Zoom Sunday School Classes
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASSES FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2025
January 5, 2025
The Lord Is King (In Times of
Trouble)
Printed Text: Psalm 10:12-18
Devotional Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Background: Psalms 9, 10
January 12, 2025
The
Lord Is Robed in Majesty (The Majesty of a Kings Reign)
Printed Text: Psalm 93
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 52:1-12
Background: Psalm 47; 93
January 19, 2025
The
Lord’s Throne is Established (Don’t Forget)
Printed Text: Psalm 103:1-14
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 66:1-14
Background: Psalm 103
January 26, 2025
My
God, the King (Doesn’t Anything Last Anymore)
Printed Text: Psalm 145:1, 10-21
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
Background: Psalm 145
Zoom Sunday School Classes – 5 January 2025, 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
The Lord is King (In Times of Trouble)
Printed Text: Psalm 10:12-18
Devotional Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Background: Psalms 9, 10
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Daily
Bible Readings |
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AIM FOR
CHANGE:
ANALYZE the psalmist’s confidence in God.
IDENTIFY one or more imprecatory elements of the Psalm; and
IDENTIFY and CORRECT an area of life to rely more on God and less
on self.
KEEP IN MIND:
“O LORD, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their
heart, you will incline your ear.” (Psalm 10:17, NRSV)
BACKGROUND:
Because this
psalm has no title (in the midst of several psalms that do), and because it
shares some similar themes with Psalm 9, some have thought that it was
originally the second half of Psalm 9.
There are more reasons to doubt this than to believe it; this psalm
rightly stands on its own as a psalm of lament at the seeming prosperity of the
wicked but ultimate confidence in the judgments of God.
The prevailing
theme seems to be the oppression and persecution of the wicked, we will,
therefore, for our own guidance, entitle it, The Cry of The Oppressed.
The first
verse, is an exclamation of surprise, explains the intent of the Psalm, viz.,
to invoke the interposition of God for the deliverance of his poor and
persecuted people. From Psalms 10:2-11,
the character of the oppressor is described in powerful language. In Psalms 10:12, the cry of the first verse
bursts forth again, but with a clearer utterance. In the next place (Psalms 10:13-15), God's
eye is clearly beheld as regarding all the cruel deeds of the wicked; and as a
consequence of divine omniscience, the ultimate judgment of the oppressed is
joyously anticipated (Psalms 10:16-18).
To the Church of God during times of persecution, and to individual
saints who are smarting under the hand of the proud sinner, this Psalm
furnishes suitable language both for prayer and praise.
LESSON COMMENTARY:
A
Call Upon God to Take Action (Psalm 10:12-13, NRSV)
12Rise up, O LORD; O
God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed.
13Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, "You
will not call us to account"?
The psalmist
simply called upon God to take action. “LORD, this wicked man finds comfort in
the idea that You won’t do anything against him. Arise, O LORD; lift up Your hand against this
wicked man!”
It is not
stated in this untitled psalm, but it is often assumed that David wrote this
psalm, because it is arranged in the midst of several psalms that are
specifically attributed to David (Psalms 3-9; 11-32). Yet we know David to be a man of valiant
action and warrior spirit, not the kind to stand passively back while the
wicked murdered and terrorized the weak and helpless. The only exception to this would be if the
wicked man were in a place of God-appointed authority, such as Saul was in
Israel. Perhaps this psalm was a cry of
David for God to stop Saul, because David knew that it was not his
place to lift his hand against the LORD’s anointed.
Why do the
wicked renounce God? The psalmist
answered his own question in the next lines.
The wicked renounce God because they say in their heart that God will
not require an account. Because a
sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, he thinks it will not
be executed at all. This observation has
an inherent prayer: “LORD, require an account from this wicked man who
renounces You!”
Asking
For God’s Help in View of His Kindness to the Helpless
(Psalm 10:14-15, NRSV)
14But you do see!
Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the
helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.
15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; seek out their
wickedness until you find none.
But You have
seen, for You observe trouble and grief: Upon further reflection, the psalmist
recognized that God has indeed seen, because He sees and cares about the
trouble and grief of the poor and helpless.
