Psalm 118 in Jesus’ last week

Psalm 118 in Jesus’ last week

Psalm 118

 

Establish the need: Have you ever heard of the song, “This is the day that the LORD has made”?

 

Purpose: To marvel at this Messianic prophecies of Christ’s last week.

1. Psalm 118:26 on Palm Sunday
2. Psalm 118:22-23 mentioned by Jesus during the week
3. Psalm 118:22-24 on that DAY

 

Reminder:

• The last twenty four hours Jesus sang according to Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.[1]
• This would have been Psalms 113-118.
• That is because the Jews sang Psalms 113-118 during the Passover.
• Psalms 113-118 was called the “Hallel” Psalms.[2]
• The Jews sang Psalm 113-114 before the Passover meal and afterwards they sang Psalm 115-118.[3]
  These songs would have been the Scriptures that Jesus have thought about as He was the worship leader for the Passover meal that was His Last Supper with His followers before He would be crucified the next day.
• Yet these would minister to Him and therefore also minister to us!

Background

• This is a Hillel Psalm; The Jews would have read Psalm 113-118 during the three major religious holiday: Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacle.  Psalm 118 would have been the last Psalm read.
• The part of verse we are reading in, is a bit different because of the shift of the subject of the “stone.”

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Psalm 117: Christ and love to the nations

Christ and love to the nations

Psalm 117

 

Establish the need: How does this short Psalm fit in with Jesus reading and singing it the night before He would die on the Cross?

 

Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! 2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!

 

Purpose: When we see others mock where is God we must continue to trust in God for two reasons:

1. We need to know the goal of the Messiah is for the nations to praise God (v.1)
2. We need to know the goal of the Messiah is to display God’s loving kindness (v.2)

 

Reminder:

• The last twenty four hours Jesus sang according to Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.[1]
• This would have been Psalms 113-118.
• That is because the Jews sang Psalms 113-118 during the Passover.
• Psalms 113-118 was called the “Hallel” Psalms.[2]
• The Jews sang Psalm 113-114 before the Passover meal and afterwards they sang Psalm 115-118.[3]
  These songs would have been the Scriptures that Jesus have thought about as He was the worship leader for the Passover meal that was His Last Supper with His followers before He would be crucified the next day.
• Yet these would minister to Him and therefore also minister to us!

Background

• This is the shortest Psalm and also the shortest chapter in the Bible.[4]
• Yet we should understand its brevity as the Psalm has something important to say, not that it has nothing to say.

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Psalm 116: Christ and the Cup of Salvation

Christ and the Cup of Salvation

Psalm 116 

Establish the need: Have you ever hear people mock with “Where, now, is their God?”

Purpose: When we see others mock where is God we must continue to trust in God for two reasons:

• Response to God (v.1-2)
  • The Messiah’s lowly experience (v.3-8)
  • The Messiah’s future hope (v.9-15)
• Response to God (v.16-19)

 

Reminder:

• The last twenty four hours Jesus sang according to Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.[1]
• This would have been Psalms 113-118.
• That is because the Jews sang Psalms 113-118 during the Passover.
• Psalms 113-118 was called the “Hallel” Psalms.[2]
• The Jews sang Psalm 113-114 before the Passover meal and afterwards they sang Psalm 115-118.[3]
  These songs would have been the Scriptures that Jesus have thought about as He was the worship leader for the Passover meal that was His Last Supper with His followers before He would be crucified the next day.
• Yet these would minister to Him and therefore also minister to us!

The Hallel Psalms broken down:[4]

 

Corporate Psalms                                            Personal

Praise                     113                                         116

Call to Nations     114                                           117

Praise                     115                                         118

 

Psalms 113-115 never uses “I, me, my.”[5]

But Psalms 116-118 uses “I, me, my” 72 times.[6]

Thus we are going to begin to see salvation described in very personal terms

Also the Psalm applies to all Christians but is especially relevant for Christ as He read and sang it.[7]

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Psalm 115: Christ, Mockers and Eternal Life

Christ, Mockers and Eternal Life

Psalm 115

Establish the need: Have you ever hear people mock with “Where, now, is their God?”

