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 9

F.    Introduction of Psalm 40

1.     As many of you know, I led worship for 12 years in the church we attended prior to coming here. Shortly after I started leading worship, I began to feel somewhat ignorant about worship. So, I began to explore the Scriptures more and more regarding the subject of worship. One of the most meaningful things I did during that time was study the Book of Psalms. I figured 150 psalms, 150 days. That’s about five months—give or take a few weeks. Well, I actually spent about five years of my devotion time in the Book of Psalms. I found that one day per psalm just wasn’t enough. I often spent weeks reading the same psalm over and over to try to understand it. Now, I’m a slow learner, but I don’t think that’s the only reason it took me so long. The Psalms are rich and powerful and true to life. I’m forever grateful that God gave us this book of songs.

2.      One of the things I realized as I studied the Psalms was that they are best utilized when we respond to them. When we follow the example of those who wrote them. When we use them as models for worship and prayer.

3.     That’s what we’re going to do today with Psalm 40. As I said, this service is going to be a little different. We normally have two very distinct sections in our worship service: song service and preaching. But this morning, I’m going to ask you to bear with me as we merge those two sections. We’re going to look at the Word of God, then respond to it with testimony and with song and with prayer.

4.     One of our core values is prayer. I know that sounds like a no-brainer—of course Christians value prayer, that’s what Christians do. But by listing prayer as a core value, your elder board is acknowledging that apart from the supernatural hand of God, we can do nothing significant as a church body. So it’s a statement of our desire to become more and more dependent upon God in the days ahead and it’s a commitment to pray—as well as to encourage prayer. My hope is that this morning’s service would be refreshing to you—not only as we worship and pray together, but also in your personal prayer life in the days ahead. Please turn with me to Psalm 40.

II.   Body

A.   Praise

1.     David’s Praise

a)    David reported what God did (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: Based on what God has done in his life, David makes a broader application—for all who read Psalm 40: God 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 does (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 ]

Heart of Worship

E                             B                                   AWhen the music fades and all is stripped away                      Bsus  BAnd I simply comeE                       B                                       ALonging just to bring something that’s of worth                                  Bsus BThat will bless Your heart

F#m                    E                 B   I’ll bring You more than a song                      F#mFor a song in itself                    E                BIs not what You have requiredF#m                       E               BYou search much deeper within                                           F#mThrough the way things appear                         E            BYou’re looking into my heart

E                                         B  I’m coming back to the heart of worship               F#m                         A             BAnd it’s all about You, It’s all about You, JesusE                                        BI’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it                F#m                          A              B          AWhen it’s all about You, It’s all about You, Jesus!

E                            B                                  A   King of endless worth, No one could express                               Bsus BHow much You deserveE                                     B                           A   Though I’m weak and poor All I have is Yours                     Bsus BEvery single breath.(© 1999 Kingsway's Thankyou Music, Redman, ARR ICS UBP CCLI#402841) 

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.

| You Alone (VCVCC)Verses:D     D/F#    G               DYou are the only One I need!!!!!! D/F#     G                          D

I    bow all of me at Your feet!!!!!! D/F# G                  D   D/F#  G  

I    worship You alone!!!!!! D      D/F# G                           D

You have given me more than I!!!!!! D/F#     G                            D

could ever have wanted and I!!!!!! D/F#     G            

want to give You my                        D   D/F#  G   heart and my soul Chorus:!!!!!! D   D/F#  G       

You     alone are Father!!!!!!          D  D/F#  G       

And You     alone are good!!!!!! D   D/F#  G       

You     alone are Savior!!!!!!          D  D/F# G                 D D/F# G 

And You    alone are GodWritten by David Crowder © 1998 worshiptogether.com songsCCLI #1756003  | Forever         G                                  Gsus       GGive thanks to the Lord, our God and King       Gsus                  GHis love endures forever       C                 For He is good, He is above all things                                 GHis love endures forever         D                 C/ESing praise! Sing praise!            G                          Gsus            GWith a mighty hand, and outstretched arm       Gsus                  GHis love endures foreverCFor the life, that’s been reborn                                 GHis love endures forever         D                 C/ESing praise! Sing praise! (Repeat)GForever God is faithfulEmForever God is strongD! Forever God is with us

C             G! Forever, Forever   

(Repeat Chorus; at end …You are…)

G                                  Gsus   GFrom the rising, to the setting sun       Gsus                  G His love endures forever!!                     C     

And by the grace of God, we will carry on!!                                  G

His love endures forever!!           D                C/E

Sing praise! Sing praise!  (Repeat)(© 2001 Worshiptogether.com, Chris Tomlin, ARR ICS UBP CCLI#402841)   |

B.    Announcements

C.   Prayer of Benediction