EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
PSALMS 135 - 150
(The Deuteronomy Psalms)
BY
DR JOHN C McEWAN
[BOOK 49-15]
16 NOVEMBER 2009
(Revised July 2011)
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
Professor Simon Greenleaf was one of the most eminent lawyers of all time. His “Laws of Evidence” for many years were accepted by all States in the United States as the standard methodology for evaluating cases. He was teaching law at a university in the United States when one of his students asked Professor Greenleaf if he would apply his “Laws of Evidence” to evaluate an historical figure. When Greenleaf agreed to the project he asked the student who was to be the subject of the review. The student replied that the person to be examined would be Jesus Christ. Professor Greenleaf agreed to undertake the examination of Jesus Christ and as a result, when he had finished the review, Simon Greenleaf personally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Professor Greenleaf then sent an open letter to all jurists in the United States saying in part “I personally have investigated one called Jesus Christ. I have found the evidence concerning him to be historically accurate. I have also discovered that Jesus Christ is more than a human being, he is either God or nothing and having examined the evidence it is impossible to conclude other than he is God. Having concluded that he is God I have accepted him as my personal Saviour. I urge all members of the legal profession to use the “Laws of Evidence” to investigate the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and if you find that he is wrong expose him as a faker but if not consider him as your Saviour and Lord”
HOW CAN I BE SAVED?
Salvation is available for all members of the human race.
Salvation is the most important undertaking in all of God's universe. The salvation of sinners is never on the basis of God's merely passing over or closing His eyes to sin. God saves sinners on a completely righteous basis consistent with the divine holiness of His character. This is called grace. It relies on God so man cannot work for salvation, neither can he deserve it. We need to realise that the creation of this vast unmeasured universe was far less an undertaking than the working out of God's plan to save sinners.
However the acceptance of God's salvation by the sinner is the most simple thing in all of life. One need not be rich, nor wise, nor educated. Age is no barrier nor the colour of one's skin. The reception of the enormous benefits of God's redemption is based upon the simplest of terms so that there is no one in all this wide universe who need be turned away.
How do I become a Christian?
There is but one simple step divided into three parts. First of all I have to recognise that I am a sinner (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4; John 5:24).
Secondly, realising that if I want a relationship with Almighty God who is perfect, and recognising that I am not perfect, I need to look to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24; lsaiah 53:6; John 3:16).
Thirdly, by the exercise of my own free will I personally receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, believing that He died personally for me and that He is what He claims to be in an individual, personal and living way (John 1:12; 3:36; Acts 16:31; 4:12).
The results of Salvation
The results of this are unbelievably wonderful:
My sins are taken away (John 1:29),
I possess eternal life now (1 John 5:11,12),
I become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17),
The Holy Spirit takes up His residence in my life (1 Corinthians 6:19),
And I will never perish (John 10:28-30).
This truthfully is life's greatest transaction. This is the goal of all people; this is the ultimate of our existence. We invite and exhort any reader who has not become a Christian by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to follow these simple instructions and be born again eternally into God's family (Matthew 11:28; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; 16:31).
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
PSALM 135 3
PSALM 136 25
PSALM 137 36
PSALM 138 42
PSALM 139 50
PSALM 140 60
PSALM 141 67
PSALM 142 74
PSALM 143 76
PSALM 144 84
PSALM 145 93
PSALM 146 104
PSALM 147 108
PSALM 148 118
PSALM 149 123
PSALM 150 125
DOCTRINE INDEX 127
PSALMS SECTION FIVE
THE DEUTERONOMY PSALMS – PSALMS 135 - 150
PSALMS 135
INTRODUCTION
This is a not a psalm that you will read and feel a freshness of ideas, for every verse is an echo of an earlier one, from either the Mosaic Law or other Davidic Psalms. The author is in doubt, and many jumped to the conclusion that the Psalm was written by an author in the second temple period, but it is most likely from the days of Hezekiah, and the king himself may be the author, as he was of many of the Songs of Degrees.
There are thirty eight references to God in the twenty one verses of the psalm. It is a very godly psalm and the Lord is at its centre. It is also a psalm that refers to or sums up many of the great doctrines of the scriptures and so the follow up doctrinal study section to this psalm is extensive.
