He is Worthy!

Introduction

The LORD directed me to this passage of Scripture in my devotions this morning - and I didn’t get 4-5 verses in when I knew I would be preaching from this psalm.

As I began to break down the psalm and really take a look at what it is communicating, the only Title that I found fitting was this - ‘He is Worthy’! I think that’s what David is trying to get across here.

This is a psalm of praise and exhalation unto the Shepherd of David’s life.

And to everything that David lays out in this Psalm, I will simply say ‘Amen, brother!’ - our God is worthy!

That being said, let’s look first at David’s Petition

I. David’s Petition (v1-5)

Praise the LORD (v1a; 3a)

When we are offering thanks, we’re recognizing from who our blessings flow.

We ‘Glory in His holy name’ by making sure that He is getting the credit rather than ourselves.

David was a great and unique man. He was a man who:

Tended Sheep

Played music

Wrote songs & sang and danced before the LORD

A bear slayer, a lion slayer and a giant killer

He was a king and a fugitive

He was both sinner and saint

But I’ll tell you one thing David excelled at - He praise the LORD and gloried in His Name!

This might be one of the most unique things about David.

(Ill.) Let me ask you - when is the last time you praise the LORD publically? When is the last time someone else saw or heard you praise the LORD? (I’m not talking about during a song when emotions are going).

(Ill.) I fail at many things, but one thing that I try my best to be careful to do is praise the LORD and Glory in His Name. Some of you have been so kind on occasion to try and encourage me by telling me ‘good message’ and so forth - which is nice, but my reaction is always the same - ‘God is good’ or something like that - because I know that if it was a help or blessing, it’s because of how He used it, not what I said.

Psalm 113:1–3 “Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same The Lord’s name is to be praised.”

We’re to Praise the LORD

Pray unto the LORD (v1b; 3b-4)

In the next breathe, David encourages God’s people to ‘call upon His name’.

So many reasons why we Christians should make prayer a priority.

It’s a Privilege

We have as Christians a privilege afforded unto us that most people didn’t have throughout the history of mankind.

But something wonderful happened when Jesus gave up the Ghost - the earth quaked and rocks rent and the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. GOD made was for man THROUGH the SACRIFICE of HIS SON.

It’s a Privilege for us to pray unto the LORD

It’s Powerful

There’s Power in Prayer!

Isaiah 59:1-2 is a telling couple verses:

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

That truth that was written down 3k years ago is still true today - time has not diminished the ability of the LORD to answer prayer! God still is the same God He was when He Created man from the dust of the ground! (Ill.) I’ve gotten older and slower - but God hasn’t!

The second verse is the hinderance to many prayers:

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

God doesn’t reject our prayers because He’s not able or unwilling - but oftentimes because of our sin!

David encourages Prayer unto the LORD

Promote the LORD (v1c)

I feel blessed to do what I do. I love serving the LORD. There’s nothing else I’d rather do. I feel it an honor to serve Him. And it’s unto the Church to promote Him to the World.

There was a time when that was the Jews job.

When we study the Covenants of the Bible we learn:

With Abraham, God promised him to be a people with a place

With Moses, God offered them conditionally the priesthood

Exodus 19:5–6 “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Given that this is conditional, and the Jew failed, that honor was taken from them and passed on to the church.

Paul said: 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Jesus said: Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Let me just say this: If you’re ashamed, you won’t witness - but you will if you’re not.

Promote the LORD

Ponder on the LORD (v5)

‘Remember’ David says. Think about it.

Church, do you know what? Satan desires to keep us so busy that we don’t spend any time thinking about who God is and what He’s done for us.

So many people go through life simply ‘going through the motions’. They live life on autopilot. They disengage their brains and checkout.

(Ill.) I used to drive about 1k miles a week. There would be times that I was driving and the next thing I knew, I was 100 miles down the road. It’s like my brain literally shut off.

I feel like many go through life like this.

(Ill.) That’s the best thing about funerals. Funerals force some people who typically speaking go through life without ever pondering the things of God to face the ‘reality of mortality’.

It’s really interesting that so many ‘intellectuals’ think that Christians have their heads buried in the sand - when in fact I believe it’s the ‘intellectuals & elites’. I’ve studied the Bible and (though I’m no scientist) I know enough about science to understand that there are laws of science… well who do you think made up the laws?

Man - lost and saved alike - should spend significant time pondering the Things of God. It will bring the lost to the faith and those in the faith, more faithful.

Ponder on the LORD

We see David’s Petition. Next notice that He’s addressing God’s People

II. God’s People (v6-10)

He’s Worthy because of Who His Is - and who We Are to Him

He is Our God (v6-7)

If you’ve been born again, give God a wave of thanks. Do you know what? I’m glad that He’s your God - but I’m more thankful that He’s mine!

