Finding Yourself in the Psalms
Psalm 117
A Psalm at the Heart of the Bible that Reveals the Heart of God
TWO DISTINCTIONS
Shortest chapter in the Bible
Middle chapter in the Bible (549 come before, 549 come after) EASILY OVERLOOKED
A Psalm at the Heart of the Bible that Reveals the Heart of God
At the very heart of the BIBLE we find the very HEART OF GOD THREE SIMPLE TRUTHS
I. The Missionary Heart of God. 117:1 (Psalm 117:1) "Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples."
A. God is just as concerned for the NATIONS in the OLD TESTAMENT as He is in the NEW TESTAMENT.
B. Ps 117:1 is quoted in Romans 15:11
1. Romans 15:7-12 demonstrate God’s heart for the NATIONS
2. Quotations from all four parts of the OT
a. Rom 15:10 LAW Deut 32:43
b. Rom 15:9 HISTORY 2 Sam 22:50 c. Rom 15:11 POETRY Psalms 117:1 d. Rom 15:12 PROPHESY Isa 11:1-2
3. “Little Psalm 117 was chosen to represent the entire poetic section of the
Old Testament!” Don Kelso, “Psalms,” 331
C. ISRAEL’S FAILURE: they did not honor the Lord as HOLY
D. They became arrogant in the many blessings God had given them
E. Are we any less guilty if we practice a Christianity of
1. Comfort?
2. Judgmentalism?
3. Academic knowledge?
II. The Great Love of God. (Psalm 117:2) "For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord."
A. The EXTENT of His love. GREAT.
1. “To rise up over”
2. God’s love RISES OVER our sin
3. “”great love” of God 11x in NIV
4. (Lamentations 3:22) "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail."
5. (Ephesians 2:4) "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in
mercy,"
B. The OBJECT of his Love – US
III. God’s Enduring Faithfulness. (Psalm 117:2) "For great is his love toward us, and the
faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord."
A. “Everlasting” in KJV
B. “ pertaining to an unlimited duration of time, usually with a focus on the future (Swanson, J. (1997).
Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains )
C. First usage = (Genesis 3:22) "And the Lord God said, “The man has now become
like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his
hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
D. “Great love” = VOLUME of his love!
E. “Enduring faithfulness” = DURATION of his love!
IV. APPLICATION
A. Find COMFORT in knowing God’s Great Love for you!
B. Find COURAGE in sharing God’s great love with others!
0 Comments