Reasons to Praise

Introduction

Positive thinking vs. Praise thinking

In 1952, Norman Vincent Peale wrote “The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living” , a book that essentially launched the genre known as self-help. For the reader, the book promises to help you:

Believe in yourself and in everything you do

Build new power and determination

Develop the power to reach your goals

Break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life

Improve your personal and professional relationships

Assume control over your circumstances

Be kind to yourself

This book has spun off an entire psychological category known as “positive thinking.”

“Optimism, when applied to your life, develops strength and peace within you.” ― Norman Vincent Peale

In one of Peale’s books he teaches the importance of a mental technique known as “imaging.” — The Idea that if you imagine a goal or outcome long enough it will ‘sink’ into your subconscious where it will release previously untapped energy which will actually cause the outcome to happen.

Problem is, for many of us, the reality of our troubles and struggles don’t seem to go away when we simply ‘imagine our happy place.’

More than this, the teaching of Mr. Peale that our outward life is controlled by our inner thoughts and that the source of our joy is found within is simply not biblical.

I’d like to propose today a different way of thinking — one that squares more with the reality of life as we experience it and as it is described in our passage today — Psalm 33.

I call it Praise Thinking.

Pos Think - says you control your own destiny, you simply need to see the image in your mind and you’ll find happiness.

Pra Think - says God, who controls all destiny, knows and loves you; so, see the image of Him in the Scripture, and you’ll find happiness.

Is your best hope for your situation positive thinking or do you know the Hope which brings ‘praise thinking?’

Basic outline:

Command to Praise (1-3)

Reasons to Praise - 5 (4-19)

Because of Who God is.

Because of What God does.

Response of Praise (20-22)

Psalm 33 (ESV)

1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!

Praise befits the upright.

2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!

3 Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Command to Praise (1-3)

Five imperative verbs all center around the outward expression of worship:

Shout = excitement

Give Thanks = worship

Make Melody

Sing = from the heart

Play Skillfully

All plural - meant for the community of God

Praise befits the upright

Befits = fitting, makes sense

Only the upright CAN truly praise.

ALL the upright SHOULD praise.

The upright should have Praise Thinking because they have reasons to praise.

Reasons to Praise (4-19)

#1 God’s Word and works are good. (4-9)

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,

and all his work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;

he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

9 For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

God’s Word describes what is right. (4-5)

4 For Yhwh’s word is upright;

his every deed is characterized by truthfulness

5 He is dedicated to faithfulness in exercising authority;

the earth is full of Yhwh’s commitment

— John Goldingay

Word is ‘upright’ = straight, level

Work done in ‘faithfulness’ = truth, rightness

Loves righteousness and justice

EARTH is full of covenant faithfulness

Everything God says and does is right and good.

More than this, the only reason we can call anything just and right is because God exists. God is both the source and standard of all justice and morality.

Many are calling for justice today — and rightly so! — We need to have a clear understanding of what justice is and that is found in what God has revealed to us b/c he is the source and standard of all morality.

Secular humanism says people are inherently good and people, apart from God, can work together to establish a utopia on earth (i.e., people can fix broken society)

Abhijit Naskar — world renown neuroscientist and stated to be ‘untiring advocate of global harmony and peace’ stated:

“Morality exists in the neurons as a natural sensation. Religion only tries to codify it.” ― Abhijit Naskar

Problem - all morality is then subjective - everyone can do whatever they believe to be right — you cannot tell them it is wrong.

“Morality is found in society”

Problem — to be in the minority and call for justice would then be immoral

ILLUST - Christian / Atheist debate — closing arguments — final words — (Christian) — Suppose I bring a gun to the debate, point at you and demand you say I win. If you say, “That’s not right” - you show objective morality and I win. If you say, “All morality is subjective,” I shoot you and I still win.

Good news is that in this world of confusion, there is a right, there is a real justice because there is a real God.

Being honest, there is a lot of confusion in our society right now what who or what is right.

Perhaps you are here and struggling because you are having a hard time knowing which way is up - who is right - what is and is not fake news.

Can lead to frustration, despair, arrogance.

** Justice is a reality because God is a reality**

God’s Word displays His work. (6-7)

God’s Word and his work are synonymous.

i.e., Genesis - “In the beginning God created. . . God said”

When God speaks it is as good as action.

Good news — God’s Word promises he will one day right all wrongs — so he will.

Read Psalm 10

God’s Word demands our worship. (8-9)

God’s Word and works lead us (and everyone) to worship.

“Let all the earth fear”

“Let all stand in awe”

why? HE spoke and it came to be.

