June 23, 2025
God gets the glory!
Psalm 115-118
Wayne Walker
Big Book Idea
Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done!
Key Verse | Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Psalm 115-118
Chapter 115
To Your Name Give Glory
1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9
O Israel,
1
115:9
Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac O house of 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 fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
12
The LORD has remembered 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 fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.
14
May the LORD give you increase,
you and your children!
15
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
16
The heavens are the LORD's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17
The dead do not praise the LORD,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18
But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
Chapter 116
I Love the LORD
1
I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”
5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6
The LORD preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9
I will walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
10
I believed, even when
2
116:10
Or believed, indeed; Septuagint believed, therefore
I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11
I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”
12
What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
13
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
14
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
15
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
18
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19
in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!
Chapter 117
The LORD's Faithfulness Endures Forever
1
Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
Chapter 118
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
1
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2
Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5
Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
6
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10
All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12
They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13
I was pushed hard,
3
118:13
Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15
Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16
the right hand of the LORD exalts,
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18
The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20
This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
4
118:22
Hebrew the head of the corner
23
This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25
Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!
28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: Idols
Idols (115:4) represent anything allowed to compete with God for ultimate loyalty, robbing him of the devotion and glory he alone deserves. Idolatry is evil and foolish. God deserves our wholehearted love because nothing else compares with him.
Fact: A psalm of thanksgiving
A psalm of thanksgiving. The words of Psalm 116 are excellent for expressing public thanks after surviving a crisis situation.
Fact: Cornerstone
The cornerstone (118:22) is the large shaped stone at the corner of the building’s foundation. It is essential to a structure’s stability. Several NT writers compared Jesus Christ to a cornerstone (e.g., Matt. 21:42; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:4–8).
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 115:2 Why should the nations say? Israel’s calling includes making God’s name known among the Gentiles (see Josh. 4:24; 1 Kings 8:41–43). More than their own self-esteem is at stake here. If the Gentiles think that God is weak or absent, they will not receive God’s light.
Ps. 115:3 The confession that God does all that he pleases answers the Gentiles’ taunt (v. 2). In Dan. 4:35 and Jonah 1:14 Gentiles themselves confess this to be true.
Fact: Idols
Idols (115:4) represent anything allowed to compete with God for ultimate loyalty, robbing him of the devotion and glory he alone deserves. Idolatry is evil and foolish. God deserves our wholehearted love because nothing else compares with him.
Ps. 115:1–8 Only the Lord deserves glory (that is, honor). This is true because of his steadfast love and faithfulness (see Ex. 34:6). It is also true because he is in the heavens (where he rules over all, see Ps. 113:4–5), and in his sovereign power he does all that he pleases (see 135:6; Isa. 46:10), unlike the impotent gods of the Gentiles (Ps. 115:4–8).
Ps. 115:4–8 This satirical passage exposes the folly of worshiping idols (compare 135:15–18; Isa. 44:9–20). Many Bible passages explain that idols are merely the work of human hands and therefore unworthy of human worship (e.g., Deut. 4:28; 27:15; 31:29; 2 Kings 19:18; Isa. 2:8). If these gods are unworthy of Israel’s worship, it is a tragedy that the Gentiles both make them and then become like them.
Ps. 115:14–15 Verse 14 echoes Deut. 1:11, which anticipated that God’s people would increase through their children. Psalm 115:15 echoes Gen. 1:28, 31; God called Israel in order to give them the privileges that Adam had forfeited.
Ps. 115:17 The dead do not praise the LORD. See notes on 6:5 and 88:10–12.
Psalm Ps. 115. This is a hymn urging God’s people to trust and worship the Lord alone. He alone is worthy of their deepest loyalty. There is always the temptation to turn to the gods of other nations. The congregation must understand how hopeless it is to serve such false deities.
Ps. 116:1–4 The people of Israel are urged to love the LORD in response to his covenant blessings (because he has heard my voice).
Ps. 116:4 Called on the name of the LORD often refers to a public prayer (see Gen. 4:26; 12:8; Ps. 105:1), which is likely the case here (compare 116:13). Thus the request was made in a worship service.
Ps. 116:5–7 The answer to the urgent prayer leads to reflection on God’s character, namely, that he is gracious, merciful (see Ex. 34:6), and righteous (that is, reliably faithful). Celebrating this experience makes these notions all the more real to the believer.
Ps. 116:8–11 death, tears, stumbling. These cover a wider variety of circumstances than simply the death of one’s body. This may be the psalmist’s invitation to the singers to apply the psalm more generally to experiences of need. The psalm also shows the thankful person how to make good use of the deliverance: I will walk before the LORD (that is, in love, faith, and obedience toward him).
Psalm Ps. 116. This is a hymn of personal thanksgiving for God’s care. The specific circumstance is a narrow escape from death (vv. 3, 8–9, 15). The psalm shows that such thanksgiving for a very personal blessing is properly offered in public worship.
Ps. 116:12–19 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? The answer is, acts of public worship. The personal deliverance is a benefit to the whole people, and the entire congregation shares in giving thanks (see Rom. 12:15).
