WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.660 Good morning. 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:10.019 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:13.720 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you this morning. 00:00:14.939 --> 00:00:18.900 A special welcome if you are visiting or new with us. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:20.679 We're glad you're here. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:25.820 And as I say every week, we're glad you're here not because you are filling a seat, 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:28.519 but because we are following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.039 And as we follow him together as one community, 00:00:31.219 --> 00:00:35.380 we are convinced that there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:37.420 and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:41.359 And so everyone needs to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:46.939 If you've been with us this month, you know that we're in the season of Advent. 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:52.820 Advent is an English word that comes from a Latin word, and it simply means to come or to arrive. 00:00:53.120 --> 00:00:57.000 And so the Advent season is when we celebrate what Jesus has done in the past, 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:02.219 what God has done by sending his son, that he came and arrived here in this world in real space, 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:03.579 in real time as a baby. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:07.939 But we also have the task not just of celebrating what happened in the past, 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:10.140 but looking forward to what will happen in the future. 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:12.719 We have Jesus' first coming that we celebrate at Christmas, 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:15.299 but also his second coming that we look forward to. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.700 And as we do that, we've been going through the Psalms. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:25.159 And the Psalms are simply 150 different models of ways to talk to God, to talk about God. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:27.900 And now we're at the very end. 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:30.460 We're in the last of our four Psalms that we're going through. 00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:32.579 If you remember, we started with Psalm 13, 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:37.920 which talked about the struggle that we have when we feel the presence of sin and evil in this world, 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:39.659 but we don't see the presence of God. 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:43.700 It seems like he's absent, that his blessings have left us. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.140 And so we sing our sorrow, but also our hope. 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:49.539 We don't get caught in one or the other. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.299 We looked then at Psalm 72. 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:55.640 We talked about our longing for good leaders, 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:59.179 our longing for leaders who love justice and righteousness, 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:03.879 even as we live under, at worst, evil, at best, imperfect leaders. 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:09.539 And the Psalms there showed us that we continue to praise and pray to God 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.400 because he is coming as the perfect king. 00:02:11.799 --> 00:02:14.659 He's coming as the ultimate ruler, the ultimate king, 00:02:14.859 --> 00:02:18.379 the leader who will give us the justice and the righteousness that we long for. 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:23.039 And then last week we looked at Psalm 96, which was a hymn of praise. 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:25.519 And so we asked the question, 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:29.340 why do we praise God when we don't feel like it? 00:02:30.859 --> 00:02:32.139 Why do we praise him? 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:32.179 Why do we praise him? 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:36.299 What makes him more excellent than other things that we praise? 00:02:36.359 --> 00:02:37.979 What makes him worthy and worth it? 00:02:39.139 --> 00:02:41.519 And so we talked about different places that we see praise. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:46.119 I mentioned to you the great Capone family tradition of Amazon.com reviews 00:02:46.119 --> 00:02:49.659 and the need to find things that are worthy of praise. 00:02:50.019 --> 00:02:51.219 Not just worthy of praise, 00:02:51.339 --> 00:02:54.839 but people who are willing to tell us all the reasons that something is praiseworthy. 00:02:55.959 --> 00:02:57.699 And so that's what Psalm 96 showed us. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.179 It showed us the things that are praiseworthy about God. 00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:03.960 And we're going to continue to talk about praise this morning. 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:05.960 We're going to be in Psalm 148. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.360 And praise is something that we see all around us. 00:03:10.420 --> 00:03:13.200 It's not just something that we see in Amazon.com reviews. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:15.659 And as I mentioned before, 00:03:15.760 --> 00:03:17.980 there are things in the Psalms that overlap with each other. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:18.900 There's redundancies. 00:03:19.040 --> 00:03:22.819 And so we were not able to talk about everything that was in Psalm 96 last week. 00:03:23.600 --> 00:03:26.500 And we're not going to be able to talk about everything that's in Psalm 148. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.439 So I'm going to jump back a little bit to 196 at points. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:32.099 And we're going to look at 148 as well. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:34.099 One thing we did not talk about last week, 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:36.240 we talked about praise in general, 00:03:36.419 --> 00:03:38.620 but we did not talk about singing specifically. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.900 Now the Psalms are not just a model of 150 different ways to talk to God, 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.539 but they were actually sung by God's people in the Old Testament. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.900 And if you remember from the beginning of Psalm 96, 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:52.580 the very first thing we're told is not just to praise God, 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:55.440 but to sing to Him, to sing a new song. 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:59.920 And so while praise is something that we see all around us, 00:04:00.880 --> 00:04:02.920 singing is something that is around us as well. 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:08.220 If you believe that singing praise is something that is limited to church, 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:10.820 that it's strange, that it's unusual, 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:14.020 then I would submit to you that you have never, ever, 00:04:14.260 --> 00:04:16.000 once in your life seen a Disney movie. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:20.360 Because half of the point of Disney movies 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.680 is that something or someone would be praised. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:24.420 If you've watched Frozen, 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:28.540 you know that Elsa praises and celebrates individualism 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:30.019 and the freedom that she feels 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:32.980 when she casts off society's expectations for her. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:34.819 If you've seen Aladdin, 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.019 you know that Aladdin and Jasmine in a whole new world 00:04:38.019 --> 00:04:39.500 sing about and celebrate 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:41.920 the wonders of going on new adventures, 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:44.600 experiencing novelty, 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:46.540 seeing things for the first time. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:49.580 If you have watched my favorite, 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:50.439 The Jungle Book, 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:52.939 you know that Baloo the Bear and Mowgli 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:54.100 sing the bear necessities 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:56.740 and they praise all the glorious things 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:58.120 that happen when you celebrate 00:04:58.120 --> 00:04:59.960 the freedom and the happiness 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:02.180 and the peace that come from minimalism 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:03.820 and living off of nature. