Worship Through Psalms, Psalm 146

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Rolls Royce Boat Tail - approx $28M

Psalms 146-150, closing group of psalms of praise

Just like life, all throughout, trials, struggles, triumphs, reliance on God, good friends and family, betrayal, frustration, relief...

PRAISE THE LORD - what matters

Important Aspects of Worship

1) Worship is work (not passive)

Culture - says life is to be fun, effortless; so people come to expect that; people come to church expecting that - like “if it’s worth doing, it must be easy”

2) Worship must engage your mind

If worship is praising God for Who He is, then we must learn and know Who He is

That means thinking about His attributes

Must think on, reflect on, what God is like and what He has done

3) Worship is only possible because He has revealed Himself to us

So the Bible (what Bible says, God says) must be central to our worship servic

Worship is our response to Him

4) Worship is personal

Psalm 146:2, for example

Nobody else can do it for you

It’s also corporate - a bunch of people worshiping personally, together, with others

Problems with our worship - all need to address

We are tempted to value others more than we value God

Trusting politicians to solve problems (especially the ones we vote for or like)

We look to scientists and educators

We are tempted to value our selves more than we value God

The psalms - a model approach to approaching God in authentic worship (“worth-ship”)

No matter the situation

Psalms draw us closer to Him - intimately

God loves hearing from us, especially using His Word

The spectrum of praise

What are your thoughts on worship?

Raised hands, joyful noise?

Grief, frustration, fear?

Songs of praise, cries of desperation, open, honest

Several different types of psalms - let’s see how we can relate to God

PSALM 146 - We Worship the Lord

1) Praise the Lord - Hallelujah

Great opening - actually a command to do this

QUESTIONS:

How do you praise the Lord

How are you neglecting to praise the Lord?

The psalmist, like us, presented with competing choices

Praise God

Praise Man (including self)

Praise God - eternal

Praise Man - mortal

“While I am alive here, existing here, I’m praising the Lord!”

Who/what else should we praise?

Acts 4:12 NASB95

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

No salvation in man - emphasized in Psalm 146 - real worship is director toward the Creator

Not leaders, rulers, “good” people, self

What actions can we take to show we trust God, fully?

2) Blessings, if God is your help, your object of praise

Take time to praise Him and His descriptions (vv 6-7)

Creator

Keeps our faith - security

Just - favors the oppresses (oppressed b/c of serving Him, not self-caused)

Compassionate

Compare these to men/”princes”

Take time to praise the actions of the Lord

Gives sight to blind - spiritually blind, opening their eyes to Hi

Raises up those who are bowed down - the humble

Loves (action) the righteous (those surrendered to His service and salvation)

Protects strangers/aliens - we as believers, are strangers here (Peter talks of that, too)

Supports the vulnerable

God identifies three groups typically looked down upon (aliens, widows, orphans) - not a cry for social justice, but realize that God shows compassion based on trust in Him - these groups did not bring these troubles on themselves - God is compassionate

Opposes/thwarts the wicked - not our job, vengeance is the LORD’s, as in Rom 12:19

Romans 12:19 NASB95

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

It is a BLESSING that we do not have to be concerned with or worried about the world’s evil ways

BIGGEST BLESSING in trusting the LORD?

HOPE

3) God will reign…forever

emphasize each word. God…Will…Reign…Forever = HOPE

Praise HIM

Or praise someone or something else - you do have the choice

Priorities

God knows who/what you praise

So does everyone else

Can you be like this psalmist - “I will praise the Lord”

Hallelujah - Praise the Lord (the psalm ends as it begins)

You have the ability to serve, to praise, the LIVING GOD

Open your day - PTL

End your day - PTL

Fill your day - PTL

Let people see you PTL...

...and don’t settle for less

Lots of choices, and you don’t have to worry about being able to afford the best

Jesus already paid it all, for you

Don’t settle for less.