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[0:00] Heavenly Father, we praise you for your word. And now as we turn our minds and our hearts to look at Psalm 145, Lord, would you shape! us by your spirit into the image of Christ.

[0:14] We ask this for our good and for his glory. Amen. Friends, be seated. Well, it is very good to see you tonight. I'm Jacob.

[0:26] I'm one of the ministers here at the evening service. And if you're joining us for the first time tonight, or if you've been away this summer, tonight is the last week of our summer series on the Psalms.

[0:39] And we're looking at Psalm 145, which Elizabeth just read for us a few minutes ago. So turn there with me in the Pew Bible, which is right in front of you. It's the Blue Bible. It's on page 524.

[0:50] That'll be really helpful for you. The Psalms are for our spiritual formation. If we faithfully pray the Psalms and sing them and study them, they will shape us into the image of Christ.

[1:08] That is what they're for. And that's why we're studying them. And our Psalm this evening, Psalm 145, wants to shape us to be worshipers.

[1:20] To be worshipers. And we need to be shaped into worshipers, don't we? I don't know about you, but so much of the time, I am spiritually sleepy.

[1:33] My default mode is not worship. And more often than I'd like to admit, I am distracted. I am so caught up with myself that I don't even think about being a worshiper of God.

[1:49] Hopefully, I'm not the only one in the room. And if you are like me in this way, if you struggle with this, Psalm 145 is for us. Because it wants to convince us.

[2:02] It wants to convince our hearts that God is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our worship. And so with beautiful and poetic language, the writer of this Psalm, David, shows us three reasons why God is worthy of our worship.

[2:19] So that'll be the structure of the sermon tonight. Three reasons why God is worthy of my worship. Worthy of your worship.

[2:30] Okay? You guys with me? You ready? Here's number one. Reason number one, God is worthy of our worship because of who he is.

[2:42] God is worthy of our worship because of who he is. This is how the Psalm begins. With a personal word of praise. Look at verses one and two.

[2:53] David says, I will extol you, O God, my king, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day, I will bless you. And why?

[3:04] Will he bless the Lord? Why does he praise? Very simple. It's because God is great. God is great.

[3:15] Look at verse three. Three times. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. And his greatness is unsearchable. Now, what does it mean to be great?

[3:28] This word has lost a bit of meaning in our modern English, I think, right? Like we say, oh, you know, so and so. He's great.

[3:39] She's great. I went to that restaurant the other day. It was great. Right? What does David mean? What is calling David's heart forth to extol his God?

[3:53] What does it mean for God to be great? Well, to help illustrate this, I'll tell you a silly little thing that is meaningful to me. Since I was a kid, I've been absolutely fascinated with outer space.

[4:07] I grew up watching Star Wars and Star Trek and 2001 A Space Odyssey. These movies had a profound effect on little Jacob.

[4:18] And I've always been amazed by just the vastness of outer space. So in my diligent preparation for the sermon this week, I looked up some facts.

[4:30] Can I share some facts with you? Okay, here we go. First, did you know that the planet Mars, which is our next closest neighbor in the solar system, is, does anybody want to guess how far away?

[4:46] It's 225 million kilometers away. That means if you were to hop in your car and set up for Mars at 22,000 kilometers per hour, it would take you seven months to drive there.

[5:01] That's vast, right? One more. Did you know that our next closest galaxy to the Milky Way galaxy where we are is 25,000 light years away?

[5:17] And for the uninitiated, a light year is how far you could go if you traveled the speed of light. So that means if you got in your car and traveled the speed of light, it would take you 25,000 years to get to the next closest galaxy.

[5:37] Isn't that amazing? And traveling as fast as our rockets can travel today, it would take us 749 million years to get to the next closest galaxy.

[5:50] And I have a hard time making it to Save-On Foods a couple blocks away. This is incredible. This is amazing. And what's even more incredible is that God created all of it.

[6:05] The vastness of the universe and the incredible greatness of this world, it all is like a grain of sand in the hand of God. But that's not even sufficient.

[6:18] Verse 3, David says, literally, it says, God, you are great and there is no end to your greatness. God is great because he is self-existent.

[6:33] He doesn't depend on anything to exist. His personal name in Hebrew is I am. He is. He simply is.

[6:46] And everything else that exists in this world and in this universe exists simply because God is good and great and his greatness overflows into everything that we know.