HE made and rules over it with justice.

** Justice is needed because of the evil in the world.**

** And Justice is possible because God rules over and is involved in the world.**

#2 God’s plan is unstoppable. (10-12)

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

the plans of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Truth #1 — Plans of people are temporary no matter how unstoppable they seem. (10)

Truth # 2 — Plans of God are unstoppable no matter how marginalized He seems to be. (11)

Result — People who align their plans with God find them unstoppable. (12)

We do not need to fear what any world power is planning or the way society is going.

He brings their plans to NOTHING

We must be a peculiar people who have more faith and trust in God than in any government or world power.

We must be a peculiar people in that we have less fear of government than trust in God.

Daniel 2:19–21 (ESV)

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

21 He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Remember, Daniel was kidnapped and oppressed, persecuted for his faith in a thoroughly pagan land and condemned to death!

We read the Historical books of OT and see how God moved world powers, raised up kings and removed kings — Both godly and ungodly.

Isaiah 40:21–24 (ESV)

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,

and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

23 who brings princes to nothing,

and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,

when he blows on them, and they wither,

and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

Pray for our leaders that they will seek God and align their plans with God’s revealed Word.

*** I believe we would see a greater change for God’s glory in this nation if God’s people would spend less time uttering political words and more time offering prayerful words. ***

#3 God sees everything about and around you. (13-15)

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;

he sees all the children of man;

14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out

on all the inhabitants of the earth,

15 he who fashions the hearts of them all

and observes all their deeds.

All = All

God SEES.

“O be careful little eyes what you see”

Ears — hear

mouth — say

hands — do

feet — go

mind — think

This truth statement seems to be set right in the middle of a context about justice.

Genesis 16 — Hagar mistreated by Sarai after Hagar conceived. Runs away from Sarai — no one sees — God sees — She says, “You are the God who sees me.”

El Roi - God who sees

God sees what you have been through and are going through.

God sees all you’ve done and all that has been done to you!

God is not distant (deist)

God sees everyone (you are not forgotten)

God is sovereign (enthroned)

God sees motives not just words or actions

That sly talker that always seems to get away with it.

That THING that happened when no one was looking.

The way you helped that person when no one was watching and nothing good came of it.

** Justice and salvation are found only in God.**

16 The king is not saved by his great army;

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,

and by its great might it cannot rescue.

#4 God is greater than any force in your life. (16-17)

Isn’t this the theme of countless stories in the OT when the tiny nation of Israel is confronted in battle against a great army?

It is not saying that king is NEVER saved by his army / warrior NEVER saved by strength / horse NEVER saved by might.

It is saying that when these things are pitted against the GREATER God, they amount to nothing.

We hear those stories, we love their endings, but I fear we rarely live out their implications.

We fear the forces mounted against us

We seek out kings, train like warriors, surround ourselves with horses.

What we need is to trust in our Savior.

Praise thinking —

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

(Mindy’s question)

“Why does David change pronouns from “He” to “You” in verse 4?”

Answer:

“Thou [meaning “You” in verse 4], at this point of danger, replaces the more distant ‘He’, in a person-to-person address; for the Shepherd is no longer ahead, to lead, but alongside to escort. In times of need, companionship is good; and he is armed."

— John Goldingay

When anything in all creation comes against you and the CREATOR — they lose!

This is David and Goliath stuff.

Make no mistake the glory is not David or his faith; the glory is God but the JOY is David’s.

#5 God’s can save both spiritually and physically. (18-19)

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19 that he may deliver their soul from death

(Spiritual)

and keep them alive in famine.

(Physical)

Salvation comes to those who look to and trust.

Look to - looking to the right source

Trust - action of humility and hope

Response of Praise (20-22)

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart is glad in him,

because we trust in his holy name.

22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,

even as we hope in you.

patient, joyful, confident worship

Progression of Praise Thinking:

Hope in God

Trust his character

Experience Joy

Patiently Wait

Steadfast love — God is obligated by his covenant to be your help and shield.

IF AND ONLY IF you are in covenant — have a relationship with God — Only through Jesus.

We can wait because we have a reason to be glad because in Whom we place our trust and hope.

Conclusion

Positive Thinking vs Praise Thinking:

Pos Think - says since you are the source of happiness, if you’re not happy, YOU are problem

Pra Think - says sin is the problem and Jesus defeated sin; therefore, HE is the source of all happiness - stop trying to find happiness in yourself and FIND JESUS

You are cared for by the Creator (4-9)

You are secure in His plans (10-12)

You are seen (13-15)

You are humbled (16-17)

You are loved (18)

You are saved (19)