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2008 Spring Conference, Stuttgart Germany For access the audio files, email: info@churchinfountainvalley.org. To access the audio files, click here. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ (Psalm Book Five (2) – Psalm 120 to Psalm 134)
THE SONGS OF ASCENTS
I.
Initial Experiences of Christ Psalm 120 – Salvation from Lying Lips and from Those Who Hate Peace
I. Crying out to the Lord for salvation
A. From lying lips and deceitful tongues
B. The old man – speaking lies in hypocrisy
C. Satan – the father of lies (John 8:44) II. The judgment of God (Ps. 18:6, 13-14; Ps. 64) A. Sharp arrows of the warrior (Ps. 64:7-8) B. Burning coals of the broom tree (Ps. 140:9-11) III. The sufferings of the godly and peaceful people (Matt. 10:16; 2 Tim. 3:12-13) A. Sojourning in Meshech (the wild ones) B. Among the tents of Kedar (the dark ones) C. Among those who hate peace (Ps. 140:1-3) D. Satan – a murderer from the beginning Psalm 121 – Christ, the Unique Help and the Keeper of the Church I. The Almighty Creator – the only source of our help (Heb. 13:6; Jer. 3:23; Ps. 146:3) A. Not allowing our foot to be moved B. He will neither slumber nor sleep II. He is the keeper – providing a complete protection A. He is our shade 1. The sun shall not strike by day (Gen. 31:40) 2. Nor the moon by night
B. He will keep you from all evil C. He will keep your soul (1 Pet. 2:25) D. He will guard your going out and coming in E. From this time forth and forevermore
Psalm 122 – The Church, Built up in
Christ
I. Desiring to be in the house of the Lord
A. To be built up together with the saints
B. To render praises to the Lord (v. 4) C. To appear before the throne for the righteous judgment of the Lord (v. 5) II. Praying for peace and prosperity of Jerusalem (vv. 6-9; Rom. 14:19; 2 Thess. 3:16) A. For her walls and palaces B. For those who love Jerusalem C. For the sake of all the saints and people D. For the sake of the house of our Lord God
II. Firmly
Rooted and Grounded in Christ Psalm 123 – Complete Dependence upon God’s Mercy (John 5:19; 8:28-29) I. Lifting up the eyes to the Almighty God, who is enthroned in the heavens (vv. 1-2) A. As a slave unto the hand of his master B. As a maid unto the hand of her mistress II. Receiving salvation by His Mercy (vv. 3-4) A. From the ridicule of the proud (those who are at ease) – (Is. 32:9-11) B. From the contempt of the arrogant Psalm 124 – Having the Confidence that God Is on Our Side
I. God being for us A. Delivering us from being swallowed up by men B. Delivering our soul from being swept over by raging waters II. Blessing the Lord (vv. 6-8) A. For providing a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) B. Declaring that help is in His name Psalm 125 – Firm as Mount Zion – unshakable I. Gaining trust in the Lord through experience (v. 1) A. As Mount Zion (Heb. 12:28) 1. Cannot be moved (1 Cor. 15:58) 2. Abides forever B. As Jerusalem
1. Being surrounded and protected by the
Lord 2. Now and forever (Matt. 28:20b; Acts 18:9-10)
3. Purging out the wicked by the Lord a. Their rod shall not rest on the lot of the righteous (Exod. 23:31-33)
b. That the righteous will not be influenced
II. God’s righteous dealings (vv. 4-5) A. Doing good to those who are good and upright in heart B. Banishing those who turn to crooked ways C. Resulting in peace
III. Being
Laborers together with God Psalm 126 – Turning the Captivity of Zion by the Lord (Rev. 18:4) I. The exuberant experience of those who have returned (vv. 1-3) A. Like those who dreamed (or brought back to health) B. Filled with laughter and songs of joy C. A living testimony among the nations 1. A great thing done by the Lord 2. Whereof we are glad II. Praying for others to return (vv. 4-6) A. As the streams in the south B. Continuously going out to sow the seed 1. In tears and weeping (Acts 20:31) 2. Reaping the sheaves with Joy Psalm 127 – Realization That It Is the Lord Who Is Building the House I. Fully depending on the Lord and cooperating with Him (vv. 1-2; John 15:5) A. Having no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3) B. Not building or watching in vain C. Not toiling in vain D. Resting in the Lord – He grants sleep to those He loves
