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To the Praise of His Glory
The praise of God changes us; it reorients us from self-centeredness to focus on God, reflecting on His faithful hand and just works.
Scripture: Psalm 111
Sermon Notes:
- The Psalms speak to us personally, reveal God’s attributes, teach us God’s Word, and instruct us in prayer and praise to God.
- Calvin said the Psalms are a mirror of the soul; in them we see a true reflection of ourselves, including our sin and failure.
- As we meditate on the Psalms we receive nourishment.
- Psalm 111 is a Psalm of praise, teaching us both why and how we must praise God: His works are great; His righteousness is forever; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
- Delight in God’s works leads to scientific study and praise.
- A holistic view of science involves delight and inquiry into God’s works which culminates in praise.
- To know God we need His written Word in addition to His works.
- For the psalmist, the conquest of Canaan was a reason to praise God, because the power of the works of His hands are faithful and just.
- God’s acts, including difficult acts of justice and judgment, are a cause of praise. They are blessings, good news for God’s people.
- When God puts an end to injustice and wickedness, the church responds in praise.
- The Psalm teaches that God is faithful and just in redemption.
- We celebrate Christ in this Psalm; the Passover lamb points to the Lamb of God.
- By Christ becoming the Son of Man, we are made sons of God.
- We praise God with our whole heart in the congregation of the upright by practicing the fear of the Lord.
- The entire Psalm recounts the wondrous, gracious, merciful works of God.
- Praising with our hearts is to praise God with the very core of our being.
- Orthodoxy is about right doctrine leading to right worship.
- Worship happens in the congregation of right worshippers sitting under the right Word.
- We praise the Lord by practicing the fear of the Lord, that is, reverent, obedient adoration (cf. Psalm 2:11-12).
- A person who fears the Lord so reverences, loves and adores God that he would tremble to sin even if there were no hell.
- We are to be the people of God who tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:1-2).
- There is no room for flippancy before our Holy God.
- Israel was warned in Deut. 8 not to forget. We are to continually cultivate remembrance and thankfulness to God (Eph. 5:20).
- The praise of God changes us; it reorients us from self-centeredness to focus on God, reflecting on His faithful hand and just works.
- Though our lives are in a state of flux, God and His acts are established forever.
- In our lives and witness we are to proclaim the excellencies of God.
Application Questions:
- Why according to Psalm 111 must we praise God?
- Why cannot science be separated from worship and theology?
- How is God’s justice a cause for praise? How can we avoid a wrong emotional reaction to God’s justice?
- What is the fear of God? How can we reflect the fear of God in our lives both individually and as a church?
- Give examples of how our lives are a theatre of God’s grace.
- How is right teaching (orthodoxy) necessary for right worship?
- How does the worship and praise of God change us?
- How can we proclaim the excellencies of God this week?