Ps. 106:8-21, Salvation and the Attributes of God

 

This is not new, but in today’s list there are connections between the salvation of God and other attributes/perfections of God.  As is always the case, no attribute of God can trample on any other attribute.  They are in perfect harmony.

Psa 71:2: rescue, deliver me in your righteousness (salvation is always provided in a way that affirms His righteousness)

Psa 71:3: give the command to save me (God is sovereign in salvation)

Psa 72:4: God will save the children of the needy salvation and compassion)

Psa 72:13: God will save the needy fr death

Psa 76:9: God rose up to save the afflicted of the land

·       Psa 79:9: Help us, O God our Savior for the glory of your name (always glorifies God, even if some human agency is involved)

Psa 80:3: restore, make face shine on us so we may be saved (80:7,19)

·       Psa 85:4: Restore us again O God our Savior

·       Psa 85:7: Lord, grant us your salvation (salvation is the gift of God)

·       Psa 85:9: Surely his salvation is near those who fear him

Psa 86:2: save your servant who trusts in you

Psa 86:16: save the son of your maidservant

·       Psa 95:1: shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation

Psa 98:1: sing to the Lord, his rt & holy arm have worked salvation for him (salvation is always holy; God does not save by excusing sin)

Psa 106:8: at Red Sea God saved them for his name sake, to make power known

Psa 106:10: at Red Sea God saved them fr hand of foe

Psa 106:21: Israel forgot God who saved them fr Egypt

Psa 106:47: save us O Lord, gather us fr nations

Ps. 106, part of an historical trilogy, 104-106, reminds us that the classic picture of salvation in the OT is the deliverance at the Red Sea.

Psa 107:13: they cried to Lord in trouble, he saved them fr distress (107:19)

Psa 108:6: save - help w rt hand so those you love delivered

Psa 109:26: help, save in acc w/your love (salvation and God’s love)

Psa 109:31: God stands by needy to save fr condemners

Psa 116:6: when I was in great need he saved me

Psa 118:25: O Lord save us, grant success

Psa 119:94: save me for I am yours. Amen!

Psa 119:117: uphold me & I'll be delivered

Psa 119:146: save me & I'll keep your statutes

·       Psa 132:16: I will clothe her priests w/salvation

Psa 138:7: tho I walk in midst of trouble you preserve my life

Psa 145:19: he hears cry of those who fear him & saves them

Ps. 34:1-7,17-18, Salvation and the Messiah

 

For Ps. 18 see 2 Sam. 22 earlier.

Psa 20:6: the Lord saves his anointed (mashiakh, Messiah) …

·       Psa 20:6: … with the saving power of His right hand

Psa 20:9: O Lord save the king

Psa 22:1: how great the king's joy in the victories you give

Psa 22:21: save me fr horns of wild oxen

·       Psa 24:5: true worshiper receives vindication from God his Savior

·       Psa 25:5: Guide me in your truth, teach me, for you are God my Savior

·       Psa 27:1: Lord is my light, my salvation; whom shall I fear?

·       Psa 27:9: do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior

Psa 28:9: save your people, be their shepherd (yes, a shepherd is a savior)

Psa 31:2: be strong fortress to save me

Psa 31:16: save me in your unfailing love

Psa 33:16: no king saved by the size of his army

Psa 34:6: this poor man called to the Lord who heard, saved him out of his trouble

Psa 34:18: the Lord saves those crushed in spirit

Psa 36:6: Lord, you preserve both man & beast

Psa 37:40: Lord helps (supports) delivers (2x, brings into a secure setting), saves

“Salvation” in v39 is teshua, deliverance usually by God through human agency.

Psa 44:3: not the sword or arm of fathers that won victory

Psa 44:6: my sword does not bring me victory

Psa 44:7: but you give us victory over enemies

·       Psa 50:23: one who sacrifices prepares way so God may show his salvation

·       Psa 51:12: restore to me the joy of your salvation

Psa 54:1: save me O God by your name

Psa 55:16: I call to God & the Lord saves me

Psa 57:3: He sends fr heaven & saves me

Psa 59:2: deliver fr evildoers, save me fr bloodthirsty men

Psa 60:5: save - help us w/your right hand

Several times we have seen that God’s help comes via His “right hand.”  It’s no coincidence that eternal salvation comes via the One who sits at God’s right hand.

