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