The Praise of His Presence

We are also asking for donations of school supplies. We are attempting to have a backpack for every kid that comes to VBS that is stocked with school supplies. There is a list in the foyer.

There is a VBS volunteer sign-up sheet in the foyer. Please be getting your names down as to where you want to serve this year!!! We truly need all the help we can get.

Sunday evening Bible Study at 5:00 PM on Revelation!!!

Women’s fellowship is tomorrow at Kilgore’s at 5:30PM if you would like to join them!

After service today, there is going to be a quick meeting with the ladies concerning the Father’s Day breakfast. If you would like to help in preparing the breakfast, please stay for that meeting so that all of the details can be lined out.

Father’s Day breakfast will be next Sunday morning at 8:45. All fathers are welcome to join us for a wonderful time of fellowship.

There is also a poster on the wall in the foyer that shows how much money we have raised for clearing the land. We have raised $600 so far out of the $3,300 that we need. Please be in prayer about giving towards that.

Praise Reports:

Wonderful couple of weeks in the “Hallel Psalms”!!!

Prayer Requests:

Co-worker with a spot on his lung.

Another co-worker whose daughter and stepson are having some health issues.

Bro. David Revelle has had an allergic reaction and spent some time in the ER this week.

Tithes

Children’s Church

Doxology:

This is my Bible. It is God’s Holy Word. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words within my heart that I might not sin against God! Amen!!!

Open Bibles To: Psalm 118.

We have spent the last several weeks in what is known as the “Hallel Psalms”. As we have previously discussed, they are called such because “Hallel” is a Hebrew word for praise. We are walking through a series on praise right now, so it seemed fitting to hang out in this particular group of psalms for a few weeks.

Today, we have reached the last of the psalms in this series, which is Psalm 118.

Each of the psalms have had a particular focus on some type of praise towards God. Some of them focused on a particular name of God, while others focused on praising God in the midst of certain situations.

As we look at Psalm 118 today, I hope to show you that we can praise God in the midst of persecution. Though the world may fall around us, God is worthy of our praise.

The aim of the text today, is to show that God is always with us and that we can place our hope in Him.

The title of the message this morning is, “The Praise of His Presence”.

Context

God’s people have always had enemies to deal with. In the OT, Israel had to battle numerous foes both from within and without their nation. In the NT, the early church was persecuted by the Roman government as well as by Jewish leaders.

Our present age is no different. Opposition to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, is fiercer than it has ever been. Untold millions of believers across the globe are being mistreated because of their faith in Christ. An organization called Christian Freedom International has reported that more than 200 million followers of Christ around the world are currently facing persecution. And persecution against believers is only going to increase as we draw closer to the return of Christ.

Psalm 118 celebrates God’s deliverance of His people from their enemies and is a song of rejoicing. Most scholars agree that the people who sang it were the remnant of God’s people who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. The occasion for its singing was most likely the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls and gates that had been rebuilt under Nehemiah’s leadership. If we take this context into consideration, much of the psalm comes together seamlessly. It was the last of a group of psalms sung in conjunction with Israel’s festivals and the Passover meal.

While God’s people were still in Babylon, Jeremiah had prophesied that this joyous day would eventually come:

Jeremiah 33:10–11 NKJV

10 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, “It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For His mercy endures forever”— and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord.

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

As Nehemiah and the men of Jerusalem constructed the city wall, they had encountered angry opposition. Their enemies were so aggressive that only half the men worked while the other half stood guard, ready to defend the city from attack. In fact, the builders labored with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other (Ne. 4:16–17). But God strengthened Nehemiah and his crew and, by His faithfulness, they finished the task.

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

A Messianic psalm, Psalm 118 is among the most-quoted in the New Testament. It celebrates not only Israel’s deliverance from her enemies but also the salvation that would be brought by Jesus Christ. As sure as God delivered the Jewish people from their foes and Christ delivered us from sin, we can rest in the confidence that God will help us when we face intense opposition and persecution.

