Scripture Reading: Psa. 135—150
Ⅰ
Psalms 135—139 were written by persons who were intimate with God:
A
The subject of Psalm 135 is the charging of the priests who serve Jehovah in His house, in the courts of His house, to praise Him for His virtues.
B
The subject of Psalm 136 is the charging of the people to give thanks to Jehovah for His everlasting lovingkindness.
C
The subject of Psalm 137 is the remembrance of Zion and the non-forgetting of Jerusalem—vv. 5-6:
１
Psalm 137 is the sweet remembrance of the sorrowful experience of captivity.
２
If we had never fallen and been brought back, we would have never tasted the sweetness of the Lord's mercy in restoring us.
３
We cannot play our lyres in Babylon; the only thing we can do in Babylon is weep—vv. 1-4.
４
Babylon will be destroyed, but Jerusalem will be built up; Babylon will fall, but Jerusalem will stand forever—vv. 7-9; Rev. 14:8; 18:2; 19:1-3; 21:2, 10.
D
The subject of Psalm 138 is the thanking of Jehovah in the worship of His holy temple.
E
The subject of Psalm 139 is the psalmist's asking Jehovah for His searching and trying—vv. 23-24.
Ⅱ
Psalms 140—145 convey the intimacy in David's final prayers to Jehovah:
A
"Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; / Keep the door of my lips—141:3.
B
"Still my prayer is against their evil deeds"—v. 5b.
C
"I spread out my hands to You; / My soul thirsts for You like a parched land"—143:6.
D
"Teach me to do Your will, / For You are my God; / Let Your good Spirit lead me / In a plain country"—v. 10.
E
"Blessed be Jehovah my rock,…My Lord of lovingkindness and my fortress, / My high retreat and my Deliverer, / My shield and He in whom I take refuge"—144:1a, 2.
F
"O Jehovah, bow Your heavens down and descend"—v. 5a.
G
"Blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah"—v. 15b.
H
Psalms 140—144 issue in the extolling and praising of God for His reigning in Christ and His kingdom—Psa. 145:
１
David extolled and praised God for His unsearchable greatness in His goodness—vv. 1-7.
２
David extolled and praised God for His grace and compassion—vv. 8-9.
３
David extolled and praised God for the glory of His kingdom—vv. 10-13.
４
David extolled and praised God for His rich supply to the needy ones, for His nearness to all who call upon Him, and for His preservation of all who love Him—vv. 14-20.
５
David concluded by saying, "My mouth will speak the praise of Jehovah, / And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever"—v. 21.
Ⅲ
Psalms 146—150—the Hallelujah psalms—are the consummate praise:
A
Psalm 146 is on praising Jehovah for His reigning from Zion.
B
Psalm 147 is on praising Jehovah for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
C
Psalm 148 is on praising Jehovah for His exalted name and for His transcending majesty.
D
Psalm 149 is on praising Jehovah for His pleasure in His people, Israel, and for His adornment of the lowly with salvation.
E
Psalm 150 is on praising Jehovah God.
Ⅳ
At the conclusion of the Psalms, we are in the "hallelujah house"—150:1:
A
"Hallelujah! Praise the name of Jehovah; / Praise Him, you servants of Jehovah, / Who stand in the house of Jehovah, / In the courts of the house of our God. / Praise Jehovah, for Jehovah is good"—135:1-3a.
B
Praise is the highest work carried out by God's children—119:164.
C
The highest expression of a saint's spiritual life is his praise to God—Heb. 13:15; Acts 16:19-34:
１
The Christian life soars through praises.
２
To praise is to transcend everything to touch the Lord.
D
Spiritual victory does not depend on warfare—it depends on praise—2 Chron. 20:20-22.
E
We need to see that God is above everything and that He is worthy of our praise—1 Chron. 29:10-13.
F
"You are holy, You who sit enthroned / Upon the praises of Israel"—Psa. 22:3.
G
"I will praise Jehovah while I live; / I will sing psalms to my God while I yet have being"—146:2.
H
'Then they believed His words; / They sang His praise"—106:12.