Songs We Sing "good Good Father" Series

SONGS WE SING: ‘GOOD GOOD FATHER’

Matthew 7:9-11, and many others

#GoodGoodFather

SING ‘GOOD GOOD FATHER’

INTRODUCTION

This morning we are continuing a sermon series called: “The Songs We Sing.” Part of worshipping God is singing.

FOCUS ON “WORSHIP”

I realize I am using that word… “worship”… and you may not realize what it means. “Worship” is one of those words that can mean different things to different people and also can have wrong definitions. What is worship? Isn’t worship just singing songs in church? Worship is an important attitude of the heart and a total disposition of our soul focusing on God and His Word.

We see a great example of worship in passages like Nehemiah 8. In Nehemiah 8, the people of God are returning to Jerusalem from the exile in Babylon led by Nehemiah and Ezra. Ezra wants to lead the people in a time of worship. Let’s read what happens…

READ NEHEMIAH 8:1-8 (ESV)

“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.”

We notice several aspects of this passage that help us to frame worship of YHWH God. The worship that happened was public, with a crowd, and created unity among the people (verse 1). A focus of the worship was the reading of the Word of God and the explanation of the meaning of the Scriptures (verses 2-8). Worship was also listening to the Bible (verse 3). There was standing and also bowing during the gathering (verse 5-6). People focused and paid attention (verse 3, 8). Worshippers responded at different times by saying “Amen” (verse 6). Blessings and praises were directed to God (verse 6).

Nehemiah 8 describes a worship service that you and I might be quite comfortable joining. It was a gathering of like-minded people focusing on God through His Word. That is worship!

As we focus on different songs we sing from now until Easter, understand that the songs are the surface focus, but the real focus is the direction of our hearts and minds when we sing. Worship is our focus!

Worship of God Almighty is our focus.

Worship claiming the blood of Christ is our focus.

Worship in the Spirit and in Truth is our focus.

SONG LYRICS: ‘GOOD GOOD FATHER’ (optional)

Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think You're like; But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night; And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone; You're a good, good Father; It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are; And I'm loved by You, It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am.

Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide; But I know we're all searching for answers only You provide; 'Cause You know just what we need before we say a word; You're a good, good Father; It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are; And I'm loved by You, It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am.

Because You are perfect in all of Your ways; You are perfect in all of Your ways; You are perfect in all of Your ways to us; You are perfect in all of Your ways; Oh, You're perfect in all of Your ways; You are perfect in all of Your ways to us.