Finding Yourself in the Psalms
Psalm 115
A Psalm To Help You When Your Faith is Weak
Thomas. (John 20:25) "So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”"
Father of the demon controlled boy. (Mark 9:21-24) "Jesus asked the boy’s father,
“How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”"
In the HALEL, (113-118) this Psalm addressing FAITH
Possibly, written during the RETURN FROM EXILE, when Judah was surrounded by antagonists, and GOD was MOCKED.
I. Praise for God’s Faithfulness. 115:1
II. Have Faith Because GOD is TRUE. 115:2-8
A. 3 kinds of doubts
1. Intellectual doubt (does He exist? Is he God and Man?)
2. Mysterious ways of the Lord. a. Does He hear me?
b. Can He Help?
c. (Romans 11:34) "“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who
has been his counselor?”"
d. (1 Corinthians 2:16) “For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
3. Circumstantial doubts
a. Why is this happening to me?
b. Why hasn’t God answered this prayer?
(1) Job
(2) Abram
(3) Peter. Matt 14:29-31
B. When we hear the arguments of the Atheists (idol worship)
C. When you are TEMPTED by the PROSPERITY of the wicked. . . Psalm 73
1. Would you really want the ways of the world?
a. DRUGS = death
b. PROMISCUITY= broken homes c. GAMBLING = POVERTY
d. The WAYS OF THE WORLD lead to DEATH
2. IDOLS. 115:4-8
a. See Isaiah 44:13-21
3. In Christ, we have JOY, DELIGHT, PEACE. Would you rather trade circumstances?
III. Have Faith Because God is CONCERNED. 115:9-11
A. “Help, shield” used 3x
B. Help = ezer
1. (1 Samuel 7:12) "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”
2. “One who assists” (Genesis 2:18) "The Lord God said, “It is not good
for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis
2:20) "So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found."
C. Shield. “Small shield. Protector”
IV. Have Faith, Because God will Bless you. 115:12-15
A. 5x in 4 verses!
V. Have Faith, Because God is waiting for you to Praise Him. 115:16-18
A. Praise is our Privilege
B. Praise helps us to have faith.
1. (2 Timothy 2:11-13) "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."
C. A child may doubt here father, but a father can never deny his child! D. Sometimes the child does not understand the ways of the father
1. Discipline,
2. Instructions
VI. We need to continue in Faith
A. (2 Corinthians 10:15) "Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,"
B. (Colossians 1:22-23) "But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
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