To repay it by
Your hand: Here is the confidence of the psalmist in God’s judgments. He most certainly will repay the
wicked for their sins. God will indeed
answer the helpless and be the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm
of the wicked and the evil man: The psalmist called upon God to help the weak
by shattering the wicked and the evil man, and to thoroughly seek out his
wickedness until You find none.
Confidence
in God’s Judgments (Psalm 10:16-18, NRSV)
16The LORD is king
forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.
17O LORD, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen
their heart, you will incline your ear
18to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from
earth may strike terror no more.
The LORD is
King forever and ever: The psalmist began with almost despair in his times
of trouble; he ends with calm confidence in the reign of the LORD as an
eternal King.
God had long
been declared the King of Israel (Exodus 15:18), even when His people rejected
His rule (1 Samuel 8:7-9). If David
wrote this psalm (especially during a time of persecution from Saul), the words
“the LORD is King forever and ever” would have special meaning, recognizing the
reign of God even over the troubled and dysfunctional reign of Saul.
The nations
have perished out of His land: Remembering the past victories of God against
the cruel enemies of His people (in this case, the Canaanites who occupied His
land) gave the psalmist greater confidence regarding the present help of the
LORD.
You have heard
the desire of the humble…You will prepare their heart…You will cause Your ear
to hear: This continues to express the calm confidence of the psalmist. God will not abandon the poor and needy but
will help and bless them.
David does not
say, ‘Thou hast heard the prayer of the humble;’ he means that, but he
also means a great deal more. Sometimes,
we have desires that we cannot express; they are too big, too deep; we cannot
express them in language. At other
times, we have desires which we dare not express; we feel too bowed down, we
see too much of our own un-deservedness to be able to venture near the throne
of God to utter our desires; but the Lord hears the desire when we cannot or
dare not turn it into the actual form of a prayer.
With the phrase
– You will prepare their heart – the psalmist reminds us that the
spiritual preparation of the heart is a great gift, an answer to prayer, and a
mark of God’s blessing. Charles Spurgeon
says, “Surely none but the Lord can prepare a heart for prayer. One old writer
says it is far harder work to raise the big bell into the steeple than to ring
it afterwards. This witness is true. When the bell is well hung you can ring it
readily enough; but in that uplifting of the heart lies the work and the
labor.”
To do
justice…that the man of the earth may oppress no more: The psalmist ends with
assurance of God’s justice applied to the wicked. What began with a sense of despair in times
of trouble has ended with calm confidence in God’s justice and victory.
DISCUSS THE MEANING:
1.
People
are troubled by the increase in violence, injustice, and oppression. How can we survive and overcome such abusive
conditions?
2.
What
can we do to help others who are mistreated, overlooked, and denied
opportunities?
LESSON IN SOCIETY:
The psalmist
speaks with astonishment, at the wickedness of the wicked, and at the patience
and forbearance of God. God prepares the
heart for prayer, by kindling holy desires, and strengthening our most holy
faith, fixing the thoughts, and raising the affections, and then he graciously
accepts the prayer. The preparation of
the heart is from the Lord, and we must seek unto him for it. Let the poor, afflicted, persecuted, or
tempted believer recall, that Satan is the prince of this world, and that he is
the father of all the ungodly. The
children of God cannot expect kindness, truth, or justice from such persons as
crucified the Lord of glory. But this
once suffering Jesus, now reigns as King over all the earth, and of his
dominion there shall be no end. Let us
commit ourselves unto him, humbly trusting in his mercy. He will rescue the believer from every
temptation, and break the arm of every wicked oppressor, and bruise Satan under
our feet shortly. But in heaven alone
will all sin and temptation be shut out, though in this life the believer has a
foretaste of deliverance.
NEXT WEEK’S LESSON: 12 January 2024, 09:00 AM, EST
The
Lord Is Robed in Majesty (The Majesty of a Kings Reign)
Printed Text: Psalm 93
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 52:1-12
Background: Psalm 47; 93
Zoom
Sunday School Classes – 12 January 2025, 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
The Lord Is Robed in Majesty (The Majesty of a Kings Reign)
Printed Text: Psalm 93
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 52:1-12
Background: Psalm 47; 93
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Daily
Bible Readings |
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AIM FOR
CHANGE:
IDENTIFY what God is “mightier than.”
