Thurs 7/1/21

Psalm 116:1-19 & 117:1-2 … PRAISE FOR GOD’S CHARACTER AND DELIVERANCE.

Q.1. What prompted the psalmist to give praise to God? What did God’s intervention reveal about God? – (Ps.116:1-11) =

Q.2. How did the psalmist wish to respond to God’s goodness? What do disasters and death reveal about God? – (Ps.116:12-19) =

Q.3. Why is the Lord God to be praised among all the nations? – (Ps.117:1-2) =

I Love the Lord

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
² Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
³ The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
⁶ The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷ Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸ For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling;
⁹ I will walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I believed, even when^[a] I spoke:
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ I said in my alarm,
    “All mankind are liars.”

¹² What shall I render to the Lord
    for all his benefits to me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord,
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his saints.
¹⁶ O Lord, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
    You have loosed my bonds.
¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will pay my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord,
    in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

The Lord‘s Faithfulness Endures Forever

117 Praise the Lord, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
² For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Suggested Answers:

Q.1. What prompted the Psalmist to give praise to God? What did God’s intervention reveal about Himself? – (Ps.116:1-11) = The Psalmist had felt forsaken by his friends, and by God.  He was at the point of death, and had been given false hope by others (all men are liars – Ps.116:11). However, he had not been abandoned by the Lord. He cried out in his distress – 1 I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me. Therefore, I shall call upon Him as long as I live … 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me (Ps.116:1-2 & 5-6).

Q.2. How did the Psalmist wish to respond to God’s goodness? What do disasters and death reveal about God? – (Ps.116:12-19) = The chorus of this Psalm (song) answers the question of how we should respond to all of God’s benefits to us (Ps.116)12). He would raise the cup of salvation in honour of the Lord – I shall pay my vows to the Lord, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people (Ps.116:14 &18). Moreover, he wanted it to be a public declaration – In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! (Ps.116:19). His near-death experience had underscored the preciousness of life, in the eyes of the Lord – Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones (Ps.116:15).

Q.3. Why is the Lord God to be praised among all the nations? – (Ps.117:1-2) = There are two unshakable principles upon which this world revolves – For His lovingkindness is great toward us — and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord! (Ps.117:2). This is true for all people, regardless of nationality. God’s lovingkindness and truth apply to all the nations (Ps.117:1). For that reason, all should lift their voice in praise to God.

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(Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.) If you have any queries about your readings, check Bible Commentary via sonic light.com  or discuss it with your Community Group leader or email paulh@cityreach.com.au

©PaulHoogenraad2009