Adoration

Introduction

In a busy world, it has become more and more challenging to have a fulfilling prayer life.

Distractions wage war against dedicated prayer.

Building a better prayer life.

Turning to Scripture to strengthen our prayer lives.

Following a simple acronym.

A - Adoration

C - Confession

T - Thanksgiving

S - Supplication

Each week, we will see in the Psalms an example and encouragement to call out to God.

Adoration - to adore / to worship or honor & to regard with loving admiration and devotion

Express to God your love for Him for who He is.

Understanding the role of the ark.

An instance in 1 Chronicles 16. The ark had been captured by the Philistines. Oppression by God, sent back.

Ends up in Kiriath-Jearim. House of Abinadab.

During the entire reign of Saul, no concern for the ark.

David, finally, has established himself in Jerusalem. Brings the ark to a large tabernacle, a place of worship.

As an act of worship to signify God being enthroned in their presence uses Psalm 96.

God’s presence in your life produces worship.

An example of what that worship looks like is found in Psalm 96.

Call to Sing and Recount God’s Greatness

vv. 1-6

Each of these begins with a command - “sing a new song.”

Why do we sing new songs? Because of God’s continual action.

To whom? The whole earth!

What does it look like?

Bless (speak well of) His name / tell (narrative of a victory) of His salvation.

I love to tell the story by Katherine Hankey third verse

I love to tell the story;   ’Tis pleasant to repeat What seems each time I tell it,   More wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story;   For some have never heard The message of salvation   From God’s own holy Word.

This helps to explain the “why”.

God is good! He is above all!

But why?

the elohim are elilim (worthless).

But God is the Creator! Look at all that God has done!

Look at the qualities of God’s creation!

The creation reflects the qualities of the creator.

Dali Painting

Dali Painting

Salvador Dali

And then there is the goodness of God’s Creation.

The splendor of the trees as they change. The mountains, the beaches, the rocks and clouds.

This gives us cause to adore God.

Call to the Peoples of the World

vv. 7-10

Command - ascribe. An acknowledgement that causes action.

“Bring an offering, and come into his courts!”

In the splendor of his holiness / otherness.

Where we are weak, fail, limited, lack understanding.

So, tremble. Fear of reverence.

Verse 10 serves as the theological center of this psalm.

God is sovereign.

He has authority in creation and in judgment.

A call to trust God’s goodness.

Call to the Creation

vv. 11-13

Command - celebrate

Notice the realms: Heavens / Earth / Sea / Fields / Forest

All possible realms finds joy in its creator!

The world alone is too small to provide adequate praise!

But, what about when things are hard? Personal, national, global?

“He comes to judge the earth.”

We have hope that justice will prevail.

He created, He rules, and He will judge.

Conclusion

The role of songs in the Bible.

Miriam’s song. Following God delivering Israel from Egypt.

Deborah, after Israel was delivered from the Canaanites.

When David, as a warrior in Saul’s army, defeated the Philistines, the women broke into song.

Songs are used as a response to God’s victory.

We are called to adore God, to worship Him for the deliverance He has given to us.

The most important way is in Christ.

Adore God because of salvation.

Enthroned in our own lives.