COMPARE God’s actions as Creator to His actions as Ruler; and
IDENTIFY which verses of Psalm 93 speak most closely to your
current situation.
KEEP IN MIND:
“The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved.” (Psalm 93:1, NRSV)
BACKGROUND:
This
is the first of a group of psalms celebrating Jehovah as King. It is followed by one which somewhat
interrupts the unity of subject in the group but may be brought into connection
with them by being regarded as praising Jehovah’s kingly and judicial
providence, as manifested in the subjugation of rebels against His throne. The remaining psalms of the group (Psalm
95:1-11; Psalm 96:1-13; Psalm 97:1-12; Psalm 98:1-9; Psalm 99:1-9; Psalm
100:1-5) rise to a height of lyric exultation in meditating on the reign of
Jehovah. Psalm 93:1-5; Psalm 94:1-23 are
followed by two {Psalm 95:1-11; Psalm 96:1-13} beginning with ringing calls for
new songs to hail the new manifestation of Himself, by which the Lord has, as
it were, inaugurated a new stage in His visible reign on earth. Psalm 97:1-12, again breaks out into the
joyful proclamation "The Lord is King," which is followed, as if by a
chorus, with a repeated summons for a new song.
Once more the proclamation "The Lord is King" is sounded out
in Psalm 99:1-9, and then the group, is closed by Psalm 100:1-5, with its call
to all lands to crowd round The Lord’s throne with "clamors of
acclaim."
LESSON COMMENTARY:
The
Majesty of God (Psalm 93:1-2, NRSV)
1The LORD is king, he
is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has
established the world; it shall never be moved;
2your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
Whatever
opposition may arise, his throne is unmoved; He has reigned, does reign, and
will reign for ever and ever. Whatever
turmoil and rebellion there may be beneath the clouds, the eternal King sits
above all in supreme serenity; and everywhere he is really Master, let his foes
rage as they may. All things are ordered
according to his eternal purposes, and his will is done. In these verses it would seem as if the Lord
had for a while appeared to vacate the throne, but suddenly puts on his regal
apparel and ascends his lofty seat, while His happy people proclaim him with
new joy, shouting "The Lord reigns."
What can give greater joy to a loyal subject than a sight of the king in
his beauty?
He is clothed
with majesty. Not with emblems of
majesty, but with majesty itself: everything which surrounds him is
majestic. His is not the semblance but the
reality of sovereignty. In nature,
providence, and salvation the Lord is infinite in majesty. Happy are the people among whom the Lord
appears in all the glory of his grace, conquering their enemies, and subduing
all things unto himself; then indeed is he seen to be clothed with majesty.
“The LORD is
clothed with strength.” His garments of glory are not his only array, he wears
strength also as his girdle. He is
always strong, but sometimes he displays his power in a special manner and may
therefore be said to be clothed with it; just as he is always majestic
essentially, yet there are seasons when he reveals his glory, and so wears his
majesty, or shows himself in it. May the
Lord appear in his church, in our day in manifest majesty and might, saving
sinners, slaying errors, and honoring his own name.
O for a day of
the Son of man, in which the King Immortal and Almighty shall stand upon his
glorious high throne, to be feared in the great congregation, and admired by
all them that believe. Wherewith he has
girded himself. As men gird up their
loins for running or working, so the Lord appears in the eyes of his people to
be preparing for action, girt with his omnipotence. Strength always dwells in the Lord Jehovah,
but he hides his full power often, until, in answer to his children's cries, he
puts on strength, assumes the throne, and defends his own. It should be a constant theme for prayer,
that in our day the reign of the Lord may be visible, and his power displayed
in his church and on her behalf.
"Thy kingdom come" should be our daily prayer: that the Lord
Jesus does actually reign should be our daily praise.
The world also
is established, that it cannot be moved.
