Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- First a reminder of the parable of the vineyard - recap
- Israel was God's vineyard but they had rejected God's Messiah
- The vineyard is given over to the Gentiles
- A key verse - v22
- Jesus quotes from Ps 118:22
- Matt 21, Mark 12, Luke 20 - in each account, Jesus quotes from Ps 118
- Ps 118:22 - quoted by Luke in Acts 4:11, quoted by Peter in 1 Peter 2:7, quoted by Paul in Ephesians 2:20
- Other verses quoted:
- v25-26 - quoted by Luke (13:35, 19:38) and Matthew (21:9, 23:39)
- This is a Messianic psalm
- Jesus probably sung all 6 Hallel Psalms
- However, He certainly knew this passage
- What would these words have meant to Jesus
- Overview:
- What does the psalm mean to Jesus Christ?
- What does the psalm mean to us?
What does the psalm mean to Jesus Christ?
- Jesus knew that He was going to the cross ... and that on the third day He would rise again
- He was facing an excruciating death and separation from the Father
- Fellowship would be broken
- He suffered the wrath of God
- Yet He was still able to sing a hymn going to Gethsemane
- What was in His mind as He would have sung Ps 117?
- The heathen nations would be given to Him
- This Psalm was also sung in Ezra's time (v1,29)
- He would have know this
- He saw deep things in this psalm
- Comforting truths
- v5 - a personal experience of another, applied to Himself
- v6 - the disciples feared
- v17 - He reminded Mary and Martha that death was only a sleep
- v22/23 - the most important stone of any building, rejected by all people but becoming the rock for His Church
- v24 - what triumph!
- The Gospels make us think of the suffering Servant - Isa 52/53
- But He rejoiced in His Father
- v27 - Jesus was bounds with cords of love as the singular sacrifice
- Context - Most would say this related to King David
- v8-12
- He trusted not in man but in the Lord
- Some also thinks this points to Christ - for all His enemies will be put under His feet
What does the psalm mean to us?
- v5 - can we call on the Lord in distress?
- Do we understand He delivers us from distress and brings us into a place of freedom and liberty?
- Jesus taught that heaven was like a bountiful banquet
- Jesus had come to give life in abundance
- Christianity is not about restrictions (though there is the 'straight and narrow') - there is joy
- The non-Christian is under pressure
- The non-Christian is under sin
- When our chains fall off, we are brought into a broad place
- We have a living relationship with God
- We are brought from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light
- We enjoy the pleasures of life given by God
- We live a joyful life
- We have peace with God
- We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us
- We have a certain future
- We do not just live for the day or the moment
- We have a glorious future with God and Christ
- v25-26 – Blessed is He / Hosanna / Save now
- Many who called out Hosanna, quickly cried out 'crucify Him'
- Let us call us 'save now' if we do not know Christ
- Be thankful for those bringing the Gospel
- Be thankful for Jesus who will come in glory
- v6 - The Lord is on our side
- We are on His side and therefore He is on our side
- Heb 13:6
- Heb 10:32-34
- When we look at Scriptures, we are often encouraged to look back and learn from the past
- We are also encouraged to look forward, beyond the present situation
- Example of John Bunyan
- v8-9 – We must trust in God rather than man
- Not our own ingenuity or others
- We do our part, but we trust in the Lord
- His purposes are wise and He knows what He is doing
- We give the glory to Him
- v1, 29 - Give thanks
- Jesus was thankful as He sand this psalm - as He would save His people from their sins
- 1 Thess 5:18 - give thanks in all things
- Great mercy (v1-4), for which we can give thanks
Closing Remarks