Message Notes

SSS 4
Book 5
Psalms 107-150
18 August 2024

Psalm 117

1Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!

2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117:1-2

THE SHORTEST OF ALL THE PSALMS

1. Another Call to Praise the Lord

2. The focus here is a call made to the Gentiles

3. The Gentiles

a) Israel had never fully comprehended the place of the Gentiles

b) It took years for Israel to understand that Gentiles are in God’s plan

THE NAME “LORD”

1. This was a special title that was revealed to Moses

2. A key passage to read

2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord.

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.

4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers.
5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.

7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ ”

Exodus 6:2-8

a) The term “LORD” was a new title to Israel

b) God had revealed Himself as “God Almighty” to the patriarchs of old
(Abraham, Issac and Jacob)

c) From the time of Moses, God would be LORD to Israel

d) It would be the “Covenant name of God” for Israel

e) The LORD’s promises to Israel

i) He will establish His covenant with them

ii) He will give them Canaan

iii) He will remember His covenant

iv) He is also “Lord” and “God” to Israel

v) He will rescue them from bondage

vi) He will redeem with great judgments on Egypt

vii) Israel will be the people of the Lord God

THE WORD USED IN PSALM 117

1. The word LORD was not used

2. The word “Lord” was used instead

a) This was a title that was suitable

b) The LORD is God to all peoples of the earth

i) Israel

ii) Gentiles

REASONS TO PRAISE GOD

1. For His great merciful kindness

2. For the truth of the Lord that endures forever

SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ABOUT GENTILES

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Acts 10:34-43

1. The word “perceive”

a) It speaks of “grasping something concretely”

b) It is more than just the word “understanding”

2. God is “Lord of all”

CONCURRENCE OF THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;

17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’

18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.

19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God

Acts 15:15-19

1. The rest of mankind may seek the Lord

2. Even all Gentiles who are called by His name

3. Not to trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God