Theme: Deliverance from captivity
1. Unbelievable Provision – vs.1
Psalm 53:6
Psalm 85:1
Hosea 6:11
Joel 3:1
Have you ever experienced God’s goodness to such a degree that it seemed like a dream – Something that is to good to be true?
Historical example where this would have been true of Zion:
God’s destruction of Sennacherib and his army – 2 Chron.32:21-22
2. Jubilant Praise – vs.2-3
When we praise God it is a _________________ to the lost!
3. Continued Prayer – vs.4
What does the comparison “as the streams in the south” illustrate?
4. Comforting Promise – vs.5-6
What is being promised in these verses?
How should this Psalm influence our prayers tonight?
Selected Quotation:
“There is nothing in this psalm by which we can decide its date, further than this, — that it is a song after a great deliverance from oppression. ‘Turning captivity’ by no means requires an actual removal into banishment to fill out the idea; rescue from any dire affliction or crushing tyranny would be fitly described as ‘captivity turned.’ Indeed, the passage is not applicable to captives in Babylon, for it is Zion itself which is in captivity and not a part of her citizens: the holy city was in sorrow and distress; though it could not be removed, the prosperity could be diminished. Some dark cloud lowered over the beloved capital, and its citizens prayed ‘Turn again our captivity. O Lord.’ This psalm is in its right place and most fittingly follows its predecessor, for as in Ps 125:1-5, we read that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, we here see it removed from them to their great joy. The word ‘turn’ would seem to be the keynote of the song: it is a Psalm of conversion — conversion from captivity; and it may well be used to set forth the rapture of a pardoned soul when the anger of the Lord is turned away from it. We will call it, ‘Leading captivity captive.’” (C. H. Spurgeon).
Magnify! 