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:07.080 And so praise and singing 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:08.280 are things that are all around us, 00:05:08.340 --> 00:05:09.879 whether we want to believe it or not. 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:12.939 Last week we asked the big question 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:14.639 of why is God worthy of praise? 00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:17.360 And now we're going to focus in 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.699 even more specifically, 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:20.120 why do we sing to God? 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:22.699 We saw in Psalm 96 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:24.719 that there are many reasons we praise God. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:25.459 First and foremost, 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:26.699 his salvation for us, 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:27.699 that he has saved us 00:05:27.699 --> 00:05:30.899 from the penalty and power of sin. 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:33.759 Secondly, we praise him as the creator. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:36.259 He's made the heavens and the earth. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:37.319 And then third, 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:38.639 we praise him as the sustainer. 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:41.060 He's the one who keeps the world moving and going. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:44.120 And so those were our answers. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:45.040 That was how we were supposed 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.120 to stir up our emotions 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:47.879 if we did not feel like praising God. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:50.360 But what if even that 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.199 is not enough for us? 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:54.819 What if we're at the beginning 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:56.280 of Psalm 13, for example, 00:05:56.280 --> 00:05:58.079 and we don't see any of those things, 00:05:58.120 --> 00:05:59.939 we can't feel them or experience them? 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:02.300 How and why do we continue 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.420 to sing to God nevertheless? 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:08.819 What if we are unmoved? 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:09.939 What if we're still stuck, 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:10.939 as we've talked about before, 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.120 stuck with cynicism, 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.279 unable to see hope? 00:06:15.719 --> 00:06:16.439 That's the question 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:17.899 we're going to take with us 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:18.939 to Psalm 148. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.100 I'm going to read Psalm 148 for us now. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:22.600 And remember that this is God's word. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:24.079 And God tells us 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.319 that his word is more precious than gold, 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:28.039 even the finest gold, 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.279 and that it is sweeter than honey, 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:32.100 even honey that comes straight 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:32.860 from the honeycomb. 00:06:33.659 --> 00:06:34.459 And so I'm reading now, 00:06:34.539 --> 00:06:35.480 starting with verse one. 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.600 Praise the Lord. 00:06:38.640 --> 00:06:40.080 Praise the Lord from the heavens. 00:06:41.020 --> 00:06:41.939 Praise him in the heights. 00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:44.240 Praise him, all his angels. 00:06:45.340 --> 00:06:46.340 Praise him, all his hosts. 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:48.580 Praise him, sun and moon. 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:51.420 Praise him, all you shining stars. 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:53.840 Praise him, you highest heavens, 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:55.500 and you waters above the heavens. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:56.980 Verse five. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:59.620 Let them praise the name of the Lord, 00:07:00.020 --> 00:07:01.860 for he commanded and they were created. 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:04.740 And he established them forever and ever. 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:06.500 He gave a decree, 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:07.840 and it shall not pass away. 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:10.660 Praise the Lord from the earth. 00:07:11.340 --> 00:07:13.360 You great sea creatures in all deeps, 00:07:13.460 --> 00:07:15.520 fire and hail, snow and mist, 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:18.020 stormy wind fulfilling his word. 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:19.360 Verse nine. 00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:21.780 Mountains and all hills, 00:07:22.020 --> 00:07:23.520 fruit trees and all cedars, 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.400 beasts and all livestock, 00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:27.520 creeping things and flying birds. 00:07:28.840 --> 00:07:29.540 Verse 11. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:32.220 Kings of the earth and all peoples, 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.240 princes and all rulers of the earth, 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:36.280 young men and maidens together, 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:37.480 old men and children. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:40.000 Let them praise the name of the Lord, 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:41.860 for his name alone is exalted. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.180 His majesty is above earth and heaven. 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:48.939 He has raised up a horn for his people. 00:07:49.780 --> 00:07:51.019 Praise for all his saints, 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:53.879 for the people of Israel who are near to him. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:55.540 Praise the Lord. 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:57.540 Lord, 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:00.680 please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:06.020 Dear Father in heaven, 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:07.240 we thank you 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.280 that you've given us your word, 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.180 first and foremost, 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:11.700 that you have not left us 00:08:11.700 --> 00:08:13.620 wondering about what we should do 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:14.480 or how we should do it, 00:08:14.520 --> 00:08:16.379 but you've instructed us like a good father. 00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:16.459 Father, 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:20.939 we thank you that you have provided for us 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.800 in such a way that you are worthy of praise, 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:24.680 and so we ask that you would help us. 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:26.980 You would help us understand your word, 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:28.959 that you'd help us to know you better, 00:08:29.719 --> 00:08:32.519 and you'd help us to do what you call us to do, 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:33.639 what you command us to do, 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:35.200 that you would help us to praise you. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.960 We ask all these things in the name of your son. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:39.399 Amen. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:40.039 Now, 00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:43.639 if I were to summarize this psalm, 00:08:43.699 --> 00:08:44.360 it's pretty simple. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:47.579 There's a picture that's being given for us 00:08:47.579 --> 00:08:48.439 in Psalm 148, 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.039 and it's this. 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:50.840 There is a choir. 00:08:52.459 --> 00:08:53.959 There's a choir that is singing, 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:55.360 and they're singing in different sections. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.539 They're responding to each other. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:56.819 First, 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.539 there's the heavenly portion of the choir. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:59.759 That's the part that starts out, 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:02.600 so not every part of the choir is singing at once, 00:09:02.959 --> 00:09:05.240 but we have the heavenly portion singing at first, 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:07.159 and they have their reasons, 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.220 the reasons that they're singing. 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:10.399 These are things that we talked about last week, 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.399 verses 5 and 6. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:13.120 They're praising because God created them. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:15.899 So that's the reason that part of the choir is singing. 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:18.899 And then the other part of the choir, 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.019 the earthly part of the choir, 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.139 responds in song. 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:24.820 So you can imagine there's the heavenly choir up high, 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:26.600 and they sing out God's praise. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.980 Then there's the earthly choir down below, 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:30.399 and they answer in praise. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:32.300 But it's not just that. 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:33.160 They're then joined, 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.879 not just by the heavens and the earth, 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.519 but then by the people who live in it. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:39.639 And these people are not just one section. 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:41.600 It's not just some people, 00:09:41.699 --> 00:09:42.240 but everyone, 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:44.000 kings of the earth and all peoples, 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:46.179 young men and maidens, 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.139 old men and children. 00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:49.319 So the powerful are praising God, 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:51.500 but also those without power. 00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:53.679 The old are praising God, 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:54.579 but also the young. 00:09:55.220 --> 00:09:56.399 Men are praising God, 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:58.100 but women are praising him as well. 00:09:59.199 --> 00:10:00.379 And they're praising them again 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:02.079 for what we talked about in Psalm 96. 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:03.980 They're praising him for his salvation. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:06.480 And so we're seeing here the repetition 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.899 of what we've already seen, 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:08.800 that God is praised. 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:10.019 He's praised for his salvation. 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.980 He's praised for his creation. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.019 He's praised for his ruling 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.259 over everything in the world. 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:18.860 There's also a bookend. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:23.320 If you have listened to me teach before, 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:24.420 especially in the book of Matthew, 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:26.600 you know that I'm a huge fan of bookends. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.080 Whenever we're reading the Bible, 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:29.360 if we see something that appears 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.139 both at the beginning and at the end, 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.620 we know that it is incredibly important. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.939 In fact, often it is the primary point 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:35.580 of the passage. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.720 And here our bookend 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.019 is what is also repeated 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:40.860 over and over and over again. 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:43.500 Praise the Lord. 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:47.679 And so it's not just something 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.819 that is good for us. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.379 God is not just something 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.740 that might move our emotions 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:53.159 as we see what he's done 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:55.100 to recognize that he's worthy of our praise, 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:55.819 but it is something 00:10:55.819 --> 00:10:58.000 that God has told us to do. 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:00.059 He has commanded it. 00:11:01.139 --> 00:11:03.779 And so God telling us, 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:04.679 in and of itself, 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.639 should be enough for us to praise him. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.899 But C.S. Lewis tells us 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:10.059 that when he became a Christian, 00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:10.679 one of the things 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.059 that was most challenging for him 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.279 as he read the Psalms 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.740 was seeing the command to praise 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.439 over and over. 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:16.740 Because he thought, 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.179 who is this God 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:19.699 who just needs our praise? 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:23.519 This seems like something that's petty, 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.659 something that's needy. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:29.980 And then as he began to think about it, 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.439 he realized what we've already talked about, 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.240 that this is something 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.919 that permeates all of our lives. 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.519 And so C.S. Lewis realized 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.639 that people who do not praise, 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:41.500 people who do not glory in God, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.419 are the same as people 00:11:42.419 --> 00:11:43.480 who've never been in love. 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.120 He compares it to people 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.139 who've never been in love 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.139 or people who have never read a good book, 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:51.000 people who are deaf 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.399 and are unable to hear music. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.580 And then he realizes and recognizes 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:57.799 that praise is what we do 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.679 for anything that we find good. 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:03.720 When we see a movie that we appreciate, 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.299 when we read a book that we love, 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:07.019 it's the natural response of humans 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:09.379 to praise the source of it. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.159 And so if we are not praising, 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:16.399 then we're like someone who's deaf 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.440 and can't hear music. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:21.640 We're like someone who's unable to read 00:12:21.640 --> 00:12:23.640 and cannot appreciate a wonderful book. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:27.060 We're like someone who's blind 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.700 and is not able to see the glory 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:30.340 that God has given us in this world. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:35.060 And so God's command to praise here 00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:37.040 is God telling us to do 00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:38.220 what we would naturally do 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:39.320 for anything else. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:44.140 And so first of all, we praise God. 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:46.240 We obey his command to us 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.360 because he tells us. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.399 But we praise him 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:54.700 because we're doing and recognizing 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.299 what we would do 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:56.519 with everything else in this world. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.779 And so as we struggle at times 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:00.840 with the idea of praise, 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:01.399 the concept, 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:03.440 when we hit up against the fact 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.340 that we often don't feel like praising, 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:07.460 Psalm 148 first and foremost 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:09.779 reminds us that this is God's command for us. 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.539 He wants us to praise him 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.240 because it is for our good. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:18.720 This praise that comes from the choir, though, 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:21.580 is not just praise in general, 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.919 but it is praise that comes 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:25.200 from every portion of God's creation. 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:27.259 Everything is praising God. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:29.600 It is the entire earth. 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:31.379 It's not just God's people, 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:33.399 but his animals that are praising. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.220 It's the heavens. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.200 And if you think this is strange, 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:37.000 I would also submit 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.200 that you haven't seen a Disney movie 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:41.600 to see animals and creation praising. 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.259 But I would also remind you 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.780 of Jesus' words in Luke 19. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.879 If you remember the story of Jesus' death, 00:13:49.640 --> 00:13:51.280 he begins by entering Jerusalem. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:53.560 And as he enters Jerusalem, 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:55.780 many people come and are praising him. 00:13:56.640 --> 00:13:58.080 They're laying down palm branches. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.600 And so some leaders come to Jesus 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.379 and tell him to stop it. 00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:04.100 They want him to stop all the praise 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.759 that's going on 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.860 because they find it inappropriate. 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:08.600 Do you remember what Jesus says to them? 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.759 He essentially says, 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.000 yes, I could do that. 00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:16.860 But if they didn't praise me, 00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:19.580 the rocks would cry out. 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:22.860 In other words, 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:25.200 God's praise is so necessary. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.320 It is such an obligation 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.000 and a duty for the people that he's made 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.360 that if we fail in it, 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.340 the creation itself 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:35.060 will have to step in to fill our place. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:41.180 But these parts of creation, 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.779 everything praising God at once 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:44.759 reminds us of a second thing about praise. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.840 Not just that it's God's command to us, 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.639 but this full-bodied, 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.759 whole creation praise 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.220 that happens in Psalm 148 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:53.659 shows us a picture 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:55.279 of what happens to us as well. 00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:57.680 That when we praise, 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.980 when we sing to God, 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.340 singing is something more than anything else 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:03.980 that engages every single part of our body. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:06.840 When I preached on Psalm 13, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:09.539 I mentioned a quote by a man named Andy Crouch 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:11.600 talking about the people in Haiti who sang. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.240 He also says this about singing. 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:17.159 Singing may be the one human activity 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:19.360 that most perfectly combines heart, 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:21.300 mind, soul, 00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:22.340 and strength. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.779 Almost everything we do 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:27.820 requires at least one of these fundamental human faculties. 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.140 But singing, 00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:30.940 and only singing, 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:32.360 combines them all. 00:15:34.640 --> 00:15:35.500 In other words, 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:37.020 just as all of creation 00:15:37.020 --> 00:15:39.520 is combined in praising God in Psalm 148, 00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:43.040 so when we obey God's commands in Psalm 96 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:44.300 to sing a new song, 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.000 and His command here in Psalm 148 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.840 to praise Him, 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:50.400 we are also doing the one thing 00:15:50.400 --> 00:15:53.540 that allows us to give our whole person to Him. 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:58.000 And not only are we giving our whole person to Him, 00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.839 but we are engaging our whole person. 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.659 And so if we find ourselves 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:05.599 like someone who's deaf and can't hear music, 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.919 or someone who's blind 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.419 and can't see the world that God's created, 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.799 singing is the instrument, 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.860 it is the tool that God has given us 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:17.259 to be able to begin to see again, 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:20.740 to be able to begin to hear again. 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:24.279 It's an activity that God has created 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.120 and He's given to us for our good. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:29.139 That if we find ourselves stuck, 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.679 when we find ourselves numb or cynical, 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:36.759 when we find ourselves grieving or hopeless, 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:40.159 if we're unmoved by all the things 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:43.159 that were listed in the review of God in Psalm 96, 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.860 this is our way out. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:50.279 God has given us singing as the tool. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.820 And so He commands us to do this, 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:54.620 first because He is worthy of praise. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.960 He's more excellent than anything else 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.060 that we would give praise to. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.379 But second of all, it's commanded here 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:02.060 as it is in all of the Bible, 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.899 because this is the thing 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:06.319 that allows us to grow more and more 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.720 in our love for God. 