POPULARITY
In this episode of Elevate the Day, we ask an important question: What's your Red Sea? We all face moments when we feel trapped by life's challenges with no way forward and no way back. But just like God parted the waters for the Israelites, He will make a way for you too.Today we share how to navigate your own “Red Sea moments” with faith instead of fear. We need to remember that Jesus is with us in every trial and that we can find strength and victory when we stay rooted in His Word. There's no power in a pity party—only in God's promises!Learn how to prepare your heart before the storm hits so you can walk in peace, confidence, and victory through every challenge life brings.Key Takeaways:Everyone faces their own “Red Sea” moments, but God always provides a way through.Jesus never leaves us. He's with us in every trial.There's no victory in a pity party. Focus on God's promises instead.Preparation is key: stay in the Word, speak God's truth, and stay in faith.When you're spiritually prepared, you'll walk through the trial with victory.“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” (Exodus 14:13–14 NKJV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:2(NKJV)Listen and be encouraged to lift your eyes from the problem to the Promise-Keeper and let God part the waters before you!
[Moses] put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. — Leviticus 8:7 A middle-school student asked why I was studying for eight years to be “ordained.” I explained that the church ordains ministers for special duties, like raising their hands to give the blessing in church. He wasn't impressed. “That's a long time to go to school just to be able to raise your hands,” he said.In Leviticus 8 God gives instructions for ordaining Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. The priests' clothing indicated the privilege and responsibility they bore. Priestly garments were purple and gold, matching the colors of the tabernacle, because the priests performed special duties for the Lord. The high priest's turban was inscribed with the words “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36), indicating special service to God. On the ephod—a kind of vest—were 12 stones, one for each tribe of Israel. God's people would see these stones and remember that the high priest carried their tribe close to his heart and lifted them up in prayer to God.It's even better for us! Hebrews 7:23-28 assures us that Jesus, our ultimate High Priest, continually lifts us up before God and holds us near to his heart. When grief or sadness weigh us down, Jesus is lifting us up! When Satan nags us about repeated failures, Jesus' Spirit reminds us that his righteousness covers all our sin. When we don't know how or what to pray for, Jesus prays on our behalf before the Lord Almighty! Lord Jesus, we thank and praise you for being our perfect priest. Thank you for representing us, O Savior and King! Amen.
“For the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”—The Prophet Isaiah Exodus 11:1-10
“Who is the LORD?”Exodus 34:1-9“The LORD, the LORD…”–His love is sympathetic.–His love forgives sin.—His love is steadfast.Lamentations 3:21-24, Romans 8:31-39Your response…– Fear the LORD.Psalm 147:10-11–Turn from your sins.John 3:16–Seek the LORD.Hebrews 11:6, Psalm 90:14-15, Ephesians 3:14-21
“Perfect power does not absorb, exclude or overwhelm and dispossess other dependent powers and agents, but precisely the opposite: omnipotent power creates and perfects creaturely capacity and movement. … what God in his perfect wisdom, power and goodness causes is creatures who are themselves causes. The idea whose spell must be broken is that God is a supremely forceful agent in the same order of being as creatures, acting upon them and so depriving them of movement.”—John Webster, “Love is Also a Lover of Life” Exodus 7:14-18; 10:21-29
ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, the message is called WHO IS LIKE THE LORD, with Patrick Edwards, from Exodus 15. Worship is more than just music. Worship is a work of those who have been redeemed. Its focus is on who the Redeemer is and what need we have to be rescued. Worship is the proper response to salvation.
Pastor Roger WilliamsIn Jesus, we have the freedom to humbly “argue” with God in prayer as a confident son or daughter.
The Eyes of the Lord (Exodus 33:7-16) Richie Beeler, Teaching Pastor
The Eyes of the Lord (Exodus 33:7-16) Richie Beeler, Teaching Pastor
This week, Pastor Blake teaches from Exodus 6, where God makes Himself known as the LORD. Even in Israel's doubt and disappointment, He proves Himself faithful, powerful, and present with His people. Want to watch a version of this message? Check out our live broadcast archive at www.declarationchurch.net/live.
