BIG IDEA: THE LORD’S PEOPLE, NO MATTER HOW DOWNTRODDEN,
WILL BE BUILT UP TO ENJOY ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR
PRIVILEGED STATUS
3 EXHORTATIONS TO PRAISE THE LORD:
I. (:1-6) THE LORD BUILDS UP AND HEALS HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, NO MATTER HOW DOWNTRODDEN AND AFFLICTED THEY MAY BE
A. Exhortation to Praise the Lord
“Praise the Lord!” Why?
1. “For it is good to sing praises to our God”
2. “For it is pleasant”
3. “and praise is becoming”
B. The Compassion of the Lord in Building Up His Downtrodden People
1. Restoration Focused around His Kingdom Plan
“The Lord builds up Jerusalem”
2. Restoration Draws in all the Afflicted Outcasts
“He gathers the outcasts of Israel”
3. Restoration Heals all Spiritual, Emotional and Physical Wounds
“He heals the brokenhearted,
And binds up their wounds”
C. The Intimacy of the Lord in Building Up His Downtrodden People
“He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.”
He personally loves and cares for each individual. They are significant to Him.
D. The Power of the Lord in Building Up His Downtrodden People
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength;”
E. The Wisdom of the Lord in Building Up His Downtrodden People
“His understanding is infinite.”
F. Summary:
“The Lord supports the afflicted;.He brings down the wicked to the ground.”
II. (:7-11) THE LORD’S SPECIAL FAVOR IS RESERVED FOR HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE
A. Exhortation to Praise the Lord
“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre”
B. Nature Illustrates the Lord’s Ability to Provide
1. Provides Rain
“Who covers the heavens with clouds;
Who provides rain for the earth”
2. Causes Growth
“makes grass to grow on the mountains”
3. Provides Food
“He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens which cry”
C. The Lord’s Special Favor Not Based on Merit
“He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man”
D. The Lord’s Special Favor Reserved for His People
“The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness”
III. (:12-20) THE LORD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
A. Exhortation to Praise the Lord
“Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!”
B. 4 Special Blessings the Lord Provides
1. Blessing of Protection
“He has strengthened the bars of your gates”
2. Blessing of Children
“He has blessed your sons within you”
3. Blessing of Peace
“He makes peace in your borders”
4. Blessing of Food
“He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat”
C. Blessings Commanded by the Sovereign Lord Who Rules Over Nature
“He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes.
He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold?
He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.”
D. The Lord’s People Enjoy a Unique Privileged Relationship
“He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His ordinances, they have not known them .”
(:20B) CONCLUSION: “Praise the Lord!”
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Do we demonstrate the same heart of compassion (like the Lord) to those who are downtrodden and afflicted? Especially to those of the household of faith?
2) If the Lord provides food for helpless baby birds (ravens in this context; sparrows in Matthew 6) why do we have difficulty trusting in His daily provision for our needs? (Especially when we learn that the Lord knows each of His sheep personally and calls them by name just as He has named each of the multitude of the stars.)
3) Do we evaluate people by the “strength of their legs” (how impressive they are, what they have to contribute to the ministry of the church, outward appearance, etc.) or are we more concerned with their inward character – their fear of the Lord and confidence in His love?
4) Note the teaching in this psalm regarding the power and efficacy of the Word of God.
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
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