PM Aug 29th Psa 135

August 29^th       

 

Psalm 135

The One True Lord

1: Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 2: Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, 3: Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. 4: For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5: For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6: Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7: He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 8: Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9: Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10: Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; 11: Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12: And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13: Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14: For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15: The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16: They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17: They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18: They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 19: Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: 20: Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. 21: Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

 

Psalm 136

The Mercy is for ever

1: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2: O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3: O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4: To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5: To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6: To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7: To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10: To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13: To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16: To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17: To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: 20: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: 21: And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23: Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25: Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26: O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Today we are reading Psalms 135 & 136. Both of these Psalms are hymns of Praise. In fact they can be compared as follows…

Psa 135

A. Praise to the Lord v1-5

   B. God created wonders v6-7

      C. Deliverance from Egypt v8-9

         D. Deliverance on the journey v10-11

            E. The gift of the land v12-13

               F. Goodness to the people v14

                  G. False gods v15-18

                     H. Praise v19-21

Psa 136

A. Praise to the Lord v1-3

   B. God created wonders v4-9

      C. Deliverance from Egypt v10-15

         D. Deliverance on the journey v16-20

            E. The gift of the land v21-22

               F. Goodness to the people v23-24

                  G. False gods v25

                     H. Praise v26

The Psalm begins with Praise the LORD – Jehovah and then calls on all servants to Praise the name of the Lord. The servants are those Levites who attend on the service of the Temple. They are to praise the Lord for his goodness and sing hymns to his name because his name is pleasant. Then the Psalmist speaks of the LORD’s choice of Israel, who are his specific treasure. Then he contrasts the greatness of the LORD with all the false gods. He speaks of his sovereign will. He does whatever he pleases in heaven, earth and in the seas. Then he gives a few examples – He describes the water cycle from evaporation, lightening, precipitation and wind. Then he speaks of Gods intervention in history – He killed the firstborn of Egypt – men and beast. He gave the 10 signs to Egypt. He destroyed the nations and kings of Canaan for the children of Israel, including, Sihon, Og, And He gave all their territory to Israel. The name of the Lord will be remembered for ever. The Lord will judge his people and he will turn again to be their Saviour. Then he mocks the idols who have eyes but are blind etc. he says that those who make them are like them. This gives us a clue to Idolatry. Idolatry is the expression of men’s imagination and if men are bad then the idols are bad too. But the LORD is blessed and the children of Israel are blessed, And the children of Aaron and the house of Levi. The LORD is blessed in Zion. Praise the Lord. Psalm 136 is also a Hallelujah Psalm beginning with the three times repeated phrase ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good and his mercy endures forever’. This phrase repeats right through the Psalm ‘his mercy endureth forever’. What the Psalmist is saying is that God will never get to a point in which he will never find mercy in his heart toward Israel. Even if Israel strays from the Lord and he punishes them ever so severely, yet in judgment there will always be mercy. So this Psalm is a history of the Lords dealings with his people under law and in all their struggles and trials they always find the mercy of the Lord.