Off the Chart Praise!

Praise that impresses the Lord is off the chart praise! i know we have become accustomed to determining what kind of praise we want to give the Lord. Why because our praise has been an indicator of how we feel that day. If we feeling good, God did something for us recently then our praise is high. If we are having a melodically day then we might give mediocre praise. then there is some days where the Lord does not get any praise.

its a true! The psalmist here gives us a different impression.

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

In this Festal psalm, The psalmist is insistent of the type of praise that should occur in God’s house. in the first two verses we are told to make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation and then he said come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms! Now a festal psalm is one that is to be song at festivals. Its an appropriate psalm for today because we like the children of Israel are marking a triumphant event in our history. We are acknowledging the grace of God in allowing us to see another year anniversary. This is not just any anniversary its our centennial (100 years). So it would be a good time to do as the psalmist said. The message Bible said it this way!

95 Come, let’s shout praises to GOD, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

95 Come, let’s shout praises to GOD, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!

This festal psalm is similar to Psalm other festal psalms like . Where verse 2 says Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! or

1  Sing aloud to God our strength;

shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2  Raise a song; sound the tambourine,

Clap your hands, all peoples!

raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!

the sweet lyre with the harp.

3  Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our feast day.

or like

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5  Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,

Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6  With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

Then lets not forget

1  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

2  Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

In the technical liturgical sense this psalm refer to a worship service of thanksgiving, usually associated with the offering of a sacrifice and a narrative/confession of the rescue/care of God that has been received. But it can simply mean “thanks” and “confession” in a general sense. This level of praise is out of gratitude!

There should be such a level of praise that in this place that we raise the roof with our praise! Its funny that we can go to sporting events and concerts and the fans there have no problem raising the roof.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

There should be such a level of praise that in this place that we raise the roof with our praise! Its funny that we can go to sporting events and concerts and the fans there have no problem raising the roof.

Let’s march into his presence singing praises,

Just last night as the Lakers had their season opener. The level of exuberance in the Staple center was off the chain. The sports commentators were acting like they were having an outer body experience. Why because all hopes are on Lebron James. He is the one to bring back a championship to the Lakers. Yet my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness!

lifting the rafters with our hymns!

When we see this psalm and read it in its entirety we see a lesson for the church today. The psalm is written as a postexilic psalm. That means it was sung at worship services after the Children of Israel exile. We all should have a song of praise after the Lord brings us out! How i got over Hallelujah!

Why should we praise him? Its this simple For the Lord is A Great God! The psalmist establishes the reason we praise him “FOR THE LORD IS GREAT”! How many know the Lord is Great? Not only is great he is great above all gods. Isaiah said who can compare to the Lord? I believe you must settle in your spirit that the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. You must settle in your spirit that he a great king above all gods. I told you he is the GOAT. Greatest of ALL TIMES! He is the ONE AND ONLY! HE MUST BE SEEN AS THE ROCK OF YOUR SALVATION. YOUR SYMBOL OF SECURITY!

Your praise will be determined on how you see God. The Exodus writer said in Exodus 15:11 Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

He said in verse 13

13  “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

The psalmist declares in verses 4 and 5 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.

the heights of the mountains are his also.

5  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

and his hands formed the dry land.

The psalmist makes us see the realm of God’s rule is systematically developed; beginning with the heavenly sphere through the designation as king of the gods , it descends vertically to earth (v. 4*) and extends horizontally (v. 5*) A familiar psalm said it this way:

The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. 2  For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.

We have to see God has owner of everything then we will be moved to worship him. I can’t stress enough that every member has a responsibility to worship the Lord. Look at verse 6 and 7 O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

7  For he is our God; And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

The world, and they that dwell therein.

The invitation is for EVERY MEMBER TO COME : to be a kingdom of worshipping believers whose desires is to glorify God in the obedience of the great commission in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.

Every Member COMING – that’s WORSHIP

• Every member BELONGING – that’s fellowship

2  For he hath founded it upon the seas,

Every Member GROWING – that’s discipleship

Every Member COMING – that’s WORSHIP • Every Member GROWING – that’s discipleship • Every Member SERVING – that’s MINISTRY • Every member BELONGING – that’s fellowship • Every Member GOING – that’s EVANGELISM and MISSIONS

And established it upon the floods.

• Every Member SERVING – that’s MINISTRY

• Every Member GOING – that’s EVANGELISM and MISSIONS

This is our challenge worship God.

The goal of worship: to bow down in humble surrender. We’re here honor God, hear God, and obey God. That’s it! This passage is a call to engage God with our heart, our mind, and our will.

The goal of worship is not:

To enjoy the service. Worship is not man-centered. It’s God-centered. We’re blessed to have technology, gifted musicians, etc. But, we don’t need these things because the goal is not a service for you to enjoy but an encounter with God. What we need for an encounter with God: God’s Word, the Spirit’s work, and worshippers with pliable hearts.

To evaluate the service. You’re going to walk away evaluating today. I am too. Was the service too long? Did I hear my favorite song? Was the preacher on point? Did I feel the presence of God this morning? Were my kids ministered to?

Reality: We’ve gathered to bring pleasure to God, not to please ourselves. AND, we’re not the ones doing the evaluating. God is the One who evaluates. This morning, He is evaluating your heart. Where do you stand before Him? As He evaluates, He’s revealing to you areas where you need to evaluate yourself - where you need to do business - calling you to surrender to Him.

Have you come to bow down? To lay your life before Him? Or, have you gathered to critique? Let this song be the prayer of your heart:

Hossfeld, F.-L., & Zenger, E. (2005). : a commentary on . (K. Baltzer, Ed., L. M. Maloney, Trans.) (pp. 460–461). Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.