Because the Lord reigns earthly things for a while are stable. We could not be sure of anything if we were
not sure that he has dominion. When he
withdraws his obvious presence from among men all things are out of order;
blasphemers rave, persecutors rage, the profane grow bold, and the immoral
increase in depravity; but when the divine power and glory are again manifested
order is restored, and the poor distracted world is at peace again.
Society would
be the football of the basest of mankind if God did not establish it, and even
the globe itself would fly through space, like thistle down across the common,
if the Lord did not hold it in its appointed orbit. That there is any stability, either in the
world or in the church, it is the Lord's doings, and he is to be adored for
it. A belief in God is the foundation
and cornerstone of a well-ordered state.
We often hear
of ancient dynasties, but what are they when compared with the Lord? Are they not like the bubble on the breaker,
born an instant ago and gone as soon as seen?
Thou art from everlasting. The
Lord himself is eternal. Let the
believer rejoice that the government under which he dwells has an immortal
ruler at its head, has existed from all eternity and will flourish when all
created things shall have forever passed away.
Vain are the rebellions of mortals, the kingdom of God is not shaken.
1.
Why is it important to remember that while God
can be descried in human terms, He is not?
The
Might of God (Psalm 93:3-4, NRSV)
3The floods have
lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up
their roaring.
4More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic
than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD!
Men have raged
like angry waves of the sea, but vain has been their commotion. Observe that the psalmist turns to the Lord
when he sees the billows foam, and hears the breakers roar; he does not waste
his breath by talking to the waves, or to violent men; but like Hezekiah he
spreads the blasphemies of the wicked before the Lord. The floods have lifted up their voice; the
floods lift up their waves. These
repetitions are needed for the sake both of the poetry and the music, but they
also suggest the frequency and the violence of wicked assaults upon the
government of God, and the repeated defeats which they sustain. Sometimes men are furious in words—they lift
up their voice, and at other times they rise to acts of violence—they lift up
their waves; but the Lord has control over them in either case. The ungodly are all foam and fury, noise and
bluster, during their little hour, and then the tide turns or the storm is
hushed, and we hear no more of them; while the kingdom of the Eternal abides in
the grandeur of its power.
The LORD on
high is mightier than the noise of many waters.
The utmost of their power is to him but a sound and he can readily
master it, therefore he calls it a noise by way of contempt. When men combine to overthrow the kingdom of
Jesus, plot secretly, and by and by rage openly, the Lord thinks no more of it
than of so much noise upon the sea beach.
Jehovah, the self-existent and omnipotent, does not care for the
opposition of dying men, however many or mighty they might be.
The
Might of His Holiness (Psalm 93:5, NRSV)
5Your decrees are very
sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
As the throne
of God is fixed beyond all risk, so in revelation His truth is beyond all
question. Other teachings are uncertain,
but the revelations of heaven are infallible.
As the rocks remain unmoved amid the turbulence of the sea, so does
divine truth resist all the currents of man's opinion and the storms of human
controversy; they are not only sure, but very sure. Glory to God, we have not been deluded by a
cunningly devised fable: our faith is grounded upon the eternal truth of the
Most High. Holiness becometh thine
house, O LORD, forever. Truth doesn’t
change in its doctrines, which are very sure, nor does holiness in its
precepts, which are incorruptible. The
teaching and the character of God are both unaltered. God has not admitted evil to dwell with him,
he will not tolerate it in his house, he is eternally its enemy and is forever
the sworn friend of holiness.
The church must
remain unchanged, and forever be holy in the eyes of the Lord. God will preserve the church and keep it
undefiled and sacred unto the Lord, this is the church of Jesus Christ as it is
and shall kept evermore. "The Lord
reigns" is the first word and the main doctrine of this psalm, and
holiness is the final result; a due esteem for the great King will lead us to
adopt a behavior becoming his royal presence.
Divine sovereignty both confirms the promises as sure testimonies and
enforces the precepts as seemly and becoming in the presence of so great a
Lord. The whole psalm is most
impressive, and is calculated to comfort the distressed, confirm the fearful,
and assist the devout. O thou who art so
great and gracious a King, reign over us forever! We don’t desire to question or restrain God’s
power, such is the character of the Lord that we rejoice to see Him exercise
the rights of an absolute monarch. All
power is in His hands, and we rejoice to have it so.
