Hallelujah, Thine The Glory

Good morning Church!

Announcements:

I need to have a quick meeting, right after the service, with all of the men who plan on helping next Sunday with the Mother’s Day breakfast. Even if you can’t cook, but still want to help, please stay for the meeting because we have some things that we just need to have brought in and donated.

We will be redrawing names for our fellowship groups tonight.

Next Sunday, May 8th, is our Mother’s Day Breakfast. It will start at 8:30 AM before the service.

May 14th is our Spring cleaning day here at the church starting at 9 AM.

The last week of July will be our VBS. Our theme this year is Zoomerang! If you plan on helping during VBS, please see Keshia today, so that she can get your shirt sizes. Otherwise, we are going to order so many shirts in different sizes, and it will be a first-come, first-serve basis.

We are also asking for donations of pool noodles. These will be used to make certain decorations for VBS, so if you would like to donate, that would be awesome!

Praise Reports:

We had five of our youth give their hearts to Christ this last Wed evening.

We started our new study on Revelation last Sunday night, and it was the biggest Sunday night crowd we have had since we started our Sunday night service back!!! There were lots of questions, and it was an amazing study!!!

Prayer Requests:

Joe Thomason

Sabrina Melton

Tithes

Children’s Church

Doxology:

This is my Bible. It is God’s Holy Word. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words within my heart that I might not sin against God! Amen!!!

Open Bibles To: Psalm 113

Context

For the next couple of weeks we are going to walk through Psalms 113-118. These Psalms have been rendered as Psalms of praise, among others throughout the book. Since we are currently focusing on the idea of praise, it seemed fitting that we would hang out right here for a couple of weeks.

All of the Psalms are special in their own way, but these particular Psalms form a group of songs that were used in OT times as part of their religious festivals. These psalms were especially important in the celebration of Passover. In Jewish homes everywhere, Psalms 113-114 were sung before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115-118 were sung at the close of the meal. This custom makes these particular psalms especially significant for us who follow Jesus Christ. Out Lord sang these very songs as He observed Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples before His crucifixion.

As we move throughout this first Psalm, we are going to see a pattern set forth by the author: Praise, Position, Praise, Position & Praise.

Content

Praise

Concise (vv. 1b, 3b)

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Names of God

The name of God holds an important key to understanding the doctrine of God and the doctrine of revelation. The name of God is a personal disclosure and reveals His relationship with His people. His name is known only because He chooses to make it known. To the Hebrew mind, God was both hidden and revealed, transcendent and immanent. Even though He was mysterious, lofty, and unapproachable, He bridged the gap with mankind by revealing His name.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Names of God

The truth of God’s character is focused in His name. The divine name reveals God’s power, authority, and holiness. This accounts for Israel’s great reverence for God’s name. The Ten Commandments prohibited the violation of God’s name (Exod. 20:7; Deut. 5:11). Prophets spoke with authority when they uttered God’s name. Oaths taken in God’s name were considered binding, and battles fought in the name of God were victorious. Other nations would fear Israel not because it was a mighty nation but because it rallied under the Lord’s name. In the NT God’s name is manifested most clearly in Jesus Christ. He is called “the Word” (John 1:1), and Jesus Himself makes the claim that He has revealed the name of God (John 17:6). God’s name is His promise to dwell with His people.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Names of God

El is a generic term for God or deity.

The unique thing about the name of God is that it is used many times in conjunction with other terms to explain the character of God. Here in just a moment, we are going to speak about “El-Shaddai”, or “God Almighty”.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Names of God

The name El is frequently combined with other nouns or adjectives. Some examples are: Isra-el (One who is ruled by God), Beth-el (House of God), Peni-el (Face of God). In the crucifixion narrative (Mark 15:34) Jesus employed a form of El when he cried from the cross, “Eloi, Eloi,” “My God, My God,” quoting Ps. 22.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Names of God

The covenant name for God was “Yahweh.” Israel’s faith was a new response to God based on His disclosure. This name was so unique and powerful that God formed a covenant with His people based upon His self-revelation. Yahweh titles appear in English translations as Jehovah. See YHWH.

The name of God was so powerful, that they would not spell the whole Word out. They would only use the consonants.

The name of God is so reverent that a commandment actually made it into the ten commandments regarding it: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Did you know that the breaking of that commandment was punishable by death? That’s right. When you took God’s name in vain, they killed you. It was understood by everyone, from the young to the old, that you simply did not do that, at all, ever!!!

That is how much glory, reverence, and respect they gave to God. His name was above every name. His name above everything else. His name was only spoken of with reverence and respect. It was never cursed; it was never used illegitimately; they feared His name. It was mighty, heavenly, majestic, glorified, and awesome!

Remember, one’s name is the gateway to their identity. If the name is revered, the person is too.

Constant (vv. 2b, 3a)

Not only is our praise to be concise, it is also to be constant. Look at the verses.

In everything and every place, the name of God is to be praised.

Position

His Position (vv. 4-5)

Exodus 3:14 NKJV

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Our Position (vv. 2)

Blessed in this verse actually means to kneel. We are to kneel before the name of the Lord.

Where They Meet (vv. 6-8)

He takes the unlovable and shows them love. He takes the lost and gives them direction. He takes the trodden and lifts them up. He takes the unwanted and shows them desire. He takes the less fortunate and pours out His blessings. He takes those who cannot help themselves and gives them a better life.

Commitment

Praise

Hallelujah (vv. 1a, 9c)

I told you at the beginning of the message, that these particular Psalms were known as the “Hallel Psalms”. Hallel is a Hebrew word for praise.

When you see this phrase, “Praise the Lord”. In Hebrew, it actually says “Hallel, Jah.” Jah is a shortened version of the name of God, YWHW.

When you put those words together, you get the phrase: Hallel Jah, Hallel Jah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, He is worthy.

Hallelujah, He is awesome.

Hallelujah, He is wonderful.

Hallelujah, He is El-Shaddai.

Hallelujah, He is YWHW/Jehovah.