[7:01] So friends, this means that as we look up into the night sky or we marvel at the beauty of this city here in Vancouver, when we stand next to the ocean in the sunlight, Psalm 145 is saying, remember that God created it all for you.

[7:22] So God is worthy of our worship because he is great. That's point number one. And the second point is that God is worthy of our worship because of what he's done.

[7:37] He's worthy because of what he's done. And here in the psalm, in the structure of this poem, David moves from the personal cry of praise to the communal cry of praise.

[7:50] Point number one was I will extol you. Now his second point is verse four. Look with me. One generation will commend to another generation.

[8:02] David here is thinking about the community of God's people and the wisdom and the knowledge of God that gets passed down from generation to generation through this community.

[8:13] And what will the older commend to the younger? Look at verse four. His works. The works of the Lord.

[8:24] He says it five different ways in verses four to seven. They shall declare your mighty acts, verse four. Your wondrous works, verse five. Your awesome deeds, your abundant goodness, your righteousness.

[8:39] What is David talking about? What does he have in mind? Well, here it is. He has in mind all of God's saving intervention.

[8:52] All of God's saving intervention. All the ways that God has intervened into the world that he created. Into the lives of his people.

[9:03] To what? To rescue them from danger. To save them out of the hand of the enemy. To save them from death. Think of Abraham and all the patriarchs.

[9:18] Think of the exodus. Think of God's provision for Israel in the wilderness. And on and on and on through the Old Testament. God's works are the history of God graciously showing up for his people.

[9:31] Again and again. To rescue them from death. From suffering. From slavery. From exile. And again and again God shows up to rescue his people.

[9:42] Even when. Especially when they don't deserve it. Especially when they don't deserve it. Even when God's people forget him.

[9:53] He never ever forgets his people. The works of the Lord are these. It's the history of Israel.

[10:04] Revealing God's faithfulness to his people. And revealing that he's gracious and merciful. And these things prove his greatness.

[10:16] Right? Brothers and sisters. I don't know if you've thought about this. But as we are in Christ. As Christians. This history.

[10:27] Of Israel. Is now our history. And all of our experiences in this life. Now have this heritage. Of the Jewish people in our background.

[10:40] It is our history. The history that we were born with. Is folded into. What it means to be God's people. Let me give you another example.

[10:53] Again a silly one. But when I was in my early 2020s. I had a job where I was driving all around rural West Tennessee. Where we lived. So I drove a lot.

[11:05] And one day in January. I was on my way back home. From somewhere out in the boonies. And I was about half an hour from home. On some back road.

[11:16] And it started to snow. And to sleet. And which for a Tennessean. Is a bit of an emergency. Every time it snows.

[11:27] It's a snowpocalypse. We just. We are not prepared for such things. And as it starts to come down. As the snow and the sleet. Are filling the roads. I get a flat tire.

[11:40] Which is a major bummer. And so I'm out in the snow. And I'm like okay. This is my moment. To prove my worth. I get out.

[11:51] I start changing the tire. And it's going really well. Snow's coming down. It's getting higher and higher. But it's working. Got the car jacked up. And I get so far into it.

[12:02] And I realize. I don't have. A tool that I need. To change the tire. So here I am. It's dark by now.

[12:12] It's snowy. I'm in a pickle. Because there's no snow plows coming. And no wrecker's going to want to come out this far. To pick me up in the middle of this snowstorm.

[12:24] So what do I do? Well the first thing I think to do. Is to call my friend Ryan. Not the Ryan I'm friends with now. But another Ryan. Who is a godly man.

[12:35] Who discipled me. When I was young. And I just call Ryan. I tell him my situation. And without missing a beat. His response is.

[12:46] What do you need? Where are you? Hang tight. I'm on the way. Just like that. No questions asked. And he was there within less than 45 minutes.

[12:59] And it wasn't easy for him. Ryan. He owned his own business. He's very busy. Just like all of us. He had a family. Had three kids at home. But at the call of a friend.

[13:13] Who was in trouble. He dropped everything. And he came. To rescue me. Why? Why did Ryan do this? Well it's because that's what God does.

[13:27] And my friend Ryan. Is a godly man. Maybe you can think of ways. In your own life. That your friends. Your godly friends.