DISCUSS THE MEANING:
1.
People
are troubled by the increase in violence, injustice, and oppression. How can we survive and overcome such abusive
conditions?
2.
What
can we do to help others who are mistreated, overlooked, and denied
opportunities?
3.
How
can you share your confidence with others as the psalmist shared his with us?
LESSON IN SOCIETY:
The psalmist
speaks with astonishment, at the wickedness of the wicked, and at the patience
and forbearance of God. God prepares the
heart for prayer, by kindling holy desires, and strengthening our most holy
faith, fixing the thoughts, and raising the affections, and then he graciously
accepts the prayer. The preparation of
the heart is from the Lord, and we must seek unto him for it. Let the poor, afflicted, persecuted, or
tempted believer recall, that Satan is the prince of this world, and that he is
the father of all the ungodly. The
children of God cannot expect kindness, truth, or justice from such persons as
crucified the Lord of glory. But this
once suffering Jesus, now reigns as King over all the earth, and of his
dominion there shall be no end. Let us
commit ourselves unto him, humbly trusting in his mercy. He will rescue the believer from every
temptation, and break the arm of every wicked oppressor, and bruise Satan under
our feet shortly. But in heaven alone
will all sin and temptation be shut out, though in this life the believer has a
foretaste of deliverance.
NEXT WEEK’S LESSON: 19 January 2024, 09:00 AM, EST
The
Lord’s Throne is Established (Don’t Forget)
Printed Text: Psalm 103:1-14
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 66:1-14
Background: Psalm 103
Zoom Sunday School Classes – 19 January 2025, 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
The Lord’s Throne is Established (Don’t Forget)
Printed Text: Psalm 103:1-14
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 66:1-14
Background: Psalm 103
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Daily
Bible Readings |
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AIM FOR
CHANGE:
EXAMINE what it means to praise the Lord with our whole heart and
mind and soul;
APPRECIATE His righteousness, compassion, and grace, and grace; and
GIVE THANKS for His mercy and goodness.
KEEP IN MIND:
“The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.” (Psalm 103:6, NRSV)
BACKGROUND:
The book of
Psalms is often referred to as a collection of prayers or songs, which
creatively express and recount ancient Israel's experience with God. There are multiple psalm types evidenced
within each of the five books in Psalms, including prayers for help (laments),
songs of thanksgiving, psalms of trust, and hymns. Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise, which
encourages us to praise God individually and collectively in all circumstances. The psalmist David begins by admonishing
himself to bless (praise) God with the totality of his being as he recalls the
blessings God bestows upon individual believers. The mere thought of such blessings calls the
psalmist to give God praise. The scope
of this hymn broadens from an individual perspective to one that includes a
reflection on God’s action on behalf of the ancient Israelite people. God’s action is not reserved for individual
believers but extends to the corporate body of believers, most notably the
oppressed. The dynamic nature of God’s
character is shown through the Creator’s merciful, gracious, loving,
compassionate, and forgiving actions toward those who revere God. The psalmist ends by calling even the angels
and other universal beings to bless the Lord, because God reigns over us
all. God has dominion over all of the
universe; therefore, all that has been created ought to give praise to God for
His goodness.
LESSON COMMENTARY:
Bless
the Lord Individually (Psalm 103:1-5, NRSV)
1Bless the LORD, O my
soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast
love and mercy,
5who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth
is renewed like the eagle's.
“Bless the Lord,” means to acknowledge God with praise and thanksgiving. It means to speak well of God, to declare God’s goodness. The fullness of our gratitude is shown when every aspect of our being is completely engaged and devoted to worshipping God. We offer God our whole self when giving praise because God cares for each part of us. We bless the Lord as individuals for two reasons. First, we offer God praise simply for who He is in our lives. We revere God as the Holy One. Out of our own might and actions we cannot be holy because of sin. We need God to work on our behalf, so that we may become holy. Second, we offer God thanksgiving in response to all He has done. The psalmist reminds us of six benefits God shares with us, including physical healing (verse 3). God heals or physical bodies from sickness and disease. God also heals our heart and soul from sin. We give God praise because of all the benefits we receive from Hm.
