The Psalms
Intro
√ Read Psalm 66
Captures the heart of the Psalms - worship God!
Know Him
Reckon with Him
Make all circumstances opportunities of worship
New Testament parallel found in Phil. 4:4-7 - READ.
√ The Psalms
A collection of sacred Hebrew poems - written by different authors over many hundreds of years, inspired by the Holy Spirit and intended for use in worship.
Not in chronological order
Grouped by common theme (ie. God's faithfulness to the righteous)
What I love most about the Psalms is that they record the simple, honest, experiences of human beings as they relate to God in every conceivable experience.
From the highest high, to the lowest low.
Ex. Every human experience
From that mountain top experience where one's heart is bursting with love and awesome wonder at the revelation of God's glory…
…to the lowest pit when one is confronted with the corrupt sin in the heart.
I find great encouragement and hope in the Psalms.
Why?
Because I find that the saints of old of whom God has testified that He loves…
…where completely open and honest with God about their thoughts and feelings.
Ex. Have you ever thought that you needed to put on a different face, or attitude before coming to God?
The Psalms remind us that we never fool God, nor do we need to try!
He knows what we're thinking before we think it.
He knows what we're feeling.
He knows when we're distracted.
He knows when we're full of ourselves.
He knows when our faith is weak, or strong.
He knows when we're in sin & when we're victorious over sin.
God loves His people and wants us to relate to Him in a real way - a human way…
…in which we bare our souls before Him in perfect humility and worship Him in every circumstance.
Ap. Haven't you ever wished that you could really tell someone what was going on in your head? We find in the Psalms that we can do that with God!
I believe that is why we find the psalms have always been such a comfort to the saints.
√ The comfort of the saints
The Psalms have stood as a refuge to the hero's of the faith throughout the history of God's people.
Tholuck wrote:
"What a record it would be if one could write it down, all the spiritual experiences, the disclosures of the heart, the combats and the conflicts which men in the course of the ages have connected with the words of the psalms. What a history, if we could discover the place the book has occupied in the inner life of the heroes of the Kingdom of God."
Ex. Devotional books by Amy Carmichael, Oswald Chambers, etc.
Each found comfort in their own walk of faith as they were able to relate to the writers of the psalms no matter what human experience they found themselves.
All leading to worship of God.
The value of the Psalms
√ Worship
John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Obviously, worship is important to God!
The enduring value of the Psalms is that we find contained in them the revelation of the truth about worship.
Who we are to worship
How we are to worship
When we are to worship
Very important because it is my opinion that the Church today has by and large has missed the mark regarding the truth of worship.
Ex. Christians today
Judge worship by whether or not the music was "good"; whether or not they were entertained; or how it made them feel.
But, true worship as defined in the Psalms, and spoken of by Jesus, is first and foremost all about God! While music certainly plays an important part - music is not the focus of true worship.
God is the central focus of worship.
The Hebrew word translated "worship" actually means…
"prostration"
…that is, to get on your face before God!
The psalms of our great value to us because they tell us what worship is, and how humans are to worship God.
Worship
√ The conception of God produces worship
We find that Man has in his nature the need to worship.
Ex. Every society in the history of Man worshiped something - typically some force of Nature.
However, true worship that pleases God is worship that is directed toward Him.
How then can Man worship Him whom cannot see, or does not know?
The Psalms reveal the Person of God through the Names by which He calls Himself - primarily Jehovah; Elohim & Adonahy.
Jehovah - "LORD" (best reflected in Psalm 23)
Speaks of His Being
The becoming One
This is the Name used of God more often than any other in the Psalms. The Name is that which was given to Moses when he asked God by what Name he should speak.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
The idea being communicated to Man is that God is, and always has been, and is self existent (vs. created); therefore, He is to be worshiped.
Perhaps more exciting than that, Jehovah alone is able to become all that His people ever need - He is the "becoming One".
Ex. Psalm 23:1
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want"
Ap. Wow! The God of scripture is a God in Whom we find all that we shall ever need!
So, we worship Him because of Who He is and for what He's done and is doing in our lives!
Elohim - "God" (best reflected in Psalm 68 & 46)
Speaks of His might
Operating in power
An interesting Name as in the Hebrew it is plural! Not necessarily in number, rather, it speaks of God's power which is so infinite that no singular can express it!
But of even greater significance is that in the Psalms we find that God uses His awesome might on our behalf!
Ex. Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble."
Ap. Friends - most of what goes on in the world is beyond our power. Isn't it awesome that we have God on our side and can turn to Him for help!
So, we worship Him because is Almighty and because He uses His power to bring about good in our lives.
Adonahy - "Lord" (best reflected in Psalm 86)
Speaks of His Lordship
Sovereignty
Used less often than "LORD", or "God", but - the principle is of His Lordship is revealed throughout the Psalms.
Adonahy means "Lord" in its simplest form and speaks of the relationship that we have with God. That is, He is Master and Lord because He is sovereign, and we are His servants.
Ex. Psalm 86:1-3
"Bow down Your ear, O LORD (Jehovah), hear me; For I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God (Elohim); Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord (Adonahy), For I cry to You all day long."
What is significant to me is that God - the Sovereign Lord of the universe would use you and me for anything!
Ap. The Psalms constantly remind us that God is in charge, and yet, He chooses to use imperfect people like you and me to do His will here on earth.
√ The attitudes of man in worship
Submission - the right answer to God's sovereignty
Reverence (fear of God)
Obedience
Trust - the right answer to God's might
Honesty with God and Man
Courage to do what is right
Joy - the answer to God's Grace
Penitence
Adoration
Bottom line
√ Worship God!
Know Him
Reckon with Him
Make all circumstances opportunities of worship