God Glorifying Worship - In Song

Introduction

Sermon Text: Psalm 71:22-24

Title: God Glorifying Worship - In Song

We come to third sermon out of four on our series on worship. This time we are going to look at the topic of song. Now, before we can get to the topic of song, we need to take any thoughts or pre-understandings, biases, or anything else that would delude our minds from taking in the Word and be rid of them.

I will say right from the get go that I am not here to change your musical preference, try to coerce you to think the way I do, or even prevent before you biblical means for instruments and song choices. What I am here to do is proclaim the excellencies of Christ, to promote the wonderful things that He has done, and to, Lord willing, encourage and challenge you to strive all the more for greater, deeper, and more profound worship because God deserves the very best of what you offer Him!

Now, that we can rightly look at the text, I want to ask you a question, do you think about the words that you sing in praise to God? Whether it be in this place or at home or at work maybe, does this question come to mind? Do you think that it is important that we think about the worship in song that we offer God? If this is you, then I am glad that you consider worship in song so highly, and I hope that you are encouraged and challenged to continue on in this way. But if this is not true of you, my goal is to point you to the awesomeness of who God is, and in so doing help you see why the words that we sing are of such great importance and of great value to God.

To help guide us whether to further encouragement or to have our eyes open to the importance, I want to draw three observations from the text that will direct our time together…

1. Praise for faithfulness (v.22)

2. Praise for joy (v.23)

3. Praise all the day long (v.24)

I. Praise for faithfulness (v.22)

There are two reasons for praise according to the Psalmist in verse 22. They are praising God for who He is and praising God for His ever-present faithfulness or truth. The backdrop for this praise that is offered is similar to the straits that David was in in Psalm 61.

Praise given out of thankfulness

Every instance in these 3 verses of the word ‘praise’ is rooted out of thankfulness to God (Mounce paraphrase). Verses 22-24 do not tell us why the Psalmist is thankful. But if we were to look back at the previous 21 verses, we would find ample reasons why the Psalmist is thankful. The Psalmist is thankful for being saved (v.3), having Yahweh God as his hope and trust (v.5), being sustained by God (v.6), having been taught by God (v.17), God’s promises toward him (v.20), and because God has redeemed him (v.23). This ought to be our premise for praising God, should it not? You and I have come to the house of the Lord after a long week, grateful that He carried us through it. Or maybe His mercy has showered upon you and your week was not as difficult as it had been. It could be that this week was a week of great spiritual growth as you were in the Word and in prayer. Whatever the course of life that we find ourselves in, praise out of thanksgiving must always be at the forefront of our hearts and tongues! And of course, in some seasons of life this is easier said than done. Do you think it was easy for Job to praise the name of Yahweh God after “a great wind came from across the wilderness and touched the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people (that’s Job’s kids), and they died” (Job 1:19)? Of course not! He lamented this great calamity (v.20), yet “Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh” (v.21). Coming back to Psalm 71, there were many instances of hardship for the Psalmist. He needed protection (v.2), the wicked and unrighteous surrounded him (v.4), and he had been spoken against badly, and his enemies had devised his capture and death (vv.10-11). The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 71 was far from having the time of his life, but what comes forth from him is praise of thankfulness to Yahweh God. This is a most fascinating response! But it is not one that is too far off for us to have. Christian do not see this Psalmist as a superhuman, but as a follower of God who trusted in God with every fiber of his being. Christian, you have this very same God, thus you have every reason to be thankful as we have seen the case for the Psalmist.

Praise with instruments

Verse 22 is the only verse in Psalm 71 that refers to praise with instruments. Now before you jump on what instrument should be used and which should not, the Hebrew does not distinguish one instrument over another. Depending on the translation it will say that the instruments are a harp and a lyre or a psaltery and a harp. It is so easy for us, especially when we are trying to make a point biblically, to use a text like this to say we should use a harp or other passages where David plays various instruments as a means to prove what worship, musically, looks like. Now, if I have convinced you of one instrument or another, then I have not helped you in any way and I have not done this passage the rightful exposition that it deserves. Both Psalm 92:3 and Psalm 150:3 use the same two Hebrew words ‘nebel’ and ‘kinnor’ in reference to an undetermined musical instrument that was used to praise Yahweh God. The closest thing to a ‘biblical instrument’ would be the trumpet (Psalm 150:3), the tambourine (v.4), the pipe (v.4), and cymbals (vv.5-6), for all these are clearly defined in the Hebrew language. And this is why this is not a sermon about which instrument we should use in our worship of God. Why use the term harp and lyre if they are not clearly defined? The reason that these words are used is twofold, 1. Because it helps us have a picture of what these instruments might be, and 2. Because the instruments very well may have been a harp or a lyre. The Hebrew does not say that these are absolutely not the instruments used. It says that there is not enough credible evidence to definitively prove if the instruments used were the harp or the lyre. This should not cause us an issue with the text. Why? Because the Psalmist’s main thrust of the text and the inspiration behind the text is the praise and worship to Yahweh God no matter the circumstance. In God’s kindness He has allowed us to praise Him with a multitude of instruments (your voice included). Our God is so creative!

