SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The Holy Judge (vs 1-6)
(2). The Heartless Worshippers (vs 7-15).
(3). The Hypocritical Worshippers (vs 16-22)
(4). The Honest Worshippers (vs 23)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Chambers
• Criminal Justice
• Crown Court
• Garrows Law
• Judge John Deed
• Jury
• Kavanagh QC
• Law and Order
• New Street Law
• Rumpole of the Bailey
• Silk
• These shows are just a few of the British TV programmes based around a courtroom.
• Courtroom scenes on television or in film often make for good drama;
• Especially when the case takes a surprising turn, or when justice itself in on the line.
• TRANSITION:
• In Psalm 50 we have a dramatic courtroom scene.
• God himself is the judge.
• He summons the whole world to the foot of Mount Zion (Jerusalem);
• To appear before his tribunal.
(1). The Holy Judge (vs 1-6)
“The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 ‘Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice”.
Ill:
• In the UK when a judge enters a courtroom,
• Everybody stands respectfully;
• But verse 2 tells us;
• That God’s entrance into his assembly is accompanied by the shinning of his glory.
• Notice in verse 3:
• God's courtroom is not like the mahogany panelled room we so often see on TV.
• His courtroom is surrounded by fire.
• And around him is a great storm, a tempest!
• ill: This description is very similar to the passage in Exodus chapter 19;
• When Moses went up Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb) to get God's law.
• There was thunder & lightening, fire and smoke;
• Coming before God was a was terrifying experience!
Note:
• Every good courtroom drama has a twist and so does this one;
• Because although in verse 1 the whole world is summoned.
• When the charges are read,
• Those assembled in the court soon realize;
• That the defendant is not WHO or WHAT they expected.
• Those gathered are about to discover that it is the people of God who are on trial.
• And not the rest of the world.
• They are about to learn that judgment begins in the house of the Lord!
Note:
• The purpose of this ‘trial’ was not to convict and condemn his people;
• Rather it is to open the eyes of the people, to help them see their faults and failings;
• So that they will repent and return to the Lord.
• There is a difference between Divine judgment and Divine wrath.
• Divine wrath destroys.
• Divine judgment brings us to repentance.
• Therefore though we may not like it, it is good to remember that;
• Divine judgment is not a bad thing. It is a good thing,
• It is a blessing, a working of the grace of God in our life.
Now before we move to the next section of this Psalm, let’s ask a question:
Question: What can we learn about the judge?
Answer: Two things.
• (a). We learn about the name of this judge:
• Human judges in the UK are often called “the honourable so & so”
• But this judge is different, just look at the descriptive titles used.
• Verse 1 calls him; “The Mighty One, God, the Lord”.
• Three different Hebrew words ‘El’, ‘Elohim’, & ‘Jehovah’.
• He is the strong, all-powerful God – when he commands people will obey!
• He is the only true God – we therefore only ever answer and are accountable to him
• He is the self-existing God – he depends on no-one but we all depend on him!
• (b). We learn about the character of this judge:
• Verse 6 refers to him as being righteousness.
• Verse 6 refers to him as being just.
• Being the Mighty God he knows all about those who are on trial;
• So no lever defence lawyer will ever get a guilty person off scot-free!
• Notice There will be no miscarriage of justice in this court!
• Because this judge can even call on all heaven and earth to witness the proceedings.
• In this court everything will be done correct and fair!
Note:
• Remind you again that the purpose of this ‘trial’;
• Was not simply to judge and condemn his people.
• Rather it is to open the eyes of the people, to help them see their faults and failings;
• So that they will repent and return to the Lord.
• Restoration is the purpose of these proceedings.
Notice:
• In verse 5 God reminded these people they had entered a ‘Covenant’ with him.
• God always keeps his part of the agreement and expects us to keep our part!
Ill:
• The covenant God made with the people was simple:
• You can read it in Exodus chapters 19-24.
• God promises to bless the people richly, he promised land, and sunshine, and rain.
• God promised to give them protection from their enemies;
• In fact he promised to give them everything they needed for life!
• God promises to make the Israelites his treasured possession among all people;
• To make them "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation"
• And in return…he asks for their obedience.
• To follow his Law that he gave through Moses.
(2). The Heartless Worshippers (vs 7-15).
‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’
Ill:
• An explorer was going through virgin territory in the heart of the Amazon jungle.
• He had hired some local tribesmen to accompany him;
• Their job was to carry the equipment, the food & water etc.
• He marched through the jungle at an extraordinary speed.
• So fast that even the tribesmen were being left behind.
• One morning he suddenly realised that he was on his own, no tribesmen in sight,
• So he went back along his newly cut track until he found where the tribesmen were based
• They we all sitting on the ground looking very solemn and refusing to move.
• When the explorer asked why they were not moving;
• The leader of the tribesmen explained:
• 'They're waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.'
• TRANSITION: That is the problem in this psalm.
• The people outwardly, physically were doing everything right.
• They sacrificed, they recited prayers, they assembled together to worship.
• But inwardly their hearts, their souls had long departed.
• They went through the motions;
• But their worship had become empty and devoid of meaning.
