Lesson No. 162 “The Lord is on my side” (Psalm 118:6-18) скачать в хорошем качестве

Lesson No. 162 “The Lord is on my side” (Psalm 118:6-18)

The Korean Presbyterian Church of Bayside Small Group Bible Study By: Reverend David Lee Lesson No. 162 “The Lord is on my side” (Psalm 118:6-18) 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, 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. 1. According to the psalmist of today’s text, on whose side is the Lord? What do you think this teaches us? In today's text, the psalmist proclaims that God is on his side. While this might sound like a claim of God's exclusive love and special treatment, it is actually a declaration that God invariably supports those who live by faith. A well-known story about Abraham Lincoln illustrates this point. During the height of the American Civil War, one of Lincoln's aides purportedly asked, "Is God really on our side?" The question arose because the Confederacy also consisted of believers whose interpretation of the Bible differed, particularly regarding slavery. Indeed, Southerners were widely known for their fervent faith. Even today, the Southern states are known as the Bible Belt. In the South, there are many thriving churches; many emphasize living according to the Word; most of the restaurants close on Sundays; and billboard signs encourage passersby to follow God's Word. Yet, these same people legalized slavery. They accepted the literal interpretation of Noah's punishment to the descendants of Ham, who were to become "servants of servants." Consequently, the South waged war against the North, which sought to abolish slavery. While political ambitions undoubtedly played a role, the South's advocacy for slavery stemmed from their literal interpretation of Scripture. This is why Lincoln's aide asked, "Is God really on our side?" Lincoln famously responded, "I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." Lincoln believed that God is unchanging and keeps His promises according to His truth. Therefore, the question is whether we are aligning ourselves with His promises. The psalmist was able to declare that God was on his side because he trusted God and prayed according to His promises. Beloved Church, when we pray, let us trust that God is on our side. Then, nothing can prevail against us, for God is the Sovereign ruler of the world. He has the power to remove obstacles and accomplish His will. Therefore, blessed are those who have God as their ally. So, we do not need to worry whether God is on our side. When we stand on God's side and live by faith, God becomes our ally. To have God on our side is more advantageous than having powerful social connections. Thus, in verse 9, the psalmist declared, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." Dear Church, let us not be discouraged if we do not have much support from the people in our lives. If we rely on God, He will resolve all our challenges. Thus, rather than rely on people, let us remember that God is on our side. There is one more key point in today's text. Verses 10–14 state, "All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."