INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 105, 1 Chronicles 16:8-37; Genesis 37-42; Exodus 1-12, 16&17.
The focus of Psalm 105 is on God and His people - the Israelites. They are called to praise when David commits Asaph, Zechariah and the other Levites to WORSHIP in the SANCTUARY of GOD'S ARK. He also wanted Asaph to teach his "associates" and the people in David's kingdom the obligations of living a FAITHFUL, LOYAL LIVES IN SERVICE TO GOD.
"David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to SERVE REGULARLY before the ARK OF THE LORD'S COVENANT, doing whatever needed to be done each day." 1 Chronicles 16:37 (NLT)
Their call to praise is followed by a HISTORY OF GOD'S PEOPLE - how God chose the Israelites, His patriarchs - ABRAHAM, ISACC and JACOB, and how he gave them the land of Canaan. David reminded God's people in his kingdom to know how they had been cared for in the past, and how their Father God would continue to watch over them.
He goes on to tell of the growth of God's people under the leadership of JOSEPH. He was a great "shepherd and rock" for the Israelites when they first lived in Egypt. The Israelites became "too mighty" for the Egyptians who had turned against them.
"And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. Then He turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord's servants."
Psalm 105:24-25 (NLT)
MOSES then became their leader, called by God to deliver His people from Egypt, Then, as they wandered in the wilderness, the Lord supplied them with manna, water and angels to guide them on the journey. Finally, God kept His promise , and as JOSHUA as a new leader, the new generation of Israelites were brought into the Promised Land of Canaan, This was the "COVENANT" GOD GAVE TO PROTECT AND SAVE HIS PEOPLE.
What an amazing history for God's Jewish people to celebrate. By recounting this history, we as Christians can join with them and be encoured to PRAISE and WORSHIP our Father God - because of HIS FAITHFULNESS.
PRAISE, WORSHIP & TEACHING IN THE SANCTUARY OF GOD - Read Psalm 105:1-12; 1 Chronicles 16:8-22
"David's praise filled the recemption of God's Ark, demonstrating GENUINE SPIRITUAL WORSHIP."Max Lucado
God is always pleased, as He was with David, with our WORSHIP and PRAISE of Him. David shows us, as he brought Asaph, Zechariah and the other Levites together that FELLOWSHIP IN WORSHIP LEADS TO ENCOURAGEMENT.
"David appointed the following Levites to lead the people to WORSHIP BEFORE THE ARK OF THE LORD - to invoke His blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.....On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites the SONG OF THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD."1 Chronicles 16:4-5, 7 (NIV)
"Individual and corporate worship feed each other. On one hand I need the FELLOWSHIP OF SAINTS and on the othe hand I need to live a consistent LIFE OF WORSHIP. Worship is a way of life. The cycle is complete when we live out the OVERFLOW OF PRAISE and our CONTINUAL HEART OF THANKSGIVING." John MacArthur
WHY DO WE PRAISE THE LORD?
1. Today we HONOUR AND PRAISE the LIVING GOD. We magnify the Lord and attribute to Him the POWER AND GLORY He deserves. God blesses us immeasurably and knows what our future holds.
2. We call upon THE NAME OF THE LORD, not idols.
3. We tell of His WONDROUS WORKS - appreciation of His "redemptive history".
4. We SING SONGS OF PRAISE, "not just for an audience", but as a witness to "God's great & merciful covenant".
God's people are invited to only SEEK HIM, but also HIS STRENGTH. Paul also reminds us to be, "stron in the Lord and in the power of His might." Ephesians 6:10
David, through his spiritual words, reminds God's people of His mighty deeds. His past miracles encourage us also, as believers, to remain faithful to Him. We are in danger of forgetting God's marvellous works and how God takes care of His people.
God's covenant with Abraham, Isacc and Jacob was significant because it was passed down to their generatiions - it was an EVERLASTING COVENANT, an allottment of the land of Canaan, an inheritance for what was at first a small group of God's people.
GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE - Read Psalm 105:12-22; Genesis 37, 41&42
Abraham, Isacc and Jacob were patriarchs of God's people, who had seasons of wandering and times when they were settled. During all these times, they were protected by God from kings and other nations.
"The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives and your family's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you abnd curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)
In the beginning we met a naive and boastful Joseph, sharing his dreams with his brothers; and because of their jealousy Joseph was sold into slavery into Egypt. Joseph spent 13 years in Egypt as a slave, wondering if his dreams would ever be fulfilled.
David understood that Joseph's injustice and misfortune was ordained by God. His pain and affliction was "all part of God's plan" and "a time of testing". He was "brought low so that in God's timing He would be lifted up." He "emerged from his captivity well qualified to take the helm in Egypt", to help God's people. He was given the authority over all the "possessions in Pharoah's house" and "over the Princes and Elders."
"The iron fetters were preparing him to wear chains of gold and to make his feet to stand in high places. It is even so with the Lord's afflicted ones, they too shall one day step forth from their prisons to their thrones." Charles Spurgeon
The famine that was sent throughout the land was also "no accident". While severe famine effected his homeland, under Joseph's guidance, Egypt had enough food saved away, to share with it's neighbours. It was then that Jacob sent his sons - Joseph's brothers - to Egypt to buy food. Finally fulfilling Joseph's dreams, his brothers bowed before him. GOD'S PLANS WERE ALSO FULFILLED!
"GOD, HE DIDN'T FORGET THEM. HE KEPT HIS WORD. Let God's promises to you remind you that He stands faithfully, and your FAITH WILL INCREASE." Max Lucado
WHAT HAPPENED IN EGYPT? - Read Psalm 105:23-38; Genesis 46-50; Exodus 1:7-13, 16&17
There was no ill-feeling between Joseph and his brothers. Why? Becaus FORGIVENESS was a surityt!
