The Doxology of “The Songs of Degrees.”
Psalms 134:1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
This series of psalms ends, as all worship should, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving. Our prayers, worship and waiting upon the Lord should lead us to bless the Lord, and bid all others do the same.
A Doxology is an offering of praise to God in worship. The term comes from the Greek roots duxa and logia and means "words of glory." Christians are to endeavor to make not only worship, but also theology and life itself, an offering of praise.
The most familiar "Doxology," was written by Thomas Ken around 1700.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
These Psalms abound with similar verses (96:6; 112:1; 113:1) and were used in the synagogue.
The apostles used doxology’s.
Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:21 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
There are celestial doxologies.
Rev 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Rev 19:1 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:”
The song of the angels in Luke 2:13-14 is a doxology.
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Our Saviour’s pattern for prayer in Matt 6:11-13 is a doxology.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
That spirit is present in this psalm. Notice…
#1. THE EXHORTATION: “Behold, bless ye the Lord.”
This psalm, being placed at the end of this series, bids us look back and trace the many reasons why we should bless the Lord.
Psalm 120 – Our strength in conflict.
Psalm 121 – Help me Lord.
Psalm 122 – My first day in Heaven.
Psalm 123 – Pray with your eyes open.
Psalm 124 – God is on our side.
Psalm 125 – Solid as a rock.
Psalm 126 – Free, Full & Fruitful.
Psalm 127 – The Lord is Sovereign.
Psalm 128 – The Pursuit of Happiness.
Psalm 129 – Victory in Jesus.
Psalm 130 – The cry for clemency
Psalm 131 – The real you.
Psalm 132 – God’s dwelling place.
Psalm 133 – Unity among Brethren.
If men will look back along their lives, they too will bless the Lord.
#2. THE CONGREGATION: “…all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”
To all servants of the Lord.
To those “who by night stand in the house of the Lord.” Allusion is made to those whose office it was to minister before the Lord during the night watches — there were priests and Levites who had duties by night as well as by day (1 Chronicles 9:33). There was “a night watch of singers who kept up the worship of God through the silent hours.”
#3. THE PARTICIPATION: v 2 “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”
Put your heart, hands and mouth into worship.
#4. THE DEMONSTRATION: v 3 “The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.”
Pastor Kevin W Burden
Carter Creek Baptist Church
For Wednesday PM, August 13, 2008