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:14.539 And so if you are burnt out, 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:20.160 if you need Jesus and His grace, 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:25.799 if you feel the darkness of this world 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:27.740 creeping in on you little by little, 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:33.980 if you're not looking forward to conversations 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.039 on Christmas Day, 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:39.440 if you're afraid of the division in your family, 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.880 if you find your world slowly shrinking, 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:50.560 God has given us this 00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:52.800 as His way to care for us, 00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:55.340 that we would praise the Lord 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:58.420 along with the rest of creation. 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.400 As I mentioned last week, 00:18:00.520 --> 00:18:02.340 this is how we actually come back in tune 00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:03.140 with what is real. 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:05.120 When we praise God, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.300 we are doing what the rest of creation 00:18:07.300 --> 00:18:09.460 has already done before us. 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:11.579 We're reconnecting with reality. 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.860 And so the application is simple. 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.259 Praise God. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:23.100 Praise God by being with us here 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.980 on a Sunday morning. 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.240 Praise God by singing loud, 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:30.100 even if it annoys your neighbor. 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.660 Praise God by singing loud 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.660 because you know that this is what's going 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:38.460 to re-energize and reorient 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:40.660 your mind and your heart. 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.000 And so sing with us, 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:45.180 not because we need you to, 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.259 but because you need it. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.880 Knowing that this is the way 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:52.180 that you cultivate your love for God. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.740 What we praise, we end up loving. 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:58.140 There are lots of different ways 00:18:58.140 --> 00:19:00.680 to figure out, diagnose our health 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:03.100 as a culture or a society. 00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:05.579 I know one pastor who says 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.400 that he can quickly tell 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.600 the health of a congregation 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:10.120 by the quality of their singing, 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:12.700 but we could also tell 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.580 the health of a culture. 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:17.080 I recently listened to someone 00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:19.259 who made the observation 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.080 that more and more in our culture, 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.100 and he was speaking especially 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.880 of North America, 00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:24.800 we are not a people that sing. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.560 There are not many places left 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.240 in our society 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.120 where there are people 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:30.360 who don't just sing alone 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.580 in their cars to the radio, 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.940 but people who come together 00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.779 and sing as one body. 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:39.240 And so if we want to be healthy 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.480 as a church, 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.600 if we want to be healthy 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.279 as a culture, 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.360 then we have to be people 00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:46.279 who sing together. 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.320 Singing not because 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.039 we are trying to do 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.759 what's excellent, 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.519 not because we want to 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.180 be on tune, 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.240 but singing because 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.460 that is how we join with God 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.440 with all of our heart 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.600 and soul and mind 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.219 and strength. 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.159 And this isn't just something 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.879 in the Psalms. 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.500 In the book of James, 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.119 the author asks, 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.500 he says, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.379 is anyone cheerful? 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.919 And then he says, 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.959 let him sing praise. 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:20.079 And so this is what we do. 00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.859 This is how we bring ourselves 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.819 to God. 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.740 This is how we express 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.799 our love for him, 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.679 but it's also how we grow 00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.539 our love for him. 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:32.980 And so come and sing with us. 00:20:34.219 --> 00:20:35.059 Sing when you're here 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.119 on Sunday morning with us. 00:20:36.199 --> 00:20:37.299 Sing as loud as you can. 00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:41.319 Name God's praise 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.119 throughout the week. 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.539 When you're at the 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.539 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.959 remember that these are 00:20:46.959 --> 00:20:48.240 the animals that God made. 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.419 When you're driving 00:20:52.419 --> 00:20:53.599 and you see the mountains, 00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:54.579 remember those are the mountains 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.240 that God made. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.839 When you see your own growth, 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.259 as we talked about last week, 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.779 in holiness, 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.879 loving more and more 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.059 the things that God loves, 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.640 and seeing the presence 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.579 of evil diminish 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.240 more and more. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.819 Praise God. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.259 Name the fact that God 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.119 is the one who has done 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.920 that in your life. 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.980 And then we can truly do 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.779 what we're commanded here 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.839 in Psalm 148, 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.279 to praise the Lord. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:27.200 this psalm, however, 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.759 doesn't just show us 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.859 a choir that's singing to God. