Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 115

June 14, 2024 Tommy Peeler
Psalm 115
Carefully Examining the Text
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Carefully Examining the Text
Psalm 115
Jun 14, 2024
Tommy Peeler

115:2 Why should the nations say, Where, now, is their God?- 42:3, 10; 79:10; Joel 2:17; Micah 7:10 This question may be “motivated by the fact that the Lord had no idol who represented His presence” Longman, 393.

115:4 the work of man’s hands- Psalm 135:15-18. The word work in vs. 4 is the noun from the verb translated do in vs. 3. The participle is used in vs. 8 to those who make idols. In vs. 15 God is Maker of heaven and earth. “There is no spiritual force or reality behind the idol; it did not represent an invisible ‘god’; it had no more reality than its material craftsmanship (4-7; Is. 40:18-25; 41:5-7)” Motyer, 563.

115:8 Those who make them will become like them- II Kings 17:15; Jer. 2:5; Rom. 1:18-32.
“This is truly ‘their end’, as Psalm 73:17 puts it, in contrast to that of the righteous, whose God is theirs ‘for ever’ (73:26)” Kidner, 405. “False worship is not innocent but demoralizing, and ultimately the worshipers will perish with their perishable idols” VanGemeren, 721.  

Everyone who trusts in them- Similar sections of Scripture appear in Isaiah 40:18-20; 41:14-29; 44:9-20; 45:14-17; 46:1-7; Jer. 10:1-16; Hab. 2:18-19. Calling of such lifeless gods does not work- Deut. 32:37-38; Judges 10:11-14; Jer. 2:27-28.

115:18 But as for us, we will bless the LORD-
“The ‘we’ in v. 18 is emphatic, as if the community of God’s people wants to distinguish itself as sharply as possible from those who make and trust in other gods” McCann, 1145. “To bless the LORD is natural response to His blessing (Eph. 1:3)” Laymen’s, 683. 

How does this relate to the Exodus?

115:4-8 The Exodus was God’s judgment on the gods of Egypt- Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4.115:1 The Exodus was not to promote the people but to glorify God- Exodus 9:16; Ezek. 20:7-9.
115:1
God’s lovingkindness and truth demonstrated in the Exodus- Exodus 34:6-7.

How is this fulfilled in Jesus?

115:1 God saves us in a way that brings Him glory- Galatians 6:14
115:1
The cross is the ultimate display of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness.
115:2 Where is your God? On the cross. Yancey illustration.
115:17 Think of this as being a song that Jesus would have sung with the disciples in the upper room- Mt. 26:30; Mk 14:26.

Show Notes

115:2 Why should the nations say, Where, now, is their God?- 42:3, 10; 79:10; Joel 2:17; Micah 7:10 This question may be “motivated by the fact that the Lord had no idol who represented His presence” Longman, 393.

115:4 the work of man’s hands- Psalm 135:15-18. The word work in vs. 4 is the noun from the verb translated do in vs. 3. The participle is used in vs. 8 to those who make idols. In vs. 15 God is Maker of heaven and earth. “There is no spiritual force or reality behind the idol; it did not represent an invisible ‘god’; it had no more reality than its material craftsmanship (4-7; Is. 40:18-25; 41:5-7)” Motyer, 563.

115:8 Those who make them will become like them- II Kings 17:15; Jer. 2:5; Rom. 1:18-32.
“This is truly ‘their end’, as Psalm 73:17 puts it, in contrast to that of the righteous, whose God is theirs ‘for ever’ (73:26)” Kidner, 405. “False worship is not innocent but demoralizing, and ultimately the worshipers will perish with their perishable idols” VanGemeren, 721.  

Everyone who trusts in them- Similar sections of Scripture appear in Isaiah 40:18-20; 41:14-29; 44:9-20; 45:14-17; 46:1-7; Jer. 10:1-16; Hab. 2:18-19. Calling of such lifeless gods does not work- Deut. 32:37-38; Judges 10:11-14; Jer. 2:27-28.

115:18 But as for us, we will bless the LORD-
“The ‘we’ in v. 18 is emphatic, as if the community of God’s people wants to distinguish itself as sharply as possible from those who make and trust in other gods” McCann, 1145. “To bless the LORD is natural response to His blessing (Eph. 1:3)” Laymen’s, 683. 

How does this relate to the Exodus?

115:4-8 The Exodus was God’s judgment on the gods of Egypt- Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4.115:1 The Exodus was not to promote the people but to glorify God- Exodus 9:16; Ezek. 20:7-9.
115:1
God’s lovingkindness and truth demonstrated in the Exodus- Exodus 34:6-7.

How is this fulfilled in Jesus?

115:1 God saves us in a way that brings Him glory- Galatians 6:14
115:1
The cross is the ultimate display of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness.
115:2 Where is your God? On the cross. Yancey illustration.
115:17 Think of this as being a song that Jesus would have sung with the disciples in the upper room- Mt. 26:30; Mk 14:26.