Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The Psalm before us tonight is untitled and no author is attributed, but this Psalm is nonetheless just as powerful as those with titles and identified authorship.

In fact this Psalm teaches us about praise - why we praise, how we praise and what praise does for us.

The verbs in this Psalm are plural which gives indication that this Psalm is written to include the worshipping community at the sanctuary.

The entire Psalm is devoted to praise and is kind of an instruction on praise for us.

a quote from Sir William Temple about worship: (

‘To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.’

That is a wonderful definition of worship because it goes beyond, well beyond, our very functional view of worship as a couple of hymns and choruses, prayer, the offering, a message of some kind, and a conclusion.

Do you ‘have’ worship?

Or does God, through worship of Him, ‘have’ you?

Praise Is Fitting

The Psalmist begins with the call to rejoice in the LORD or to celebrate in the LORD, literally to produce a song with the voice as a response of joy in the LORD.

This call to produce a responding song of joy to the LORD is put out to the righteous ones.

The righteous ones are called to produce a song of joy - because praise from the upright or righteous is beautiful.

The upright being one whose behavior and way of being is in accordance with a standard.

Meaning this is right, proper suitable and definitely an appropriate response to the the LORD.

Praise is the Hebrew word (te - hee - la) it means worship or offering words of homage as an act of worship.

It is a fitting and proper action for those who have experienced the grace of God and His forgiveness to praise the LORD.

When one recognizes it is by God’s grace they have been saved it should be no problem to praise Him.

The Psalmist also instructs not only is praise fitting but how praise fits - how is it done.

The Psalmist gives two statements that praise is to be done instrumentally and vocally - which means everyone can praise Him and everyone who is righteous is to praise Him.

Make music is the sense to sing praises offering praises to Him using one’s voice as an instrument.

The voice is to sing with a joyful shout.

A loud joyful utterance, a warlike cry or a cry for battle.

Hallelujah - Hallels to Yah - Praises to God.

Hallelujah is the same in any language.

The instruments are to be played skillfully, which automatically speaks of practiced and learned.

The idea is the praise is an offering to the LORD and we are to offer our very best.

The best talent a person has should be offered when praising Him.

Also we are to keep our praise fresh.

The instruction is to sing a new song to Him.

A new song can be new in time or new in expression.

It is quite fascinating how the Spirit of God can make an old song new as our knowledge of God and His word grows or as we experience His presence afresh.

He can also open our hearts to a song completely new to us.

Remember “old songs” can be new and new songs are just as loved to God.

Praise is fitting and should be spontaneous and fresh - new mercies requiring new songs done well.

Focus On His Word

The psalmist moves us from praise being fitting to praise should focus on God’s word.

The word of the LORD is right and true.

The greatest importance is that our praise and worship offered to God must be scriptural.

We have no more right to sing a lie than a preacher has to speak a lie and we must be aware that not all songs are doctrinally correct.

God’s work is trustworthy and He loves righteousness and justice - because all these things are established by His word.

God’s word is powerful by it God has spoken, God has revealed Himself and God has created.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made and the stars from the breath of His mouth.

God spoke and it came into being, commanded and it came into existence.

God word is powerful in it what He has commanded and spoken will come to pass.

What God decrees happens therefore we must praise according to His right and true word.

As one considers creation and God’s word concerning it one is confronted with God’s unfailing love all through the earth - rejoice in the LORD.

He gathers the water of the sea like a heap or a pile.

He puts the depths - the floodwaters, the deluge into storehouses.

The earth should fear the one who commands by His word.

The inhabitants of the earth should be in awe.

Celebrate His Sovereignty

The psalmist also indicates here that our praise should be for the sovereignty of God.

This is a truth about God that should be celebrated.

We can sing and praise God even with the most ungodly nations because we know that God frustrates the counsel of nations.

God literally breaks their counsel, or the plans of nations.

He thwarts and discourages the plans of peoples.

Nations think they can refuse to permit God to rule, but God just overrules and accomplishes His will and desires.He turns the policies and plans of nations into nothingness.

God is sovereign throughout all of time - His word is established because He is able to establish it.

His counsel stands forever and His hearts plans from generation to generation.

God’s plans foils the plans of other nations and His purposes are sustained no matter what people decide to do.

Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, and happy are the people He has chosen to be His own possession.

Their plans and ways are not disrupted and overruled because their plans are God’s plans.

Surely a God with such powerful words and works is to be praised.

May we praise so we never lose the wonder of being the people of God!

Rejoice In His Faithful Love

Our praises should rejoice in the faithful love of God.

God is looking down from heaven above observing everyone.

He is involved and interested in the affairs of men.

He gazes on all the inhabitants - God sees all at the same time all from His spot in heaven.

He sees everything, and knows what is going on.

Then we see that not only does He see the outward happenings, but He also sees the inward and the works of the heart - motives and intents.

God doesnt just see us He sees through us.

This means God sees everything and there is nothing that escapes His eye.

We can hide our sin from everyone but God and therefore we will not be able to get away with them.

Those who are guilty of sin face punishment and wrath and there is no escape.

A king is not saved from God by a large army, is there even an army large enough?

No! A warrior is not going to be saved by his vast strength for God is stronger.

The horse though its power and speed promise safety and escape it cannot outrun God.

So what hope is there?

There is someone else the LORD is watching and looking for.

The LORD looks for the one who fears Him, and that one He keeps His eye on.

The one who fears the LORD is the one who doesnt try to save themselves, but instead depends and relies upon His faithful love.

The LORD is looking for those who will depend upon His faithful love - to rescue them!

Sing and shout and strum for joy the LORD desires to save any and all who would depend upon HIs love - and not their own ways.

God does not save the self-confident, but only the God-confident - He rescues and saves those who trust in Him.

Power of Praise

There is a power that comes from praising God in his word sovereignty and faithful love.

The power of praise is greater faith in God.

The one who praises God according to His word, celebrating His sovereignty and rejoicing in His faithful love is one that the psalmist describes here for us in the closing verses of this psalm.

Their increased faith is expressed in three ways.

First the one who praises God is able to wait upon God as their help and shield.

They wait patiently upon God trusting Him to be the rescuer and the defense for them.

The waiting is done with a hope in the LORD.

From worshipping the LORD they develop a peace in their hearts and can quietly wait for the LORD to work.

Second the one who praises has their heart rejoicing in the LORD because the heart that praises the LORD trusts the LORD knowing His word is powerful and true, and that He is righteous and just.

We worship and trust in His holy name.

Finally our hope is in the LORD and His unfailing love.

His hesed love that is faithful and true.