You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace.
Join us.
If you have the Bible with you, would you open it to Psalm 16?
It is the psalm that we read already earlier in the worship service for our call to worship,
but I'd like to read through it again.
You can follow with me.
As I read.
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God.
Let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God.
Let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase.
God, our God, shall bless us.
God, shall bless us.
Let all the ends of the earth fear him.
Bow with me as we pray before we enter into a study of this portion of God's word.
Father, would you bless us now with the outpouring of your spirit,
that we might understand your word, not just the words on the page,
not just mental concepts.
We need to know your word down deep in our souls,
and only your spirit can take us there.
So come and meet us and plant your truth in the depths of our hearts
and cause it to grow and bear much fruit.
So take the weakness of my words,
that when all is said and done,
we will know that through the working of your Holy Spirit,
we will have heard from you.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Man, a pretty exciting day to see all these kids come up here
and express their faith for the first time.
I was a kid once, I think.
It's been a while.
But unfortunately, in my case,
it was later in life when I came to faith,
and because of that, I had to go through a lot of hard things,
a lot of hard relationships and so forth,
and a lot of just foolish things,
until I came to the end of myself.
And my heart was open to come to faith.
And so for all of you kids,
my prayer for you is really that you'll never have to do that,
is that you will never know a day,
and never lack of cherishing the fact that your Heavenly Father has embraced you as His own.
And so as we, you know, as we witness this,
I think it's a good opportunity for us,
you know, for all the rest of us who have made our professions of faith,
to go back and look at, really, what is,
what does it mean for the rest of us to express faith?
What does it mean for us, really, to be Christians?
And so I would like to use and look at this Psalm 67,
you know, that we have read earlier,
because I think this Psalm really points us to
one of the critical aspects of what it means to be in Christ.
It points us to the core, in a sense,
of what it means to be in relationship with God,
and to enjoy fellowship with Him.
And so let's dig in to this Psalm.
And really, the first, I want us just to examine the Psalm itself,
and then we will look at some of the implications of that.
I love this Psalm.
It's, you know, it's a very simply structured Psalm,
which makes it pretty easy for us to understand.
And the structure is called a chiasm.
And this is a common literary tool in Hebrew writing,
not just in poetry, but also in prose.
But I pull this up for all you engineers.
Because part of the beauty of the Psalms is in its structure.
You know, it's not just the words, the flowery words,
which Psalms is full of that,
but the structure really points us to,
and you'll see, I'm going to put a slide up here to show you,
if we were going to structure this Psalm,
this is what it would look like.
In a chiasm, what you have is here in this Psalm,
the first two verses are basically parallel
and say the same thing, but in a little different way
as the last two verses.
And then you have verse 3 and verse 5 also parallel,
but they are saying that they're exactly the same,
which leads us to verse 4.
And so all the structure acts like kind of a funnel
pointing us to the core of what the Psalm says.
And so, again, you engineers,
you will rejoice in the symmetry of this Psalm.
Everything's balanced.
But what it points us to, again, is verse 4.
So let's start at verse 4 and work our way back out.
So verse 4, what's the core?
What's the meaning of this?
It's joy for the nations.
God's intent and his purpose
is that the nations, all the nations,
would rejoice and know his joy.
This Psalm really reflects, you know,
it's a very strong missionary theme.
And I love this because a lot of times
we think you have to go to the New Testament
to find missionary stuff in the Bible.
But oh no, it's all through it.
And this Psalm is such a great example.
But even here, it points to the very heart of God.
Because even way back in Genesis 12,
when he first gives,
God makes his first covenant with Abraham,
at the heart of that covenant,
he says,
and I will bless those who bless you
and him who dishonors you.
I will curse it.
And you all,
the families of the earth
will be blessed.
All the families of the earth.
God is saying,
not just you,
but you,
through you,
my intent,
my focus,
is to see blessing come to
every family
on the earth.
And so this is his work
that he's doing in Abraham.
And so his promise
that he's making with this one family
is global
from the very beginning.
