Psalms Week 2 - Learning to Praise God

Intro/Welcome

Series

We are in week 2 of a series called: Psalms - Learning to Talk with God

psalms as a model and method to talk with God

Last week we looked at Psalm 1 and I said that

God is speaking today

The key to hearing Him is the Word of God

Though he speaks outside of his word, he will never speak contrary to it.

As we learn to talk with God:

God’s Word is our first importance, foundation, filter and final authority.

Today

Today we come to the foundation of learning to talk with God.

Being able to hear God more clearly comes from being able to Praise Him.

Praising God tunes our hearts to hear His Voice

A word on praise.

We naturally praise what we value

We all do this naturally of the things we value.

Praise is the natural and spontaneous response to something we admire, appreciate, value, find worth in.

Think of a beautiful sunset, a great story/move, a shiny new car, finding your dream home, a moving song.

Praise is the natural and spontaneous response to something we find worthy/enjoyable

much in the same way that laughter overflows from a good joke or something humorous.

We all praise what we value.

It is an experience of enjoyment

Praise is not complete until expressed

CS Lewis:

“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation...the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.

It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is;

to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch;

to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with

Praise Invites Others to Join / It is communal

We also invite others to praise what we value in hopes that they too will experience enjoyment.

These will come into clear focus as we look at Psalm 145.

The point is just that whether we can put words to it or not, we all know experientially what praise is supposed to look like

We all do it naturally, expressively and communally.

Praising God

The Psalms regularly tell us to Praise God

and they teach us how

they give us words

Stats on Categories of Psalms:

About 30% (27%) of the book of Psalms are Psalm of Praise

About 40% are psalms of Lament

The other 30% are Hymns, Royal, Wisdom, Thanksgiving and Psalms of Trust

Nearly every Psalm, except 1 (Ps 88) includes elements of praise.

Praise then is foundation to a thriving/flourishing relationship with God

Praise is a way that we talk with God.

Cs Lewis says:

God communicates his presence to us through our praise of Him.

Psalm 145

We are going to look at Psalm 145 today

The last five psalms in the book are psalms of Praise

go there in your Bible.

My name is

Welcome the Church // Online

Pray

Luke 4:18–19 (CSB)

18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Isaiah 61:1–3 (CSB)

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.

Psalm 145.

Let’s jump right into Psalm 145.

Psalm 145:1–2 (CSB)

1 I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever.

2 I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever.

There is a very important point right here in the first verses.

Notice the language:

“I will”

Praising God is a choice

It is an act of the will // of volition

it means we have to choose to praise

This means there are barriers to Praising God

Anybody ever felt hindered in their praise of God?

Barriers to Praising:

Distraction

We have so many things vying for our attention, some good and some bad

Demands (Busyness)

Similar to the first, we are all so busy all the time.

This lack of rest, lack of movement is a barrier to praising God

b/c we are filled with such anxieties

Devils

We have and enemy bent on keeping us busy and distracted

The Devil hates when we praise God

you want the devil to flee form you: Start Praising God

Despair/Depression

We are so weighed down by life that we don’t have the energy to praise

Fake

We think that if we praise God it will be fake

Our words will be empty

But what we fail to see in all of these is the power of God’s Word to shape us.

Remedy’s to Praise

That is why we have to be intentional about praising

We have to do it even when we don’t feel it

the feelings will come: The Word of God does not return void.

Power in God’s Word

These [psalms] cover a wide range of experiences and emotions, and give God’s people the words to express these emotions and to bring these experiences before God.

At the same time,

the psalms do not simply express emotions: when sung in faith, they actually shape the emotions of the godly

We have to persevere in it

Keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking.

Jesus said even the unjust ruler answered the persistent widow’s hounding — how much more will your Good Father in Heaven. (Luke 18:4-5

Luke 18:4–5 CSB

4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’ ”

Jesus in Luke 11:8-9 when a friend comes in the middle of the night to ask for bread.

Luke 11:8–9 CSB

8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

We have to choose to praise God and when we do, we will be surprised at the result.

It is an act of the will

How do we praise?

Psalm 145:1–2 (CSB)

1 I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever.

Notice the different words used here:

Exalt, bless, praise

Psalm 145 is loaded with words on how to praise:

11 Words for Praise

“extol” (v. 1: to tell how great God is);

“bless” (4x - vv. 1, 2, 10, 21: to speak well of God for his generosity);

“praise” (vv. 2, 3, 21: to glorify God for his magnificent qualities);

Praise: halel — Praise the Lord — Hallelujah

different words to express this action.

“commend” (v. 4: to speak highly of God); cf.

“to proclaim” (v6)

“declare” (synonyms in vv. 4, 6),

“meditate” (v. 5),

“speak” (v. 6),

“pour forth” (v. 7),

“sing aloud” (v. 7),

Singing can be a powerful expression of praise

One of the reasons the people of God have practiced it for so long.

“give thanks” (v. 10).

Let’s look at Psalm 145:4-7

Psalm 145:4–7 (CSB) [ANNOTATION]

4 One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. 5 I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. 6 They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.

So these are different ways to express praise to the Lord.

Praise God Daily and Forever more

Psalm 145:2 (CSB)

2 I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever.

When we choose to praise we need to praise daily

CS Lewis says something profound about praising God:

Praise as an indication of spiritual health.