Preacher: Russell Horner
Tom SwinneySun, 28 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0100https://www.trinitychurchbradford.org.uk/sermons/exodus/the-glory-of-the-lord/
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” (Exodus 20:7 NLT) God’s name is important to Him. There is power in His name. Anyone who tries to diminish that power by taking it lightly or using it in a way that dishonors Him is breaking the third commandment. One way people misuse the name of the Lord is by swearing by it. As in, “I swear to God, I’m telling you the truth.” People who swear to God often do so because their own word—their own name—isn’t reliable. They’re known to make commitments they don’t keep or to say things that aren’t true. This misuse comes into sharp focus in a marriage ceremony. If we commit ourselves to our spouses with vows that invoke God’s name, we must honor those vows. If we bail on the relationship we vowed to uphold, we’re misusing God’s name. Another way we misuse the Lord’s name is by saying, “Oh, my God” or “Oh, God.” When we drop those words into casual conversation—or any conversation—we’re treating God’s name like any other exclamation. We’re ignoring the importance God places on His name and using it simply as a thoughtless sentence filler. We’re not actually calling for Him. We’re not praying to or worshiping Him. We’re simply borrowing His name for our own conversational purposes. Some people misuse God’s name by leveraging it for personal gain. They market themselves as Christian business owners, or Christian salespeople, or Christian service providers, hoping to attract Christians as clients. They wear their faith on their sleeve to set themselves apart in the marketplace. That’s a misuse of God’s name and His work in our lives. And that brings us to what I believe is the worst way of misusing the name of the Lord: hypocrisy. If you claim to be a follower of God, if you call His Son Savior and Lord, people can and should expect to see Christ in you. In the way you talk. In the decisions you make. In the priorities you demonstrate. In the way you interact with others. In your business dealings. In the way you treat your enemies. If they don’t see Christ in you, if instead they see someone very much like the unbelievers they know, they will rightly question your faith. They will double down on their doubts. They will lean harder into their cynicism. Christian hypocrisy creates a huge stumbling block for unbelievers. It makes them question the power of God to change lives. If you claim God as your heavenly Father with your words but deny Him with your actions, you are misusing His name. Honor the name of the Lord—not just with the things you say, but also with the way you live. Reflection question: What’s the biggest challenge for you when it comes to not misusing the name of the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The LORD, Whose glory in the old covenant made Moses' face shine temporarily, is now revealed with transforming glory in the face of Jesus Christ. So, behold the LORD in Jesus!
The Names of God: Yahweh (LORD) Exodus 3:1-15Wednesday (8-20-25) night Bible Study
Aug. 06, 2025 - The Glory and Presence of the LordPastor Ed TaylorExodus 36-40 | Study #10245EXODUS
Jul. 09, 2025 - Staying Close to the LordPastor Ed TaylorExodus 33 | Study #10242EXODUS
This week, we wrap up our exploration of Exodus as we delve into the heart of God's character. As Moses ascends Mount Sinai to rewrite the covenant, God reveals Himself in five profound attributes: merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and faithful. These qualities paint a picture of a God who is deeply compassionate, yet just; patient, yet righteous. The story reminds us of the tension between God's mercy and justice, a theme that echoes throughout Scripture. As we reflect on these attributes, we're challenged to consider how they manifest in our own lives. Are we showing the same compassion, grace, and patience to others that God shows us? This passage invites us to trust in God's unwavering love and faithfulness, even when we falter. It's a call to embrace our role in God's grand narrative of redemption, knowing that His character remains constant through all of life's ups and downs.
Living in a coastal town, Valerie loved warm weather, wildlife photography, and being in the water. Above all, she loved watching the sunrise over the ocean. Every morning, she woke up before dawn to catch a view of the water. Val estimated that despite cloudy weather or travel, she still managed to see more than 300 waterfront sunrises each year. She never tired of watching them. In her eyes, the sunrise held a glory she didn’t want to miss. In Exodus, we read about Moses’ radiant face, literally reflecting his glorious encounter with the Lord (Exodus 34). Paul said that since Jesus came, there is an even more glorious ministry than what Moses experienced (2 Corinthians 3:7). It is the ministry of the Spirit, which brings righteousness (v. 9). God’s plan of salvation has permanent glory, surpassing anything that came before (v. 10), and we get to participate in it. Paul said, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory” (v. 18). That ever-increasing glory is not dependent on how well we perform, but on the Holy Spirit. We, like the clouds at sunrise, just reflect a little more and a little better each day the glorious work that He is doing.