Bless
the Lord Corporately (Psalm 103:6-14)
6The LORD works
vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love.
9He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us
according to our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his
steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our
transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has
compassion for those who fear him.
14For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
When offering praise and
thanksgiving unto God, we must remember God’s activity in the world around
us. We cannot become consumed with
individual relationship with God, because we experience God’s goodness, care
and comfort corporately, too. The
opportunity to go through life with others is a gift, especially as trouble
arises. God is a refuge for us
collectively in times of trouble. The
ancient Israelites saw God’s character as He extended mercy and grace to them
in spite of their iniquities.
God’s love abounds even when
we show our worst sinful selves. He does
not remain angry when we sin but instead shows compassion by moving those
transgressions from us (verse 12). Our
humanity is marked by its temporal nature.
We all enter and will leave this world on dates determined before we
were formed in our mother’s wombs. God’s
love extends beyond our lifespan, from the beginning to the end of time. It is
comforting to know that God knew w would sin before the Creation. Yet He still loves us. This is another reason we should offer praise
and thanksgiving unto God.
LESSON IN SOCIETY:
Unfortunately,
we live in perilous times. People of
color are violently killed by state-sanctioned violence; incarceration rates
for minorities are disproportionately high; and poor people are systematically
oppressed. It often seems like people
and systems in our society are not held accountable for their actions,
decisions, policies, and laws that negatively affect oppressed people. It appears that “The government of the people
for the people by the people” has been replaced by “The government of the corporations,
for the corporations, by the corporations.
Where is the justice?
Fortunately,
the text reminds us of God’s activity, character, and nature. God sides with and seeks justice for the
oppressed. As many of us protest the
injustices on this earth, we should not forget to praise God for all the Lord
has done in the past.
NEXT WEEK’S LESSON: 26 January 2024, 09:00 AM, EST
My
God, the King (Doesn’t Anything Last Anymore)
Printed Text: Psalm 145:1, 10-21
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
Background: Psalm 145
Zoom Sunday School Classes – 26 January 2025 at 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
My God, the King (Doesn’t Anything Last Anymore)
Printed Text: Psalm 145:1, 10-21
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
Background: Psalm 145
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Daily
Bible Readings |
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Keep in
Mind:
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in
all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.” (Psalm
145:13, NRSV)
LESSON
AIM:
KNOW that God is wonderful, merciful,
everlasting, and worthy of praise;
FEEL appreciation for all the things God
does for us; and
COMMIT to spending time each day praising God
for the things He has done in our life.
BACKGROUND:
This particular Davidic psalm expresses the sentiment of praise to God for all He has done. In the book of Psalms, praise is usually directed to God and often shared with others. When we praise the Lord, we are conveying appreciation, respect, and gratitude toward Him. When studying this psalm, keep in mind all that God has done on earth and in our lives. Praise is the vehicle by which believers express thankfulness for God’s creativity, blessings, and forgiveness. Praise also communicates our heartfelt love for our Lord. God is just, loving, and faithful and deserves our praise. Christian songs tell us that when we praise the Lord, He inhabits the praises of His people. God adores praise, and His heart is pleased when genuine praise is articulated from the hearts of His children.
In
Psalm 145, we are taught a hymn of praise to God for His greatness about which
one generation tells the next. The more
we praise the Lord, the more we can appreciate the little things He does in our
lives.
LESSON
COMMENTARY:
God Is Worthy (Psalm 145:1, NRSV)
1I will extol you, my God and King, and
bless your name forever and ever.
The
word "worthy" means having merit or value. As mentioned in our earlier lessons, God is
worthy of our praise. He is deserving of
our honest admiration because He is God.
In the first four verses of this psalm, the psalmist gives a few reasons
why we should praise the Lord. The
writer offers no explanation for his praise; he simply says, "I will extol
and bless the name of the Lord forever."
To "extol" means to worship God. To bless the name of the Lord requires
exaltation, lifting His name above every name.
Praise suggests that we pay tribute to God and declare His righteousness
throughout the world.