Content

Their Praise (Psalm 118:1-4)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

The psalmist called the people to worship by encouraging them to give thanks to the LORD (v. 1). God deserves our undying gratitude because He is good and because His mercy or unfailing love endures forever.

This specific call to worship was used frequently in the life of Israel. It occurs repeatedly throughout Psalms (100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 136:1). Apparently, it was also a common practice in temple worship to refer to three groups who comprised the congregation (see outline and notes—Ps. 115:9–11 for more discussion):

⮚ Israel—natural-born Jews (v. 2)

⮚ The house of Aaron—the priests or ministers (v. 3)

⮚ All who fear the LORD—most likely, Gentiles who converted to Judaism and lived in the land (v. 4)

The worship leader encouraged all three groups to openly praise God’s mercy (chesed)—His unfailing, covenant love (see outline and notes—Ps. 107:1 for more discussion). This declaration of God’s faithfulness was also an expression of absolute trust in Him. The people confessed that the LORD’s unfailing love endures through every trouble and trial of life.

Thought 1. Our salvation rests on the unfailing love and faithfulness of God. Because of His immeasurable love, God gave His only begotten Son to redeem us (Jn. 3:16; Ro. 5:8). Just as God was faithful to His people under the old covenant, He is faithful to us under the new covenant. In fact, Scripture declares that we have a better covenant with better promises than Israel had under the old covenant (He. 8:6).

We are saved, forgiven, and secure because God is faithful. He will not fail us, forget us, or cast us away. Every day, we should give Him thanks for His goodness and unfailing love. We should also trust Him completely in all circumstances with full assurance that He will never fail us.

Their Plea (Psalm 118:5-14)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

The people gave strong testimony to what the LORD had done for them in their time of anguish. The painful circumstances to which they referred were their years of captivity in Babylon and the challenges of rebuilding Jerusalem after they were released. They cried out to the LORD for help, and He delivered them.

Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe notes that the LORD is mentioned in every verse of this section. “He was the one who protected Israel from their enemies and enabled the people to complete the work in difficult times.” The LORD (Yahweh, Jehovah) is God’s covenant name. By using this name exclusively, the psalmist was emphasizing God’s faithfulness to His Word and to His people.

Note that the personal pronouns I, me, and my are used throughout this section, suggesting that the writer was speaking of his own experience here rather than that of the congregation of worshippers.

Because He will set you free (Psalm 118:5)

Because He is with you and for you (Psalm 118:6-7)

Because He alone is completely trustworthy (Psalm 118:8-9)

Because His name is all-powerful: He can destroy your enemies (Psalm 118:10-13)

Because the Lord is your strength and your song of victory: He is your deliverer (Psalm 118:14)

His Provision (vv. 15-18)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

The people rejoiced because of the great victory God had given them. Even as they rested in their tabernacles or tents, their praises resounded throughout the Holy City.

His right hand has done mighty things for you (Psalm 118:15-17)

You can share with a renewed spirit what God has done (Psalm 118:17-18)

His Presence (vv. 19-24)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

God’s people sang this joyful song while they marched in procession to the temple. As they approached its entrance, they asked God to open the gates of righteousness—the gates into the court of the temple, where God’s presence resided in a special way.

A longing to give Him thanks (Psalm 118:19-21)

The stone rejected has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-24)

Their Prayer (Psalm 118:25-28)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

The thankful people prayed for God to continually deliver them from the surrounding nations and to sustain them in the land. In addition, they asked God to make them prosperous and successful (v. 25).

As we come in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26)

As we dwell in the light (Psalm 118:27-28)

Their Praise (Psalm 118:29)

Psalms III: Chapters 107–150 (King James Version) Psalm 118: When Powerful Enemies Surround and Confront You, 118:1–29

Psalm 118 ends just as it begins: with a call for everyone to give thanks to the LORD. The psalmist reminds us again that the LORD is always good, and that His mercy or covenant love never fails nor ends.

Commitment

May we ever praise the Lord as they did!

Let us plea to those who will hear of God’s goodness!

Let us remember what God has done for us!

Let us constantly dwell in His presence!

Let us pray to God for continual peace and prosperity!

Let us praise Him continually!!!

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