Psalm 117

Psalm 117

This is the shortest song or chapter in the Bible, but it stands tall. Its message is fantastic and a beacon of hope in a dark world.

The psalmist calls for all people to praise the Lord. not just Israel nor those select gentiles who have converted to Judaism. So much of the Old Testament is about Gentiles being outsiders, but here God is acting in such a way that everyone should praise Him. The reason is summed up in verse 2: great is his love towards us. The word "great" could be translated as "strong" or "mighty." It is overwhelmingly powerful or mighty. The word can even be translated as "insolent." For us, "insolent" carries a negative tone, but the meaning here is a strength that is unconcerned about any force of opposition. God's love for all people is so strong that it is unconcerned and unimpressed by any obstacle. The powers of darkness and sin are nothing compared to the love of God for all peoples.

“Thank you, God, that you love everyone, even me. AMEN.”

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

Do we love God for who He is or what He has done? Many who take their faith seriously have asked this question. This psalm may help us find resolution to such a question.

The psalmist describes terrible situations, and we can't be certain to what event this psalm refers. Perhaps the Babylonian exile or the events of the psalmist's personal life; it may even be a prophetic reference to Jesus or the church. This is not as important as this principle. To ask if we love God for who He is or what He does creates a false dichotomy. God is so perfectly whole that His person and actions cannot be divided. The tenderness we see in verse 2 is beautiful. “He has inclined his ear to me.” This is the picture of a sick person so weak they can only barely whisper, and the Lord leans over to put his ear near their mouth to hear. This is an action that comes out of the character of God. And in verse 5 we see God described as “gracious, righteous, and compassionate.” Do we love God for who He is or what He does? The resounding answer is "yes".

“Thank you, Lord, for both your great nature and your great capacity to have mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 115

Psalm 115

This powerful and beautiful psalm overwhelms us with truth and grace that are so expansive we are almost at a loss to discuss it. If you carefully read it a dozen times, you will find a dozen themes on which to meditate.

Let's quickly look at three. First, the glory of praise is not to us but to God. and our age of pride, self-aggrandizement, and ego—we have a hard time not praising ourselves. Social media has done much to convince everyone they ought to be proud. Second, verse 8 reminds us that we always become like that which we worship. that is not limited to those who happen to worship idols. Whenever we focus our lives on what we worship, we will conform our lives to that end or god. Third, it is the joyful privilege of the living to worship God. Verse 17 is not a denial of life after death, nor is it to say that the delight of worship is for those who live on earth. Note the contrast with verse 16. At a funeral the deceased never participates, but it is our delight as the living to praise God.

“Lord, help my life to be shaped by and focused on worshiping you. AMEN.”

Psalm 114

 Psalm 114

This powerful little Psalm retells the story of the Exodus. There are pictures of the exciting and dramatic works of God during the Exodus. We see the bookend events of the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan and, in between, the dramatic events of the geology of the area as it responds to God's presence. We have far too placid pictures of what God was doing.

But there is an important principle for us in the four questions of verses 5-6. In Hebrew culture the use of questions was critical in education. The answer is known even if we don't know we know the answer. The power of the question is that by means of it we can draw out understanding. Those who watch or listen to the questions make discoveries as well. The waters and the mountains are personified, and we listen to their questioning, and we know the answer. What a powerful, tremendous, and glorious drama.

“Help me, Lord, to find the answer to the questions you have for me. AMEN.”

Psalm 113

Psalm 113

This is the first song of what the Jewish people called the ‘Hallel,’ Psalms 113-118. These Psalms were sung or recited in unison during the most solemn feast. Passover, for example, was a grand thanksgiving event. Jesus, on the night of the institution of the Lord's Supper, led the disciples in a ‘hymn’ likely taken from one of these psalms.

This beautiful and simple song doesn't require explanation so much as contemplation. There are a couple of pictures that are moving. In verses 5-6 we see that God is so great and grand that He must stoop down to look on the sky so far above us. While we look up at the mountaintops and the planets or stars, God stoops down, like a granddad with a toddler, to reach their level. Second, coming down to this humble level, He can lift up the most lowly person and place him in with royalty. He can even take the lonely, sad individual and surround them with the delight of being adored by a family. Which takes us to verse 5: Who is like the Lord our God?

“Thank you, God, for your beautiful condescension. AMEN.”

Psalm 112

Psalm 112

Because of our broken, sin-filled lives and nature, we struggle with wealth. One of the three main traps of the enemy is the desire to have more. This proneness even infects the church. But God has a plan for wealth. In verses 1-6 we see God's plan for giving wealth and power. God gives these things for the purpose of being compassionate, grace-filled, and right-living, both personally and in helping those in need. Wealth and power are never given so we can heap pleasure and things to ourselves.

Verses 7-9 show us the results of this generous life. As we pour God-given resources into God's agenda, we find our hearts wrapped up in God's care. Rather than worrying or fretting about having enough, there is confidence. Not because God owes us, but because we know and understand God.

In verse 10 we see the frustration of the wicked. The life of love, peace, security, and hope they wished for, tried to possess, and served has escaped them. They are vexed by the envy that they have for the delightful way of the righteous.

“Give me a generous heart like Yours, Lord. AMEN.” 

Psalm 111

Psalm 111

There are many applications for our lives from this Psalm; it seems a pity to only choose one. But there is one principle that impacts our lives every day. Consider the contrast between the fathers of modern science, who were committed to exploring God's creation, and many modern scientists, who reject God's existence and authority. The giants of science, like Pascal, Newton, Galileo, Copernicus, and Kepler, were men of faith who were fascinated by and studied the works of God. They were men who thought God's thoughts after Him. In contrast are scientists who, for various reasons, do bad science. The experimentation of Josef Mengele. The chemical and surgical butchering of young people in an attempt to turn boys into girls and vice versa. The abortion of millions of children by pill and scalpel. When humans in any field begin to reject God, no matter how intelligent they may be, it ends in disaster. A godless person can be smart, but they can never be wise, as it says in verse 10.

“Help me, Lord, to love you and all that you have created. AMEN.”