BIG IDEA:
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF GOD
I. (:1-3) WORSHIP GOD FOR HIS ENTHRONEMENT IN HIS ROYAL CITY
A. Call to Worship
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised"
B. City of God’s Enthronement
"the city of our God"
"His holy mountain"
"Mount Zion in the far north"
"beautiful in elevation"
"the joy of the whole earth"
"the city of the great King"
her royal palaces = impenetrable fortress because of the presence of God
II. (:4-8) THE SIGHT OF THE CITY OF GOD STIRS PANIC IN THE ENEMY KINGS
A. Panic despite their collected forces
"the kings assembled themselves"
B. Panic that causes them to flee in terror
C. Panic that causes them anguish, "as of a woman in childbirth"
D. Panic that can find no safe refuge
"With the east wind Thou dost break the ships of Tarshish"
E. Panic that knows the reality of the victory of the City of God
III. (:9-11) WORSHIP GOD FOR HIS LOVING AND RIGHTEOUS REIGN
A. Loving Reign
lovingkindness -- in the midst of Thy temple
B. Call to Worship
"As is Thy name, O God,
So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth"
C. Righteous Reign
righteousness
judgments
D. Call to Worship
"Let Mount Zion be glad,
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice"
IV. (:12-14) THE SIGHT OF THE CITY OF GOD STIRS CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD
A. Confident in Defense
Walk around the city and take a good look:
"Count her towers"
"Consider her ramparts"
B. Confident in Posterity
"Go through her palaces;
That you may tell it to the next generation"
C. Confident in Eternity
"For such is God,
Our God forever and ever"
D. Confident in Guidance
"He will guide us until death"
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Is our faith as strong in the Lord’s guidance in our lives (vs. 14) as it is in the Lord’s
protection and deliverance?
2) Do we associate “joy” with “holiness” (vv.1-2), or do we associate Puritanical “sternness” with holiness? How do we balance joy with reverence towards a God who
is awesome?
3) Does the greatness of our God inspire corresponding greatness of praise and worship on our part?
4) When we see here the panic of the most powerful enemies before God’s power and judgment (vv. 4-8), does our confidence and courage in the Lord’s ability to protect us increase accordingly?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