Joseph understood that "judgement was God's job" and "revenge was irreverent". God gives GRACE to His followers, and this is not based on merit, but on HIS LOVINGKINDNESS. It is an UNCONDITIONAL GIFT. Receive it and accept it, just like Joseph's brothers did and like Joseph you can be GRACEFUL TO OTHERS.
"Thus you shall say to Joseph, "I beg you, please forgive the trespasses of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." Now please forgive the trespasses of the servants of the God of your father. " And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." Joseph said to them: "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Therefore, do not be afraid, I will provide for you and your little ones." And HE COMFORTED THEM AND SPOKE KINDLY TO THEM." Genesis 50:17-21 (NKJV)
"For IT IS BY GRACE, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH - and this is not from yourselves, IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD." Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
Jacob was reassured of God's faithfulness, in that "the Lord would not abandon His people". Nearly 300 years elapsed since Jacob and Joseph's deaths. The old priviledged status of the Israelites had gone. God's people had multiplied greatly with intermarriage, and eventually they became stronger than the Egyptian race. The Israelites were no longer welcome, but in fear, the Egyptians hated them, and under the new Pharoah's rule, they were treated as slaves.
"Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increasing in numbers. They becanme so numerous that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.......So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pilthom and Ramases as store cities for Pharoah." Exodus 1:6-8, 11 (NIV)
At the appointed time God called Moses and his brother Aaron to rescue the people in Egypt. He reassured them that the Egyptians would be punished for the cruelty to God's people. David recorded the plagues God sent upon Egypt, showing that God was indeed GREATER than ALL CREATION and the "Egyptian gods". The plagues lasted for a period of 6 months and each time "GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS ULTIMATE CONTROL". He distinguished betweeh His people, the Israelites and the Egyptians. He controlled "THE EXTENT" and 'THE TIMING" of HIS WORKS, and could even call a halt to them in answer to Moses' and Aaron's prayers.
Finally Israel's FREEDOM was purchased by the death Egyptian firstborn sons, but Israel was SAVED "BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB". Egypt was glad to see them go!
"Then He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family. The Lord brought His people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israeleven stumbled. Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly."
Psalm 105:36-38 (NLT)
GOD LOOKS AFTER HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS - Psalm 105:39-45; Exodus 19:6-25, 23:20-33, 33:12-23
After God rescued the Israelites, He led them into the wilderness - the Sinai Desert. David also gave a "positive remembrance" of Israel's experience in the wilderness, how God met their every need. Rather than focusing on Israel's sin and rebellion, David's purpose was to REMEMBER THE GREAT WORKS OF GOD, rather than the failings of man.
"The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light their darkness. They ask for meat and he sent them quail; He satisfied their hunger with manna - bread from Heaven. He split open a rock and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland."
Psalm 105:39-41 (NLT)
Moses then called a "huge prayer meeting", when he came down from Mt Sinai, after meeting with the Lord. God formed a COVENANT with His people which changed history. The Ten Commandments were "timeless truths" and "clear moral standards" for God's people to live by. Jesus summed up these commands in Matthew 22:37-39:
"Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Thank God for the provision of HIS WORD and the GUIDELINES we too have to LIVE BY, that lead us to a MATURING FAITH. As James says:
"We are to be doers of the word, not merely hearers." James 1:22 (NKJV)
God was FAITHFUL to His people, taking them through the wilderness, then leading their descendents, by Joshua, to the Promised Land in Canaan. The JOY was for both His people and Himself, for His greatest desire was for them to share in His inheritance. The same is true for us today. No matter what difficulties we face "in our wilderness", if we "hold fast to God" and trust in Him, He is always with us.
"Remember, GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU wherever you go. Take comfort that wherever you go, GOD'S PRESENCE GOES TOO." Max Lucado
"The Lord replied, "MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU and I will give you rest."
Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
"I KNOW THE LORD IS ALWAYS WITH ME. I will not be shaken, for HE IS RIGHT BESIDE ME." Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
CONCLUSION
"Near the climax of God's story, motivated by HIS LOVE and DIVINITY, He surprised everyone. HE BECAME A MAN - determined to PROVE HIS LOVE for His creation. He walked incognito through His own world. His callous hands - those of a carpenter and SON OF MAN - TOUCHED WOUNDS and His compassionate tongue - of a SON OF GOD - TOUCHED HEARTS."
Max Lucado
At the conclusion of this Psalm, David again calls us to PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD. Why?
So we can remember HIS WORKS. Yes! When we WORSHIP THE LORD our Spirits are lifted and our focus is toward Heaven. With our focus on GOD AND HIS PROMISES. we can "break through every worry, fear, stress and exhaustion." WORSHIP AND PRAISE draws us near to Jesus and His Father and reminds us why we are living on earth.
" PRAISE THE LORD, He can work through those who PRAISE HIM.
PRAISE THE LORD, for the chains that seem to bind you will drop powerless behind you.
PRAISE THE LORD." Dr Bill Purvis
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Alexander, Pat & David, "The Lion Handbook to the Bible - 4th Edition", 2009, Lion Hudson.
Guzik David, "Psalm 105, "The Lord's Blessings of His Covenant People - Enduring Word Bible Commentary", 2020, ewm@enduring word.com
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Pervis, Dr Bill, "Worship is my Weapon", 2022,
Villa, David, "Our Worship Invites God Into the Scenario - Worship is my Weapon", 2022, Bill Purvis Leadership, You Version
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