Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 116

Psalm 116

 

-Theme: Call upon the Name of the LORD, praise for being saved and blessed by the LORD, Thanksgiving for being one of His children.

-Historical Insight: This is an anonymous Psalm of praise.

-*Application* What a blessed thought to understand that we serve a God who hears and responds to our needs and most of our wants. When we are in distress, pain, and sorrow we can call upon His Name with great expectation. He is our Savior. He is gracious, righteous, and compassionate, preserving the humbly simple who believe. He returns us to our place of rest and deals bountifully with us in His rescuing work. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones (Psalm 116:15).” Thankfully, we too can be His servants and reap the rewards of faith as we fulfill our promises to follow Him and praise is Holy Name in the assembly of His people whether it be in Jerusalem or anywhere else. Our family has just moved. With all the adjustments and stress that something like that entails, it is nice to rest in the fact that God is with us and will continue to love and care for us as we fulfill His call upon our lives.

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 116:15

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 115

Psalm 115

 

-Theme: The temporal verses the eternal. Idols of man compared to the greatness of the LORD. The LORD’s blessing on those who fear Him and trust in Him. Prioritizing God as number one.

-Historical Insight: This is an anonymous Psalm of God’s glory among men and His eternal benefits to His people.

-*Application* God deserves the glory, and we should be quick to give Him His due with all credit and praise. His lovingkindness and truth put His enemies to rest with overwhelming power and authority because of His authenticity. The idolatrous works of man’s hands have no life and cannot save in the end. Only those who trust in the LORD will find help and a shield against the adversary. When we fear the LORD and trust fully in Him, He will bless us and be totally mindful of our needs. In other words, He will care for us, not just now, but for eternity. We, as God’s people will bless and praise the LORD “from this time forth and forever (Psalm 115:18).” It doesn’t matter if you’re small or great in this world, the opportunity to join His everlasting Kingdom is always available (Psalm 115:13). He will give us increase, which will extend into future generations (Psalm 115:14). The Maker of heaven and earth will be magnified, but those who reject Him will die and go down into silence where they have no way to praise Him (Psalm 115:17). This is Old Testament biblical proof of what we call hell, or a place of separation eternally from the Father.

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 115:13

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 114

Psalm 114

 

-Theme: Israel’s deliverance from Egypt by the power of Almighty God. Judah, the sanctuary of Yahweh and Israel, the LORD’s dominion.

-Historical Insight: This anonymous Psalm recounts the Exodus journey from slavery in Egypt, to the wilderness wanderings, to the entrance into the Promised Land crossing the Jordan. It displays God’s awesome power to control earthly events for His people’s benefit and survival.

-*Application* Do you observe the powerful works of the LORD in your life to preserve and refine you? He desires to make you His possession and the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit by the fulfilling of His New Covenant (Deuteronomy 4:20, Romans 8:9, 11, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Colossians 1:27, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9). Notice the joy when God comes into a situation and takes control. His sustaining power is always sufficient. Even a rock can turn into a pool of water to quench thirst and add life for His people (Psalm 114:8).

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 114:1-2

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 113

Psalm 113

 

-Theme: The massive scope of God’s concern and care for us. The LORD’s great humility to behold His creation.

-Historical Insight: This is a short and powerful Psalm that is anonymous in authorship.

-*Application* How often do you simply set aside time to praise the LORD as His servant? Today, take time to bless the God of Heaven and earth with your exultation of His glory knowing that this can and will be done forever by His saints. He is high above the nations, not just above, HIGH above. His glory is even above the heavens. Think about the incredible images from the Hubbell telescope and wonder just how amazing our God is enthroned above all of that splendor. He is tops! No one is like Him, yet He humbles (shaphel- to humiliate, to be abased, to become low, sink) Himself to behold (ra’ah- to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider) all the things He created in Heaven and in the earth (Psalm 113:6). Our God is so wonderful, amazing, gracious, giving, and so much more all at the same time. He cares for us and considers the mess that we’ve made by succumbing to temptation and drifting away from Him. This is what causes our poverty and misery. We need help, a Rescuer, a Deliverer, and Jesus is that lowly-humble aid in our desperate situation (Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 3:18). He brings joy and life back to the table, and even gives His Spirit as the seal and promise of our comfort and security (Song of Solomon 8:6, John 4:16-27, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 1 John 4:13). What a great God we serve! Check out this amazing song of praise and worship Him today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb0QLBPIq0s

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 113:6

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 112

Psalm 112

 

-Theme: The advantage of having faith in Yahweh. God guards those who follow His commands.