• People would bring their offerings and say their prayers,
• But there was something missing;
• There is no sense of them coming into the presence of God to account for their actions.
• They thought that they could go through the motions of worship,
• And that would be enough.
• But it's not. God wants more than worship. He wants us to fulfill our promises.
Ill:
• A Church minister got very annoyed with the clock inside the Church.
• It was always too fast or too slow.
• One day he hung a sign on the wall above the clock, in large letters it said:
• "Don't blame my hands - the trouble lies deeper."
• TRANSITION: That was the problem with the people of God;
• Their hands did not match their hearts.
• ill: Like the New Testament Church at Ephesus (Revelation chapter 2 verse 4);
• They had “left their first love”.
These people forgot that God wanted their hearts before he wanted their sacrifices.
• In fact any offering they made did not do the person any good;
• Unless there was faith in the heart and a desire to honour the Lord.
• That’s why in verses 9-12;
• Go reminds the people that they animals they were bringing for sacrifice;
• All belonged to him long before the worshippers ever saw them!
• The Lord does not want ritualism or formalism.
• He wants our worship to come from the heart.
(3). The Hypocritical Worshippers (vs 16-22)
“But to the wicked person, God says:
‘What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
‘Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:”
Ill:
• Hypocrisy is when you pretend to be something you aren't.
• Hypocrisy is like cleaning the outside of a cup, while leaving the inside dirty.
• It might look nice, but no one wants to use a cup like that!
Verse 16 starts off with a strong description to worshippers of God:
• “But to the WICKED person,”
• The following verses soon let us into why they are referred to in such strong terms:
• (a). These people are dishonest and deceitful.
• They recited the creed on their lips (vs 16);
• But deliberately disobeyed God’s laws.
• Again in verse 17 the language is strong; they “hate” God’s instruction.
• And as soon as they are out of the doors they “cast away” God’s words behind them.
ill:
• Not long ago I saw a group of young adults in their car
• They opened their car windows and all of them just threw out onto the car park,
• The packaging of what was their McDonalds take away meal.
• Despite the fact the car park had several litter bins nearby;
• They could care and so they just cast them out the window and drove off.
• TRANSITION: That seems to be the attitude of these wicked people;
• They hear God’s instruction but ‘so what’, they just throw it away.
• (b). They join in with immoral deeds (vs 18-20).
• They partake in stealing.
• They disregard the sanctity of marriage.
• They lie, slander and insult and use their tongues for evil.
Ill
• A captain of a ship crossed the deck in a hurry, seemingly very much perplexed.
• A little boy stopped him and asked what the trouble was.
• The captain responded; "The fact is our rudder's broken."
• The boy then replied:
• "Oh, I shouldn't worry about that, being under water all the time, no one will notice it."
• TRANSITION: For these wicked people nobody seemed to notice.
• They were worshipping God and so looking the part of upright people.
• But then going away and living unholy and wicked lives.
Notice: verse 21:
“When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.”
Both verse 3 and verse 21 mentions the silence of God,
• Verse 21 reminds us of the patience and long-suffering of God;
• Yet amazingly these people interpreted that to mean God did not mind their behaviour.
• They may be doing everything right outwardly by bring their offerings;
• And saying their prayers.
• But this verse reveals to us that they have no idea which God they are actually coming to.
• They have created a god in their own image!
• Verse 3: reminds that God’s patience and long-suffering will not go on for ever;
• Sooner or later judgement will come!
• Verse 21: are frightening words:
“‘Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you”
(4). The Honest Worshippers (vs 23)
23 those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.’”
• This last verse is like a conclusion;
• It reminds us of the type of worshipper that God is seeking.
• I love its simplicity;
• Worshipping God is not complicated and hard to understand – it is simple!
Ill:
Remember how Jesus put it in John chapter 4 verses 23-24:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.””
Likewise in this verse two things are mentioned:
• (a). True worshippers honour God.
• They realise that worship is all about pleasing him!
• It is about putting him first in our lives and not just when we are in a building.
Quote: Tony Evans says:
“If you limit worship to where you are, the minute you leave that place of worship you will leave your attitude of worship behind like a crumpled-up church bulletin.”
• True worshippers honour God in the assembly of his people;
• And when they leave that place they continue to honour wherever they go.
• (b). True worshippers live in truth.
• They try to live a ‘blameless’ life’.
• In other words people should not look at us and think or say, ‘hypocrite’.
We should be the opposite of the wrongdoers in this psalm:
• In verses 7-15: we noted the people’s hearts were missing in worship.
• The ‘blameless’ person is one who worships God with body, heart & mind.
• In verses 16-21: we noted the people were hypocritical in worship.
• The ‘blameless’ person is the opposite of those mentioned in verse 18:
• We should be honest.
• We should be pure.
• We should be truthful.
• And the reward of those who worship God in ‘spirit and in truth’.
• Verse 22: We enjoy his salvation!
sermon audio:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=Zs6LYWtYl21Bf8QTFypzNgnTmNuSHUaH&forceSave=Psalm_50_-_sermon_by_Gordon_Curley.mp3