[13:38] Have come to your rescue. To intervene. Into your life. To save you from trouble. I know I have a lot more stories. Whatever comes to mind for you.

[13:50] All of these things. Are echoes. Of what God has done. For all of us. And has been doing for a long. Long time. He's merciful.

[14:04] He's a rescuer. That is who God is. At his core. When Moses. On Mount Sinai. Pleaded with the Lord God. He said. Please just show me your glory.

[14:16] Let me get a glimpse. Of who you really are. This is what the Lord said to Moses. Verse 8. He said. The Lord is gracious.

[14:27] And merciful. Slow to anger. And abounding. And steadfast love. That sums up. The glory of God. And his works.

[14:38] In history. In time. In our histories. Those works of God. Prove it. And this friends. Is what. David wants.

[14:49] To be passed down. From one generation. To the next. That God is merciful. He's gracious. And he's a rescuer. So friends.

[15:01] As we think about. What we want. To pass down. To our children. Whether our biological kids. Or our spiritual children. If the next generation. Only takes one thing.

[15:13] From us. Let it be this. All right. God is merciful. He's gracious. He's slow to anger. And abounding. And steadfast love.

[15:24] For everything. That he has made. And that is why. We worship him. This is the God. Of our faith. This is the God.

[15:35] Revealed in scripture. And this God. Is worthy. Of our worship. Amen. So. We worship God. Because of who he is.

[15:47] We worship God. Because of what he's done. And lastly. We worship God. Because of what he continues. To do. In each of our lives. So David begins with.

[15:59] I will worship. Then he says. All of us. From generation to generation. Will worship. Now verse 10. All your works. And all your saints.

[16:10] Shall give thanks. And bless you. And why will all of creation. Thank and bless God. Well it's because he personally rules.

[16:23] Over his kingdom. Forever and ever. That's what it says in verse 13. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And your dominion.

[16:33] Your kingly rule. Throughout all generations. It's promised to every generation. Of the world. And don't think about kingdom.

[16:44] So much as. Like a bounded location. Like a nation. But rather. Kingdom here. Is like God's personal. Rule and reign. Over everything.

[16:55] Everywhere. Forever. So all of creation. Is God's kingdom. And he personally. Rules over it. And friends. This is very.

[17:07] Unlike our experience. Of rulers. In this world. I don't think I have to tell you. Unfortunately. I think the most that we can hope for. From our prime ministers.

[17:18] And our presidents. Is that they don't do anything. Too insane. You know. That they just sort of keep it at bay. They sort of stay in the background of our life.

[17:31] And only come out. Occasionally. Hopefully to say something positive. Give some good news. But otherwise. Just like stay out of our lives. And let us live in peace.

[17:42] Right. Like that's unfortunately the bar. And it doesn't get met very often. But Psalm 145 says that God.

[17:53] Is totally different. He is personally. Personally now. Involved. In each one of our lives. All the time. He continually.

[18:06] Ongoingly. Works. In our life. Look at verse 14. The Lord. Is the one who upholds. All who are falling. And it's this image that.

[18:18] Yahweh. The personal God of the universe. Reaching out. To grab hold of someone. Someone who's falling down. And if someone is bowed down.

[18:29] It says. He raises them up. And this is bowed down. Not as in. Like repentance. But rather. It's the bowing of the head. When it's weighed down.

[18:41] With the oppressive weight. Of trouble. Maybe you know what that's like. And again. It's that image of. Of God. Personally. Reaching out with his hand. And lifting your body.

[18:53] Straightening your posture. To put you back upright. And friends. If this is you tonight. If you're. If you're stumbling. If you're weighed down.

[19:05] With trouble. Psalm 145 says. The Lord is your helper. Bring him your suffering. Bring him your sin.

[19:16] And ask him for help. He is personally present to you. And he has power. Over all your circumstances. No matter what they are. And what this psalm says.

[19:28] Is that. Is that we can come to him. Simply. In prayer. And he will hear us. He will hold us up. He will raise us up. Because the Lord is our helper.

[19:40] And not only is he our helper. But he's also our provider. And this is verses 15 and 16. Look at it. The eyes of all.

[19:51] Look to you Lord. And you give them their food. In due season. You open your hand. You satisfy the desire. Of every living thing.

[20:01] We are dependent creatures. Aren't we? Everybody say. Yes we are. Listen.