 

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your [a]truth. 2 Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?” 3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7 [b]They have hands, but they cannot feel; [c]They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them [d]will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them. 9 O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 11 You who [e]fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who [f]fear the Lord, The small together with the great. 14 May the Lord give you increase, You and your children. 15 May you be blessed of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. 16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of men. 17 The dead do not praise [g]the Lord, Nor do any who go down into silence; 18 But as for us, we will bless [h]the Lord From this time forth and forever. Praise [j]the Lord!

 

Purpose: When we see others mock where is God we must continue to trust in God for two reasons:

• Trust God because He is gloriously at work (v.1-8)
• Trust God because He remembers us (v.9-18)

Reminder:

• The last twenty four hours Jesus sang according to Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.[1]
• This would have been Psalms 113-118.
• That is because the Jews sang Psalms 113-118 during the Passover.
• Psalms 113-118 was called the “Hallel” Psalms.[2]
• The Jews sang Psalm 113-114 before the Passover meal and afterwards they sang Psalm 115-118.[3]
  These songs would have been the Scriptures that Jesus have thought about as He was the worship leader for the Passover meal that was His Last Supper with His followers before He would be crucified the next day.
• Yet these would minister to Him and therefore also minister to us!

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Psalm 114: Christ and the Anticipation of Deliverance

Christ and the Anticipation of Deliverance

Psalm 114

Purpose: In this study we shall see two points to be at awe with God with His deliverance.

1. Be at awe with God’s deliverance in the Old Testament (v.1-3)
2. Be at awe with God’s deliverance anticipating Christ (v.4-8)

 

Situating Psalm 114

• The last twenty four hours Jesus sang according to Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.[1]
• This would have been Psalms 113-118.
• That is because the Jews sang Psalms 113-118 during the Passover.
• Psalms 113-118 was called the “Hallel” Psalms.[2]
• The Jews sang Psalm 113-114 before the Passover meal and afterwards they sang Psalm 115-118.[3]
  These songs would have been the Scriptures that Jesus have thought about as He was the worship leader for the Passover meal that was His Last Supper with His followers before He would be crucified the next day.
• Yet these would minister to Him and therefore also minister to us!

 

Note: This is not an easy Psalm to divide.  Charles Spurgeon said “I did not interrupt the reading of the Psalm by any exposition. It is a perfect whole, and could not well be divided without spoiling it.” [4]

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Psalm 113: Christ and the Anticipation of a Great Reversal

Christ and the Anticipation of A Great Reversal

Psalm 113

Establishing the Need: Have you ever wonder Scripture Jesus would have read the night before He would die on the Cross for our sins?  If you are just tuning in to our series this week you might to begin here: Why Study Psalms 113-118 Concerning the Last Week of Jesus’ Life?

 

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forever. 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the Lord is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people. 9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!

 

Purpose: In this study we shall see three lessons from this Psalm for our times of trouble.

• Be encouraged since God’s name will be praised from now to eternity (v.1-3)
• Be encouraged since no one is like our God (v.4-6)
• Be encouraged since God reserves things (v.7-9)

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Why Study Psalms 113-118 Concerning the Last Week of Jesus’ Life?

Why Study Psalms 113-118 Concerning the Last Week of Jesus’ Life?

 

Purpose: I am going to begin a daily blog series for this week as we head towards celebrating Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday to go over Psalm 113-118 in relations to the Last Week of Jesus’ Life and here are my three reasons.

Are You Aware of the 4 Gospels’ Focus on the Last Week of Jesus’ Life?  This is the most important week in world history.  Yes even more important than Creation Week in Genesis 1 and in fact that week is a Type anticipating the final week of Jesus’ last.  Jesus last week was God bringing about a New Creation in believers’ hearts, mind and Soul for salvation!

Yet why is studying Psalm 113-118 important for us in thinking about the last week of Jesus?  Here are the three reasons:

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Good Friday 2019: Taking the time to Study Messianic Prophecies of Christ

It’s Good Friday 2019.  Over the years we have had posts on Christ’s death and also Messianic prophecies.

I thought I share some of those classic posts, some of which were very popular.

