Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 136

One week ago today, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day. This morning Psalm 136 is reminder of our need to be thankful every day for the lovingkindness of our wonderful God.

Psalm 136:1-3
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

The psalmist goes on in rest of the psalm to offer thanks and praise to God as he provides many reasons the Jews had to praise God. As Christians, we have the same things to be thankful for.

Psalm 136:4-22
To him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;  the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;  the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;  with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;  but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;  to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;  Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;  a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

But the greatest expression of God’s love ever given, is the giving of His Son, Jesus, who went to the cross and died a horrible death. It was a death that we deserve. Without Christ, we are in the lowest estate a man can be.

Psalm 136:23-24
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;  and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

On Thanksgiving Day, just who do atheist thank? The truth is they are being provided for by the very God they deny, every day they have life.

Psalm 136:25
He who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

God’s steadfast love is a perfect love that never ends. We must make every day Thanksgiving Day and praise Him continuously.

Psalm 136:26
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 135

Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise and in it resides some basic theology. Too many Christians reject theology. Theology is simply the study of God. If we want to know God intimately, then we need to know who He is, what He is like, and how He behaves. When we see God for who He is, we will then live in faith and peace because we will know that He can be trusted in all circumstances, unlike men, who fail us daily. Knowing God and who He is, is the key to proper worship. Psalm 135 opens with praise.

Psalm 135:1-2
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!

Next, we see why He is worthy of our praise.

Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

Theology point number one; God is good. He is always true to His name. Everything He does is good, even when our feelings lead us to question Him.

Psalm 135:4
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.

Theology point two; God chooses His people; they do not choose Him. The Doctrine of Election is a doctrine that is not understandable by our finite minds. Yet, men argue about it. But it’s all over scripture. They accuse God of being unjust because of it. They fail to understand theology point one, God is good. Who are we to question God? God is under no obligation to save any of us, because we all deserve hell. Yet, He gives out grace and mercy to His elect. He owes us nothing.

Psalm 135:5-7
For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.  He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Theology point three; God is sovereign. He is sovereign over all things. He created all things and he controls them as He sees fit. He even controls the weather. Yet, men fret over this theology. We should find comfort knowing that God is good, so if He allows it to happen, it is for good.

Psalm 135:8-12
He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.

Theology point four; God is powerful. He holds life and death in His hands. And theology point five; evil does not win. “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.” We can trust that God will bring justice. It has been well said that, “We all want justice, just not to ourselves, but to others.” If we let God be in control of administering justice, we are free to love our enemies as Christ commands, and to show them the same grace and mercy Jesus gives us.

Psalm 135:13-14
Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.  For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.

Theology point six; God is eternal. Theology point seven; God gives mercy and grace to those who are His people.

Psalm 135:15-18
 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.  They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.  Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

Theology point eight; There is only one true God. The rest of the gods, be they men or be they man-made, have no power or real value. We all have our idols.

Psalm 135:19-21
O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!  O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!  Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!

God is worthy of our praise. Even a quick study of God reveals this. Open your Bible today and see who God is. Make it your life’s passion to know Him intimately. Then you will long to sit at His feet for all eternity worshiping the Great I AM.

Praise the Lord!

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 134

Psalm 134 is the last of the pilgrim songs and it is a short psalm of worship.

Psalm 134:1

Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!

Most of us don’t go to evening services on a regular basis, but that shouldn’t mean we aren’t worshipping God day and night. Someone, somewhere, is worshipping God in a church across the world due to our time changes in the various zones. Psalm 121:3-4 reminds us that “He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.” So, when we struggle with insomnia and cannot sleep, we should spend that time in worship and praise, for we can know we are safe, even in the darkest of nights.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

It does not matter where we are or what time it is, we can lift our hands up to our God. Worship is what we will do in Heaven for all eternity, so we ought to be practicing that discipline now.

Psalm 134:3
May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

God never sleeps. His blessings never end. Let us be a people who never stops worshipping God, no matter the time or place. He made heaven and earth. Wherever we go, He is there.

May the Lord bless you this very day.