·       Psa 62:7: My salvation & honor depend on God, mighty rock, refuge

·       Psa 65:5: You answer w/awesome deeds, O God our Savior

Psa 69:1: save me O God for waters have come up to my neck

·       Psa 69:13: Lord, answer me w/your sure salvation

Psa 69:35: God will save Zion, rebuild Judah

Ps. 69 is a very Messianic Psalm. The Lord Jesus needs deliverance from the grave, as do I.  Our God is the Savior who can do  that!

2 Ki. 19:14-19, Varieties of Escape, Deliverance

2 Ki 6:26: woman cries for help during famine

2 Ki 6:27ab: king's answer: if Lord doesn't help, I can't help

2 Ki 13:5: Lord provided deliverer for Israel fr Aram

2 Ki 14:27: Lord saved Israel by Jeroboam son of Jehoash

2 Ki 16:7: Ahaz asks Assyrian king to save him

2 Ki 19:19: Hezekiah asks God to deliver fr. hand of Aram

How important this is!  The long range purpose of salvation is not the comfort of man but the glory of God.

2 Ki 19:34: God promises to defend, save city

1 Chr 11:14: Lord brings great victory over Philistines

1 Chr 16:35: Psalm: cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior"

·       1 Chr 16:35: "Save us O God our Savior"

2 Chr 20:9: Jehoshaphat cries to God in distress to hear, save

2 Chr 32:22: the Lord saved Hezekiah & Jerusalem fr Sennacherib

Neh 9:27ab: in time of Judges God gave deliverers who rescued them fr enemies

·       Job 5:4: Eliphaz: his children are far from safety

·       Job 5:11: Eliphaz: those who mourn lifted to safety

Job 5:15: God saves needy fr sword of powerful (Eliphaz)

Job 22:29: God will save downcast (Eliphaz)

Job 26:2: Job, in sarcasm: friends saved the feeble arm

Job 40:14: if Job can do what God does then his own rt hand can save him

That was profound.  For Job to be saved from his sufferings requires the right hand of God.  In the end, God’s deliverance was first His sustaining Job through the trial.  Then He restored more than what He lost.  This brings us to the Psalms where “deliverance”/salvation is the frequent context for these great hymns.  We continue to see that the situations are “earthly,” but those who are delivered are those who are spiritually in tune with the LORD.  Salvation/deliverance is through faith!

Psa 3:7: Arise O Lord, deliver me O my God

Psa 6:4: turn O Lord & deliver (halas, delivered by removal or be equipping/ arming) me, save me bec of your unfailing love

Psa 7:1: save (salvation, liberation, being victorious) & deliver (bnasal, to snatch away, save;) fr all who pursue me

As you can see, the LORD has various ways to deliver.  As 1 Cor. 10:13 says: He will make a way of escape.

Psa 7:10: God most High saves the upright in heart

Psa 12:1: help Lord for the godly are no more

·       Psa 12:5: God to protect them from those who malign them

Psa 17:7: God saves by his rt hand

2 Sam. 22:1-7, The Savior-King who needs Salvation

1 Sam 4:3: Elders call for Ark to go to battle, to save fr hand of enemies

One valuable study is to see what will not bring salvation and why.

1 Sam 7:8: Israel asks Samuel to pray for the Lord's deliverance

1 Sam 9:16: Saul to be anointed, deliver Israel

In Judges the “judges” were saviors.  Samuel was the last of those judges and with Saul the king was to be Israel’s savior, a “mediatorial” savior as we will see, since God was still Israel’s only Savior.  The term gains much context and prominence under King David, in the historical books and in the Psalms.

1 Sam 10:19: Israel, in asking for king, rejects God who saves them

1 Sam 10:27: trouble-makers ask if Saul can save them

1 Sam 11:3: Elders of Jabesh: if none saves in 7 days they would surrender

1 Sam 14:6: nothing can hinder Lord fr. saving, whether by few or many

1 Sam 14:23: Lord rescued Israel fr. Philistines

1 Sam 14:39: "As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives..." (Saul)

1 Sam 17:47: David to Goliath: it isn't by sword or spear that the Lord saves

1 Sam 23:2: Lord tells Dave to attack Philistines., save Keilah

1 Sam 23:5: Dave saves Keilah

1 Sam 25:26: God kept David fr avenging self

1 Sam 25:31: Abigail wants to be remembered for helping Dave not avenge self

1 Sam 25:33: Abigail kept Dave fr. avenging self

Here is an interesting synonym for “salvation:” vengeance.  It works because vengeance belongs to God.