The post The Grumbling Saints: See The Lord (Exodus 16-17) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
The post Radiant Faith: Ascending the Mountain of the Lord (Exodus 19-34) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
One LordExodus 20:2-5Definitions: Orthodox- right belief Catholic- fully encompassing “To believe the creed is not merely to assent to its truthfulness, but to enter it, even, in a sense, to become it. Creeds have consequences. Christ's story becomes our story, and our story is folded into his.” –Michael J. GormanWe believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.There is only one God.God is the Father.God is the Almighty.God is the Creator.Deuteronomy 6:1-91 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.A flourishing life is the product of knowing and acknowledging the source of life (the Almighty, the Creator).Exodus 20:1-71 Then God spoke all these words:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.3 Do not have other gods besides me.4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.The singularity of God points to the sufficiency of God.If we truly believe that God is enough, why do we keep bowing to idols and striving for worldly power?Our lives have become idol factories.Two Types of Idolatry:1. Treating God like something that is not God.G.K. Chesterton- “When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.”2. Treating something that is not God as if it is God.Idols will inevitably involve self-centeredness, self-inflation, and self-deception.Isaiah 42:5-9Meaning/purpose is received, not made.You are not the Creator.You were made on purpose for a purpose:to confess faith in a Maker,to surrender your story,and to receive your vocation, identity, and life from the Creator himself.What does it mean to believe these words?1.It means we believe God is the one true source of everything–singular, sufficient, sovereign, and supreme. • He is the only one. He is enough. He reigns over all. He is above all. He is the beginning of all.2.It means God alone is God. • Not me. Not you. Not them. Not it. Only Him.What does it mean to live by these words?1.It means we refuse to treat anything that is not God as if it were. • No substitute can save. No idol can satisfy.2.It means we resist the urge to reshape God in our image. • Instead, we live knowing He is enough. We turn to Him as our source. We receive His words of blessing and love. We walk in His purpose for our lives.
The midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them. [1 hour 10 minutes]
The LORD's glory is displayed to Egypt and Israel by salvation through judgment, a salvation that results in His glorious presence among His people—all of which foreshadows the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus 8 describes three plagues—frogs, gnats, and flies—that God sends upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Despite temporary moments of repentance, Pharaoh repeatedly hardens his heart, refusing to free the people
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:1823 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23GOD WILL SHOW MERCYTherefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:18And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.Luke 4:1-2"Misinterpretations of our Redeemer's delays are the occasion of a great deal of wickedness. Our Lord Jesus has gone up into the mount of glory, where he is appearing in the presence of God for us, but out of our sight; the heavens must contain him, must conceal him, that we may live by faith. Weariness in waiting betrays us to a great many temptations."HenryHow we act in the wilderness is not the exception; its the rule (its who we really are)Certain of God's people are in trouble and distress, and they are eager for immediate rescue. They cannot wait God's time, nor exercise submission to his will. He will surely deliver them in due season; but they cannot tarry till the hour cometh; like children, they snatch at unripe fruit. ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven'; but their one season is the present; they cannot, they will not wait. They must have their desire instantaneously fulfilled, or else they are ready to take wrong means of attaining it. If in poverty, they are in haste to be rich; and they shall not long be innocent. If under reproach, their heart ferments towards revenge. They would sooner rush under the guidance of Satan into some questionable policy, than in childlike simplicity trust in the Lord and do good. It must not be so with you, my brethren, you must learn a better way.Charles SpurgeonHOW WILL YOU WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF HIS ABSENCE“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Luke 24:19-2132 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”Luke 24:32God's absence might be a lack of feeling or understanding; but it is never a true absence. God is always there.IN VIEW OF OUR SINLike a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.Proverbs 26:11God's absence might be due to our pursuit of sin; but it does not stop Him from pursuing us.HOW DID MOSES WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF GOD'S MERCY11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.Exodus 32:11-1411 But Moses implored the Lord…Exodus 32:11ḥālâ — to become weak; to groan26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27HOW DOES JESUS WAIT? 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25JESUS MAKES INTERCESSION FOR USThe son's intercession does not reflect the coolness of the Father, but the sheer warmth of the Son. Christ does not intercede because the Father's heart is tepid toward us but because the Son's heart is so full toward us. But the Father's own deepest delight is to say yes to the Son's pleading on our behalf.Dane C. Ortlund
"Who is the Lord?"Exodus 5:1-23A Picture of UnbeliefA Picture of SinA Picture of Lament
Two Ways to Know the Lord (Exodus 7:1-7, Feb 9th 2025) by Sovereign Grace Church
Heart of a Man is a men's community based our Carmel, IN. We exist to deeply connect men with a brotherhood equally committed to learning, growing, walking through life together and deepening in faith. Our mission is to build men into character-driven, committed disciples of Jesus, equipped to forge healthy, life-giving relationships at home, at work, and in their communities. Today's lesson is from our Director of Operations, Kyle Moore, where he takes us through Exodus Chapter 1. He challenges us to think deeply about how the fear of God and the fear of man relate to each other, and then he looks closely at the story of the midwives in chapter 1 to showcase what the fear of God looks like in contrast to the fear of man. Please visit us at www.heartofaman.org to learn more, to contact us, to purchase merchandise, donate to our ministry (we are a 501c3 and all donations are tax-deductible) or to join us in-person for one of our many Bible studies and classes!