And so why would the nations
be so joyful?
Well,
in that verse 4,
I love the words that he says there
because God judges the earth,
the peoples,
with equity.
In other words,
he is just.
God is just.
And again,
I love this.
When we think of the beauty of God,
we think of reasons
why we rejoice in God.
Justice is not one of those things
that immediately jumps out at us
because sometimes it scares us.
But I want you to imagine.
I want you to think
of a world,
what our world would be like
if it was just.
Let's try to imagine
a just world.
In a just world,
people no longer
experience
and have to suffer
under injustice.
In a just world,
people are no longer oppressed.
In a just world,
the powerful
no longer
exploit
the weak
and the helpless.
In a just world,
all men,
women,
and children
are treated
with dignity.
Dignity
as of those
that those deserve
who are created
in the very image
of God.
A just world
is a world
where there's no more abuse
for the vulnerable.
There's no more brutality
on the innocent.
There's no more
racism.
There's no more exploitation.
Our society
will be a society
of dignity
and a place
of peace.
And everything
will be
as it was meant
to be.
And that's the promise
that comes with God.
He is a just
king.
He rules
with justice.
And if that's the case,
no wonder
the nations
rejoice
and sing
for gladness
because
this is the world
that he is moving
to create.
This is why
the world rejoices.
They rejoice
in a king
who reigns
over all things
gloriously
and beautifully
and justly.
So that is the source.
The nations
rejoice
and are glad
in all that God is
because they see now
that he is
beautiful.
And so then
we move out
a little bit.
Now we look at
verse 3
and verse 5.
And then he simply says,
let all the peoples
praise you.
Oh God,
let all the peoples
praise you.
And it through
their joy,
the people
of the world,
all of the nations
are brought
to worship.
And this is
important to note,
joy for the world
comes
through
worship.
You know,
I'm not talking
about just
a church service.
I'm not talking
about like what
we do here
on Sunday morning
though I hope
that's what takes
place here
on Sunday morning.
But it's
worship.
Worship is
something that's
not just
things,
you know,
practices that we
do,
but it refers
to something
deep in our
hearts,
something that
actually gives
us our greatest
sense of joy.
Worship
is integral
to what
we
love.
What I enjoy
the most.
What I think
is the most
beautiful.
What I think
is the most
attractive.
What consumes
me.
You know,
if,
in all this,
what I worship
then will
shape my
life
in all
that I do.
If I love
golf,
then
I'm going
to play
golf
a lot.
Golf
is going
to consume
my time.
Golf
is going
to consume
my money
because I've
got to have
the right
equipment in
order to
play.
I'm going
to talk
to you
a lot
about golf
and my
whole
mentality,
my sense
of well-being
is going
to rest
on how
well I
play golf,
which is
scary,
to say the
least.
I'm going
to spend
my time
on the
course,
you know,
and it's,
I find
my greatest
joy,
my greatest
satisfaction,
and my
interest in
golf,
and so it
becomes all
consuming.
And there
are some
of us
out here
like that.
For you
it might
not be
golf.
Maybe it's
music.
Maybe it's
your friends.
Maybe it's
your kids,
your grandkids.
Maybe it's
your job.
I don't
know what
it would
be.
But the
problem
with all
of these
things,
these things,
is that
as we
find so
much,
we devote
ourselves to
them so
much,
and we
get consumed
by them
so much,
they have
no power
to satisfy
the deep
hunger down
in our
souls,
down in
our hearts.
They do
not have
the power
to bring
the satisfaction
for which
we are
hungry,
especially
golf.
they just
leave us
empty.
And there's
only one
who can
help us
to find
and can
satisfy
that hunger
for deep
joy,
and that
one is
the king
who rules
justly,
who is
beautiful
beyond
all others.
And so
when the
world comes
to the place
where he
is the one
that they
worship,
of course,
they find
the joy
that they
have longed
for all
their lives.
And the
heart finally
sings in
tune with
the very
source of
life itself.
And so
worship is
integral here.