Fact: A psalm of thanksgiving
A psalm of thanksgiving. The words of Psalm 116 are excellent for expressing public thanks after surviving a crisis situation.
Psalm Ps. 117. This short hymn invites all nations to praise the LORD. The Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6) is pledged to Israel but is intended for all the world; hence the Gentiles addressed are included in the word us. The calling of Israel was for the sake of the whole world (Gen. 12:2–3; Ex. 19:5–6; 1 Kings 8:41–43). The OT constantly expresses the hope that Gentiles will one day gladly join in worshiping the one true God (see note on Psalm 96). When Israel sang this in faith, they would recall both their privileged position (see 147:19–20) and their reason for existence. Paul quotes 117:1 in Rom. 15:11 as part of his argument that Jewish and Gentile Christians should welcome one another and worship together (Rom. 15:5–13): the long-awaited time has arrived.
Ps. 118:1–4 The opening section calls on the congregation to give thanks to the LORD, for he is good (full of generosity; see 23:6; 25:7–8). Each group mentioned should recite this marvelous truth: God’s steadfast love endures forever. (See Psalm 136 for a similar repetition of this phrase.)
Ps. 118:8–9 The experiences of God’s help show that it is better to take refuge in the LORD (see note on 31:1–2; see 62:8) than to trust in man, particularly in princes (that is, in merely human power, which the enemies of 118:7 seem to trust in; see 146:3).
Ps. 118:10–13 This section recalls a particular battle. All nations surrounded me (when they should have joined me in worship; see 117:1). They would have killed me, but the LORD helped me, and in the name of the LORD (that is, acting as his representative) I cut them off.
Ps. 118:17–18 The experience of deliverance leads the psalmist to say, I shall not die, but I shall live. God extends life so that I might recount the deeds of the LORD.
Ps. 118:19–21 The gates of righteousness are the gates of the temple, through which the worshipers enter.
Fact: Cornerstone
The cornerstone (118:22) is the large shaped stone at the corner of the building’s foundation. It is essential to a structure’s stability. Several NT writers compared Jesus Christ to a cornerstone (e.g., Matt. 21:42; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:4–8).
Ps. 118:22–23 The cornerstone is probably the large stone at the corner of the temple’s foundation (see Isa. 28:16). The psalm compares Israel to such a stone. The world’s great powers had thought little of Israel, but God had chosen his people to be the cornerstone of his great plan for the world. This is the LORD’s doing; it is not a mere human accomplishment.
Ps. 118:25 Save us, we pray. See vv. 14–15, 21; and note on 3:2.
Ps. 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! See Matt. 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13.
Psalm Ps. 118. This joyful psalm calls on all of God’s people to praise the Lord for his steadfast love (vv. 1–4). It then moves to what seems to be a personal testimony of God’s rescue from distress (vv. 5–18), and then to a worship service at the Lord’s house, which involves the whole people again (vv. 19–29). The psalm describes a festive procession into Jerusalem after some great deliverance. It was the last psalm Jesus sang at the Last Supper with his disciples before they left for Gethsemane (Matt. 26:30). The “I” giving the personal testimony identifies himself with the trials of the whole people. God’s many acts of deliverance show that his “steadfast love endures forever” and is not limited to one generation.
Ps. 118:28–29 See note on vv. 1–4.
What is the heading of each section and what does it mean?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 115-118
As I reflect on the past 50 years of my life, I can see so many times that the Lord has rescued me. It would be so easy to say that I pulled myself through those hard times or that I worked really hard and achieved it on my own—but that's not how the words rescued or saved work. I was rescued, I was saved—and I contributed nothing.
Psalm 116 reminds me of a dark time in my life. When I was a young teenager, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost most of my memory. I slipped from the honor roll to not being sure if I would graduate from high school. I lost memories and connections with relationships, fell deep into depression, and thought the world would be much better off without me in it. One night, all alone, I attempted to take my own life. The gun misfired.
The words in Psalm 116:3-4 were true of me: "The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD; 'O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!'"
Because of my brain injury, I had lost all memories or knowledge of Christ. But that decision I made years prior was still true. I was a child of God, and He wasn't going to leave me in my suicidal depression. He rescued me when I was a small child; and years later, He would rescue me again.
The road back to Christ had some highs and lows. One day, I won't struggle with a brain injury or memory issues, and those dark days will be far behind me. But today I rejoice because I have been rescued.
I have been rescued. I use the passive voice because I had nothing to do with it. He did it, and therefore I say, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115:1)
This month's memory verse
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
– Psalm 119:9-11
Discussion Questions
1. Looking back at your life story, what was a dark time when you felt far from the Lord? What did you need the Lord to do? How would you have wanted the body of Christ to respond?
2. Is there anything going on in your life now that is causing suffering, distress, or anguish?
3. How do you want your community group to respond when you are walking through troubling times?
4. How can your community group create a more vulnerable and transparent environment where you can share hard times with each other?
5. Why is it important to acknowledge the Lord in worship by saying, "Not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness"?