"Setting the New Year Apart for the Lord" Exodus 28:1-12, 36-38, 29:1-9, 38-46 Rev. Craig Luekens 1.5.25
As chapter 5 in the Exodus story opens, Pharaoh asks Moses the most important question anyone can ask - "Who is the Lord?" Tune in as we answer that question, a question which defines and determines all of life.
The great confrontation begins! Moses confronts Pharaoh and says, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let my people go!’” What happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would?
POWER FOR TODAY is intended to equip the believers with the supernatural dimension of God, through the teaching of the unadulterated word of God.
Pastor Josh preaches on the Angel of the LORD from Exodus 23. Here we learn how to follow Jesus.
“Seek The Lord”Scripture: Psalm 27:4Pastor Nate ClarkeAugust 18, 2024Have you heard? We are expanding our current space to make room for families, with 3x more space for kids, youth, and the next generation. Look for more updates soon!https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/reel/C8FqHIipr3u/Learn about this year's Kingdom Builders project to secure land for the future of Oasis Church:https://www.oasischurch.online/kingdom-buildershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGL-Xr4I4_cSERMON NOTES:- Psalm 27:4- Seek The Lord- Hebrews 11:6- Psalm 105:4- 1 Chronicles 28:9- 1 Chronicles 22:19a- Isaiah 55:6- Hosea 10:12- How do we prepare to seek the Lord?- Exodus 19:10-15- Consecrate yourself- Cleansing (forgiveness)- Exodus 19:14- Seasonal focus- Exodus 19:15- James 4:8-10- Fear the Lord- Exodus 19:12-13- God is different than us- God can only be sought and approached on His terms, not ours.- Intentionally make space- Psalm 84:10- Psalm 27:4- Matthew 7:7-8Oasis Church exists to help people see Jesus more clearly.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/
Friday, 16 August 2024 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:15 “And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt, I called my Son'” (CG). The previous verse noted that Joseph arose from his sleep and took the Child and His mother and withdrew to Egypt. The narrative now continues with, “And he was there until the death of Herod.” In these words, is a word found only here in Scripture, teleuté, translated as “death.” It signifies a finishing or an end. In this case. It is the termination of Herod's life. As for the event itself, there is a problem with the dating that is explained by Albert Barnes – “Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not certainly known in what year he began his reign, and hence it is impossible to determine the time that Joseph remained in Egypt. The best chronologers have supposed that he died somewhere between two and four years after the birth of Christ, but at what particular time cannot now be determined. Nor can it be ascertained at what age Jesus was taken into Egypt. It seems probable that he was supposed to be a year old (see Matthew 2:16), and of course the time that he remained in Egypt was not long. Herod died of a most painful and loathsome disease in Jericho.” Because of the unsurety of the matter, a general timeframe of a few months to a couple of years is the general consensus. As for the time in Egypt and their return to Israel, Matthew next says, “that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet.” Matthew is stating that God foresaw the events and spoke of them in advance, using the prophetic word to provide His people with assurance that what came to pass was a part of His unfolding plan. In other words, the dream that Joseph had, the flight to Egypt, and then the return from Egypt wasn't something that occurred on the spur of the moment. Rather, it was intended to occur so that God could fulfill His own word concerning certain matters. As for what was spoken through the prophet, He was “saying, ‘Out of Egypt, I called my Son.'” The words are a general citing of Hosea 11:1 from the Hebrew text – “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.” Matthew saw in the verse from Hosea a parallel to what happened to Jesus. None of the surrounding text follows this thought, and yet, it is repeated by Matthew because of the understanding that what happened to Israel as a type is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the Antitype. Israel went down to Egypt (Genesis 46:3). Israel was called out of Egypt by the Lord (Exodus 3:8). Israel is the Lord's firstborn son (Exodus 4:22). Likewise, Jesus went down to Egypt. He was called out of Egypt by the Lord. Jesus is God's only begotten Son. The parallels between Israel and Egypt are seemingly innumerable. As one travels through the Old Testament, Israel is given as a type of the coming of Christ Jesus again and again. They are equated to a vine, while Jesus says He is the true vine. They were to be a sort of light to the nations, while Jesus says that He is the Light of the world. The temple was the place where God would dwell among His people. Jesus is the true Temple and dwelling place of God. On and on throughout Scripture, such patterns are seen. But not all of