A Call For Praise

Psalm 33:1-22 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-- 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

A CALL FOR PRAISE

INTRODUCTION: ONE OF THE CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES OF MAN IS TO PRAISE GOD. YET, OFTEN WE DO NOT KNOW WHY WE ARE PRAISING HIM. THIS PSALM SEEKS TO ANSWER THE WHY QUESTION OF PRAISING GOD

I. FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS 1-3

a. PRAISE SHOULD BE JOYFUL

b. IT IS A GOOD THING TO PRAISE GOD

i. THE WORD FITTING MEANS NATURAL

c. OUR PRAISE IS TO BE SKILLFUL

i. WE ARE TO PRAISE GOD WELL

ii. ONE OF THE BEST TALENTS WE SHOULD HAVE IS PRAISING GOD!

II. THE REASONS TO PRAISE GOD 4-19

a. HIS WORD

i. WHAT GOD DECREES HAPPENS

ii. GODS WORD IS

1. MORAL – 4

2. MANIFEST – 5-7

3. MOVING – 8

4. MATCHLESS -- 9

b. HIS WORK

i. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN EVERYTHING HE CHOOSES TO DO

ii. GOOD CHOOSES TO DO THAT WHICH IS IN LINE WITH HIS NATURE

c. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

i. GOD CONSIDERS EVERYTHING

ii. HE IS NOT BIAS IN ANYTHING HE DOES

d. HIS LOYALTY

i. GOD’S EYES ARE ON THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM AND FEAR HIM

ii. MEN ARE NOT SAVED BY LOOKING TO ANYTHING ELSE BUT GOD

e. HIS UNFAILING LOVE

i. WE ARE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS LOVE

ii. HOW PRAISE WORTHY IS SOMETHING YOU CAN TRUST WITHOUT CONCERN?

III. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PRAISE 20-22

a. GOD IS OUR HELP

b. GOD IS OUR HAPPINESS

c. GOD IS OUR HOPE

WE WILL WAIT FOR THOSE WE HAVE HOPE IN

WE WILL REJOICE IN THOSE WE TRUST