He is our God, church! That’s something to celebrate!

(Ill.) You know there are people throughout this world sitting down donuts in front of dumb idols as we speak? There are some burning candles and incense to pictures and statues? There are some who believe their connection to God comes from a man in a confessional booth. There are some who’s God directs them to fly planes into buildings There are some who don’t really have a God, they just hope that in the next life they become a butterfly and not a bug.

But I thank God, that MY God is the GOD OF THE BIBLE!

He’s a:

Wonder-working God

Merciful God

God full of Grace and Truth

Loving God

Able God

Powerful God

Hey, that’s my God! Be Thankful for the God that you have!

He’s an Oath Keeping God (v8-10)

David now recognizes the Abrahamic Covenant 3x in 3 verses.

Remember a Covenant is a promise - and David is saying ‘My God keeps His Promises!’

Paul recognizes this in Titus 1:1–3 “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”

He also recognized Abraham’s faith in this truth in Romans 4:21 “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Whatever God hath said, God will do! I’m thankful that I have a God that keeps His promises! I don’t have to wonder or fret - but I can simply place my faith in Him and I’ll never be disappointed!

He’s an Oath Keeping God

We see David’s Petition. He’s addressing God’s People, next He’s recognizing God’s Providence

III. God’s Providence (v11-44)

He’s Worthy, because of what He’s Done

This is the bulk of the psalm is focusing on reminding the COI what all God has done!

This is VERY IMPORTANT. (Ill.) There’s been times in my life and ministry where I get discouraged and depressed - and my wife, the help-meet she is will remind me of the goodness of God.

You see, it’s so easy to get focused on what you don’t have instead of praising God for what you do.

He Protected Abraham (v13-15)

If you go back to the early life of Abraham, once he came unto the land of promise, he continued sojourning to the south and ended up in Egypt. (Read Gen. 12:10-20)

Even through Abraham’s sin, God protected him.

Boy, I’ll tell you what - I’ve done some dumb things in my life, and I’m so thankful for the protection of God!

Church you are here today because God has shielded and protected you.

He Protected Abraham

He Promoted Joseph (v16-22)

Joseph was sold into slavery, became a servant, was falsely accused and went to the prison, but God promoted Joseph to second in the land - listen only God can do that!

David wrote in Psalm 40:1–2 “I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

Only God can do that!

(Ill.) I feel in many ways akin to Joseph - I was once in prison - bound by the chains of my sin, yet God not only set me free, but promoted my to a position of authority within the church - and who am I? I’m nothing - I have no pedigree, no formal education - but I’m where I’m at within the church, NOT because there’s something special in me, but because we have a special God that is ABLE!

He promoted Joseph

He Preserved the Children of Israel (v26-38)

The Children of Israel had become bound in Egypt. There rose up an enemy against them. They tried to exterminate them. (The Nazi’s should have learned - it didn’t work for Pharaoh & it wouldn’t work for them!) The reason is, GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES! They tried to destroy, yet God continued to increase!

When the wickedness of the world was against God’s people, it could not prevail!

God is Omniscient - so you can’t outsmart Him

God is Omnipotent - so you can’t overpower Him

God is Omnipresent - so you can’t outrun Him

Who is man unto God???

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Church, we can praise Him for He will preserve us - just as he did for the COI

He Provided for Israel (v23-24; 39-44)

We see that God Provided for them while they were in Egypt, and after they got out of Egypt.

I’m thankful for common Grace.

(Ill.) When I look back at my life when I was in Egypt, I thank God for the Grace He shewed me even then. When I was in Egypt:

God gave me a bride

God gave me a baby

At the time, I had no idea that these were blessings from God, but now I know better!

I’m thankful for Saving Grace

That brings a man like me out of Egypt

I’m thankful for Sustaining Grace

That nourished me in a barren land. That gives me all I need in miraculous ways!

He Provided for Israel, and He provides for us as well!

We see David’s Petition. He’s addressing God’s People, next He’s recognizing God’s Providence, lastly He speaks of God’s Purpose

III. God’s Purpose (v45)

That they might Observe and Obey

Peter’s Uncle Ben said ‘With great power comes great responsibility’.

As Christians, we should walk worthy - observe His statutes and Obey His Commands.

Paul told the church in Colosse: Colossians 1:9–10 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Paul told the church at Ephesus: Ephesians 5:6–8 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Paul told the church at Thessalonica: 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

We - GOD’S PEOPLE should PRAISE HIM we should RECOGNIZE HIS PROVIDENCE and in response to that… OBSERVE and KEEP His Commands

We have a good God who’s worthy - I pray you recognize that as David did.

Conclusion