CS Lewis

“Praise as inner health made audible”

When healthy we can find something to praise about almost anything, even the most imperfect, while unhealthy critics and cynics can find something bad in almost anything, even the most perfect.

“The bad ones continually narrowed the list of books we might be allowed to read.

The healthy and unaffected man, even if luxuriously brought up and widely experienced in good cookery, could praise a very modest meal:

the dyspeptic (bad-tempered) and the snob found fault with all. Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible.

this is something we have to build up daily, just like a muscle.

and the more we do it, the easier it will become

the less we do it, the harder it will become.

Forever

Because in reality, we will praise God forever and ever

And when we see Him as He is and in all His glory — we will spontaneously praise him for all eternity

CS LEWIS

Heaven is the consummated fulfillment of our souls desire and created intent. Unceasing worship.

Praise today is akin to tuning for an orchestral performance.

“The tuning up of the orchestra can be itself delightful, but only to those who can in some measure, however little, anticipate the symphony.

The Symphony is forever in heaven, we get little glimpses of that today, but it is the mere tuning for the grand eternal performance

Summary

So we need to choose to praise God

We should do so daily

and we will forevermore.

But who or what are we praising?

The psalmist gives us the words

meditating as pausing, paraphrasing and praying

What are we praising?

1. Who are we praising

Psalm 145:1 (CSB)

1 I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever.

My God and King

There is a relationship here.

Psalm 145:3 (CSB)

3 The Lord is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable.

The “Lord” = Yahweh (used 9x) in this Psalm

The personal name of God most High

The God of persons — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

The God who revealed himself to Moses

The God who rescued his people from Egypt

The God of Isreal and Judah

We are on a first name basis

2. His greatness

Psalm 145:3 (CSB)

3 The Lord is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable.

In short the GREATNESS of the Lord — of who he is

His greatness which is unsearchable — cannot be fathomed, expounded or exhausted

Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!

34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

i) His Glory

Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord in his vision in Isaiah 6.

His might works are the evidence and outflow of his very nature.

Psalm 145:5–6 (CSB)

5 I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.

6 They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness.

ii) His very Nature

Psalm 145:8–9 (CSB)

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. 9 The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made.

Psalm 145:17 (CSB)

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.

The essence of who God is, his very nature.

This is the very name that God revealed to Moses on the mountainside

Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB)

6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

His greatness and majesty and glory are revealed through his might works.

What we are praising?

Praising His mighty Works

Psalm 145:5–6 (CSB)

5 I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.

6 They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness.

1. His Past Might Works // Remembering

Psalm 145:4 (CSB)

4 One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts.

His Creation (Psalm 19)

His provision to Israel (Psalm 78)

His Salvation of Israel from Pharoah (Psalm 78)

His constant provision

remembering

2. His present mighty works

His Rule — His Kingdom

Psalm 145:10–12 (CSB)

10 All you have made will thank you, Lord; the faithful will bless you.

11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your might, 12 informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Psalm 145:13 (CSB)

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your rule is for all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his actions.

You might say his promises

Psalm 145:14–20 (CSB)

14 The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed.

Psalm 145:14 (ESV)

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:15–20 (CSB)

15 All eyes look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.

18 The Lord is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves them. 20 The Lord guards all those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked.

Meditating on these

These are great promises

And these very words have been a great encouragment in my life, time and time again.

Pause & Reflect

Paraphrase

Pray & Praise

Praying this text. Clinging to these promises

When you are feeling down, depressed oppressed:

Psalm 145:14–20 (CSB) 14 The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed.

When you are being humbled or are humbling yourself

Psalm 145:14 (ESV) 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

When you are feeling dissatisfied, discontent

Psalm 145:16 (CSB) 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

When you are usnure if you can trust the Lord

Psalm 145:17 (CSB) 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.

When you feel like he is not there

Psalm 145:18 (CSB) 18 The Lord is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity/in truth

Psalm 145:19–20 (CSB) 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves them. 20 The Lord guards all those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked.

Talking with God

Now we are talking with God

We are praising Him

Praising his promises

connecting to Him.

Our hearts are tuned to Him

Praising His Greatest Work

Of course the greatest source of our praise comes from the greatest work he performed.

He sent his only and only son, to bear our sins

to bridge the gap

to bring us back

to reconcile our relationship to the father

so that we could enjoy Him and all the benefits of being in the family of God.

This is the majesty and splendor and glory of God — Jesus Chrsit

The God who dwelt amongst us

John 1:1 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The God who now dwells in us who believe

Galatians 2:20 CSB

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The God who will return to take us Home with Him

John 14:2–3 CSB

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

It is in Jesus that the greatest, the mightiest act of God’s love was done.

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

It is in Jesus that we see Psalm 145:8-9 have their fullest expression

Psalm 145:8–9 CSB

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. 9 The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made.

Love of God is the greatest expression of our praise

We love becuase he first loved us

1 John 4:9–11 CSB

9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

Jesus life, death and resurrection is the greatest act of God’s love

and it brings us into this kind of relationship with Him

our response is to praise Him

Will you praise God?

Psalm 145:21 (CSB)

21 My mouth will declare the Lord’s praise; let every living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.

The question for us is:

Will we choose to praise God.

to recognize both Who he is (revealed in Scripture)

and what He has done for us

And what he is still doing

And what he has promised to do

Praising God tunes our hearts to hear His Voice

it is the foundation for a flourishing conversational relationship with God

God communicates his presence to us when we are praising Him.

Closing Prayer