Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Looking at the 'Hallelujah' Psalms
- Hallelujah - means Praise the Lord
- The are different times in a Christian's life
- The Book of Psalms finishes with joy and praise
- If the people of the Old Testament were called to praise God - how much more should we as people of the New Testament
- We have every reason to praise God
- We have been singing for some time - singing the praises of God
- We are to sing from our hearts (not just our lips)
- Hallelujah - a compound word meaning praise Yehovah
- Each Psalm starts/ends with the phrase 'Praise the Lord'
- We must not use this as a catchphrase but really mean it from the heart
- No particular instrument directed for this psalm - we are to use our voice
- No setting - can be used on all occasions
- There are many reasons why we should praise God
- God's character
- God's actions
- Thinking about God causes us to praise Him
- Praise should come from sanctified hearts
- We should not curse with our tongue
- We should bless with our tongue
- Ps 15 - we should come with clean hearts and hands
- Overview:
- A call to worship (v1-2)
- A caution about misplaced trust (v3-4)
- Reasons to trust God (v5-10)
A call to worship (v1-2)
- A general call to worship but also of his own heart - v1
- We are called to join in the great anthem of praise and worship
- Not just on the Lord's day - but every day
- The chief end of man is to glorify God
- We might need help to praise God
- Ps 147:1 - Praise should be pleasant
- How do you feel this evening - like Hannah, like David, maybe neither of these two extremes?
- However we feel - we should offer a sacrifice of praise
- What is praise? - v2
- When we keep His commands
- An expression of our heart that comes from our lips
- Singing as well as prayer
- Something very beautiful about singing
- There is a determination to praise
- Ps 103:1-2
- We sometimes need God to stir our soul - to praise Him
- Heb 2:12
- Christ is in the midst
- He is the Choirmaster
- He helps us in our praise
- We are to be a praising people throughout the whole week
- Not about peripheries
- All about God
- Example of Fijian Team
A caution about misplaced trust (v3-4)
- Example
- Do not trust in men
- Do not trust in the fallible and those who change
- Trust in the unchangeable and one who is utterly perfect
- There is a tendency to trust in men rather than God
- Example of politicians, people with money, doctors
- Trust in the living God
- There is no ultimate help in man - in all the trials of life and spiritual matters
- We do not know when we may die
- Life is short and fleeting
- Trust in the Lord - in Him there is hope
Reasons to trust God (v5-10)
- Happy / blessed is the man who trusts in God - v5
- Who is born again
- Who has the spirit of God indwelling them
- He will never disappoint
- He will answer every prayer (though it may be no)
- He intervenes
- He delivers
- He provides / acts - v7
- Example of Joseph
- He is gracious
- He delivers and defends
- He acts on their behalf
- Example of Naomi
- He watches over the stranger - v9
- He does not forget the widow or orphan
- He made the earth (and all that it is in) - v6
- He has made a world of great intricacy and beauty
- He has made all the creatures
- He is an immense God far beyond us
- He keeps truth forever
- He is faithful
- We are unfaithful and deceitful
- We are unreliable, let people down and disappoint
- v7 - Consider Jesus in the Temple
- The words have a physical meaning
- The words have a spiritual meaning
- Jesus will bring about final justice
- Examples of the oppressed - God is not indifferent
- God sent His only Son to die for us to we could be saved from sin and hell
- We can and must praise our God
Closing Remarks