-Historical Insight: This is an anonymous Psalm of praise for believers.

-*Application* Do you want to be blessed? That’s a straight up question with an obvious answer. Yet, there is a supreme lack of fear of the LORD (Yahweh, the Great “I Am”) in our American culture and really throughout the world these days. Is it any wonder that we do not see the “blessings” of God on our society and earth? We don’t delight in His commands; instead, we desire to go our own way and do our own thing in the name of freedom, which is really bondage. His commandments bring shalom to the soul and love to the heart. Their application brings peace and prosperity. The absence of greed flows from an obedience to His concerns and precepts resulting in great generosity that pours out abundance and wealth. This is why we must preach and live in accordance with God’s will. Our future and their generations depend on it. Don’t be shaken, trust in the LORD, not yourself or any sort of secular reasoning. He will prove advantageous in the end and you will fear nothing of the evil tidings that surround us in modern phenomena (Psalm 112:7). Uphold your own heart by trusting in His provision, commands, and righteousness. Vex the wicked with your upstanding stance in Christ Jesus and watch expectantly for the redemption of the LORD, for “the desire of the wicked will perish (‘abad- vanish, go astray, be destroyed, Psalm 112:10).” So to sum up: Trust God, fear Him, do righteousness, and be blessed both now and eternally.

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 112:7

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 111

Psalm 111

 

-Theme: Awe, fear, reverence for the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Great, splendid, majestic, enduring, gracious, compassionate, powerful, holy, and awesome are the works of the LORD, and His provision is manifold. His redemption is for His believing people, and He has ordained His covenant (promise) forever.

-Historical Insight: This is a familiar sounding Psalm with an anonymous author to be sung in the congregation of the righteous.

-*Application* All that God does is good and should be well-received by His people. The question for us is this: do we delight in His ways and commandments? If we do with great diligence and study, we will acquire a great understanding as well as His promises for redemption (Psalm 111:2, 9-10). He is true and just, and all His precepts are sure (‘aman- firm, faithful, trustworthy, established, confirmed, Psalm 111:7). Fear Him and you need not fear anything else. Your wisdom will germinate and grow. Put your stake in His plan, and rest in His will. His praise endures forever (Psalm 111:10)!

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 111:9

Bible Study Notes in Psalms- Chapter 110

Psalm 110

 

-Theme: The power of the LORD in His Messiah. Jesus is the ruling Messiah over His enemies.

-Historical Insight: The author of this Christological passage is none other than King David, who was promised the eternal Kingdom (2 Samuel 7). Jesus recited these words in Matthew 22:41-45 to defend His authority with the Pharisees who did not receive His first incarnation. A common practice in ancient civilizations’ conquests was to make the subdued enemy’s leader humiliate himself to bow on all fours so that the victorious king could rest his feet on them. Thus the analogy of the writer revealing God’s complete domination of His opponents.

-*Application* The Messiah’s rule over His enemies as ordained and orchestrated by the LORD Himself should give us confidence in the day of battle against evil foes that threaten our security and well-being. God is never scared, nor does He fear the intensity of the fight. Neither should we. Remember valiant soldier of the cross, you are assured the inheritance in the Kingdom and complete victory in the final analysis (Romans 8:16-18). We as believers share in the Christ’s glory! The Messiah is not only David’s Lord, but ours as well! Jesus is our one-time for all-time go between as Priest, we need no other atonement (Genesis 14:18, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5-8)!

 

Verse to Memorize: Psalm 110:1