these songs were sung on
higher notes.
Others have suggested that the
fifteen songs are related to the fifteen steps in the Temple that a person
would climb as they are going from the outer courts to the inner courts.
The problem with this is that some
of these songs were written by David, and would have been written before the
Temple was built.
Most scholars think that these were the songs of pilgrims. Three times a
year the Israelites were to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
They are songs of “ascents” because to get from Jericho to Jerusalem, you
go “up” the hill.
For the most part the songs are
short, just the kind of song you’d like to sing as you are breathing hard from
making your way up a hill.
Psalm 132 – Why are we here?
: A Song of Ascents.
When you’re on a long car trip with your kids, there’s usually a question
that will surface coming from the back of the car/van.
Are we there yet?
I think this song is kind of an answer to the other popular vacation question,
“Why are we going to Jerusalem?”
Again, as we’ve seen, these are the songs of the pilgrims as they would
make their way up the hill to Jerusalem.
Before they actually crossed over and conquered the Promised Land, God told
the people,
(Deuteronomy 16:16
NKJV) “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He
chooses…
The place that God would “choose” changed over the years.
After Joshua conquered the land, the tabernacle (and the Ark) was in
Shiloh.
During the days of Eli, the Ark was captured and then returned, where it
sat at Kiriath-jearim for a while.
After David fought and captured the city of Jerusalem and made it his
capital, he decided he wanted the Ark close to him.
(1 Chronicles 13:3
NKJV) and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not
inquired at it since the days of Saul.”
David wanted to be close to the Lord. David was living in Jerusalem, so the Ark was brought to Jerusalem.
Ever since that time, Jerusalem was “the place” to worship.
:1 Lord, remember David And
all his afflictions;
:2 How he swore to the Lord, And
vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
:3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, Or go up to the
comfort of my bed;
:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,
:5 Until I find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
:5 Until I find a place for the Lord
We do not have any other account of this exact oath of David, but it’s
consistent with other aspects of the historical record.
David didn’t just want to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, he wanted to build a
more permanent structure for the Ark:
(2 Samuel 7:1–2
NKJV) —1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and
the Lord had given him rest from
all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a
house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
David would not be allowed to actually build the Temple, but he would
design it, raise funds for it, and pass the project on to his son Solomon who
WOULD build it.
:6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the
woods.
:6 we heard of it in Ephrathah
The Psalmist is recounting the people trying to find where the Ark was.
Ephrathah is another name for Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19), which was David’s
hometown.
(Genesis 35:19 NKJV) —19 So Rachel
died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
It’s just a “rumor” (“we heard”) that it had been in Bethlehem. There was
no record of it ever being there.
:6 We found it in the fields of the woods
woods – ya‘ar – forest,
wood, thicket
This is the base of the name of the city Kiriath-jearim (“city of
forests”).
Kiriath-Jearim was where the Ark
was when David decided to move it to Jerusalem.
This was the place where the Ark was “found”.
:7 Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool.
:7 Let us worship at His footstool
footstool – a term David used to describe the Ark:
(1 Chronicles 28:2
NKJV) Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren
and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark
of the covenant of the Lord, and
for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.
When God describes His footstool, He lets us know that it’s a little bigger
than the Ark of the Covenant:
(Isaiah 66:1 NKJV) Thus says
the Lord: “Heaven is
My throne, And earth is
My footstool. Where is
the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?
I think that God is just a little bigger than we think He is.
:8 Arise, O Lord, to Your
resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.
Kind of like saying, “Put your feet up”.
:9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints
shout for joy.
:10 For Your servant David’s sake, Do not turn away the face of Your
Anointed.
:8 Arise, O Lord
When King Solomon finished building the Temple, he gathered the people
together and they dedicated the Temple to God. At the end of Solomon’s prayer
of dedication, he prayed the following.
Notice how close it is to verses 8-10…
(2 Chronicles
6:41–42 NKJV) —41 “Now therefore, Arise, O Lord God, to
Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your
saints rejoice in goodness. 42 “O Lord God, do not
turn away the face of Your Anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
At the end of that prayer, something amazing happened.
(2 Chronicles 7:1
NKJV) When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and
consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
The pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem are coming to that very same place.
:11 The Lord has sworn in
truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the
fruit of your body.
:12 If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I shall teach
them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”
:11 the fruit of your body
God promised David a dynasty, an (2Sam. 7:12-17) that would sit on his throne.
(2 Samuel 7:12–17 NKJV) —12 “When your
days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed
after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the
throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be
his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him
with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from
Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your
house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne
shall be established forever.” ’ ” 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so
Nathan spoke to David.
In contrast, when the previous king, Saul died, his sons did not take his
place.
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise to David.
Jesus will return and rule forever.
