Approaching God - Worship from Psalms - May 22, 2022

ILLUST:

Psalms - model for approaching God - in authentic worship

No matter the situation

Psalms draw us closer to Him - intimately

The LORD loves hearing from us - especially using His Word

A Spectrum of Praise

What are your thoughts on worship?

Raised hands? Joyful noise?

Grief, frustration, fear?

Psalms can be songs of praise, cries of desperation

Open, Honest

8 Different Types of Psalms - related to worship and praise

TODAY: Praise - straightforward praise

Psalm 146 - READ

1) Opens with “Hallelujah” (or Praise the Lord)

Much more than a phrase

This is basically a command to praise

Question: How do you praise the Lord?

Question: How are you neglecting to?

Faced with contrasting choices:

Praise God - eternal

Praise man - temporal, mortal

Psalmist says: “While I am alive here, I am praising the Lord!” (emphasis on Lord)

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.”

Psalm 146 reminds us there is no salvation in man (POTUS, SCOTUS, reps, pastors, etc.)

Consider Romans 1:25

Romans 1:25 NASB95

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

No salvation in “good” people, leaders, rulers, SELF

There are actions to take to trust God fully

2) Blessing

If God is your object of praise

Take time to describe God

Creator

Keeps the Faith - ref

Justice for the oppressed- ref

Feeds the hungry - physically and more so spiritually

Frees the prisoners - those enslaved by the world

Praise the actions of the LORD

Sight to blind - spiritually

Raises up the bowed down - the humble

Loves the righteous - those who have surrendered to His care

Protects the strangers - we, as believers, following Him, are strangers here

Supports the most vulnerable - represented by orphans and widows

Opposes/thwarts the wicked

We stand up for Him and His truth

But the fight is HIS

Perspective: standing for Him looks like opposition to world, but it is really simply supporting Him, staying put and standing firm

God is the one who actively opposes the world

3) The LORD will reign forever

Do you praise Him?

Do you praise someone or something else?

PRIORITIES

Your decisions reflect the object(s) of your praise

Hallelujah - Praise the Lord - the ending of the psalm

Open your day with PTL

End your day with PTL

Fill your day with PTL

Let people see that you PTL