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.799 It also shows us 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.779 a destination. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.440 You may have noticed 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.319 that as we've gone 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:38.940 through the psalms, 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.680 we have gone through them 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.639 in chronological order. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.240 In other words, 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.980 we started with Psalm 13. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.859 We did not start 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.920 with Psalm 148. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.200 We're doing them in order. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.580 We went from Psalm 13 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.740 to Psalm 72 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.019 and then Psalm 96 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:53.480 and now Psalm 148. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.080 And there's a reason for that 00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:57.460 because the psalm's structure 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.860 itself teaches us something. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.559 When we get to the very end 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.259 of the psalter, 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:06.120 many people have observed 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.519 that there is no psalm 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.340 of lament here. 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.240 In fact, 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:12.059 the last six psalms 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:13.539 of the book 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:15.319 are all psalms of praise. 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.480 And they become more 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.440 and more ecstatic 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.179 as it goes on 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.419 until we end 00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.700 with Psalm 150. 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.619 And not just ecstatic, 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:29.000 but saying the same thing 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.279 over and over 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.379 and over again. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.559 And so the point 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.200 that the psalmist 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.460 is making is this. 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.359 As we live 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.200 the Christian life, 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.919 as we sing 00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:41.940 the psalm of lament 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.940 in Psalm 13, 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.080 as we look to God 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.980 as our great king 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.920 in Psalm 72, 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.220 what will happen 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.900 more and more 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.519 is what happens 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.019 in the psalter, 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.000 that we will more 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.960 and more 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.380 grow in our praise. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.559 And not only that, 00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.880 but as we look forward 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.360 to Jesus' second coming, 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:04.320 as we look forward 00:23:04.320 --> 00:23:05.200 to that end, 00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:07.140 that will be the same end 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.840 as the psalter, 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.279 that it will be 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.500 an end of praise. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:14.059 And so praise 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.019 is not just 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.140 how we stir up 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.279 our love for God. 00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:17.940 It's not just 00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.700 the tool that God 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.620 has given to us. 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:20.880 It is not just 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.640 a strategy, 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.580 but it is our destination. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.519 That we're moving 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:28.080 closer and closer 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.080 to God 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.740 and His praise. 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:31.220 That the trajectory, 00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.640 the path of the psalms 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.920 is our path 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.420 as well. 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.519 That we move 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.240 in and out 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.500 of various situations 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.259 and trials 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.460 and griefs. 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.700 But at the end, 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.879 when we make it 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:45.420 to the end, 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.359 what we're left with 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.420 is praise. 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.279 And so what happens 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.779 in the last six psalms 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.640 here in this book 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:55.700 are what are going 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.480 to happen to us 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.079 this life, 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.779 in this life, 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.319 more and more 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.379 as we follow after God 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.180 and we see Him 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.779 and His provision. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.920 But it's also 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.720 what's going to happen 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.680 to us at the end, 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.759 at Jesus' second coming. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.740 When we look 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.700 at the book of Revelation, 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.640 what we see 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.779 at the end of time 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.440 is everyone 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.720 around the throne of God 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.500 praising Him 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:14.980 and singing. 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.379 And this is not 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.940 some boring activity, 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.700 but this is people 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.819 finally recognizing 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.519 and seeing 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.039 what is most beautiful 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.039 more clearly 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.559 than they've ever 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.200 seen it before. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.299 There was a 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:35.339 time in my life, 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:37.159 probably a three-year period 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.519 where I had a stint 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.480 of running half marathons. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.559 And this was mainly 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.240 with my dad. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.099 There was only one time 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.879 I ran one with friends. 00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:47.299 I refused to run one 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:47.959 by myself. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.859 So it was a social activity. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.659 But one thing 00:24:51.659 --> 00:24:52.240 that you'll know 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.039 if you run enough 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.779 half marathons, 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.319 this will be true 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.459 for marathons as well, 00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:57.939 is that when you start out, 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.299 things are very exciting. 00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:01.980 There's loud music playing, 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:04.360 just pump up, 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.720 work out songs. 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.279 And then there will be 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.740 other places along the route 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.160 depending on which one you run. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.360 This is more true 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.339 of ones that happen in cities. 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.420 But there will be other places 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.160 along the route 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.960 where there will be bands 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.839 there for you playing. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.099 And so there are many times 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.620 as you're running, 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.440 you'll come across 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.539 someone cheering you on 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:24.019 or a band playing out loud 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:26.220 to encourage you, 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.620 to lift your spirits, 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:30.099 to help you keep going 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.899 when things are hard. 00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:33.959 But then there's times 00:25:33.959 --> 00:25:34.899 where there's no music. 00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:38.879 And you're just plodding away 00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:40.019 one foot after the other 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.659 on your race. 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.500 And that's much like 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.779 the Christian life. 00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:49.139 That there are times 00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.899 in our lives 00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:50.759 where we feel 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.599 the presence of God. 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:55.559 We can see 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.719 and experience praise. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.640 things are exciting. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.900 Maybe it's the beginning 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.799 of our new family. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.940 Maybe it's a new chapter 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.559 at a church. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.960 Maybe it's the excitement 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:09.299 of being in a certain period 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.819 in our lives 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.339 where we feel like 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.779 we're growing 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.860 and learning so much. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.559 But then there's other times 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.740 where there's no music at all. 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.680 Times where we're filled 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.000 with grief. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.460 Times where we're filled 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.059 with doubts. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.900 We're not sure 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.360 if this is the right race 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:26.939 that we're running. 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.159 Times we're filled 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.979 with discouragement. 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.159 And yet we know 00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:36.119 when we get to the end. 00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.959 When you're at the end 00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:39.500 of the race, 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.639 at the end of the half marathon, 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.919 all the best music 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.879 is saved for that. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.759 That's where the biggest band is. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.740 No one puts their biggest band 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.959 at the beginning of the race. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.259 And no one puts it 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.679 at the middle. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:55.320 It's always the greatest 00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:56.360 and largest band 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.420 that is waiting for you 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.840 at the end 00:26:57.840 --> 00:26:58.640 that when you've finished 00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.279 your race, 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.180 then you can celebrate. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.580 And so first of all, 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.600 that is the future 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.480 that's put forward 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.140 for us here. 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.200 That as we go along 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.140 in the Christian life, 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.980 we go along 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.960 looking at music 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.700 in the past 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.720 that has cheered us on. 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.480 When we find ourselves 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:20.279 alone 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.480 with no music playing 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.500 one foot after the other, 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.620 we look forward 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:25.759 to the great praise 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.620 that awaits us 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.140 in the future. 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:32.120 But there's another trick 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.600 as well. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.259 I've only run 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.079 half marathons, 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.940 but my father 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.400 has become 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.579 an avid marathoner 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:41.860 and just finished 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:44.480 a multi-year journey, 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.380 multi-year struggle 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:45.960 to qualify 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:47.079 for the Boston Marathon. 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.920 And if you know 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.620 anything about running, 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.220 you know this is 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.099 the great goal 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.779 of many runners. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.420 It's competitive. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.960 It's hard to achieve. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.819 You have to reach 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.640 a certain time. 