:13 For the Lord has chosen
Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
:14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have
desired it.
:13 the Lord has chosen
Zion
In the latter part of his reign, David made the mistake of “numbering”
Israel. (1Chr. 21)
This is not about taking a generic census, but “numbering” has to do with
military conscription (a draft).
David’s sin had to do with pride, wanting to see just how big his kingdom
had become.
As a result of this sin, a plague came on the nation, and the plague was
finally stopped when David bought the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite,
and had a sacrifice performed there.
The threshing floor was on Mount Zion.
When the entire episode was concluded, David realized that what had just
happened was bigger than his sin of pride.
(1 Chronicles 22:1
NKJV) Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar
of burnt offering for Israel.”
God had been at work choosing the very piece of property where Solomon
would one day build the Temple.
The hilltop in Jerusalem wasn’t David’s pick for a Temple location, it was
God’s pick.
Just to be political for a second, should it be a problem for Israel to
have Jerusalem as its capital? I don’t
think so.
:15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with
bread.
:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, And her saints shall
shout aloud for joy.
:17 There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My
Anointed.
:18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon Himself His crown shall
flourish.”
:7 Let us worship at His footstool
Lesson
Why are we doing this?
So dad, why are we going to Jerusalem the kids might ask?
If someone were to ask you why you came to church tonight, what would you
tell them? Why church? Why here?
1. To be close to God (vs. 7)
The Ark
was God’s “footstool”. David brought the Ark
to Jerusalem to
be close to God.
God wants His people to come regularly to Him, to be close to Him.
Of course you don’t need to be in this location for that to happen, but there
is a sense that God shows up here.
2. To honor the King (vs. 11)
It was King David that moved the Ark
to Jerusalem.
We honor King Jesus.
3. To encourage each other
(Hebrews 10:24–25
NKJV) —24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, 25 not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.
It’s important that we get together and encourage each
other. Provoke to love and good deeds.
4. To build our faith
(Romans 10:17 NKJV)
So
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
That’s why we study God’s Word – to build our faith to
walk with the Lord and be used by the Lord.
Psalm 133 – Unity
: A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Unity is like learning to play on a team.
Illustration
Cooperation
At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, “Do
you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?” The little boy nodded in
the affirmative. “Do you understand that what matters is whether we win
together as a team?” The little boy nodded yes. “So,” the coach continued,
“When a strike is called, or you’re out at first, you don’t argue or curse or
attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?” Again the little boy nodded. “Good,”
said the coach. “Now go over there and explain it to your father.”
:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell
together in unity!
good – towb
– good, pleasant, agreeable
pleasant – na‘iym
– pleasant, delightful; singing, sweetly sounding, musical
:1 to dwell together in unity
Biblical unity is not an easy thing to accomplish or maintain.
Charles Spurgeon made a comment about the first word in the verse,
“Behold”. He wrote,
“(Unity) is a wonder seldom seen, therefore behold it!”
Lesson
Unity Essentials
Healthy unity requires several ingredients.
Common ground
(1 Corinthians
12:12 NKJV) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
As believers, we all have at least one thing in common.
We are all a part of His body.
We all belong to Christ.
Like it or not, we are going to spend eternity together, so it’s best to
figure out now how to get along.
Accepting differences
(1 Corinthians
12:15 NKJV) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the
body,” is it therefore not of the body?
We may all be part of the body, but we are all different parts.
Unity doesn’t require that everyone act or think like you.
We need to appreciate our differences.
Maturity
Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for their lack of unity.
(1 Corinthians 3:3
NKJV) for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife,
and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Paul basically told them to “grow up” and get along with each other.
Illustration
A man was visiting an insane asylum one day, and he
noticed that all the insane people were on the field outside, but there was
only one guard. He asked the guard, “Aren’t you afraid?” The guard said,
“Absolutely not.” He said, “Don’t you believe that since you are the only one
here, these people could over-run you and break out of the asylum?” He said,
“That’s impossible.” The man asked, “Why is that impossible?” The guard
replied, “Because lunatics don’t unite.”
-- Tony Evans
Humility
(Ephesians 4:2–3 NLT)
—2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making
allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every
effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together
with peace.
Sometimes it’s our stupid pride that keeps us from apologizing and making
things right with others.
Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians contains three more things involved in
humility:
Patience
The word has to do with being patient with difficult people.
Love
This is unconditional love. This is making a choice to value others.
Effort
“Make every effort”. Unity doesn’t come easy. It takes hard work.
(Romans
12:18 NASB95) If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
It may not be “possible” to have peace with people, but we
need to be sure we’ve done our part before we quit.
:2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the
beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
:2 precious oil upon the head
The picture is of the anointing with oil that was done both for priests as
well as kings.
When God told Samuel that young David would one day be the king, Samuel
poured oil on his head.
