Bible Study - Worship - I Thank You - Psalm 107 - March 25, 2011
Bible Study - Worship - I Thank You - March 25, 2011
This is our final lesson in our series entitled "The Heart of Worship."
Our scripture for this week’s lesson is Psalm 107:1-9, 33-38, 43.
The author of Psalm 107 is not known. It was written to celebrate the Jews’ return from exile in Babylon. It was praise to GOD thanking HIM for deliverance. Sometimes GOD has to allow us to go into exile to get our attention. When we study the interaction of the Jews and GOD, we can think of our walk as a Christian with GOD. It reveals the extent GOD will go to for HIS children to obediently serve HIM.
Psalm 107:1 and Psalm 92:1 both used the word “good.” The use of “good” in Psalm 92 refers to that which is pleasant, beneficial and appropriate. The use of “good” in Psalm 107 refers to the fact that GOD is good and is the source of good. Good is an attribute of GOD and those who embrace GOD and worship HIM aligning them with good.
GOD is the source of good and truth. In HIM there is no deceit. Therefore, when we worship HIM, HE requires that we come to HIM in Spirit and truth. HE is truth and when we approach HIM in truth, it honors and respects HIM. This sets the stage for genuine worship because HE is faithful. HE is not fickle. Because of HIS unchanging, faithful love we need to thank HIM for HIS care and involvement in our lives, even before we became HIS children.
Romans 5:8-9 - 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.
Hebrews 1:13-14 - 13 Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?[18] Or [19] Ps 110:1 14 Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
Christians have much to thank GOD for HIS care for them. Only eternity will reveal how GOD protected us throughout our lives from things seen and unseen.
We began our series of study with the psalmist longing for a relationship with GOD. Having the right relationship with GOD before CHRIST came to earth was different than after HIS birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. GOD imposed the death penalty on mankind because of Adam’s sin. Only a perfect sacrifice could satisfy this penalty. How do we know that GOD accepted CHRIST’S death as full payment for sin? HIS resurrection is the proof. JESUS conquered death and GOD raised HIM from the dead as proof.
How can a person receive salvation? He/she can ask CHRIST to forgive him/her for his/her sins and for HIM to come into his/her life. It is not repeating certain words but is a matter of the heart. Those who believe that CHRIST gave HIS life for their sins, ask HIM to forgive them for their sins and for HIM to come into their lives, experience the miracle of rebirth. GOD’S Spirit unites with their spirit and they are born anew in their spirit/Spirit. At that instant the Holy Spirit indwells his/her body. Spiritual conception takes place and the born-again believer begins his/her Spiritual growth and maturity. Without rebirth, through CHRIST, it is impossible to truly worship GOD. This is ground zero. CHRIST opens a direct path to GOD for those who believe in HIM.
Rebirth makes Christians Sons and Daughters of GOD. This establishes a Father/child relationship such that Christians can approach and call upon GOD 24/7. The indwelling Holy Spirit teaches, enlightens, reveals truth, confirms truth, assures and seals Christians as they journey toward their Promised Land of Heaven.
When Christians consider the heritage they have by being a child of GOD, through their relationship with CHRIST, their natural response should be to worship HIM in Spirit and truth. When we receive a gift we thank the person who gave us the gift. This leads us to consider, as part of our worship, thanking CHRIST for giving HIS life for us as believers and GOD for allowing CHRIST to come to earth. This leads us to Psalm 107, which is a psalm of thanksgiving for GOD’S deliverance from something which was humanly impossible for them to deliver themselves from.
Let’s read Psalm 107:1-3:
Thanksgiving for God’s Deliverance
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.[1]2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe 3 and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south.
The psalmist stated that GOD was good and what makes HIM good are HIS faithful attributes – HIS faithful love endures forever. GOD is not fickle. The Israelites strayed from GOD and ended up in exile but GOD rescued them.
Christians may find themselves in a form of exile because they have strayed from GOD. We must keep in mind that GOD loves the sinner but hates the sin. Sin blocks a Christian’s fellowship with GOD and blocks his/her obedience to HIS leadership. Remember First John 1:9. Christians are to confess their sins, repent and GOD cleanses and restores. A Christian never loses his/her salvation because they have been born into the family of GOD but he/she can lose his/her rewards. GOD never leaves or forsakes HIS children and you can take that to the Bank of Heaven because GOD’S covenant with HIS children was secured by the shed blood of JESUS. This is something to be thankful for and rejoice in.
GOD delivers HIS children from the hand of the foe regardless where the foe or GOD’S children are located. GOD is always watching our backs.
Let’s read Psalm 107:4-9:
4 Some[2] Lit wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live. 5 They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits failed[3] Lit within them. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He rescued them from their distress. 7 He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for the • human race. 9 For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.[4]
The psalmist recalled events in the history of the Israelites. They faced dire situations but when they called out to GOD, HE responded to their plight. GOD allowed the Israelites to get into situations which HE was the only ONE WHO could get them out. HIS desire was for them to call upon HIM, see HIS faithfulness, HIS ability to deliver them, come back to HIM and worship HIM. This should place all Christians on alert. GOD does place barriers to restrain Christians from going astray but if they choose to jump over the barrier, HE will allow them to get into situations that will result in them calling upon HIM for help.
When GOD rescues us from situations our response should be one of appreciation and thanksgiving. Often, we are like the man that fell off a high cliff and was falling to certain death. He screamed out for GOD to help him. As he fell, there was a huge root sticking out of the side of the cliff which caught hold of his pants and stopped his fall. The man quickly told GOD, “Never mind because this root caught me”.
GOD satisfies the Spiritual thirst of those who seek HIM.
33 He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into a pool of water, dry land into springs of water.[18] Ps 114:8; Isa 41:17–18 36 He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live. 37 They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. 38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;[19] Gn 1:28 He does not let their livestock decrease.
GOD is in control of all things. The psalmist makes a contrast between those who rebel against GOD and those who obediently serve HIM. GOD may leave the unrighteous alone and they may be fruitful for a season. But GOD can dry up their bounty and they will experience great life threatening needs. Water is vital for life upon earth. When water dries up, the situation is dire. Such a situation becomes obvious to the unrighteous especially when they see the bountiful water supply of the righteous. The Jews equated the blessing and favor of GOD to their physical success.
We need to consider the Spiritual bounty of obediently serving GOD. The unbeliever lives in a Spiritual desert whereas the Christian lives where springs of living water gush from within and provides Spiritual water to nourish them. Christians should so live that their lives reflect CHRIST and produce fruit as a result of being grafted into the vine, which is CHRIST. Hopefully, non-believers will thirst for what Christians have.
43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider[24] Lit the Lord’s acts of faithful love.[25]
The psalmist ends with the challenge for the wise to ponder the things that he has written and consider the fact that GOD’S love for them never changes. HIS love is a faithful love that lasts forever. It is a covenant love secured by the shed blood of CHRIST. Such love is worthy of praise and worship. Ponder these things as you worship HIM. Blessings!
posted by Bible Study | 11:17 PM
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