A Hymn to the Creator- Psalm 33
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When you came to church this morning, what did you expect would happen this morning.
Did you expect singing? Did you expect Prayer?
Did you expect to sit and listen to a preacher for an hour..... Just seeing if your paying attention.
What did you come to expect when you come on Sunday morning.
Did you come to Worship?
If you did come to Worship, what is worship?
In the church here today, we call our good friend John, the morning’s worship leader.
Is worship only singing or is that we call as a part of our service.
After all, it has been said,
Johann Sebastian Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.”
He headed all of his compositions: ”J. J.,” the initials for, ”Jesus Juva” which means “Jesus help me.”
He ended them “S.D.G.,” the initials for, “Soli Dei Gratia” which means “To God alone be the glory.”
Source: Light Steps, Timothy W. Bowes
This morning’s Psalm is a Whole Psalm about worship. But Worship as defined by this Psalm may give you a Glimpse as to What God describes as worship.
Let’s Pray
Turn with me if you would to Psalm 33 and this morning we are not going to be reading the entire passage as a whole but will break this down into various parts. We are going to work through how the Psalmist describes the various parts of worship.
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.
If you have been reading through the Psalms, and getting to this Psalm, it might be a good idea to read these Psalm 32 & 33 together. I’m not sure if the two were intended to be read together but it would be good to have them as Part one and Part two.
Part One seems to end where Part 2 begins
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Invitation to Worship (vs 1-3)
Invitation to Worship (vs 1-3)
This is an invitation to worship.
But why worship.
You see Psalm 32 dives into the the problem with Sin. It walks the reader through the deep understanding of the cause and effect of our sin in our lives. It ends up with praise and a call to worship because there is Hope found in the Gospel or the Good News that there is a remedy for the sin in our lives.
The fundamental problem with Sin is covered in that Psalm and that Causes us to praise and worship.
Ps 33 begins with praise knowing the problem of sin and then answers that problem with a broader context . So broad that the gospel or good news relates to the whole time and space.
You will see as we work through this Psalm that it begins with praising and ends with an acknowledgement of trust in the one in whom we praise.
This Psalm begins with praise him, not on a small scale but a large scale.
Shouting.
I think one of the greatest examples of praising would be the children’s performances. You know the kind.
My boys at one time in their school education attended a Christian school and the school would often hold concerts.
Most often as the group of children would assemble on the stage to sing a worship song, there would always be that one child the would grab the chance to highlight their own particular talent.
That talent never appeared in the practice because the leader would have address the student in the delicate matter of appropriate up front display, but this child seems to be drawn to the energy of the parents in the crowd and begins to “Shout” the words of the song and in some cases includes impromptu actions.
You know the scene, if you don’t, go home and spend some time on youtube and the talent lives on in cyberspace.
The Psalmist begins by asking us to Praise him loudly.
The Psalmist begins by asking us to Praise him loudly.
But who is to praise.
“O you righteous”
One commentary writes,
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (I. Song of Praise (33:1–3))
The reason it is “fitting for the upright to praise him” must be understood against the background of vv. 4–19. The call to praise (vv. 1–3) assumes that the godly know the Lord, submit themselves to his lordship, and affirm a renewal of hope and trust in his love and deliverance (vv. 20–22). Every time the godly meet together for the praise of the Lord, they have further reasons for singing to him. The renewal of his loving acts on behalf of his own gives rise to a response of gratitude in a “new song” (v. 3). A.A. Anderson writes, “the same old words could allude to fresh experiences of God’s providence” (1:261).
Have you come here this morning BECAUSE you have a greater reason to praise him than last week?
As you look back over the week, whether it has been a good or bad week, you have come with a reason to praise God.
The Psalmist is calling out to the people to offer up your praise. To come to the group with a strong desire to praise.
Like most churches, problems can arise in the picking of songs. People if they are the complaining type, it most often begins with the songs.
They sing them too fast. They sing them too slow. They are two old, why can’t we sing new songs. I don’t know these new songs.
Do we really have to repeat the line so many times.
or my favourite, “These songs didn’t get me into the worship mode”
Folks, we need to stop expecting our personal favourites will enhance our worship experience, rather we need to come to worship, ready to worship because we want to worship.
As disciples of Christ we come,
Knowing God, Growing in Christ, Giving our response
No matter what the worship, we will worship.
We will shout for Joy because we have a reason for worship.
Notice after the Psalmist calls upon the choir to get ready to shout, he then turns to the musicians.
Make melody, use a variety of instruments, play skillfully with loud shouts.
It’s a call for excellence in all that we do, and especially in our preparation for worship.
It’s good to know folks, that our worship team doesn’t just arrive a moment before they beginning of the service and say, well what shall we play today.
There is thought from our four capable worship leaders. There is prayer involved in the choosing of the songs. There is practice involved in the preparation of the songs.