But now we
move out to
the first
two verses
again and
then the
last two
verses.
In here
we see
where it
all begins.
Now how
do they
find this
ultimate
source of
joy?
How are
they led
to this
place of
worship
and where
they see
that this
king is
the most
desirable
and their
affections are
captured by
it?
Well,
it's that
God
himself
takes the
initiative
and pours
out his
blessings upon
us.
It's like
he
intentionally
wins over
our
affections.
He wins
our hearts
by the
goodness that
he pours
out on
all of us.
But what
does that
goodness look
like?
You know,
it's not just
in material
benefits which
we see a
glimpse of in
verses 6 and
7.
But in
verses 1 and
2, he's
talking about
blessings on
a whole
different level.
The blessings
he's talking
about here
begin with,
look where he
says, may
God bless us,
be gracious to
us and bless
us and make
his face to
shine upon
us.
That,
kind of with
the purpose
of making
known on,
making your
way to be
known on
earth and
your saving
power among
all nations.
This calls
us back to
a blessing
that was
given to
Aaron back
in Numbers
chapter 6,
which reads,
the Lord
bless you and
keep you.
The Lord
make his face
to shine upon
you and be
gracious to
you.
The Lord
lift up his
countenance
upon you and
give you
peace.
Do you see
what the heart
of that blessing
is?
it's not
stuff.
It's God.
It's not
the gifts.
It's the
giver.
And so in
a Jewish
mind,
when they
thought of
blessing,
when they
thought of
getting good
things from
God and
God being
gracious to
them,
they weren't
thinking
necessarily of
just about
all the
stuff that
he might
provide.
And when
they start
asking for
this and
that and
that that
he gives
them,
they want
God himself
to turn
his face
towards them.
They want
him near.
They want
him to be
present with
them.
Because they
know that
if they get
him,
they've got
everything.
That there's
nothing better.
There's nothing
more gracious.
There's nothing
more that they
could get.
And so this
is what they
want.
The greatest
gift was
God himself.
You know,
I remember
when I was a
teenager,
you know,
I may have
mentioned this
before,
that, you
know,
with my dad,
my dad was
kind of
distant from
me in a lot
of ways.
And I remember
a lot of those
teenage years,
I was an
angry teenager.
teenager.
And I was
angry primarily
at my dad.
But when I
look back on
those days,
there was one
thing I wanted.
My dad gave
me a lot.
He paid for
all of my
college.
He provided
so much for
us and for
me.
I really was
lacking nothing.
But I
remember down
inside, there
was only one
thing I wanted.
I wanted him.
Because what
satisfies us
is not
things.
It's
someone.
I'm made for
relationship.
I'm not just
made for stuff.
I'm made for
relationship.
And God
gives us
relationship.
And he
pours it out
in such
abundance
that the
God of all
creation
would now
come and
call us
friend.
Even
better,
he calls us
son or
daughter.
brother.
He calls us
beloved.
And he
does it
graciously.
No, we
don't deserve
it.
But he
pours it out
on us.
And so
this blessing
is given to
his people
with a
purpose.
he gives
it to
his people,
to Israel,
so that
that the
world would
know,
that the
nations
would come
to know
his joy
and worship
him as
beautiful,
and through
that,
that they
would know
finally the
depth of
joy that
they were
created to
know.
That's
why he
pours out
his
blessing.
I mean,
this is
what we
mean when
we say
experiencing
and expressing
grace.
This is
why this
is kind
of our
great motto
here at
Southwood,
because this
is the
flow of
what God
intends
for us.
He pours
out his
rich
abundance
upon us
with a
purpose
so that
as we
experience
the lavish
abundance
of knowing
Christ and
being in
Christ and
being forgiven
by Christ,
that that
abundance is
more than
what can be
contained in
us.
And it's
got to
flow.
And so
that's what
he intends.
Coming to
Christ brings
to us this
deep satisfaction
and joy which
we have
craved,
sets our
hearts to
worship in
joy,
and that
joy has
got to go
somewhere.