them are explicitly highlighted in the New Testament. Rather, in citing the words of Hosea as Matthew did in this verse, it is a call for those who read Scripture to look for other such connections as well. Christ Jesus is thus the fulfillment of what Israel anticipated. In understanding this, and in looking for types and pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures, we can gain a fuller understanding of the Person and work of Jesus as detailed in the New. Life application: One of the things about properly elicited typology from the Old Testament is that it helps settle what is to be considered sound theology in the New. In other words, it is argued in the church whether there is still a role in the world for Israel the nation or has the church replaced them, thus becoming “spiritual Israel.” In properly understanding types and pictures from the Old Testament (such as Genesis, Joshua, Judges, Esther, etc.) it becomes perfectly clear that Israel the nation has a future role in redemptive history. Are dispensations a valid interpretation to be derived from Scripture or are they later-derived false machinations of incompetent scholars? The answer can be found in the types and pictures of the Old Testament. Again and again, types are given to help us to understand what is considered proper concerning New Testament theology. The obvious question may be, “Why don't we just get that from the New Testament?” But the answer is obvious. How many denominations are in agreement on almost any major doctrine? Very few. This is because of biases, a lack of discernment, a lack of applying proper context, and so forth. Unfortunately, these differences exist, not because God's word is confused but because we are. In every aspect of theology, there is one correct avenue. Old Testament typology, when rightly considered, will help clarify which avenue is proper. Lesson: Read your Bible – both testaments. Read it often, meditate on it always, and consider what you are reading. It is a unified whole that has been given to us to know our Creator and what is pleasing to Him. Read your Bible. Lord God, give us the wisdom and the desire to want to know You more. We have a short span in this life to pursue You and to refine our thinking concerning You. Forever is a really long time, and that is how long we will have to be in Your presence. And so, help us to strive for the eternal now, even while we are living out this temporary, trying existence. Amen.
“The psalm (may have) originated in victory celebrations of Israel's king and people (cf. II Chron. 20:27). Later it was probably used in periodic commemoration of God's past goodness to the Davidic dynasty” Laymen, 684. “The ‘I' standing collectively for Israel, verses 5-14, 17-19, 21, and 28 seem to portray a great deliverance which has come to a king, possibly David himself. There are similar sentiments in Psalm 18” Miller, 381. “It is best to see this as a corporate thanksgiving, although an individual leads in expressing gratitude on behalf of himself and the whole congregation” Longman, 399. “The psalm uniquely combines corporate hymnic praise (vv. 1-4, 22-24, 29), individual thanksgiving (vv. 5-18, 21, 28); processional liturgy of entering the temple gates and processing to the altar (vv. 19-20, 26-27). It alternates between referring to Yahweh in the third person and addressing him in the second person” Broyles, 438. This was “perhaps as an entrance liturgy into the temple in Jerusalem, in much the same way that Psalms 15 and 24 may have been used” NICOT, 864. 118:1-4 Give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness is good118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good- I Chron. 16:34; II Chron. 5:13; 7:3; 20:21; Ps. 106:1; 107:1; 136:1; Jer. 33:11; Ezra 3:11 These same three groups, Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the LORD, were mentioned in 115:9-13. See a similar list in 135:19-20 118:5-9 The Speaker's (the King's) testimony of being rescued by God118:10 All nations surrounded me- Verses 10-12 all begin with the same thought. The nations surround God's people. The word surround is used 4 times in these 3 verses. The image of all the nations gathering against God's people appears in Psalms 2, 46, 48; Isaiah 29:1-8; Ezekiel 38-39; Zech 14:1-9. “We are reminded of the world's furious hostility to the city of God” Kidner, 413-414.In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off- “The Hb. verb here is elsewhere translated ‘I circumcised them'!” Broyles, 441. 118:15-18 The right hand of the LORD does valiantly 118:19-21 He enters God's gates with thanksgiving118:22-29 God made the rejected stone the chief corner stone. Psalm 118 and the Exodus118:14, 21 Quote Exodus 15:2118:15-16 right hand of the LORD- Exodus 15:6, 6, 12118:23 marvelous- wonders in Exodus 15:11118:24 The day- Exodus 14:13118:28 I will extol You- Exodus 15:2Psalm 118 and Jesus118:26 Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13118:22 Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; I Peter 2:7118:17-18 were some of Jesus' last words ever and they anticipate HIs resurrection.