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.200 You have to keep 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.500 making your miles 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.460 faster and faster 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.279 to be able to meet 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.319 the qualifying time 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.839 to run 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.819 in the Boston Marathon. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.460 And my dad's finally 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:03.920 going to be able 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.799 to do it this spring, 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.240 so we're excited for him. 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.960 But there are many times 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.779 that my father 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.620 is on the race 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:12.720 and there is no music playing. 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:16.380 So do you know 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:16.880 what he does? 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.099 My dad has figured out 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:23.460 which songs 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:25.180 have the right rhythm 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.380 for him to keep going. 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:30.059 And so when he is 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.759 on the race 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.980 and there is no music playing, 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.740 he sings the songs 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.319 in his head. 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.960 He picks songs 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.079 that have three-quarter time 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.960 or six-eight time 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.480 because he says 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.099 those are the best 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.740 to keep his breathing 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.380 under control. 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:45.800 He'll sing 00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:46.740 my favorite things 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.540 from the sound of music 00:28:47.540 --> 00:28:48.140 in his head 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.280 to make sure 00:28:49.280 --> 00:28:49.700 he's going 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:51.280 in the right pace. 00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:52.740 He told me 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.100 another one 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.960 is 10 minutes ago 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.660 from Cinderella. 00:28:55.300 --> 00:28:55.780 He and my mom 00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:56.460 watched that recently 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.460 so now that's one of his. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.360 But as he finds himself 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:00.960 in a place 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.340 where there's no music playing, 00:29:03.780 --> 00:29:05.260 as he's going along 00:29:05.260 --> 00:29:06.480 in this great struggle 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:08.620 to make it all the way 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.900 past 26 miles, 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.340 when the music 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:12.860 is not playing around him, 00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:15.000 he plays it 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.699 in his own head. 00:29:16.719 --> 00:29:18.079 Because that is how 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.559 we know 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:21.279 and pace ourselves 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:24.000 even when the finish line 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.959 is so far away. 00:29:28.219 --> 00:29:29.559 And so as we finish 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.759 our series on the Advent, 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.539 as we come to the end 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.059 of Psalms, 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:38.859 we on the one hand 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.519 are celebrating 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.299 what has happened 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.259 in the past, 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.379 looking back 00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.359 to Jesus' first coming. 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.519 And we are looking forward 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.379 to what he will do 00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.019 in the future 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:49.159 and yet right now 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.659 we're just running. 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.740 We're just putting 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.299 one foot 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.119 in front of the other 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:57.419 in faith, 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:57.919 knowing 00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.899 and hoping 00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.740 and looking forward 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.659 to what God has 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.480 for us in the future. 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:04.480 And so how do we make it? 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.180 How do we make it 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.240 through the in-between time, 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.819 the tension 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:11.500 of not living 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.039 in the past 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.779 when Jesus came 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.299 and not living 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.779 in the future 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.660 when he's coming again? 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.380 The answer's here 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.220 for us 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.120 in Psalm 148 00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.720 and it's this. 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.380 Praise the Lord. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.660 When we can't hear 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.860 or see the music, 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.880 God has given it to us. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:31.240 And so we keep on praising, 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.840 we keep on running, 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.600 pursuing everything 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:36.160 that God has given for us. 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:38.500 Please pray with me. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.000 Dear Father in heaven, 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.640 we thank you 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.500 that you're worthy of praise. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.400 Thank you that you've given us 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.740 a race to run, 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:51.940 a race of faith 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.580 that involves your praise 00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.700 and will end in your praise. 00:30:55.560 --> 00:30:57.140 We ask that you would help us now 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.620 as we live in between 00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:00.979 everything that you have for us. 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.979 That we would keep praising you 00:31:03.979 --> 00:31:06.259 even when we can't see, 00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:08.479 even when we feel stuck. 00:31:10.459 --> 00:31:11.879 That we would understand 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.179 our need for your grace, 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.399 but we would also see you 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:15.859 meeting us 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:17.379 at that very same point of need. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:20.059 We ask all these things 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.879 in the name of your Son. 00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:22.139 Amen. 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.279 Amen.