Why, because as the Psalmist states, we need to bring our best to God. We need to be skillfully using the talents and gifts God has entrusted us with to bring praise and glory to God.
This may be the call to the leaders who leading, but don’t forget the verse one.
All need to worship, All need to praise, All need to worship in our own way and join in. If you have a voice like mine as my voice instructor would say, I need to sing the song on a hill far, far away. we all do our part in bringing worship to God.
The Reason for our Worship
The Reason for our Worship
Once the Psalmist calls out to the people to worship, challenges the leaders to lead well, he then sets out in his exhortation the reason why we should worship.
Are we like the little boy, who when asked to get ready for church say, “Do we have to go to church?” as he has has to put his lego down and get dressed in fine clothes to come to gather.
Why do we gather together every Sunday morning for corporate worship? Are you called to gather because we earn stars in our walk as believers?
Look at the next two verses.
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.
The Word Creates Worship (vs 4-5)
The Word Creates Worship (vs 4-5)
The Word creates a heart of worship.
The Word is Upright, trustworthy, reliable, faithful.
The words describe the power of God.
It’s the very foundation of our faith.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
It all begins here.
The Word Creates Worship (vs 4-5)
The Word Creates Worship (vs 4-5)
The Psalmist begins by showing the Word and work are the very covenant of Love. It is not just mere power but together with love and action the whole earth is held together because of the Word of God.
It will give us the reason why we come to worship.
Like I said earlier, maybe this week has been hard. Circumstances this past week have brought you down and yet now you hear, “I’m suppose to be happy”
I’m suppose to be upright, when all within me is starving for that love that I know God will give me.
I came this morning broken,
Folks, Church should be described as a hospital where the broken come to be healed.
We come seeking with a need for the saviour.
We need to know this. That
“Everything God does is right and true, and faithful to His own character”- Micheal Wilcock pg 113
If we truly believe in the sovereignty of God, we know that no matter what we face, we will worship God.
In worship we need to come to praise Him
Let me say this,
The French have a proverb, which states, “A good meal ought to begin with hunger.” It is hard to enjoy a meal when you are not yet hungry. But, when you are hungry, anything tastes good.
If we approach the Word with a hunger to be satisfied, we will be satisfied every time. Effective worship begins with a hunger for God.
Source: The Facts on File, Martin Manser
If you came this morning wanting to be filled, expecting to be filled, expecting to be encouraged.
Are you looking for the right source.
Are you seeking God’s Word, His presence, Him to come and fill you as you hunger and thirst for God.
The very Word of God will create a desire to Worship him. Our worship comes not for us wanting to be filled, but to seek after the one that will fill us.
Seeking Him, praising Him we will be filled.
The Psalmist moves on,
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.
The Word in Creation (vs 6-9)
The Word in Creation (vs 6-9)
To understand the full story of God so that we can worship Him, we are taken first to the creation story.
The reason we are to worship God is first the God creates worship, then secondly, the word was involved in the actual creation of all that we see.
When you are reading through the Psalms you see hints of creation in their Psalms
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
The assembly of the heavens, the darkest of night is not one to fear for by the dark night we can see God’s handiwork in the beauty of the stars all set in place by God. But this Psalm doesn’t go far enough
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
The vastness of the oceans and the seas and the river systems. A delicate balance that scientist spend years studying and monitoring its impact on the whole system, we attempt to control, rework, establish something that God has already set in motion, but this Psalm doesn’t go far enough
The Word in Creation (vs 6-9)
The Word in Creation (vs 6-9)
This Psalm 33 goes farther, He is concerned to show us not with the how the processed worked out, how things fit together that of a scientific process, rather he is clear to make know to us the How it come into being.
God Spoke it into being.
The Psalmist begins with the creation of the world and not just a God that created and left, but in this Psalm that He is actively involved in the creation and sustaining of the creations.
You see there are many beliefs that hold to the beginning of time, those explanations that state this world was created out of random, miss the creation from God.
God Spoke all this into being.
Vs 7 is a reminder of not only did he create out of nothing, but it gives that but aludes to a time in the people’s life their path of the great exodus.
It’s another reminder of God’s faithfulness to his chosen ones. That the creation had a plan from beginning to everlasting. It follows that pattern of Creation, Fall, Redeemed and restoration.
We look forward to the day that this perfect creation that has been marred will one day be restored with a new Heaven and Earth.
Vs 8 & 9 in the Word and creations draw our attention to the Who of creation.
We stand in awe of him.
Why, because God Spoke.
Gen 1:2-3 “2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
God was there, The Spirit was there, and his very word was there to bring into existence.
The most exciting part of the reason for our worship is
Not just that the Word creates Worship
Or that the Word was involved in Worship, but as we look into the new testament, The actual Word of God became flesh.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Why do we worship?