"Forever"
means without end and implies that praising God should never cease. There are no set limitations on the amount of
time we should dedicate to honoring the Lord.
We are to engage in active, perpetual praise. Inexorable admiration for
God is very important. We should
maintain a standard of praise in front of our children and allow our offspring
to experience the art of worship. As
worship becomes a way of life, a tradition is formed and values are transferred
from one generation to the next. Ultimately,
praising God becomes a lifelong and long-lasting experience that is practiced
by each generation. It is also
imperative that the church teach its congregants to praise the Lord.
God Is Merciful (Psalm 145:10, NRSV)
10All your works shall give thanks to you,
O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
The
compassionate acts of God are endless.
The Psalms echo God’s divine mercy in His treatment of His people. Despite the times when God’s people disobeyed
and had a rebellious attitude, the Lord had compassion on them. The Bible is full of events that demonstrate
God’s unyielding mercy. The Word of God
reminds us that He has removed our transgressions and iniquities to the east
and west of us, never shall the two meet (Psalm 103:11-12). God’s love reaches to the highest
heaven. This kind of agape love is
impossible for us to fathom. God is
patient and slow to anger. He desires to
see all come to repentance. The Bible
illustrates God’s leniency toward His people and provides numerous examples of
the Lord protecting His sheep against "ferocious wolves." God is the good and perfect Shepherd. He meticulously watches over His sheep,
ensuring that not even one little sheep is lost. The Lord does not treat us as our sin
deserves; He remembers that we were formed from the dust of the earth (Psalm
103:10, 14). The Lord loves us
unconditionally and has the divine capacity to look beyond our faults. When God looks at us, He sees us according to
the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ—a righteousness provided by His blood
applied by our faith in Him. The blood
of Jesus cleanses us from all impurities.
It is only by the blood of the Lamb that we have access to the throne of
God. It is by God’s mercy and our Lord
Jesus Christ that we are presented faultless before almighty God (Jude
1:24-25). The love of God should provoke
us to praise His precious name, thanking Him for all He has done for us.
As
children of God, we should regularly pray for God’s mercy on the unsaved. At one time we all stood on the other side of
salvation as enemies of God. The Lord is
our perfect example of how to extend mercy to those who don’t know Him. Jesus sternly warned His disciples that the
mercy of God is poured unto the lives of those who show mercy toward others
(Matthew 5:7).
God Is Everlasting (Psalm 145:11-13, NRSV)
11They shall speak of the glory of your
kingdom, and tell of your power,
12to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious
splendor of your kingdom.
13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures
throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious
in all his deeds.
To
ensure that effectual and continuous praise comes from our souls, our hearts
should be filled to capacity with the Word of God. The Word of God introduces us to God’s will
and His ways. Genuine praise comes from
knowing who God is and understanding that His kingdom continues forever. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and
the last. He is the beginning and the
end (Revelation 22:13; Exodus 3:14). It
is difficult to picture endlessness.
Eternity is something we cannot grasp.
Our minds take miniature snapshots of what eternity looks like, but the
concept remains vague. When we read the
Psalms, we get a heavenly glimpse of the kingdom of God. When we read the Scriptures, our minds are
tantalized by a taste of paradise, which is revealed by the splendor, beauty,
and perfection of heaven. We know heaven
is where God and Jesus live and the place allocated for all believers. We hear sermons preached on God’s authority
on Earth and in heaven and about how His kingdom will last forever; yet, we are
not quite sure what all that entails.
Nevertheless, we take comfort in knowing, as ambassadors for Christ,
that we have the "kingdom of God" living inside of us. We are co-laborers with Jesus and are
commissioned to make disciples for God’s kingdom on earth. Our lives are the closest some people may
ever come to reading the Bible. Our lives
are the only "mighty acts" some people will ever experience. To that end, we should let the light of Jesus
shine brightly wherever we go and display the everlasting love of the God we
serve (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 17:21; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
The
Kindness of God to Those in Need (Psalm 145:14-16, NRSV)
14The LORD upholds all
who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due
season.
16You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
God’s
compassion is especially evident toward those who fall and fail. He does not despise or reject them; there is
a sense in which He especially draws near them to hold them up. If they allow their fall to humble them, God
will draw near and uphold them.
