Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction

1) Vs. 1-5 ( The object of our praise)

When we look at the first 6 verses. We see the one who is to be the object of our praise. Our praise revolves around someone and that is God. Vs 1, comes straight of the gate and points us directly to the one that we praise. Vs. 1 directs our attention the LORD to Yahweh. Who reigns over all of the earth. His reign is such that he is king over all the earth. He is the sovereign ruler over all the earth. Nothing happens outside of his control. To reign is a reference to God being completely sovereign and having all authority in the earth. He established the universe by the power of his word and he continues to sustain the universe by the power of his word. He reigns. And it is because his reign and throne are established in this world, that the nations can be glad. He is not a dead God. He is alive. The earth is called to rejoice and the islands are called to be glad. Think about the seeming chaos of this world. All throughout the Old and New Testament. There is a global vision. Or a global desire for all people to worship Jesus Christ as the true king. The psalmist is establishing the fact that Yahweh reigns, is setting Yahweh apart from every other false God in the universe. No other God named in the entire world reigns. All other professed Gods in this world are dead. They do not reign. And because of this, the inhabitants of every nations is called on to worship the one true God. Regardless of race, ethnicity, where you were born, your age. God reigns and nothing will change that. And he deserves all worship. The affirmation that yahweh reigns is truth repeated over and over again all throughout the bible. Take for example these verses: (ESV) 1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. (ESV) 1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! (ESV) 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. So, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. If you are one who has repented of their sin and turned to Jesus Christ in faith. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation and forgiveness of your sin. Then friend take heart. Your God reigns. Your circumstances do no reign. Oh they have power over you for a temporary time. But Yahweh reign over your circumstances He reigns over your wallet. He reigns over your job. He reigns over this church. He reigns over everything. So be glad in that. Rejoice in that. Now, there is no question when you describe a ruler as reigning. There is picture presence. The present king, is seen as the one that is in charge. If he is absent from his place of authority. If he is never seen. He is not seen as reigning. Illustration-President being present. Take for example. The president of the United States. It seems that every presidency, there is always some news outlet talking abut how many days the president has been away from the white house golfing or doing something else. And of course, the picture that the news is trying to give to you is that the absent president, is then that is not in charge and doing his job. The president that is around and present is the president that is in charge. And so what happens in in verses 2-5, is a description of what Gods presence is like. 1) Clouds and thick darkness are all around him 2) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3) Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries. 4) His lightening lights up the world 5) The mountains melt like wax before the Lord. Now a few very interesting observations worth pointing out. The Psalmist description of God presence. Both looks back at a past event and also looks forward to a future event. First, the description looks back at the Exodus event where God clearly established his rule and his reign among the nation of Israel. But it also points to a future event in the coming of our Lord when he establishes his kingdom. There are key passages in the scripture that describe the coming of Christ and use very similar language to what is used here. The very presence of God is an awe inspiring thing. For those who experienced the very presence of God, they were Moses came into contact with the presence of God and said “I am trembling with fear.” / Isaiah came in contact, “ (ESV) 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Ezekiel “fell facedown” (). Daniel “turned pale” (). The presence of God is something that is amazing and should cause worship.

2) Vs. 6-9 ( The Distortion of our praise)

However, as we know. Although the true and living God reigns. Although he is supreme over all the universe. His creation fails to worship him. Furthermore, they worship idols. Vs. 6 and 7 now transition from describing the reign and rule of the one true God to the worship of false God’s and idols. The Psalmist is putting the false Gods up to the one true God. And the true God is victorious every time. Why? Because false Gods are false. They are not real. They have no life. And yet, people like us continue to worship idols. Idols of money, Idols of lust, Idols of power, Idols of comfort. And the list goes on and on. Look at verse 6. The heavens declare his glory and all people see his glory. There is not a creature under heaven that has not seen that there is a God. Just the other day, our family was traveling through San Diego. We were there for our visa trip. We were on the coast and Danica and we were just amazed at the vast ocean and how pretty it was. And I told Danica. It is amazing how every creature under heaven can see God’s creation. Some observe and think it is just chance. gives a similar description of how the glory of God is revealed to all of mankind and instead of people bowing before the living God, they worship idols. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. As stated in this verse, the entire world sees the glory of God. Because of his very creation Verse 7 says that all worshippers of images will be put to shame. All peoples will recognize the identity of the true and living God. Look at Vs 7 and how Idols are described. Idols are described as worthless. Furthermore, Vs 7 states that those who worship false Gods will be put to shame. There is nothing in idols that is worth worshipping. Verse 8 gives a description of how God’s people will respond to God’s victory over unrighteousness and worthless idols. In other words, during the end time and the time of Christ reign, Gods people will see his judgment over unrighteous nations and will rejoice in that. Vs 9 gives one last summary statement about how God is most high over all the earth. The God, through his word, gives us verse after verse on God reigning supreme over all other Gods. (ESV) 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (ESV) 18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. (ESV) 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. v1 Kings 18:21 (ESV)- 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Here is the clear call for the people to worship the false Gods or the true God. (ESV) 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” There was a showdown of the Gods. The true against the false.

3) Vs 10-12The transformation of our praise.

The final section of our passage gives us a description of How worship will transform our lives. Vs. 10 “Oh you who love the Lord, hate evil.” In light of the fact that God reigns supreme. We who worship him are called to hate evil. In , we see a description of what the ultimate righteous man is like. (ESV)1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. We are called to hate evil that is created by and provoked by satan himself. Satan is the ultimate false God and he should be rejected. There is also a promise to those who love God and worship him. He preserves the lives of his saints. This really is a promise of eternal security (ESV) 20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. For those who love God, their eternity is secure in the God who created them. They have no reason to fear for the Lord God preserves you. However, for those who don’t worship God. Their final end is destruction. The only promise to them is hell. They have no final hope. When Christ appears, those who are in christ have no need to fear, for God will protect them from evil. Vs. 11 11  Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. This verse if a verse about the final blessed state that will be enjoyed by those who worship the one true God. The final state for worshippers will be a place of light and joy.