2006-05-28_A New Song_Psalm 40

A New Song

Psalm 40   |   Shaun LePage   |   May 28, 2006

I. Introduction

A.   Songs 1-4

B.    Greeting and Offering

1.     Tim is out of town this morning, so I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to do something a little different this morning. The good news is, we’re going to sing a little bit extra. The bad news is, I’m going to preach a little bit less.

2.     Normal Greeting and Offering.

C.   Songs 6-7 (You’re Worthy and Beth’s special, Knees To The Earth)

D.   Let children go to Sunday School

E.    Song 8

II.   Body

A.   Praise

1.     David’s Praise

a)    David reported what God did and does (1-5): “1I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”

(i)   What God did—God’s record: turned to me, heard my cry, lifted me out of the slimy pit, set my feet on a rock, gave me a firm place, put a new song in my mouth

(ii)  What God does—God’s ways: blesses those who trust Him with wonderful and unspeakable blessings.

b)    David gave what God requires (6-8): “6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

(i)   David—more than almost anyone—knew that God was more interested in heart worship than religious duty. If someone brought sacrifices and offerings, but did not worship God from the heart, God was not impressed.

(ii) So, David brought himself. His heart. “Here I am” he said as he presented himself to God. “I desire to do Your will…Your law” David said, making it clear that he knew God’s glory and God’s will and heart obedience to God was what really mattered. David gave what God truly required: His heart.

c)    David proclaimed what God proclaimed (9-10): “9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.”

(i)   Earlier, David focused on God’s works and His ways. Here, he is focusing on who God is. By nature—if God never did another great work—He is great.

(ii) David proclaimed what God had revealed about Himself. God is righteous! God is faithful! God is Savior! God is love! God is true!

(iii)    What does it mean to “praise”? It means to boast about God. It means to boast about the greatest of God and righteousness and faithfulness and power and love and truth of God.

2.     Our Praise—Let’s follow David’s example.

a)    Report what God has done (1-5). Who would like to report what God has done in your life? Who would like to stand and express your gratitude for something God has done in your life?

b)    Give what God requires (6-8). We’ve already taken up an offering earlier, but remember that God requires more than mere obedience. He does require obedience and it really is an act of worship to give time and treasure and talents to God. But don’t think God needs your time to get things done. Don’t think God needs your treasures to finance His work. Don’t think God needs your talents to make His name great. But God does desire your heart-worship. He does desire that you would give from a cheerful and grateful heart. So, take a few minutes to offer yourself to Him. I’ll ask one of your elders to close on our behalf in praying a prayer of recommitment of Community Bible Church to His glory and His will.

[ Sing song #11—Take My Life And Let It Be ]

c)    Proclaim what God proclaims (9-10). David proclaimed God’s righteousness. His faithfulness. His love. His truth. I’m going to ask five or 10 of you to proclaim God’s greatness out loud—in “the great assembly” as David put it. I invite you to use this formula if it is helpful: “God, You are ______ (righteous, faithful, love, truth, etc.), and I will proclaim this to the world around me.”

[ Sing song #12—The Heart of Worship ]

B.    Prayer

1.     David’s Prayer

a)    David asked God to protect him (11-15): “11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.”

(i)   Protection from troubles within (11-13): “My sins.”

(ii)  Protection from troubles without (14-15): “All who seek to take my life.”

b)    David asked God to produce fruit in him (16): “16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, ‘The Lord be exalted!’”

(i)   Joy and gladness are the fruit of spiritual maturity. Hearts that love God and lives that exalt the Lord are the fruit of spiritual maturity.

(ii) David was praying that God would produce fruit in and through all committed believers—“all who seek You…those who love Your salvation.”

c)    David asked God to provide for him (17): “17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.”

(i)   He first recognized how needy he was before God.

(ii) He also recognized that God—Elohim—was his help and deliverer. His only hope.

(iii)    On the basis of his own need and God’s ability, David asked that the Lord would “think of him and not delay” in providing for his needs. Isn’t that great?! David was so honest! God, help me and “do not delay!”

2.     Our Prayer

a)    Ask God to protect us (11-15). As David prayed, we need to pray that God would protect us from troubles within and troubles without. We need God to protect us from our own sinfulness as well as the attacks of the forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms. I want to ask four of you to pray for protection: 1) for each individual believer in CBC; 2) for each family in CBC; 3) for the leadership of CBC; and 4) for all Bible-believing churches in Lawrence and worldwide.

b)    Ask God to produce fruit in us (16). I’m going to give you a few minutes of silence to pray for three things: 1) That God would produce fruit in every individual in CBC; 2) That God would produce fruit through our unified efforts to serve Him—the ministry of CBC; and 3) That God would produce fruit in and through the other Bible-believing churches in Lawrence and worldwide.

c)    Ask God to provide for us (17). Just like David, we are poor and needy before God. But we’re praying to the same Deliverer to whom David prayed. God is able to meet our needs. Let’s approach Him now—recognizing our great needs and remembering His great ability. Please stand and allow me to pray for us in this way:

(i)   Lord, we recognize that we are needy before You. But you have invited us to ask in Your name. You tell us that we have not because we ask not.

(ii) So, Lord, we come before You—our only Help. Our only Deliverer.

(a)  We ask that You would provide for our spiritual needs.

(b)  We ask that You would provide opportunities for this little church—Your little church—to be salt and light for You.

(c)   We ask that You would bless those efforts and grow us numerically so that our influence can expand in this community that Your name might be glorified.

(d)  We ask that You would provide for our physical, material and financial needs. We pray that You would provide the wisdom needed to use this building and this property and the offerings and resources You provide in the very best way possible. That these earthly, temporary things might be used for heavenly, eternal purposes.

III. Closing

A.   Sing songs 15 and 16.

B.    Prayer of Benediction

C.   Announcements