Timeless Biblical Truth.
The LORD heals and restores His people whom He has disciplined so that they might declare to the congregation that the lifetime in His favor dwarfs a brief time of His discipline.
- Believers, when delivered from some threat to their lives, are to lead the congregation in praise to the LORD for His lifelong favor (1-5).
- Believers are to acknowledge God’s deliverance from any life-threatening trouble (1-3).
- Believers encourage others to acknowledge that God’s discipline is brief when compared to a lifetime of His favor (4-5).
- Believers, when praising the LORD for showing favor to them, will confess their sin in order to honor the LORD and encourage others (6-10).
- Believers must confess the sin that brought about the LORD’s discipline (6-7).
- Believers recount their prayer for the LORD’S mercy to honor Him God and encourage His people (8-10).
- Believers will praise the LORD for His favor and acknowledge that He did it in order that they might praise Him forever (11-12).
“What does it mean in the Psalms to ‘praise God’? . . . The words for praise are to be found to an astonishing degree, more so than any other verb in the Bible, in the imperative (including the voluntative, cohortative, and jussive). The greatest part of this vocabulary, therefore, exhorts to praise. Praise takes place in words. This can occur in two ways. A teacher who wants to praise a pupil can say to him, “I praise you!” But we immediately feel that this is not the real way to praise. It sounds wooden, stiff, pedantic. But the teacher can also say, “That was well done!” This is the real way to praise (of course there are many possible forms it may take). In that sentence, then, praise occurs. ”
— Claus Westermann: Praise and Lament in the Psalms, 15.
— Claus Westermann: Praise and Lament in the Psalms, 15.
Questions for Second Milers
- Upon what has David based his sense of security in life? Does verse 6 express confidence or arrogance?
- What happens to shake David’s confidence? Who caused this shaking? God? Human enemies? David himself?
- What does David find as a better source for his security in life?
- Compare and contrast David’s despair (verses 8-10) with the final release from despair (verses 11-12). What stands out for you?
- Honestly, what is the basis of your sense of security?
- What does 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 add to the reason why you may experience divine discipline?
- Give your own short title to this psalm.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
