Ps 146:1-10, Trusting God with our life future

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Psalm 146:1 (ESV) —
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 146:10c (ESV) —
10 … Praise the Lord!


• Ps 146 falls in the group of Praise psalms
• It is chiastic in structure
• The author is anonymous although, the Septuagint applies it to Haggai and also to Zechariah (not sure how that works)
• The Hebrew word for "praise the lord" is?
• Halleluiah (show in Logos)
• Occurs 23 times in the OT, all in the Psalms
• Halal, the root is connected with making a noise (both in joy and in terror)
• Yah referring to the Lord, also yhwh meaning Yahweh
• It always either begins  and/or ends a Psalm



Psalm	Begins	Middle	Ends
104			Yes
105			Yes
106	Yes		Yes
111	Yes
112	Yes
113	Yes		Yes
115			Yes
116			Yes
117			Yes
135	Yes		Yes
146	Yes		Yes
147	Yes		Yes
148	Yes		Yes
149	Yes		Yes
150	Yes		Yes



• APPLICATION: This week start and end your prayer with Hallelujah or with "praise the Lord"


Psalm 146:2 (ESV) —
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 146:10 (ESV) —
10a-b The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.


• So the first part of chiastic structure was obvious, Praise to the Lord. What is the theme of the second part of the chiastic structure?
• Vs 2 has life and being
• Vs 10 has forever and generations
• Vs 2 is looking at a man
• Vs 10 is looking at God
• The Hebrew (See in LOGOS) for "as long as I live" is three words, b hayya y, meaning my life, birth to death
• The Hebrew for "have my being" is one word, od, meaning duration, remainder
• So putting the two thoughts together
• I will praise God during my life, but God's life is forever
• I will praise God with my being, but God is praised by all generations (not just me)
• APPLICATION:
• Psalm 90:12 (ESV) — 12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
• There is wisdom in recognizing the finiteness of our days and how we might use them in service -- we can all do something


Psalm 146:3–9 (ESV) —
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.


• The chiastic structure breaks this up into two groups, man's help and God's help, without necessary a center part of the outline (which seems to be more normal). Can you see a central theme that the whole passage points to, and then what are the bookends?
3. Man's help is useless
4. Hope in God
3. God's help is wonderful
• First, why is man's help not useful
• Political leaders can't truly save
• Political leaders can do many things, but our real needs are never satisfied
• Political leader's plans perish as soon as OR soon after they are gone
• Political leaders provide temporary, not long-lasting help
• The central focus is that we are to hope in God. What are we to hope in God? Then we will discuss why it is hard to hope in God
• He is the creator -- meaning? He literally can do anything he wants
• He keeps faith -- meaning? He is trustworthy even when we are not
• He executes justice for the oppressed -- problem?
• We don't see justice. God sees justice. His timetable is different
• He gives food to the hungry
• He sets the prisoners free
• He opens the eyes of the blind
• He lifts up the humble
• What is the problem in all five cases?
• We don't see it now
• God sees it, but his timetable is different
• Why else should we put our hope in God?
• The Lord loves us (because of Jesus' righteousness)
• The Lord upholds
• The widow -- representing? The lonely, those without a companion to love them
• The fatherless -- representing? The orphan and those missing parents who truly loved them
• IN OTHER WORDS: the Lord loves those who are unloved
• Lastly, the Lord brings the way of the wicked to ruin
• We can try to get things our way instead of waiting upon God
• God promises ruin to those who want to do it their way
• APPLICATION: So how do we apply this?
• We can begin and end our prayers with praise (not always, but sometimes)
• We can realize that our years are finite, God is infinite, and as long as we have life, we should have a plan to serve him
• We can stop trying our own schemes and truly trust and hope in God, recognizing his timeline might be different from ours

Ps 136, It starts with thanking God

Psalm 136:1–3 (ESV) —
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;


• Background:
• This psalm is called the "Great Hallel" and is sung at Passover
• The psalm is unique (to the majority) in that it repeats the same refrain
• The leader or leaders would sing the first part and the people respond with the refrain
• There are six major sections or thematic breaks, this could also be done chiastically with a slight change in the latter group of verses … but the application remains the same
• What is the first theme?
• Give thanks
• And what is the reason?
• God's goodness
• God's uniqueness and greatness (also aloneness, alone -- no one is like him)
• What is your favorite NT verse on thankfulness?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) — 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Why is thankfulness so important?
• APPLICATION: When we forget God, one of the primary reasons is that we begin to forget to thank God for where we are and what we have


Psalm 136:4–9 (ESV) —
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;


• What is the second theme? Creation
• Why is it important?
• Romans 1:18–25 (ESV) — 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. // 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
• The very first of the three "God gave them up" s is the rejection of God as creator
• What happens when we reject God as the creator?
• We don't feel we owe him anything or
• We can conclude that he does not exists
• Ultimately, we can forget God (That follows from not thanking him, is just forgetting him)


Psalm 136:10–16 (ESV) —
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;


• What is the third theme? The rescue from Egypt
• What has God rescued you from and why is it important to remember his rescue?
• It shows how much he cares
• It reminds of the depth to which we fell
• It reminds us that not only is he our creator, but he is actively act work in bringing us to where we are today


Psalm 136:17–22 (ESV) —
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.