II. Sons – the heritage of the Lord A. The fruit of the womb – a reward B. Arrows in the hand of a warrior C. The blessing of bearing much fruit – 1. Not being put to shame 2. A blow to the enemy Psalm 128 – Enjoying the Goodness of Jerusalem I. Blessings to all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways (Acts 9:31) A. Eating of the fruit of your labor B. It shall be well with you C. Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine D. Your children shall be like olive plants II. Zion – the source of blessing A. Seeing the prosperity of Jerusalem B. Seeing your children’s children III. Peace be upon Israel
IV. Reaching Maturity through Sufferings (Psalm 129 – 131) Psalm 129 – Unending Afflictions Cannot Prevail against the Church (Matt. 16:18) I. Constant deliverance by the righteous Lord (vv. 1-4) A. From the never ending persecution and afflictions (from my youth up)
B. By the plowers who lengthened their
furrows C. But the Lord cut their cords in two II. The end of all who hate Zion (vv. 5-8) A. They shall be put to shame and turn backwards B. They shall be like grass upon the housetops C. They shall receive no blessings, neither from God nor from man
Psalm 130 – Being Perfected through Sufferings (Heb. 2:10; 5:8-9; 7:25; 12:5-11) I. Crying to the Lord out of the depths (vv. 1-4) A. Appreciating the answer and the boundless mercy of the Lord
B. Realizing one’s totally corrupted nature
C. Experiencing the Lord’s forgiveness (Eph. 1:7) D. Resulting in fear and reverence toward God (Mal. 4:2) II. Waiting for the Lord A. Hoping in His word B. Waiting for His coming (Phil.3:20) C. Hoping in the Lord 1. With Him there is loving-kindness 2. With Him there is abundant redemption 3. He can save to the uttermost
Psalm 131 – Being Meek and Lowly in
Heart I. Having the proud heart and the haughty eyes fully dealt with (v. 1; 1 Pet. 5:5-6) A. Not being involved in exalting matters B. Not going after extraordinary things II. Having the self fully dealt with (v.2) A. The soul is fully composed and quieted B. As a weaned child resting upon his mother III. Hoping fully in the Lord all the time (v. 3)
V. The
Consummation Psalm 132 – Absolute Consecration to God for Zion (Eph. 5:25)
I. David’s vow to the mighty God of Jacob
A. Not to be for his own house and comfort
B. To build a house for the Lord
(v. 5; 2 Sam.
7:1-2; II. The recovery of the Ark of Testimony and the building of the house A. Heard of it in Ephratah B. Found it in the Jaar <forest> (Ps 78:60, 67-68) C. The building of the house of God (v. 7) D. The call to the Lord to take possession of His house (vv. 8-10) III. The answer of the Lord (vv. 11-18) A. The fruit of David’s body – Christ – will sit on the throne (vv. 11-12) B. Keeping the covenant and the testimony of the Lord – a requirementv IV. The Lord has chosen Zion A. As His resting place and dwelling forever B. He will bless her provision C. He will satisfy her needy with bread D. He will clothe her priests with salvation E. Her saints will sing for joy F. He will cause the horn of David to spring forth G. He will prepare a lamp for His anointed H. He will cause his crown to shine I. He will clothe his enemies with shame
Psalm 133 – Arriving at the Perfect
Oneness I. How good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell in oneness A. Like the precious ointment 1. Flowing from Aaron’s beard 2. To the edge of his robes B. Like the dew of Hermon 1. Descending from the heavenly sanctuary 2. Upon the mountains of Zion II. The commanded blessing A. For Zion in oneness B. Life forever Psalm 134 – The Blessings in Zion I. From the saints to the Lord II. From the Lord to the saints
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