The humble put
their expectation on God, looking to Him for their needs. They pray, give us this day our daily
bread (Matthew 6:11), and God answers their prayer in due season.
God’s care for
creation extends beyond His provision for men and women. As Jesus would later say, God also cares for the
birds and the grass of the field (Matthew 6:26-30). God does this with a wonderfully open hand
and heart to His creation.
As we take in
David’s amazing description of God, we see how different Yahweh (the true and
living God) is compared to the idols of the nations. Those supposed gods were often angry and
moody, caring little for either humanity or creation. We are surprised and grateful for the love
and care from the God who is really there.
The
Love and Righteousness of the LORD (Psalm 145:17-20, NRSV)
17The LORD is just in
all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in
truth.
19He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their
cry, and saves them.
20The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will
destroy.
Throughout this
psalm David has spoken much about how we should praise God for who He is and
what He has done. Again, David gives us
a reason to praise the LORD, recognizing the incomparable combination of being
righteous and gracious.
Later the
Apostle Paul would write about this idea, how in the person and work of Jesus,
God did demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). The combination of being both just and the
justifier is much the same as being both righteous and gracious.
The LORD is
near to all who call upon Him: God’s responsiveness to His praying people
demonstrates the graciousness mentioned in the previous lines. He will fulfill the desire and hear the cry
of His people.
Jesus taught in
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34) that the Lord will care for His
creation, so how much more does he care for his covenant people!
LET
ALL FLESH BLESS HIS HOLY NAME (PSALM 145:21, NRSV)
21My mouth will speak
the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and
ever.
The psalmist
began by saying that he would exalt and praise the Lord (v. 1). Now he ends his psalm on the same note of
praise. But the psalmist takes it to
another level, inviting all flesh to bless the Lord’s name forever and
ever.
We sense that
David meant this as a declaration.
Having written so eloquently about who God is and what He has done for
His people, David’s firm decision was to use his mouth to praise and
bless God again and again.
No matter what
others may do, the psalmist declares that he will not be silent in the praise
of the Lord, whatever others may speak upon, he is fixed on speaking the praise
of the Lord.
Montgomery
Boice says, “The last verse of Psalm 145 is the last word we have from David in
the Bible. It is his last will and
testament. If he had said nothing else
in his long life, these words would be a fine legacy for future
generations. In it he praises God and
invites others to praise God also.”
DISCUSS THE MEANING:
1.
If
praise is essential and important to God, why do some adults struggle with
giving God praise?
2.
What
insights have been gained in recognizing that God is worthy, wonderful, and
merciful?
3.
What
are the difficulties some adults may have in conceptualizing the everlasting
attributes of God?
4.
What has helped you most to get a bigger view of
God’s greatness? What has most hindered
you from it?
5.
Some Christians claim that God used evolution to
create the world. How does this view undermine God’s greatness?
6.
Shouldn’t praise be spontaneous? How, then, can we resolve to do it? How can we
do it if we don’t feel like doing it?
7.
Why is the fear of God not opposed to loving
Him? Which needs more emphasis in your
life?
LESSON IN SOCIETY:
Psalm
145 is a robust doxological assertion: the individual, the community, and the
whole creation is to praise God for God’s goodness and God’s greatness. We are to participate in this praise, yet we
know our praise is cheap and at times cheapens God.
Within this tension, this week’s Psalm passages provide a glimpse of hope. They move us from generalized, hollow praise of God to recall specific and meaningful accounts of God’s goodness in our lives. They remind us of God’s ongoing tenderness towards us, the weak and needy, and they remind us that God’s goodness – just like God’s creation – is universal in scope (this week’s Old and New Testament narratives are perfect examples of God’s goodness). We are then called to invest in and proclaim the ongoing praise of our God the King whose selfless giving is manifest daily in each blessing of creation.
NEXT WEEK’S LESSON: 2 February 2025, 09:00 AM, EST
Praying
for Relief (Too Much Debt)
Printed Text: Matthew 6:5-15
Devotional Text: Psalm 4
Background Text: Matthew 6:5-15
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