The creator God, became flesh dwelt among us and His spirit was given, the same spirit that was there hovering over nothing in creation, is with us today.
If you are full right now, and awestruck, the Psalmist continues
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!
The Word among the Nations (vs 10-12)
The Word among the Nations (vs 10-12)
We not only worship because he created worship, or that he was involved in the creation, but we also worship because He stands above and within all nations.
one person wrote:
“As God stood behind the creation of the world, so he stands behind its history. The universe follows its own rules, and humanity follows its own desires, yet it is God who writes the plan, just as it is He who sets the scene. As in their personal lives, so also on the world stage, godless people pursue their godless plans. But the Lord overrules them, so as to forward his own plans. In the end theirs comes to nothing and His stands forever.”- Wilcox pg 113
Are you struggling with the fact that the ruler of this world seems to be winning. He isn’t.
Our God is in control even when it seems hopeless.
What we are experiencing today is not out of God’s reach or understanding, it didn’t take him off guard. He is working out his plan, and I’m not sure about you, but I am looking forward to the day, that we look back and see the unfolding of God providence’s plan.
Next the Psalmist writes,
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.
The Sight of the Word (vs 13-15)
The Sight of the Word (vs 13-15)
We see the reason for our worship is first found in the Word who created worship, then the word was involved in worship, is involved in the nations, and now we read the sight perspective of God.
We see God watching the people’s response to His Word.
Roger Babson, an American historian, was visiting the president of Argentina about one hundred years ago when the president said to him: “You are a student of history, Will you please tell me why it is that South America, with her unlimited resources, and having been settled earlier than North America, has nevertheless made much slower progress in civilization and material prosperity?”
Mr. Babson threw the question back upon the president by saying, “Mr. President, you evidently have studied this question yourself, and I would be interested to know your answer to it.
The President replied that he thought the explanation lay in the fact that South America was settled by Spaniards who came seeking gold while North America was settled by the Pilgrim Fathers who came seeking God. Source: The University of Colorado Journal of Engineering, Volume XVII, No. 2
The Sight of the Word (vs 13-15)
There was a small song I was taught as a child, the refrain goes like this,
“Be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in love.”
The beauty of this statement is that the love that the father is watching is a love based upon how He knows us.
He created us, he knows our thoughts and our desires.
He also knows the thoughts of those who chose not to follow him.
One person wrote about the sight of the Word by saying this,
“These are not yet the eyes of compassion and care of which verse 18 will speak. This is the Lord who looks down, sees, watches, considers his friends, and his foes equally, and who acts upon what He sees a great deal more than they might like.” Wilcox pg 115
So the reason for our worship is that we have a father who is watching, yet knows us intimately.
and we can still follow this verse with our response to the reason why we worship.
Look at the next verses.
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. 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 and keep them alive in famine.
The Word’s Response to people (vs 16-19)
The Word’s Response to people (vs 16-19)
The final verses finish the Psalmist response of the people to the reason for our worship.
The picture is that of the plight of Exodus from Egypt but gives the people hope. Hope in God’s steadfast love.
Yet it is also a looking forward to a future event while the writer is penning the words.
Deliverance is coming. A day is coming, but for us that day has partially come.
Christ, the Word becoming flesh has come to restore unto us the hope of eternal salvation.
It is our ultimate response for our reason to worship.
We come to worship Christ.
It is why we sing, To God be the glory great things he has done.
The beauty in this is
that God responded to the people’s need before we even asked.
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.
Our response to the Word (vs 20-22)
Our response to the Word (vs 20-22)
Our response to the Word.
This morning’s Psalm started with a call to worship, did you hear it?
When you have that time alone with God do you come prepared to Worship.
As you gather in a group of two or three, Do you come prepared to Worship?
When we gather Sunday morning, or other corporate events, are we gathering to worship to the Word?
The Psalmist ends this Psalm with this idea,
It is at this point (verse 18 ) that God's unfailing love reappears as the hope of his people. The last three verses of the Psalm, our personal response, will speak of his love yet again, and of our hope not once but twice more. By the end we shall have realized something of the wonder of a sentence near the beginning, in verse five. Even grander than the cry of the seraphim in Isaiah 6 verse 3, that ‘the whole earth is full of his glory’, is a psalmist perception that the glory comes into focus in God's grace and mercy and that the earth is full of his unfailing love. Wilox- pg 114
Is this your response to God’s Word, His Message, His Gospel.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In Conclusion, as the worship team comes forward to allow us a time to respond, may I urge you to do just that, respond.
Respond by singing, respond by praising, respond by giving you life fully To God.
We have been invited by the Psalmist to worship, we have been told the reasons why we should worship, He has created us and calls us to worship, He sees all and is responding to us, let’s respond like Psalmist
ps 33:21 “21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”
Response to Worship
Response to Worship