Great Is The Lord And Greatly To Be Praised Series

BIG IDEA: PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS AND GREATNESS

I. (:1-4) PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS

A. Activity of Praise

“Praise the Lord!”

“Praise the name of the Lord”

B. Ministers of Praise

“You who stand in the house of the Lord”

“In the courts of the house of our God!”

C. Description of the Lord’s Goodness

- “for the Lord is good”

- for His name “is lovely”

D. Proof of the Lord’s Goodness

“For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.”

II. (:5-18) PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GREATNESS

A. Thesis: “For I know that the Lord is great”

B. Definition of the Lord’s Greatness

1. Majestic = “above all gods”

2. Sovereign

“Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps”

C. Proof of the Lord’s Greatness = He Performs His Will Throughout History for the Benefit of His People

1. Rules over Nature

“causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth”

“Who makes lightnings for the rain”

“Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries”

2. Crushes the Opposition of Rebellious World Powers

a. Egypt

b. “many nations” / “mighty kings”

“Sihon, king of the Amorites”

“Og, king of Bashan”

“all the kingdoms of Canaan”

3. Distributes Land to Benefit His People

“He gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His people”

4. Has Earned an Enduring Reputation

“Thy name, O Lord, is everlasting”

“Thy remembrance, O Lord, throughout all generations”

5. Judges His Own People

“For the Lord will judge His people”

“And will have compassion on His servants”

6. Is Superior to All Idols

they are made of inferior materials = “silver and gold”

they are made by inferior creatures = “the work of man’s hands”

they have inferior functionality

“They have mouths, but they do not speak”

“They have eyes, but they do not see”

“They have ears, but they do not hear”

they are lifeless = “Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths”

God will Judge those involved in idolatry

“Those who make them will be like them,

Yes, everyone who trusts in them.”

(:19-21) BENEDICTION: BLESSED BE THE LORD!

- “house of Israel”

- “house of Aaron”

- “house of Levi”

- “You who revere the Lord”

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DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) What are some of the “lovely” attributes of the Lord’s character that have been precious to you this week? Describe His goodness to you recently.

2) How is the Lord’s Sovereignty over all things connected with His compassion towards His people rather than some sense of cruelty?

3) How much do we value the inheritance the Lord has provided for us? Remember how Esau sold his inheritance for a bowl of porridge. How did Israel take their inheritance for granted and misuse it?

4) What are some modern day idols and how does the imagery of this psalm apply to those examples?

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