(1 Samuel 16:13
NKJV) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of
his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord
came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
This same “anointing” was done for priests (sons of Aaron) as well as
kings.
Lesson
Spirit Unity
Oil is consistently a picture of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture.
David connects the unity of the brethren with the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit.
You see the same picture when the Temple was dedicated:
(2 Chronicles
5:13–14 NKJV) —13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were
as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their
voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He
is good, For His
mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord,
was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the
cloud; for the glory of the Lord
filled the house of God.
You see it at the birth of the church when they were gathered together “in
one accord”, and the Holy Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:1-4)
(Acts 2:1–4 NKJV) —1 When the
Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one
sat upon each of them. 4 And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
Do you long for a greater work of the Spirit in your life?
Take time to examine this issue of “unity” with the folks in your life.
Note
The anointing oil used in the Old Testament was essentially a fragrant
perfume.
When someone walks into a room who is wearing perfume, after a while
everyone in the room is aware of the presence of the person. The perfume
permeates the room.
When we are learning to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in unity,
there will be a sweet fragrance about our lives.
When we don’t get along with each other and there are unresolved problems –
it creates a “stink”.
Have you ever had a skunk walk through your neighborhood?
When we learn to love each other and experience unity – people will sense
it.
Jesus said,
(John
13:35 NKJV) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another.”
:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of
Zion; For there the Lord
commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
:3 like the dew of Hermon … Zion
Video: Zion and Hermon map
These are two different, distinct mountains in Israel.
Zion is where Jerusalem is, elevation 2500 feet.
Hermon is in the far north, elevation 9,000 feet.
They are not connected at all.
There is no direct, physical link between the two mountains.
Even though Hermon is the main source that feeds the Jordan River, it’s
water doesn’t directly make it to Jerusalem.
The names of the mountains are interesting.
“Hermon” means “sanctuary”.
“Zion” means “parched place”.
Even though there’s not a particular physical connection, somehow the
“parched place” finds itself watered by the “sanctuary” when there is “unity”
Songs
Am
Behold how good
Em
And how pleasant it is
C D Em
For brethren to dwell together (2x)
Em Am
In unity, to dwell in unity
C D Em
Na na...
Behold How Good / Author unknown / © unknown / Psalm133.doc
Psalm 134 – Night Praise
: A Song of Ascents.
This is the last of the songs of ascents.
:1 Behold, bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!
:1 All you servants of the Lord
This song is addressed to those who served God in the sanctuary.
In a way, it kind of applies to us, doesn’t it?
:1 Who by night stand in the house of the Lord
stand – ‘amad
– to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand
The people who served God in the Temple didn’t always get the prime Sunday
morning service assignments.
Some were required to serve at night in the dark.
Lesson
Eyes of faith
I think that sometimes we need help to see the unseen world.
Like “Mom Goggles”, we need “God goggles” to catch a glimpse of what God
might see, even in our darkest circumstances.
Serving and blessing God is not limited to sunny days.
God is looking for men and women who will learn to serve Him, honor and
praise Him even during the dark night hours.
Illustration
British preacher Charles Spurgeon once vacationed at an isolated spot in England because
he had been told that many nightingales lived there. To his great
disappointment, however, it started to rain just as he arrived at the hotel. The
weather turned unseasonably cold and Spurgeon feared that the primary purpose
of his trip had been spoiled. But as he sat by his open window, he suddenly
heard a delightful melody -- a nightingale perched on a branch outside. The
only light was a dim lamp burning at the entrance to the hotel. The
nightingale, oblivious to the rain and cold, was exulting in that tiny bit of
light. Spurgeon wrote of his experience, "I do not expect to listen to
anything so sweet and thrilling again until I hear the angels sing in glory. The
God of that nightingale is the same loving Savior I serve. In spite of
darkness, storm, or thorns, He always provides some ray of light and gives a
song in the night."
Paul wrote that our attitudes affect our witness in this world,
(Philippians
2:14–15 NKJV) —14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may
become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord.
:2 Lift up your hands
What do lifted hands signify?
Praise to God.
Surrender to God.
A child reaching for his Father.
:3 The Lord who made heaven
and earth Bless you from Zion!
:3 The Lord …Bless you
Learn to serve God when it’s “dark”, and you will find that God will return
the blessings.
Songs
Behold, Bless Ye The Lord
D G D G
*Behold, bless ye *the Lord
D G D G
All ye servants of the Lord
D G D G
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
D G D G
D
And bless, bless ye the Lord
*parts of round start here
Behold, Bless Ye The Lord / Words & Music by Bob
Probert / © 1979
Maranatha! Music / Behold.doc
Psalm 135 – Contrasting Gods
Man was made to worship.