2 Sam 3:18: Lord promised Dave to rescue Israel fr Philis.

2 Sam 8:6: Lord gave David victory everywhere (8:14; 1 Chr 18:6,13)

2 Sam 10:11ab: if enemy too strong for Abishai Joab will help him, or if the opposite Abishai will help Joab (1 Chr 19:12)

2 Sam 10:19: Arameans afraid to help Ammonites (1 Chr 19:19)

2 Sam 14:4: woman of Tekoa to Dave: help me, King

·       2 Sam. 22:3: God is David’s rock, shield, horn of salvation.

2 Sam 22:3ab: God is David’s stronghold, refuge, Savior  who saves him.

2 Sam 22:4: I call to Lord & am saved fr enemies (Ps 18:3)

2 Sam 22:28: you save the humble (Ps 18:27)

·       2 Sam 22:36: you give me your shield of victory

2 Sam 22:42: enemies cried for help; no one to save them (Ps 18:41)

·       2 Sam 23:5: God will fulfill David's salvation, given His covenant with David

2 Sam. 22 is the Psalm David wrote to summarize the many times God delivered David from trouble.  Ch. 23 are David’s “last words.”  David, as with the Lord Jesus, is both “savior” and the one who is “saved” by the Lord.

Judges 2:16-19, The Beginnings of “Salvation”

For the next week plus we want to camp on the OT idea of “salvation.”  Over 200 uses are the root verb yasha.  Those with a bullet are the noun yesha (33x). 

Exo 2:17: Moses rescues shepherd-daughters of Reuel

Exo 14:30: at Red Sea Lord saved Israel fr. Egyptians

“Salvation” is not a term found in Genesis.  Were there rescues?  Yes, chiefly the Flood.  But that story gives rise to “atonement” (the pitch put on the ark).  The first use picture of “salvation” is Moses’ rescue of Reuel’s daughters.  Then we have the grand OT picture of “salvation” in the OT, the rescue from Egypt, particularly at the Red Sea.  There are some references in Job as will be seek in the next post.

Num 10:9: blow trumpet when attacked, Lord will rescue you fr. enemies

Deu 20:4: don't fear in war, Lord gives victory

Deu 22:27: rape victim in country screams but no one rescues her

Deu 28:29: curse: no one to rescue you

Deu 28:31: curse, no one to rescue sheep given to your enemies

Deu 33:29: who is like Israel, a people saved by the Lord

Josh 10:6: Gibeonites call on Joshua to save them

Josh 22:22: eastern tribes shouldn't be spared if they were in rebellion

Judg 2:16: the judges saved Israel from those who plundered Israel

This gives us the important idea of “saviors,” those who saved Israel.

Judg 2:18: Lord was w/judge & saved Israel from enemies

Judg 3:9ab: Othniel a deliverer who saved them

Judg 3:15: Ehud the deliverer

Judg 3:31: Shamgar saved Israel

Judg 6:14: Gideon told to save Israel in own strength

Judg 6:15: Gideon: How can I save Israel"

Judg 6:31: Joash asks people: will you save Baal?

Judg 6:36: Gideon's fleece to see if God will save Israel by his hand

Judg 6:37: then he'll know if God will save Israel by his hand

Judg 7:2: too many men for God to get glory

Judg 7:7: w/300 men God will save them

Judg 8:22: Gideon asked to be king bec he saved Israel

Judg 10:1: Abimelech saved Israel

Judg 10:12: God asks: did I not save you

Judg 10:13: but you turned away--so I will not save you now

Judg 10:14: cry to the gods, let them save you

Judg 12:2: Jephthah complains Ephraim didn't help save her

Judg 12:3: the Lord gave victory

Judg 13:5: Sampson will begin deliverance of Israel

Luke 17:5-10, The Debt of Love (2)

Now let’s hear from Paul, John and the writer to the Hebrews!