Praise for who God is

The Psalmist praises God for who He is and for His faithfulness to him. As Christians we are thankful to God for His faithfulness to us. This gives the Psalmist great urgency to praise God. As he reflects on God’s faithfulness to him it causes him to break out in praise to God. Question, does God’s faithfulness toward you cause you to break out in praise to Him? This is not to say that you will break out in tongues or in song, but God’s faithfulness should bring forth a response from you. And that response should be worship! We can get so caught up in the practical aspect of worship that we forget the reason why we worship! This is not true of the Psalmist, and I pray that it is never true of us! If God were faithful alone with nothing else said about Him, He would be worthy of our praise. Psalm 92:1-4 tells us of God’s faithfulness and the praise that He rightly receives. “It is good to give thanks to Yahweh and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Yahweh, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Think of how much trouble we who have trusted in Christ would be in if God were not faithful. Let me point out a few things to you. If God were not faithful, this poor Psalmist would have had no safe place to go when things got rough. There would be no comfort from God upon him (v.21). It would be questionable of God whether he would forsake him or not (v.18). Those haters of God who say in verse 11 that God has forsaken the Psalmist might be right. There are many more things we could say in this light, but these are just a few from the life of the Psalmist recorded in Psalm 71. Do you see how important it is that God is and remains faithful or true?

II. Praise for joy (v.23)

Verse 23 brings us to praises given out of joy that stems from redemption that is found in God alone. The Psalmist gives direction as to how his praise will be offered. His praise is out of experiential joy highlighting the fact that he has been redeemed. The Psalmist looks both outside and inside himself for faculties of worship. He mentions that his praise comes from singing lips and a soul that has been redeemed.

An important contrast

There is an implied contrast in verse 23. When we look at any passage of Scripture, we ask the question of how can the verses we are examining be applied? Is this only for the Psalmist who wrote this? The simple answer is, no it is not for the Psalmist alone. We can easily give proof that this is for others by seeing anyone who is gifted in playing the harp and worshiping God with that gifting. The Psalmist was not the only stringed instrument player. The same is true in verse 23. If the Psalmist were the only one to have ever sung, we would have major issues with this text. Before we can get to who this is speaking of, we must ask who this is not speaking to? Unbelievers. Because the Psalmist’s praise comes from an appreciation of being redeemed by God, we can rightly say that an unbeliever who has not been redeemed by God cannot praise God in this way. It would be like saying that Alex O’Connor a famed atheist on YouTube could come to God whether he believes or not. Yet, this is so often preached in pulpits today! How many times have you heard pastors say, ‘just pray this prayer and really mean it?’ Then you are saved. Listen, I don’t think for a second that the praise of the Psalmist in Psalm 71 comes out of the spirit of praying a prayer! This comes from a heart that has been dramatically changed, a life that has been flipped upside down, and a person who is no longer identified as a sinner, but in Christ! Verse 23 should be the response of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! Now, this does not mean that the unbeliever cannot be changed. For real heart change is possible that it would lead to such praise as what is written in verse 23. Christ calls you this day to repent, turn from your sins, and believe upon Him. Come to Christ and experience a life that is transformed by the renewing of your soul and mind!

Joy unlike any other

The phrase “inexpressible joy” is used quite often, but it does not apply in verse 23. The Psalmist wants all those around him to know what God has done for him. In the same way this is true of blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18:43. When he regains his sight, he immediately begins to glorify God. As Bartimaeus experiences this joy of both physical and spiritual sight “Luke emphasizes that when people “glorify God,” they do so by telling others about the things they have seen and heard what God and his Son Jesus have done” (Mounce). Why bring this up? Because Luke 18:43 and in Psalm 71:23 both tell of an incredible joy that has been bestowed upon everyday human beings by the gracious hand of God! Also, in both circumstances the joy that is expressed is not for the physical healing/change alone. It is rooted in heart change, a work that only God can do. Christian, do you express joy for the work that God has done within you? Do you come to worship joyfully ready to sing His praises? If not, check your heart this morning and see where you stand. Then, get right with God and return to the choir of saints to the praise and glory of God! Why? Because for Christians, of all people on earth, we should be filled the most with joy.