This Psalm begins the last section of the Deuteronomy Psalms, and as such it is a formal and very powerful call to praise the Lord. If the Lord is the centre of our life and worship we will be stabilised on the path of life. Hezekiah is the king who leads the people through its darkest hour in the Assyrian Invasion, and its brightest revival under Isaiah. If this is his psalm, we see him here at his spiritual best; drawing the great words of the past into a hymn of praise and honour to the God who has delivered him and the nation. He knows that only in Christ Centeredness is there any hope for their future also.
PSALMS 135:1-21
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.
REFLECTION
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.
Three times the psalmist calls aloud for the entire congregation to praise the Lord. This is a call of many of the psalms. Psalms 106:1, 112:1, 113:1, 134:1. It is right and proper for pastors and worship leaders to call to the Lord’s people to worship and praise the Lord. It is also right and proper for us to repeat ourselves in our enthusiasm to get the Lord’s people to praise the Lord. It is good that we praise Him and call on all of the Lord’s people to praise Him also.
It is also good, as we saw in the last psalm, to gather in the courts of the temple and praise the Lord as often as we can. It is a great thing to gather with the Lord’s people and praise His holy name. Worship is a wonderful shared celebration of our fellowship as members of the ROYAL FAMILY OF GOD. It is a joy to celebrate and praise the Lord our God, who has given us all a new family relationship because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Psalms 92:13, 96:8,116:19, 134:1. We have a new relationship with the Creator and the creation through our faith in the Lord; let us praise His holy name for this all that flows from it.
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.
Again the call is to praise the Lord. We cannot say this enough to the Lord’s people. Pastors, be ready to call the people of the Lord to praise His Holy Name as many times as you feel led by the Holy Spirit through each and every church service. God is so good, and we don’t thank Him enough for His goodness; let us praise Him for His goodness right now. Just stop reading and praise the Lord’s name, wherever you are reading this!
It is good to pray and praise, and it is even better to sing and praise, as a song is easy to remember and it is easier to relax and sing at times than to pause and formally pray. God wants us to pray and sing, and let praise fill our hearts. This is an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. There are many similar passages in the psalms to verse 3. Psalms 52:9, 54:6, 68:4, 86:5, 100:5, 119:68, 147:1. There are many passages also that give us the same message as verse 4. Israel is blessed of the Lord, through its place in the PLAN OF GOD and so are all who enter the plan by faith in the Saviour. Psalms Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, Psalms 105:6.
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
The CHARACTER OF GOD and the PLAN OF GOD are great indeed, and we are in the arms of the One who is above all things and all powers. We are in the hands of the One who made this space-time universe; indeed He is the author of space and time, and will replace them one day with eternity. Deuteronomy 10:12-22, 33:27, 29, John 6:39-46, 2 Peter 3:10-18. We have a relationship with the One who is beyond all the demonic forces that impress some foolish people. Psalms 48:1, 86:8-10, 96:4, 97:9, 145:3.
A number of years ago an author produced a book called, “Your God is Too Small”. It was a powerful encouragement to lift up our eyes as believers and see the full wonder of the glory of God. Our God is an awesome God, and we need to recognise that fact and praise the Lord’s name.
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.
The Lord was not following anyone else’s plan for the creation; He was doing His own work and following His own plan! Psalms 115:3. We need to remember this as we pray and think through things, for often we pray arrogantly, as if the Lord is answerable to us for some detail in the plan we disagree with! We need to reflect a little more on the Sovereignty of God in its association with the Love of God, but also recognise our limitations as children of space and time. Many details of the Plan of God will only be understood when we are the other side of eternity. We must maintain our humility this side of time, as many things are beyond us at this point, even with the Holy Spirit to help us.
All the forces of nature are under the Lord’s control and the unravelling of nature we are witnessing today with super storms as we draw towards the end of time is in the Lord’s hands. We must recognise that we are just creatures under the Creator. We must pause and reflect upon the “signs of our times” and see that when we have “hundred year storms” every year, and earthquakes increase annually, then we need to hear the words of scripture and reflect upon the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour for us. Refer to the BTB studies under PROPHECY at the end of this chapter. Nature is under His control and we need to go to His Word thoroughly to understand it. As SIGNS increase we must urge the people of God to be serious students of the Word of God; not just three point sermon hearers.