• What is the fourth theme? He gives us victories over our enemies
• In order for Israel to get to this stage, what had to happen first? (hint: verse 16)
• God had to take his people through the wilderness because of their disobedience
• What has God taken you through or is taking you through?
• Victories follow rescue which follow acknowledgement of his ownership (you are his creation) and an attitude of thankfulness


Psalm 136:23–26 (ESV) —
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.


• The fifth and sixth theme is here. There probably are only five themes. The sixth break takes us back to the beginning theme. What is the fifth theme?
• God is good to us (He remembers, he rescues, he provides)
• For all these reasons, what should we be doing?
• Giving thanks!
• APPLICATION:
• What is your prayer life like these days?
• Do you remember to thank God for everything in your life? Your rescue? Your victories? His love? His care? His goodness?

Ps 95:1-11, Do we take for granted our salvation?

Psalm 95:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.


• Psalm is written by David (Heb 4:7),  the Septuagint also identifies it with David. It is a praise psalm, structurally strophe
• In the first two verses, what do you see?
• It is a call to worship
• Twice, the psalmist calls for a joyful noise
• Once, it is to sing, the other it is to give thanks
• Verses 3-5 gives us the Psalmist reasoning, what do you see
• He is great and above all gods (Israel's concept of God is different from every other nation)
• Conceptually, he is above all, because … he created all
• Pagan concepts have gods of different things (land, sea, trees, mountains, fertility, sun, moon, etc.,)
• To a certain degree, this concept is transferred into the Roman Catholic idea of saints and praying to saints for certain things
• He is God of the mountains and under the mountains
• He is God of the seas and the land
• CONCLUSION: He is the creator of all things
• The first reason that God "gives up man" is related to this concept of idols and creation
• Romans 1:18–25 (ESV) — 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. // 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
• This is why man so desires to eliminate God as creator. But there are tremendous issues with random genetic changes. Majority of genetic changes are not beneficial. Most serious change can only occur with many genetic changes that cannot occur in partial sequences. The mathematical probabilities of even a single cell forming requires far more time than exists in the universe
• APPLICATION: God is our creator and deserves the glory and honor of that recognition


Psalm 95:6–7c (ESV) — 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.


• Is everyone in the world, God's people? Is everyone a child of God?
• No.
• Everyone is God's creation
• Israel can claim to be God's people
• The Church can claim to be God's people
• A believer in Jesus is adopted into the family of God and is his child
• The world lost the opportunity when it rebelled against God in Eden
• So, we have another reason to worship, and that is …?
• We are God's (people and children)
• Specifically, what is the motif used by the psalmist?
• A shepherd (Jesus uses the same picture)
• John 10:1–18 (ESV) —  1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. // 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
• APPLICATION: We have a unique relationship to the God of the universe -- we are his! That should cause great thankfulness. We did not deserve. We have no right even as his creation


Psalm 95:7–11 (ESV) — 7d Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter my rest.”


• So our God is unique, our creator, our shepherd, our owner, and our Father -- but still we doubt God as we will see in this passage …
• What is Meribah and Massah?
• Massah is the typical name (Deut 6:16, and refers to the place where Israel put God to the test (Massah meaning test). Massah appears to be the first place (Ex 17:7)
• Meribah appears to be the waters where the second event occurs (Num 20:13,24). Meribah meaning quarrelling
• Exodus 17:7 (ESV) — 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
• Note that he uses both terms here but they are also separate -- see concordance search
• The secondary phrase gives insight into the issue
• The issue is not the power of God to do anything. It could be, "is God aware?" but more likely "does God care?"
• How does this apply to us?
• Hebrews 3:12–15 (ESV) — 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, // “Today, if you hear his voice, // do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
• The point is that you can fall away from the living God
• You can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin
• You can rebel even as a believer
• Consequence: You do not lose your salvation. You could lose your life (as the Israelites did). You could lose the rest that comes in Christ (through spiritual maturity) in this life (as the Israelites did)
• Hebrews 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
• The readers could miss out (even though the letter is clearly written to believers)
• The readers are united in faith, but you can lose out on the benefits in this life and in the age to come through disobedience
• Hebrews 4:8–13 (ESV) — 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. // 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
• There are two rests. The rest that Joshua gave to those who walked by faith
• There is also a future rest where we are rewarded for our faith
• APPLICATION: We can lose the "rest" or "blessing of God" by falling away and failing to reach spiritual maturity