The source of the Psalmist’s joy

There is one source that is offered in verse 23 for the joy that the Psalmist possesses. That one source is redemption or being redeemed. If there was one reason alone for Christian’s to have joy this day it is because of the work of Christ on the cross to take the sin that separates mankind from a holy God away. Of all the wondrousness and goodness of God, the Psalmist gets to the root of it all. He goes all the way back to the foundation. See, without redemption there would be no praise, no joy, no faithfulness from God, or no Holy One of Israel. How so? Because God’s plan has always been to redeem a fallen people called unto Himself. God’s plan includes the heartfelt and deep love for God shown in the most gracious of worship. God faithfully planned out of His own perfect holiness to provide His Son, perfectly Holy and Righteous to be the Savior of His people. Hence the Psalm given by David that can be said of every believer, “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous one, O Yahweh, You surround him with favor as with a large shield” (Psalm 5:11-12). Twice, David refers to having joy or exultation in God for He has saved His people and redeemed them unto salvation!

III. Praise all the day long (v.24)

These realities of God’s faithfulness and the joy of the Christian lead to the Psalmist, as he has experienced these things, to praise the name of God all the day long. Many times it has been said that worship must extend beyond Sunday morning. That has been true of the last two sermons and in our worship through song it is true once again.

A few words of caution

I want you to notice that the Psalmist is not suggesting that all we do is worship God all day long and do nothing else. The context found in verses 1-21 would denote such a thought. Thus, we should not be so dogmatic (or bent severely in one direction) about whether we are to worship all day or not. The Psalmist does not give length of time, systems, or pictures as to what worship must look like, for that would miss the point. The Psalmist would ask if he were sitting among us this morning, of what is the motive for your worship? Why do you worship God? Do you worship Him out of a deep affection and love for Him? Is it habitual worship? Do you know the songs in the hymn book? We need to be careful to check ourselves for the intention of our worship. The Psalmist would clearly tell you that his worship is out of the faithfulness of God, joy as a Christian, redemption, and because God is righteous.

Another word of caution needs to be given as to the particular music style or choice that is a part of worship whether in this building or wherever we may be. In the same way that I am not here to convince you of an instrument to play or not, nor am I here to tell you what style of music to listen to, nor will I tell you if there are some Christian artists that have better lyrics than others. Again, if I have done this, then I have missed the point of the text, and greatly led you astray. I want to tell you a verse that is helpful as we work through this. Ephesians 4:29 guides us saying, “Let no aunwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building up what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” The Psalmist is led to speak of the righteousness of God all the day long. Whether we are singing, praying, or reading the Word, what should come from our mouths is the annunciation that Yahweh God, the God of Scripture is righteous. And that His Son, the Righteous One is worthy of our praise and worship! When we think of instruments or music let us have the righteousness of God in mind, and may we forsake some of these hills that we tend to die on.

Our worship as a testimony

Why? Because our worship to God is a testimony to the world. The end of verse 24 is a reminder that those who live in unrighteousness and unrepentant sin will face God one day, bow the knee, and be cast from His presence forever. This should terrify us! This should also focus our hearts and minds in pointing people to worship Jesus Christ. Why would these men come after the Psalmist? There are only two reasons, 1. Because the Psalmist has done something to them in a wicked fashion, or 2. Because the Psalmist lives according to the ways of the Bible and unbelievers hate it. Seeing the context that Psalm 71 is in, it is definite that the enemies of the Psalmist are, ultimately, enemies of God. Remember it is Jesus who said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Speaking of His own return Jesus says, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). But we do not endure these things in vain. Because we have this promise from Christ in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”” Christian, your worship of God is a testimony to the outside world. Does the world hate you because it hates Christ? Does your worship reflect, not trivial matters that we get into, the righteousness of God in which our redemption, joy, and praise lie? Let us not fear when the enemy draws near, for we have the same promise given to the Psalmist, that those who hate us for the sake of Christ will be done away with by the mighty hand of our great God.

Conclusion

Therefore, how do we apply our worship in song every day of the week. Is singing enough? Are the right songs enough? Let me offer a few things to meditate on…

1. Ask yourself, not out of fear, concern, or worry, what the motive is behind your worship. You and I are so prone to wander in mind and in practice that we need to be reminded sometimes why we worship God. In our day of schedules, routines, and planning it is very easy to live all of life by way of a schedule, our worship of God included. I, for one, believe that it is important to give God your first waking moments of the day, regardless of what time your day begins. But we need to be careful not to fall into the trap of redundancy and habit. These things are good, but a heart that is centered upon God and all His goodness must be at the core of our worship.

2. Do the songs that you sing, not just the beat hold any meaning to you? Whether it is Christian or secular, do you consider the words that you sing? A Christian song that chants over and over again is as helpful to the believer as a song that has nothing to do with God! We are not chanters in song, we are worshipers in song! Instead of casting every stone to secular music as of the devil, let us consider the words of the songs that we sing back to God. Would He be pleased with them? Would it offer forth the very best worship that you can give? We can be carried away with a beat for a short time, but the words that we sing are those which tend to get stuck in our minds. Let’s weigh them carefully.

3. If you are stuck as to where to go may I remind you of the all-encompassing and familiar verse found in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Let us worship, however expressed to the glory of God, for He alone is worthy of our praise and adoration.

Let’s pray!

Benediction:

Romans 11:36

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”