BIG IDEA:
FOUR PERSPECTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE US
TO KEEP ON BLESSING THE LORD
INTRODUCTION:
Opposite of Blessing the Lord = Cursing the Lord
cf. Job -- Satan kept hammering away at him with the Goal of trying to get Job to Curse God;
Finally even his wife gave up and cried out: "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse
God and die!"
Apparently Blessing God instead of Cursing Him is a matter of personal integrity.
What helps us to keep on Blessing God?
FOUR PERSPECTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE US
TO KEEP ON BLESSING THE LORD
I. (:1-5) REMEMBER HIS BENEFITS PACKAGE
cf. Benefits Package offered by employer at work; too often we forget and take these things for granted; but they come at a high price for the employer
A. Pardons Iniquities
we could stop here and we would have said enough
B. Heals Diseases (both physical and spiritual)
C. Redeems from the Pit
not just from the eternal Pit of Hell
but from many temporal pitfalls along the way (cf. Pilgrim’s Progress)
D. Crowns us with
1. Lovingkindness
2. Compassion
These are the two attributes of God that will be stressed in this Psalm
E. Satisfies us with Good Things
not exactly the picture of a mean old Scrooge
What does it take for God to satisfy you?
Cf. The children of Israel after being delivered from Egypt -- very tough to satisfy them
Result: "youth is renewed like the eagle"
Freedom / Power
II. (:6-14) EXPECT GOD TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR US
AS A LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE FATHER
"it matters to Him concerning us" 1 Peter 5:7 He cares for us
A. Justice for the Oppressed
B. Intimacy for His Children
Revelation
Friendship / Companionship / Fellowship
C. Compassion and Grace
D. Patience and Longsuffering
E. Abundant Lovingkindness
F. Complete Forgiveness
Explanation: How can God deal so kindly with us sinners?
He is our Creator and knows us completely
cf. Priestly ministry of Christ -- the mediator who knows us completely
Response: Continue to fear God as children should fear Parents (reverential awe)
III. (:15-18) FIND SIGNIFICANCE IN OBEYING THE ETERNAL GOD
A. Brevity of Man -- when viewed apart from God
Image of the grass / the flower of the field
Flourishes for just a short time and then is gone with no trace
B. Lovingkindness of God -- Lasts Forever
(part of His righteousness)
C. Obedience is the Key Link
"those who fear Him "
"those who keep His covenant"
"who remember His precepts to do them"
IV. (:19-22) CELEBRATE HIS SOVEREIGN REIGN ALONG WITH ALL WHO SUBMIT TO HIS WILL
A. The Blessing of the Lord’s Sovereignty.(people discuss this topic like it is a negative characteristic; Rather extremely positive)
"The Lord has established His throne in the heavens"
"And His sovereignty rules over all"
"In all places of His dominion"
B. The Response to the Lord’s Sovereignty = Bless God!
1. His angels (great passage for theology of angels)
mighty in strength
who perform His word = Obeying the voice of His word
2. His hosts
"you who serve Him, doing his will"
3. All you works of His
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Are we making the most of our limited time here on earth to bless the Lord for His everlasting lovingkindness? How can we praise the Lord with our whole being? What does that involve?
2) How has the Lord demonstrated His father-like care to us recently? God knows how we are made, sees us as dust, and on that knowledge His expectations of us are based. How do you see yourself? Do you have unrealistic expectations beyond even what God has for you?
3) How can we take this list of God’s gracious dealings with us and improve in how we respond and relate to others?
4) How can we be motivated to greater fear of the Lord and greater obedience by observing the example of God’s holy angels? How does the fear of the Lord and respect for Him cause us to live differently?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
