Psalms 115
Summary for Ps 115:1-18: Ps 115 a In this hymn of thanksgiving for God’s blessings, the community ascribes all glory to the name of the Lord, who is the true source of hope and blessing. Meanwhile, those who trust in idols are greatly disappointed. The blessing of the Creator of heaven and earth extends to future generations (115:14 b), and especially to the priesthood (115:12 c).Summary for Ps 115:1-3: 115:1-3 d The community confesses their faith that God will rescue them for the glory of his name.
Summary for Ps 115:2-3: 115:2-3 e Where is their God? People deny God’s presence or power when he does not act as they think he should (cp. 14:1 f; 42:3 g, 10 h). However, God is in the heavens—he has all power, authority, and knowledge. He does as he wishes, not what people think he should do. He works out his plans in accord with his will (Eph 1:11 i) and acts in his own time and in ways he chooses.
Summary for Ps 115:4-11: 115:4-11 j This entire section is repeated in 135:15-20 k.
• Unlike the Lord (95:3-5 l), idols cannot do anything; they are good for nothing.
115:8 m Worshiping idols leads one astray and corrupts those who trust in them (Isa 44:20 n).
Summary for Ps 115:9-11: 115:9-11 o Israel ... priests ... you who fear the Lord: The psalmist calls on all those in the God-fearing community to commit their ways to the living God. The threefold address assures them that the Lord is their true helper and shield (cp. 118:2-4 p).
Summary for Ps 115:12-13: 115:12-13 q The groups named in 115:9-11 r receive assurance of the Lord’s blessing, regardless of their social status (see 113:8 s).
Summary for Ps 115:14-15: 115:14-15 t The psalmist blesses (107:37-38 u, 41 v) all who trust in and fear the Lord. The Creator will care for the families of those who fear him.
• who made heaven and earth: This statement speaks of the Lord’s all-encompassing power in creation.
Summary for Ps 115:16-18: 115:16-18 w The heavens belong to the Lord:’s: God’s exaltation begins in heaven (113:4 x), far above the gods of the nations. Of course, the earth also belongs to him (47:9 y; 95:4 z).
• The dead cannot participate in God’s blessings. The living praise God in thanksgiving for his blessings (79:13 aa).
Psalms 116
Summary for Ps 116:1-19: Ps 116 ab This hymn of thanksgiving rejoices in God’s character and in rescue from death (116:1-11 ac). It gives an assurance of God’s protection in life and reminds the godly that the Lord watches over them even at death. The psalmist commits to living as God’s servant and resolves to honor him publicly (116:12-19 ad).Summary for Ps 116:1-4: 116:1-4 ae The psalmist praises the Lord for answering his prayers and rescuing him from death. 116:1 af I love the Lord: This unique opening expresses affection for and commitment to the Lord (see 18:1 ag; Deut 6:5 ah) on the basis of what the Lord has done.
116:2 ai Because the Lord responds to the cry of his people (107:41 aj; 113:6-8 ak), the psalmist now strongly believes in prayer.
116:3 al It isn’t clear if the psalmist’s crisis was a literal near-death experience or if he was using the term figuratively.
116:4 am This is the first of three times that the psalmist calls on the Lord’s name (i.e., reputation).
Summary for Ps 116:5-7: 116:5-7 an The gracious, righteous, and compassionate Lord (see 111:1-5 ao) rescued and gave rest to the psalmist.
116:6 ap People with childlike faith readily receive his wisdom and instruction (19:7-11 aq; Matt 18:3-4 ar).
Summary for Ps 116:8-11: 116:8-11 as The psalmist’s near-death crisis made him more aware of life and of walking before the Lord. Though he had been in anguish, the Lord was faithful. However, people are all liars.
116:9 at I walk in the Lord’s presence: The psalmist already lived with integrity, but since his experience of deep distress, he now enjoys open fellowship with the Lord (see 56:13 au; cp. Job 42:5 av).
116:10 aw I believed in you: Paul quotes this phrase in 2 Cor 4:13 ax.