Ps 84:1-12, A life with purpose and meaning awaits those who pursue a relationship with God

Praise Psalm
Small chiastic structure
1. Praise of God's House
2. Blessedness of Trusting
1. Praise of God's House


Psalm 84:1–4 (ESV) — 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah


• This Psalm is not a psalm of David (which I originally thought it was). It makes more sense in that light
• The psalmist is referring (most likely) to Solomon's temple (Solomon's Temple)
• Herod's temple returns to the design of the tabernacle in the Holy of Holies (also called the most Holy Place), and the Holy Place, although it is larger
• See Logos Bible Software Infographics
• Note that the Gentile court in Herod's palace is outside the middle structure. The area prior to the temple is the women's court
• What was the temple of God? How do you explain it to someone?
• God is not confined to specific place or location (Ps 115:3; 1 Kings 8:27))
• God is spoken of in a heavenly temple (Ps 11:4)
• The sanctuary was not considered to be even a temporary dwelling place of YHWH. It only localized His divine presence among men with the manifestation of the Shekinah. [Johnson, R. (1997). The Centrality of the Jewish Temple in the Affairs of God, Israel and the Nations Part I—Historical Temples. Conservative Theological Journal Volume 1, 1(1), 68.] (Exo 29:42; 2 Chron 7:1-3)
• The Jewish temple was unique in that it was a central sanctuary (it drew the whole nation together toward a single spot; You didn't worship in your house without your idol)
• So it the psalmist speaking literally or metaphorically?
• The "dwelling" would refer to the priests
• The birds would refer to nests built on the structure
• Implication: this is a physical presence
• So what is the Psalmist saying then in his desire?
• He wants to be near God's glory
• He wants to be near God's people (it was a central place of worship)
• This is also true of the tabernacle. It was always in the center of the camp
• He wants to be identified with God
• HE wants to hear God speak (previous Exo 29:42)
• (see Logos information, then ESL) The word for Blessed is not the common word Baruk (400+) but asher (44 uses). The root for asher is to go straight, walk, lead -- the idea is to go straight on, advance, make progress
• It is not the idea of things
• It represents progress in life, spiritual and physical, that brings happiness or joy
• APPLICATION: How central is our faith to our life? We won't make real progress spiritually until we make God's presence a priority of our life


Psalm 84:5–8 (ESV) — 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah


• These verses represent the high point of the passage. The first four and the last four focus on the house of God, the temple. They surround these four verses. What does that suggest?
• This is somehow the result of a person who is devoted to God's glory and presence
• The word blessed is the same as in verse 4
• Further reinforces the idea that our direction in life is influenced by our relationship with God
• Also, the "highways to Zion" and the "go through the Valley of Baca" also emphasize the same thought
• (Look at Strength) Strength seems to emphasize a possessive sense, that is, it is a part of the psalmist life
• (Look at heart) Heart seems to emphasize the inner person
• The valley of Baca is actually a very arid region, no nourishment
• Yet, the person whose focus is on the presence of God finds springs (fresh refreshment), and pools (continued refreshment)
• In verse 8, what is the Psalmist saying?
• This is what the Psalmist desired for his life
• This is what he desired to see as progress in his life


Psalm 84:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!


• In the chiastic formula, we go back down the tree, ending up where we started. We end up again in the temple or the house of God. Here the Psalmists adds additional thoughts
• Why is a day in the courts better than a thousand elsewhere?
• The psalmist understood that God's presence and God's glory can do more for him than anything else imaginable
• Why is doorkeeper better?
• The contrast is the tents of wicked. Sin is appealing but it doesn't satisfy
• Even the lowliest of jobs is more satisfying if it is in God's presence
• The psalmist describes multiple benefits:
• Sun and a shield
• Light shines on our path
• Shield protects from enemies
• Favor and honor (may explain the previous)
• We receive grace -- things we don't even deserve
• We are honored -- life reflects God
• No good thing withheld -- we experience good things in life
• WHY?
• Because we choose to walk uprightly
• Because we make God's presence an important aspect of our life
• Vs 12 repeats the same use of Blessed
• We need to trust
• We need to be in his presence