Everyone worships something, whether it’s the true and living God, or
something else.
Some people are in love with their money.
Others live for fame.
Even something good like family can become something we “worship”.
Even the atheist worships something – whether it’s intellect, education, or
just humanity in general.
The Psalmist is going to contrast the true God with all the others.
:1 Praise the Lord! Praise
the name of the Lord; Praise Him,
O you servants of the Lord!
:2 You who stand in the house of the Lord,
In the courts of the house of our God,
:3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to
His name, for it is pleasant.
:3 Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant
pleasant – na‘iym –
pleasant, delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable
Can you think of a more beautiful name than Jesus?
His name has power – the demons tremble.
His name brings forgiveness.
His name brings healing.
His name brings peace.
:4 For the Lord has chosen
Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.
:5 For I know that the Lord is
great, And our Lord is above all gods.
:5 I know that the Lord is
great
If you ever have a difficult time giving God the praise that He is worthy
of, take time to think about how great He is.
The Psalmist is going to share some of his thoughts on this subject.
:6 Whatever the Lord pleases
He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.
:6 Whatever the Lord
pleases He does
In some relationships, it’s a good thing to learn to talk things out ahead
of making decisions.
I think marriage is one of those relationships.
Illustration
I think it’s good for a husband and wife to
decide things together.
God on the other hand, doesn’t need to ask
anyone for permission.
He is God. He is over all.
He is sovereign.
:7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes
lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
The Psalmist sees God’s hand in creation, whether it’s in the evaporation
cycle, lightning, rain, or wind.
:8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and beast.
:9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh
and all his servants.
:8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt
In Israel’s own history, they saw God work first hand when He delivered
them from slavery in Egypt.
God used Moses to bring ten plagues
on Egypt resulting in Israel’s freedom.
When Israel started to conquer the
Promised Land forty years later, the inhabitants of the land were afraid of
them because of the very real things God had done in Egypt.
When Rahab helped the two spies
before Israel conquered Jericho, she said,
(Joshua 2:10–11 NKJV) —10 For we
have heard how the Lord dried up
the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did
to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the
Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted;
neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in
heaven above and on earth beneath.
:10 He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings—
:11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of
Canaan—
:12 And gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His
people.
:10 He defeated many nations
In the time of Joshua, God defeated all the nations that Israel faced as
they fought to conquer the Promised Land.
Sihon and Og were kings on the eastern side of the Jordan River while the
Canaanite kings were on the western side.
:13 Your name, O Lord, endures
forever, Your fame, O Lord,
throughout all generations.
fame – zeker
– memorial, remembrance
:14 For the Lord will judge
His people, And He will have compassion on His servants.
:14 will judge … have compassion
judge – diyn
– to judge, contend, plead; vindicate
have compassion – nacham
– (Hithpael) to be sorry, have compassion
(Psalm 135:14 NLT) For the Lord will give justice to his people
and have compassion on his servants.
Lesson
He doesn’t forget
It’s good to look back at history and see how God has worked in the past.
God did powerful things in the past for His people, and He will continue to
do the same.
He never changes.
(Hebrews
13:8 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
You and I may go through times when we feel like God has forgotten us
because the difficulty we’re in doesn’t seem to be changing.
Can you imagine what Joseph must have thought during his life?
God had given him amazing dreams as a youth about how God
was going to use him.
And then his brothers sold him as a slave to Egypt.
From being a slave, things got worse as his master’s wife
falsely accused him and he wound up in prison.
(Genesis
39:23 NKJV) The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was
under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord
was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord
made it prosper.
Even when Joseph correctly interpreted a couple of dreams
for Pharaoh’s servants, it was two more years in prison before things would
change.
Joseph would end up becoming second to Pharaoh and kind of
saving the world, including his own family.
Years later he would tell his own evil brothers…
(Genesis
50:20 NKJV) But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it
for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many
people alive.
The same God that watched over Joseph watches over you.
In contrast to the Living God…
:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s
hands.
:16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do
not see;
:17 They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in
their mouths.
:18 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in
them.
:18 Those who make them are like them
Lesson
No real help
The old ancient idols were just silly little statues that did nothing.
They had mouths, but they never said anything.
They had eyes and ears, but none of those things actually worked.
When people put their trust in anything other than the true God, they are
going to ultimately be disappointed because there will be no real help from
their “god”.
Money, fame, and power will not fulfill you.
In the same way, if we are trusting in things other than God, we are not
going to be of any help to anyone.
:19 Bless the Lord, O house
of Israel! Bless the Lord, O
house of Aaron!
:20 Bless the Lord, O house
of Levi! You who fear the Lord,
bless the Lord!
:21 Blessed be the Lord out
of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
:19 Bless the Lord
The one to honor and worship is Yahweh, the real God.