Hallelujah! Praise God for His Wonderful Works

Proposition: God is to be praised and obeyed for his wonderful works which reveal his glory.

Introduction

Bible does not just speak of greatness of salvation, teaches you how to respond.

What are you to do in light of great salvation? Worship and obey.

Context

Pss 110, 118 bracket section of praise. Both Psalms messianic. 111-117 is response of worship.

Two sets of three “Hallelujah” Psalms (first set begins w/ Hallelujah, second ends).

Psalm 111 first of two acrostic Psalms. First deals w/ God, second w/ righteous man.

God is to be praised for his works w/ whole heart (1-6)

Opening: Praising God w/ whole heart (1).

Worship can never be mechanical. If no heart, not worship.

Do you feel in worship? If not, must seek God.

Do not stop worshipping but seek God in prayer, that your heart would be stirred.

We are not “frozen chosen.”

Praise for works (2-6):

Intro: Rest of Psalm works out reasons for praise. Why is God to be praised? For his works.

Said generally: God’s works are great and studied by all who delight in them (2).

Part of reason to read Bible: To know works of God. These great works related to salvation. Does it not make sense to learn them?

Does your personal study of Bible reveal heart that delights in works of God?

Could it be that you struggle reading Bible b/c your heart is not warmed to works of God?

Psalmist’s connection logical: If you delight in God’s works, you would study them.

Pray that God would reveal greatness of works.

Focus narrowed to redemption (Exodus) (4-6)

Exodus great event of OT.

God’s “wonders” what he performed in Egypt (plagues) (4).

Giving food (likely in wilderness) (5).

Gives inheritance to people (promised land) (6).

“Redemption” of v. 9, -> Exodus.

Great acts of redemption Psalmist has seen has lifted his heart to praise God.

Foreshadows redemption in Christ.

Book V very focused on themes related to coming of Christ.

Here: Praising God for redemptive events that point forward to him.

He performed wonders on earth, provides food for people in his flesh, gives true promised land, and true redemption from ultimate enemy.

App.: How much more ought you to praise God? Do not be outdone by OT saints in worship.

God’s works reveal his glory (1-6)

Another important aspect of works of God: they reveal who he is.

Hints throughout Psalm:

His work is honorable and glorious and his righteousness endure forever (v. 3). Work then attribute.

Same w/ v. 4: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Ex. 34:6.

Declared power of his works, v. 6.

Works of hands are verity and justice, v. 7.

What is primary way you know who God is? Through his works revealed by Spirit.

How can you understand invisible, spiritual being? No way w/o works.

What does it mean that God is gracious and merciful? He showed it in Exodus.

Fullest revelation of God through work of Son of God on cross, cf. Rom. 3:21-26.

App.:

Think of beauty of Christ! Everything that he did revealed his Father.

This another reason to study Bible: To know God through his works.

In studying, you learn works, in learning works you know God, in knowing God your heart is warmed to worship, like Psalmist, v. 1.

God’s precepts must be obeyed (7-10)

Transition w/ v. 7. As God’s works reflect and reveal his character, so do his precepts, ie things to be obeyed.

Law shows forth character of law of God (7-9)

Must be perfect as God is perfect. Thus called “sure”, “standing fast”, “truth and uprightness.”

Like Paul: God’s commands are holy, righteous, and good.

Why? B/c God is all those things.

If works reveal God, so too law.

Necessity and blessing of obedience (10)

This why obedience to law necessary.

Some say not. Aren’t we forgiven in Christ? Yes, but there can be other reasons to obey than to receive forgiveness.

Conforming to God in his holiness includes obedience to law that is reflection of that holiness.

Fear of Lord is beginning of wisdom:

Fear of Lord includes actions of obedience. There is no wisdom w/o obedience.

Wisdom: More than knowledge. Includes ability to apply knowledge. In Bible: applied knowledge of God to living holy life.

Saved by grace through faith apart from works, but that faith includes fear of God put into heart that works itself out in good works.

Good understanding have all who keep his commandments: Emphasized w/ this second statement.

Conclusion:

What response to salvation then? Worship and obey.

Let the response of the believing heart be to well up in thankful, joyous worship to God and to devote itself to obey in all things.

Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.