[20:11] I know. Our technology. Our technology. I don't have my phone in my pocket. But. We got a lot of technology. And our technology. Is getting very. Very good.

[20:22] At convincing us. That we're self-sufficient. I feel it. I'm sure you feel it. I can order. I can get an app. And order food. And 20 minutes later.

[20:36] It just magically appears at my door. No human interaction needed. It's pretty amazing. If I have a question. Or concern. I have a weird feeling.

[20:46] In my left arm. Or. Something I've got going on at home. And I just don't know how to answer. What do I do? Type it into AI. I can get an answer pretty quick.

[20:58] I can get my interests. My curiosity satisfied. These are powerful technologies guys. But you know.

[21:10] You know. That these are just illusions. These are illusions. They are magic tricks. That cover up. How dependent we really are.

[21:21] Right? We are dependent. The truth is. That we need. God's gracious provision. In literally. Every aspect of our lives.

[21:32] Every aspect. Every meal. Every drink of water. Every answer to a burning question. Every satisfaction.

[21:43] That we receive in this life. All of these things. Come from the gracious. Open hand of God. God. He is the one. Who provides for everything.

[21:54] We need. It is only from him. That if he were to stop. In an instant. Everything. Would be blinked out of existence.

[22:08] And what this says. Is that all that we have to do. All that we have to do. To know God. As our helper. And our provider. This is verses 18 and 19.

[22:19] It says that we have to call on him in truth. And fear him. That's it. Pray to God with a genuine heart. And if you don't have a genuine heart.

[22:33] Ask him to give you one. And he will. Fear God. Not as in like being scared of God. But just rather stand in awe of him.

[22:45] Acknowledge his power. Acknowledge his goodness. And as you pray to God. In truth. And with fear. He. And this is the important part y'all.

[22:56] He will give himself. To you. As you pray. The Lord gives himself. To you. He will be your helper.

[23:08] And your provider. He will be your keeper. And your protector. What a wonderful God we have. And he is worthy.

[23:19] Of our worship. So friends. This is what Psalm 145. Is commending to us. Let's worship God. Because of who he is. Because of what he's done.

[23:32] And because of what he continues. To do in our lives. And just as I close. Just one last comment. You may have noticed.

[23:43] When Elizabeth was reading this. But. There's a shadow. In this Psalm. It's verse 20. The Lord preserves. All who love him.

[23:54] But all the wicked. He will destroy. And David always does this. In his Psalms. Even in his most happy.

[24:04] Songs of praise. He always does this. He adds a minor note. At some point. Why? Well it's because King David. Knew.

[24:16] And he held together. God's loving mercy. Alongside God's unwavering. Judgment. Against evil. Both of these things.

[24:28] Are always true. And friends. Any honest reader. Braces. Himself. At verse 20. Right. Can I actually pray that?

[24:41] That. God will destroy. The wicked. And it's easy for us. I think. To just paper over this. Just. Okay. Well I'm not going to deal with that. Pretend like I didn't read that.

[24:55] But I. I encourage you. Don't. Don't. Because it is very often. Very often. That it's. It's in the shadows. Of Holy Scripture.

[25:06] Where we find. The Lord Jesus Christ. David knew. How wicked he was. He was a murderer.

[25:19] He was an adulterer. He was a liar. He was a thief. He was a thief. He was a thief. David. Even as he's writing this psalm.

[25:30] Knew. That he. Was the wicked man. That deserved to be destroyed. And yet he also knew. That God.

[25:41] Is abundantly gracious. And the God that David wants to teach us about. Is a God that hears our repentance. And he is patient. And he will always receive us back.

[25:54] No matter how far we've strayed. And brothers and sisters. This is what we have. In the Lord Jesus Christ. He suffered.

[26:04] This judgment of destruction. Which is due to the wicked. David knew his own wickedness. And brothers and sisters. If you. And I.

[26:15] Know our own wickedness. The wickedness in our hearts. And if we simply. Confess. Our sin. And trust in the Lord Jesus. All of these promises.

[26:27] Of Psalm 145. Are for us. And we. Can proclaim with confidence. Who God really is. Verse 8. He is the Lord.

[26:40] He is gracious and merciful. Slow to anger. And abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all. And his mercy is over all.

[26:52]  That he has made. Amen.