Summary for Ps 116:12-14: 116:12-14 ay The Lord’s gracious gifts are so great that the psalmist can do nothing to repay his debt. Keeping his promises publicly demonstrates his gratitude.
• All he has done for the psalmist includes answers to prayer, rescue, and life.
• The cup of salvation overflows with God’s blessings (23:5 az), unlike the cup of judgment (75:8 ba).
• The psalmist makes promises (“vows,” 116:18 bb) to praise the Lord publicly (116:17-18 bc).
Summary for Ps 116:15-19: 116:15-19 bd No one lives or dies outside of God’s will. Having been given a second chance at life, the poet readily commits himself to the Lord with renewed acts of public devotion.
Psalms 117
Summary for Ps 117:1-2: Ps 117 be This psalm, the shortest in the Psalter, invites all ... people of the earth to praise the Lord because of his unfailing love and enduring faithfulness. 117:1 bf Paul quotes this verse to show that Gentiles would eventually praise the God of Israel (Rom 15:11 bg). Psalms 118
Summary for Ps 118:1-29: Ps 118 bh With an exultant testimony, the psalmist gives thanks for the Lord’s goodness and encourages others to trust in his faithful love (118:1-4 bi, 29 bj). This poem is the last of the Egyptian Hallel (Pss 113–118 bk).Summary for Ps 118:2-4: 118:2-4 bl Israel ... Aaron’s descendants ... all who fear the Lord: These three groups represent the whole of the covenant community (cp. 115:9-11 bm; 135:19-20 bn).
Summary for Ps 118:5-9: 118:5-9 bo The Lord alone is the psalmist’s helper.
Summary for Ps 118:6-7: 118:6-7 bp The Lord is for me: Cp. Rom 8:31 bq; Heb 13:6 br.
• God’s presence cancels out the need to fear mere people (Ps 56:11 bs). The psalmist joyfully expects God’s rescue (59:10 bt; 112:8 bu).
Summary for Ps 118:8-9: 118:8-9 bv Trusting in the Lord is better than placing confidence in even the most powerful human leaders (118:6 bw; 146:3 bx).
Summary for Ps 118:10-12: 118:10-12 by Strength comes in the name of the Lord, declared by the threefold mention of the attackers, the Lord’s name, and victory.
• Even when hostile people blazed ... like a crackling fire, the Lord caused them to subside like burning thorns (see Isa 9:18 bz; 10:17 ca).
Summary for Ps 118:14-18: 118:14-18 cb The psalmist celebrates the victory of the Lord’s strong right arm, which kept him from death.
Summary for Ps 118:17-21: 118:17-21 cc God has restored the psalmist from death to life, so he praises the Lord publicly (cp. 116:6 cd, 12-19 ce).
Summary for Ps 118:22-24: 118:22-24 cf The psalmist sees his own salvation as the beginning of a new day in which the Lord will do great things. 118:22 cg The cornerstone (or keystone) of a building or an arch gives the structure its shape and foundation. It is the most important of all the stones. The Lord chooses and places this stone for his sanctuary (Isa 28:16 ch). Jesus referred to himself as this cornerstone (Matt 21:42 ci; Mark 12:10-11 cj; Luke 20:17 ck; see Acts 4:11 cl; Eph 2:20 cm; 1 Pet 2:6-7 cn).
118:24 co This is the day the Lord has made: The day of the Lord’s victory has already arrived, although its completion awaits another day (118:25 cp).
Summary for Ps 118:25-29: 118:25-29 cq The psalmist concludes with prayer and thanksgiving, anticipating an even greater revelation of God’s victory and rescue.
118:26 cr The one who comes in the name of the Lord brings the Lord’s complete victory (see 118:10-12 cs).
• During Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crowds called out various blessings, including phrases taken from this verse (Matt 21:9 ct; Mark 11:9 cu; Luke 19:38 cv; John 12:13 cw). Jesus himself quoted this passage as he wept over Jerusalem (Matt 23:39 cx; Luke 13:35 cy).
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