1. Rom.1:14: Paul debtor to Greeks, Barbarians.  (To whom am I indebted when it comes to the gospel?  Don’t get all guilty-feeling.  Ask the Lord to show you.)

3. Rom.4:4: if one works, his reward comes of debt, not grace. (There is NO obligation for salvation.  It is grace!)

1. Rom.8:12: we're under obligation not to the flesh but to the Spirit

2. Rom.13:7: render to all what is due them.  (Pay your taxes!)

4. Rom.13:8: owe no man anything but to love each other.

4. Rom.15:1: the strong ought to bear the infirmities of weak.  (Another debt of love!  We will stop mentioning this.  You find others as we move on.)

14.Rom15:27: Gentiles are debtors of the Jews; they shared spiritually, are indebted materially.

4. 1 Cor 5:10: you can't separate from the world altogether or you would need to leave the world

2. 1 Cor. 7:3: husband to render to wife what is due

4. 1 Cor 7:36: if man feels he ought to give his older virgin daughter in marriage, let him do so

4. 1 Cor 9:10: plowman ought to plow in hope

44. 1 Cor 11:7,10: man ought not cover head, woman ought to cover hers

4. 2 Cor 12:11: Paul ought to be commended by Corinthians

4. 2 Cor 12:14: parents ought to lay up for children

1. Gal 5:3: the circumcised are debtors to law.  (If I as a Christian think like this, that I am obligated to the Law of Moses, I have fallen from grace, 5:4).

4. Eph 4:28: so ought men to love wives as their bodies

4. 2 Th 1:3: we ought to thank God for you always (also 2:13)

4. Hb.2:17: Christ obligated to be made like us in all things so as to be High Priest.  (In taking on flesh, Christ took on obligations.)

4. Hb.5:3: priest obligated to offer sacrifices for sin

4. Hb.5:12: you ought to be teachers

4. 1 Jn.2:6: he who abides in Christ ought to walk as Christ walked

4. 1 Jn.3:16: we ought to lay down our lives for brethren

4. 1 Jn.4:11: if God so loved us we ought also to love ea. other

4. 3 Jn.8: we ought to receive itinerate servants of the Lord  to help get the truth out

The debt of love is seen in the “Christian family” as well as in the “family of Christ.”  And please note the highlighted passages from 1 John.  The Apostle of Love was quite clear about the debt of love!  By God’s grace and Spirit.

Psalm 63

Psalm 62 began saying, “My soul silently waits for God.”  Psalm 63 begins, “My soul thirsts for You.”  This is truly the issue of our existence on earth.  The chief difficulty with men is that their souls are troubled.  The rich man is no longer satisfied with his money; the strong man is no longer satisfied with his strength; the proud man is no longer satisfied with his position or popularity; the immoral man is no longer satisfied with his latest experience.  We are in a constant state of lust.  What we have or are is never enough for very long.

Sadly, we are deceived.  We do not see that the problem is in the soul, and that the only satisfaction is in God!  Our soul thirsts for God! 

Why do we not see this?  Perhaps because we refuse to allow ourselves to remain long enough in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.  We refuse to allow ourselves to dwell in a needy situation.  We turn up the volume of the insignificant so that we won’t have to think or meditate on our thirst.  We mask the pain in our soul with medication or by ignoring the difficult relationship or moving to another town or resigning or running or immersing ourselves in technology or whatever so-called addictions we have chosen.

To make sense of this Song, and to make sense of life itself, just keep your eye on David’s soul. 

·         His soul was thirsty (v1).  So he looked for God in the sanctuary, in the place where God would be found in truth, in His power and glory.  For us, we search for God in His word; and we find Him there IN CHRIST JESUS. 

·         He believed his soul would be satisfied (v5).  The reason he believed this was because when he searched for God he found Him to be more satisfying than life itself (v3). 

·         His soul follows close behind God (v8).  Now, even in the middle of the night while awake on his bed, his thoughts are on God.  He rejoices because his thirsty soul has found the fountain of living waters.

This world is filled with thirsty souls.  That is undeniable.  Do you, do we understand, that our thirsty souls are thirsty for God.  He made us to desire Him.  Will we quit trying to satisfy our thirst with the offerings of a dry and thirsty land?  Let us look for Him in the sanctuary. 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light (words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30).