Joy is
not full
until it
is expressed.
when Marshall
wins the
national
championship
next year,
I am
going to
be excited.
And you
will hear
about it
if.
love.
But when
something,
when we
rejoice over
something,
it has to
go from
us because
it's not
full until
we're able
to share
it.
And so
this is the
plan.
This is the
way God
designs us.
So what
he's called
us to,
he pours out
the abundance
of his,
the wealth
of his
grace,
lavishes it
upon us,
fills our
hearts with
joy to
the point
where it
just overflows
on anybody
and everybody
close and
even on
some far
away.
But it
goes from
us.
It cannot
be contained.
So,
what are
the implications?
Well, I
think there
are several.
first is
grace is
never given
just for
you.
It's
never given
just for
you.
When God
pours out
his grace
and we
experience that
glorious blessing,
knowing him,
it's never just
for us,
it's intended
from the very
beginning to
go from
us outward
to others.
because he
pours so
much into
our hearts
that our
hearts cannot
contain it.
And I
think some
of us live
with this
misconception
that when we
come to
Christ,
we come to
Christ because
we need
his grace
because our
life is a
wreck and we
need Jesus to
come and work
in us
to make us
whole and to
give us
life again.
I mean,
that's the
way I
came.
Early on
back at the
university,
I mean,
my life was
a wreck
in so many
ways.
And so when
I finally
began to
understand the
gospel,
I remember
the prayer
that I
prayed and
I said,
Jesus,
you know
more about
my life
than I
do.
Come and
help me.
And so in
so many
ways,
he did
bring sanity
and order
in life
again to
me.
But,
as soon as
that happened
though,
I started
sharing what
had happened
and what I
experienced
because it
was incredible.
I felt I was
walking this far
off the ground.
I was so
elated about
what I
received in
Christ.
I started
talking to
everybody who
would listen
to me about
Jesus.
And some
who didn't
listen to
me.
In fact,
I earned
the title
of being
a Jesus
freak.
I know my
haircut didn't
help much.
But it
wasn't work.
It was just
something that I
had to do.
it just
came out.
I'm not
that way
much anymore.
Yeah,
my hair's
more sane
now.
I haven't
been referred
to as a
freak in
quite a
while.
I'm not
as belligerent
or obnoxious
in talking to
people about
the gospel.
Yeah,
I mean,
I've
matured.
I'm not
sure that's
all there
is.
Have I
lost the
wonder
of what it
means to be
in Christ?
Have I
lost a
sense of
wonder
that I
am totally
forgiven?
Have I
lost a
sense of
wonder
that me
in all
of my
brokenness
Christ?
Am in
Christ?
That I
am
his
beloved?
That he
has now
made me
the suitable
dwelling
for himself.
is that
why
I'm not
so obnoxious
anymore?
Maybe I've
I've lost
a sense
of wonder.
I think
it's so
easy for
me,
for us,
to come
to the
place
where when
we go to
the Father
to experience
more of
his grace,
we're simply
going because
I want
myself to
be better.
And we
never see
the depth
and the
riches
and the
wealth
of all
that he
has poured
out on
us in
Christ.
And so
our own
joy
is
stunted
and it
doesn't
go very
far.
so maybe
what I
need
is not
just to
be more
obedient.
Maybe I
need a
fresh look
at all
that Jesus
is for
me.
you know,
secondly,
grace is
never for
just us,
but also
grace leads
us to
worship.
When we
experience that
lavish grace
that comes
from Jesus
alone,
you know,
his tender,
loving,
gracious heart
towards us,
our
affections,
our hearts
are then
captured
by that
grace and
love.
And when I
am loved
like that,
then I am
going to
love him.
when I
see him
as
beautiful,
when I
see him
as so
desirable,
then he
is,
I am
going to
become
consumed
by him.
In my
affections,
my heart,
everything is
going to be
directed
towards him.
This has
everything to
do also
with how
we go
about
doing
missions,
in our
communities,
or wherever
it is,
is that
we're not
out for
conversions.