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Resolving 30 Bible Contradictions from Jesus’ Final Week to His Ascension

 

This last year I tried to put out more posts resolving Bible contradictions concerning the final week of Christ through His Ascension to add to the list I put out last year.  It takes some time on my part to go through them to provide exegetically sound refutations; Lord willing I will add more to this lists next year.  See my post I wrote on why refuting Bible Contradictions Takes Time.  As of Palm Sunday 2019 I have responded to 30 alleged Bible contradictions that took place during the final week of Jesus’ life up to His Ascension.  These posts are arranged below roughly in chronological order with additions added after last Resurrection Sunday labeled “NEW” in red:

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Resolving 22 Bible Contradictions from Jesus’ Final Week to His Ascension

This year I tried to put out more posts resolving Bible contradictions concerning the final week of Christ through His Ascension to add to the list I put out last year.  It takes some time on my part to go through them to provide exegetically sound refutations; Lord willing I will add more to this lists next year.  See my post I wrote on why refuting Bible Contradictions Takes Time.  As of Resurrection Sunday 2018 I have responded to 22 alleged Bible contradictions that took place during the final week of Jesus’ life up to His Ascension.  These posts are arranged below roughly in chronological order with additions added after last Easter labeled “NEW” in red:

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RC Sproul’s The Donkey Who Carried a King: Children’s Book Review

What a long week last week has been for me!  It was busy both on our blog and offline with ministry in light of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  As readers will notice this past week we dealt with various attacks by skeptics concerning the final week of Jesus.

As a bit of a break this Sunday evening I read and reviewed a Christian children story that’s appropriate for this Resurrection Sunday which I imagine some of you would appreciate.

R.C. Sproul. The Donkey Who Carried a King.  Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, February 17^th, 2012. 48 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I have previously enjoyed the author’s Christian children’s book titled The Priest with Dirty Clothes.  Written by Christian theologian R.C. Sproul, I appreciated that this book was biblically solid and yet enjoyable for young ones.  My three little girls who are all pre-school age also enjoyed this book when I read it aloud to them.

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Messianic Prophecies by Dr. Phil Fernandes

I’ll be involved for most of Saturday with a church evangelistic outreach in light of upcoming Resurrection Sunday.  If the Lord leads you, pray for us.  I’ll be posting more later for our week’s series on answering critics concerning the final week of Jesus.

For now here’s some Messianic prophecies as presented by Dr. Phil Fernandes.

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Messianic Prophecies Sessions From Shepherd’s Conference 2017

Last month Shepherd’s Conference released the audios from this incredible conference.  In light of Good Friday and also our series of posts this week concerning apologetics and the last week of Jesus I thought I share the audios from that conference pertaining to Messianic prophecies.

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Bible Contradiction? Was Jesus taken to Caiaphas or Annas first?

We continue our week’s series on skeptics’ attack on the details of the final week of Jesus.  If you have benefited from these posts drop us a comment to let us know!

For today’s post will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Was Jesus taken to Caiaphas or Annas first?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Caiaphas

Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. ” (Matthew 26:57)

They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes *gathered together. ” (Mark 14:53)

Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.” (Luke 22:54)

Annas

and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ” (John 18:13)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Good Friday Book Recommendation: Darkness and the Glory by Greg Harris

Greg Harris. The Darkness and the Glory.  Woodlands, TX: Kress Christian Publications, November 28^th, 2008. 209 pp.

This is an excellent book.  The author Greg Harris is a professor of Biblical Exposition at the Master’s Seminary and he is proof that Dispensationalists can do Biblical theology and Redemptive History and do it well.  I can only hope that with time his writings would become better known among Christians.

The subtitle of this book is “His Cup and the Glory From Gethsemane to the Ascension.”  While I enjoyed all the chapters in the book it was the first five chapters that focused on the last day of Jesus and his suffering that stood above the rest in my opinion.  I write this book review a year after I read it and after reading more books on Jesus and the Gospel my mind keeps on returning back to the first half of this book with its amazing insights Dr. Harris was able to gleam from the Scriptures surrounding the incredible work of Christ.  Harris demonstrate from Scripture that the suffering Christ had led up to the darkest moment of all when darkness descends upon the crucifixion scene and employing biblical theology Harris shows us what the darkness means (I won’t spoil it for you, it’s more than what most people think).

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