Exalt My God The King
Notes
Transcript
Let us read together from Psalm 145 Chair Bible pg. 421
Psalm 145:6–13 (NASB 2020)
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Great, let’s get to it
Today’s text might seem odd, given the last several weeks of texts that were more about sin.
How can we come to this Psalm of exaltation, praise, and worship?
Especially given the upbeat and joyful nature of this particular Psalm
It is important even in the seriousness of Lent season to remember to praise and worship God
The text of Psalm 145 then becomes important as we near the end of Lent
Through the text we are able to remember the greatness of God in the midst of a season that is all about our confessions, laments, and repentance.
A Psalm of Praise
A Psalm of Praise
When we read this Psalm we immediately see that the overarching theme is Praise
That is because it is used by David over and over again.
Praise in this psalm points to glorifying God
Repeatedly David emphasizes that God is worthy of praise followed by giving details on what it means
Former generations tell the current generation of the praiseworthy acts that illustrate God’s splendor and majesty
Telling of God’s great power and deeds
The testimony of God’s abundant goodness and righteousness
These reminders from the previous generation should remind the next generation to continue to declare the faithfulness of God!
This was the oral tradition of the Jews
We might think we don’t use oral tradition as much because we can read it in a book
However, families still in some part use oral tradition to share a family’s past.
Many in Church still use faith traditions to tell of the Christians who loved before us
Learned about how Walking Alone At Eve was written - Will W. Slater - 1917, told by Max Crumely
Read verse 1 and chorus
The history of our church as well has an oral tradition of sharing faith stories.
We recall these stories to remind ourselves of the Faithfulness of God.
The Psalmist then goes into a description of the qualities of God and how creation declares the greatness of God.
I am reminded of Jesus Luke 19:40
40 Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”
Then Paul also Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
In this passage we are reminded that all of creation reveals the qualities of God.
What are the qualities of God?
What are the qualities of God?
He is faithful and Holy - Verse 13
Righteous and kind - verse 17
God caress for the down trodden - verse 14-16
God has abundant goodness - verse 7
The Lord is near, He hears, and watches over those who love and fear Him - verses 18-20
These qualities of God are often not what is attributed to God in the world and is why a Psalm like this is so important to us.
To remind ourselves of these qualities of God when we find ourselves beset by those who don’t believe!
it should also motivate us to want to share and declare - Psalm 145:21
Intimacy with God
Intimacy with God
There is a reason we confess and repent during Lent
It is due to these qualities of God
It would do no good to confess and repent before a God who doesn’t hear us
This Psalm reminds us that He does hear and draw near to us
God watches overs those who love Him
What about confessing to a God who never follows through, who doesn’t keep promises? What would be the point?
This Psalm reminds us that he does
The Psalm repeatedly testifies to the faithfulness of God many times over!
What about pursuing a God who wanted nothing to do with us, what would be the point?
Again this Psalm gives witness to the goodness and love of God
How he longs to connect with His creation!
We are able to go before God in confidence that He is worthy of praise and honor!
The qualities of God are supposed to be demonstrated in the world through and by the people of God
We reflect the characteristics of God to the people of this world
Think what they can learn about about God when we reflect his: faithfulness, justice, righteousness, listening, seeing needs, meeting needs, watching out for others.
Confession and repentance are ways that we draw near to God in order to be formed more like Christ
Conclusion
Psalm 145 is a reminder that there is a deep praise and worship in the midst of a somber and reflective season.
God is faithful even when we aren’t!
God hears us when we cry out!
God draws near to us in our deepest needs, and God sees us where we are.
God is a God of compassion, justice, and righteousness.
Even in the midst of our brokenness and sin, we are reminded of a God who is good and worthy of praise.
We are reminded of a creation that tells of the glory of God.
We remember the stories of God’s faithfulness throughout the generations and trust that God is faithful to us even now.
We need to take time in the Lenton season to be reminded of who God is and who we are being called to be.
We celebrate, we sing, we are upbeat because we don’t mourn, confess, lament, or repent as those without hope but as those who serve a God of wonder and love.
We worship a God who is faithful and worthy of praise.