We're
out to
call people
to worship,
to fall
in love
with and
be consumed
by the
beauty and
the glory
of Jesus.
You know,
a couple
weeks,
actually,
three weeks
from tomorrow,
I'm going
to have
my second
granddaughter.
And it's
about time.
Because
there's
seven
grandsons
and one
other little
princess.
And to
have one
other little
granddaughter
is going
to be
great
with all
those boys.
And she's
not here yet,
three weeks
away,
but she's
beautiful.
I know
she's
beautiful.
And you're
going to
hear more
about her.
But if I
can be
captivated
by this
little,
very
broken,
as beautiful
she is,
yet very
sinful
little
girl,
how
greatly
is my
heart going
to be
captivated
when it
sees and
experiences
the
beautiful
one.
And then
turn to
worship.
And see,
that's what
missions is.
It is us
worshiping.
And out
of our
worship,
being consumed
by this
person who
is so
beautiful and
glorious that
we cannot
help but
talk about
them.
But that's
what we
call the
world to.
Not just
to convert,
but to
love.
Third
implication.
Grace
leads to
joy.
for the
nations.
And this
has big
implications
for me.
You know,
worship is
that gift
that God
gives us
through which
we can
express
our joy
and our
gladness
in Him
and all
that He
is.
Joy,
though,
in our
worship,
joy
is the
ultimate
expression
of worship.
We love
what gives
us joy.
And so,
this is the
response.
This is what
God's grace
does for us.
When we
experience that
freedom,
we experience
His lavish
abundance
poured out
upon us.
It is joy.
joy.
But if
joy is the
essence
of worship,
and if that's
what we're
calling the
world to
do,
then that
is how
they're going
to hear
about Jesus.
It's going
to be
from my
joy.
You know,
I've got a
group of
very close
friends who
are not
believers.
And I so
much would
long for
them to
know Jesus,
but again,
it's not that
I want them
to become
religious.
I see
emptiness.
And I
want them
to taste
the joy.
I want
them to
taste
what it's
like to
be forgiven
and to be
counted as
righteous
and to be
given the
hope of
being the
friend of
God.
I want
them to
taste that.
But how
are they
going to
hear it?
How are
they going
to taste
it?
They're
going to
taste it
because of
my joy
overflowing
to them.
That is
how the
nations
will know.
So what
has to
happen
with me?
it all
starts
here.
And it
starts
for me
remembering
what does
his grace
mean?
What have
I been
given?
What has
he done
for me
in Christ?
Christ.
And so
as we
come
really
and
celebrate
at the
table
together,
this is
what we're
doing.
We are
remembering.
As we
come here
to this
table,
we are
remembering
this gift
of lavish
grace
that my
sin
was paid
for
in
full.
In my
sin that
was so
great,
it required
the death
of the
Son of
God
who paid
it
gladly.
And now
I am
washed
clean
and I
am united
to him.
And so
as we
remember,
this table
is a
table,
yes,
of somber
reflection
because we
have to see
the context
of why
it's here.
but this
is a
place
of joy
because
here
through
the
sacrifice
I have
been made
the friend
and the
beloved
of God
himself.
And so
as we
eat
and drink
remember
this
lavishness
of grace
and let
it fill
your hearts
with joy
again
so that
the
nations
will
rejoice.
Let's
pray
together.
Father,
we thank
you for
this
table
but yet
our
words
are so
trite
when we're
faced with
really what
took place
here
because you
loved us
when we
hated you.
you came
for us.
You won
us to
yourself
and you
continue to
win us to
yourself by
lavishing your
goodness upon
us.
Father,
help us to
remember
we give you
thanks for
this table
but help us
to
comprehend
the enormity
of this
gift
that our
hearts would
swell with
joy
and that
joy
would
overflow
to
everyone
around us.
Our
cul-de-sacs,
our
subdivisions,
our
communities
and the
nations.
So as we
eat,
would you
feed us
with your
grace?
We pray
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
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