WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:09.380 We are going to be in Psalm 33 this evening, and we're going to read that for us now. 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:16.460 And this will be, this is a psalm, a psalm of praise. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:22.920 And so a question I want us to think about this evening, as we look at this in just a 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:26.300 very brief amount of time, would be, why do we praise God? 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:56.280 Begin in verse 1. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:01.039 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breadth of his mouth all their 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:01.379 host. 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:07.399 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap, and he puts the deep in storehouses. 00:01:08.019 --> 00:01:10.120 Let all the earth fear the Lord. 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:13.759 Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:16.019 For he spoke, and it came to be. 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:18.079 He commanded, and it stood firm. 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:21.640 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:23.900 He frustrates the plans of the people. 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:26.379 The counsel of the Lord stands forever. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:29.060 The plans of his hearts to all generations. 00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:35.659 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:37.719 The Lord looks down from heaven. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:39.840 He sees all the children of man. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:45.200 From where he sits enthroned, he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:49.180 He who fashioned the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:51.939 The king is not saved by his great army. 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:55.200 A warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 00:01:55.659 --> 00:01:58.580 The war horse is a false hope for salvation. 00:01:58.579 --> 00:02:01.719 And by its great might, it cannot rescue. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:07.920 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, and on those who hope in his steadfast love. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:12.500 That he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:17.520 Our soul waits for the Lord, for he is our help and our shield. 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:22.939 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:29.099 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 00:02:31.579 --> 00:02:34.979 So, this psalm is a psalm of praise. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:41.939 And as I was thinking about this psalm, just reading through it a couple of times, 00:02:42.579 --> 00:02:46.620 a question that came to mind is, why do we give praise to God? 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:49.659 Why would there be this psalm here of praise? 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:54.400 And, you know, at some level, it's like, of course you're supposed to praise God. 00:02:54.460 --> 00:02:55.780 That's just what you're supposed to do. 00:02:56.259 --> 00:02:57.900 But I just took a step back. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:59.419 Why do we give praise to God? 00:02:59.979 --> 00:03:04.280 And almost, not this is a question I think we should ask, 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:07.620 but from a jaded opinion, like a jaded perspective, we could say, 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:11.000 you know what, you know, Jesus says that rocks could praise him. 00:03:11.359 --> 00:03:14.819 And absolutely, that's what Jesus said as he was entering into Jerusalem 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:19.900 and his final week of life before he would be crucified and ultimately resurrected. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:22.780 Jesus says that, you know what, even the rocks could praise him. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.479 So, if the rocks can praise God, then why do we need to do that? 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:33.639 And then, when we come to God as well, we find that God has no need of our praise. 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:38.699 God is complete and whole without our praise. 00:03:39.059 --> 00:03:41.479 So, God is not standing around thinking, 00:03:41.679 --> 00:03:45.159 wow, if only the people would praise me, then I would feel fulfilled. 00:03:46.059 --> 00:03:50.060 God is complete as he is and has no need of our praise. 00:03:50.859 --> 00:03:53.599 So, the question, why do we praise God? 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:54.899 Why should we praise God? 00:03:55.799 --> 00:03:59.099 And a simple answer is because that's what we're told to do. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:01.919 And we'll certainly go beyond that. 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:05.299 But as we look at the model prayer that Jesus put for us, 00:04:05.699 --> 00:04:07.680 one of the first things that we're told is, 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.919 hallowed be your name, hallowed be the name of God. 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:12.340 So, part of that is just a matter of obedience, 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:16.319 that we are called to give praise God. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:20.879 As we look at this, we're going to find, through this psalm, 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.759 we're going to find a bit more of a sophisticated answer 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.000 than simply we're told to do it. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:29.139 So, with that question in mind, why do we praise God? 00:04:29.339 --> 00:04:31.639 We're going to take a look at this psalm. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.220 And we're going to look at a pattern that develops, 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.220 particularly beginning in verse 4. 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:39.980 But here in the first three verses, 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:44.240 we are showed a means for praising God. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.879 And so, I'm going to reread those verses for us. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.000 And as I'm doing that, I want you to just think of the means 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.000 that are listed there for praising God. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.199 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:59.180 Praise befits the upright. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:01.480 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:05.420 Make melody to him with a harp of ten strings. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:07.240 Sing to him a new song. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.240 Play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts. 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:12.720 So, hopefully you're able to pick up 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.160 and just hear some of those means that were listed there, 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.079 from the lyre to the harp, 00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:19.339 to song, to shout, 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.620 ways that we are given to praise God. 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:27.360 And now we're going to see a little bit more of a pattern that develops. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.939 So, here over the next three verses, four through eight, 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:32.379 I'm going to be rereading those. 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:35.819 But what I want you to watch for is three things that we see. 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:40.019 The first that we'll see in verses four and five is God's being. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:45.240 So, it's an understanding of God's nature is described there for us. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:46.680 So, an idea of God's being. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:49.819 And then we're going to see, following that in verses six and seven, 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:50.959 God's actions. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:53.639 So, how God acts as a result of that being. 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.680 And then we're going to see the response of people, 00:05:56.840 --> 00:05:59.680 the human response that is listed there. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.720 So, once again, it's going to be God's being, 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.939 to God's actions, to the human response. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.199 Let me begin in verse four. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.959 For the word of the Lord is upright, 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.579 and all his work is done in faithfulness. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:16.180 He loves righteousness and justice. 00:06:16.539 --> 00:06:19.839 The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.800 By the word of the Lord, the heavens remain, 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:25.740 and by the breadth of his mouth, all their host. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:29.339 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap. 00:06:29.599 --> 00:06:32.339 He puts the deep into storehouses. 00:06:33.039 --> 00:06:35.639 Let all the earth fear the Lord. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:40.699 Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:44.419 And as we go through the next section, 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:48.599 we're going to see a similar pattern develop over verses nine through 12. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.860 This is going to be, first we'll see God's actions, 00:06:52.539 --> 00:06:54.479 followed by God's being described, 00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:57.779 followed by the human response. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.099 So, it's going to be actions, being, and response. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:03.979 This is going to be nine through 12. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:07.780 For he spoke, and it came to be. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:10.520 He commanded, and it stood firm. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:13.860 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:16.439 He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:19.540 The counsel of the Lord stands forever. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:23.020 The plans of his heart to all generations. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:27.000 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:31.660 the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:36.960 And then we're going to come and look at the verses 13 through 18. 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:40.460 What I want us to look then is at God's actions, 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:43.020 and then at the human response. 00:07:43.640 --> 00:07:45.940 And what we're looking for in each of these, 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.460 and I'll pull all this together at the end, 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:48.820 is the human response. 00:07:48.900 --> 00:07:50.379 That is part of what we're keen on. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.379 But these others are vital here as well. 00:07:52.620 --> 00:07:54.060 So, it's going to be God's actions, 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:56.420 and then watch as it changes to the human response. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.520 Begin in verse 13. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.519 The Lord looks down from heaven. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:02.839 He sees all the children of man. 00:08:03.479 --> 00:08:05.079 From where he sits enthroned, 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.000 he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:10.419 He who fashioned the hearts of them all 00:08:10.419 --> 00:08:12.099 and observed all their deeds. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:14.859 The king is not saved by his great army. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.779 A warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.279 The war horse is a false hope for salvation. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:24.500 And by its great might, it cannot see. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.899 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.540 on those who hope in his steadfast love. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:37.460 And as we continue, we're going to look here 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:38.600 at the next section. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:42.840 God's being, his actions, and his response. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:47.580 And I'm going to pick it back up in 18, verse 18, 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:49.220 and I'll continue that through the end. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.120 So, it's going to be being, God's being, 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:52.159 actions, and response. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:55.000 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:57.620 on those who hope in his steadfast love, 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:00.779 that he may deliver their soul from death 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:02.839 and keep them alive in famine. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:05.719 Our soul waits for the Lord. 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:07.839 He is our help and our shield, 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.980 for our heart is glad in him 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:12.019 because we trust in his holy name. 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:14.819 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:18.879 be upon us as we hope in you. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.860 So, the question we started with this evening 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:24.019 is why praise God? 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:26.059 Why should we praise God? 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:28.159 And just as we've looked at this psalm, 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:31.320 what I want us to see is that the human response 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:32.220 that's taking place. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.059 So, we have God's being being declared. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.159 We have God's actions being declared. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.439 And then there's a human response to that. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:42.659 And that response is going to give us some insight 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:44.580 into this question of why do we praise God? 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:47.220 Because after looking at God's beings and God's actions, 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:49.940 there's something that should come from that. 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:51.600 And that is our response. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:56.480 In verse 8, we're told to stand in awe of God. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.759 So, why do we praise God? 00:09:58.800 --> 00:10:01.639 Because we need to stand in awe of God. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:05.680 In verse 12, we're told that we will be blessed by God. 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:07.480 So, why do we praise God? 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:09.960 Because we will be blessed by God. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.300 Verse 19, we're told that God might deliver 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:17.339 our souls from death and keep us alive in famine. 00:10:17.959 --> 00:10:19.399 Why do we praise God? 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:22.579 Because God is the one who delivers our souls. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.399 God is the one who protects us in famine. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:30.259 Verse 20, we're told that God is our hope and our shield. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:32.459 Why do we praise God? 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:34.859 Because God is our hope and God is our shield. 00:10:34.859 --> 00:10:37.759 Verse 21, our hearts will be glad. 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:39.899 Why do we praise God? 00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:42.139 Because our hearts will be glad when we do. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:48.639 Verse 22, the steadfast love of God is upon us. 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:50.340 Why do we praise God? 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.179 Because the steadfast love of God is upon us. 00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:55.279 As we think of this praising God, 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:58.559 it's not for God's benefit that we praise him. 00:10:58.899 --> 00:10:59.799 It's for our own. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:02.039 So, when we come and praise God, 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.439 we recognize who God is. 00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:05.500 We recognize the things God does. 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:07.980 And we also recognize that in praising God, 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.220 that is our appropriate response 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:13.220 when we look and see the great and mighty work 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:14.700 that God has done. 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:18.259 Let me close this point in prayer. 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:22.560 God, we're thankful that you are indeed our great God. 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.660 A God who is worthy of our praise. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:28.759 A God who has done miraculous and amazing things. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:31.120 And God, we come and we do acknowledge 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.259 that your great sovereignty, 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.720 not only over us, but over all things. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.920 And God, we come and acknowledge your greatness 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:41.080 and your amazing nature 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.620 and your awesomeness. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.519 God, your ability to do all things. 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:46.259 Your ability to hold all things together. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:48.180 And God, amidst of all of that, 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.700 you love us so much. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:52.300 And you have a great compassion and concern 00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:55.279 and love for our individual beings. 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:57.720 God, who we are and for our lives. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:00.620 Amidst all the great things that are in your hand, 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:02.700 God, that you love and care for us 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:04.240 as people and as individuals. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.100 God, and for that, we come and acknowledge you. 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:09.460 God, we try to give you our allegiance. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.440 God, we come seeking to follow you 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:14.060 completely and wholly. 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:15.379 We ask this in your name. 00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:15.899 Amen.