Introduction
- The new year always brings opp. to reflect on how we should be living
- One of the biggest struggles for changing our practices always is, “HOW?”
- Prayerfully, today, we can learn a little about the how to encourage us in 2022!
- Read Psalm 33:1-22 / Pray
Point 1 – We are called to rejoice
- David calls us to rejoice because of what God has done
-- His encouragement is simple: “Sing for Joy!”
-- How? With praise (v1); we are called to praise Him for who He is
- In today’s business, we forget Who it is our focus should be on
-- This first verse is so critical … (re-read)
-- When you focus on Him, life’s priorities changes (esp. from your wants)
-- David understood this (even with his own sin), gives us great insight here about ordering priorities (“man after God’s own heart)
- With what? We should praise with the harp and lyre (v2)
-- Music often helps us worship – David wrote Psalms which are songs of praise
-- Music is very powerful, it can change moods quickly (scary movie, opera, etc.)
-- He knew that set to music; it would help us focus on God
- David asks us to praise with a new song (v3)
-- The new song reflects the change in our life; ex: before Jesus our life had a song (more like a funeral dirge; wages of sin is death)
-- The new song is the one of praise, gratefulness … it’s meant to honor God
-- Why? Because He has restored us, He made us new … He refreshed our spirit
- We are also to play skillfully & with joy - these are direct commands of worship
-- FACT: Worship cannot be done in secret – it ought to reflect who He is to us
- Not only privately, but publicly (testify/witness) … b/c of what He’s done
- TR: When we rejoice, we also have opportunity to examine our …
Point 2 – Need to understand why we celebrate and praise God
- It’s easy to tell someone to rejoice, but most people need a why
-- APP: It’s just human nature really – we don’t like trying new things
--- EX: Why change? Why go to church? Why be a part of a community?
- When we understand something we’re likely to do it vs. talking about it
-- So, what is David writing to us about who God is? Four things to see:
1. He commands human history (v4-5)
- What God does is correct, right, and true … including writing of His word
-- Therefore, when He directs us in paths, it is reliable instruction for us
-- IMP: God does not change His plans (bible); they are clearly given to us
2. He directed creation (v6-9)
- God’s word directed the Heavens to be made
-- The stars were put into place by his command (and he called them by name)
-- Psalm 147:4, “He counts the stars and calls them all by name.”
-- His authority is on full display …
-- He limits the boundaries of the water; even the depths are known to Him
--- Proverbs 8:29, “I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations”
-- FACT: All creation was formed by His command, by His words; by His plans
- APP: His authority should cause us to revere (fear) all He has done
3. His will is over everything & everyone
-- He overrules man’s plans (v10); our ideas do not sway Him
--- Isaiah 55:8, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
--- CH: Change our minds to think like Him
-- Consider: Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans (ex. 2018 not pastor)
-- He undergirds his purposes (v11); He is the support to what we do
-- Think of a bridge as your life … God is the support trusses that hold it in place
4. We must remember that God’s eyes are all seeing
- He watches all things (v12-14); Everything is under Him; deeds/thoughts
- He weighs all things (v15-17); considers/measures what we do (nothing escapes)
- He sees all believers (v18-19); He is everywhere at once, knowing and seeing
- TR: But this should not cause us to be afraid (boogeyman), rather change our life
Point 3 – So, how can we really live this life?
- Consider this, God has already given us a roadmap to live!
-- Let’s unpack this together and prayerfully, we can see the HOW in this point:
1. First, we patiently wait for God (v20)
- We are to be committed to the Lord; v20 indicates their response (waited)
-- APP: They were patient to respond to Him as He called them to move
-- Re: Exodus was no easy feat … yet in obedience they obeyed
--- Why? Because God is their hope … not themselves
2. Second, we must trust in God (v21)
- They worship and trust in Him because of all that He has done
-- Heb. Word for trust is “batach” which means “to attach oneself, depending on”
-- These people batached themselves to the One who had provided it all
--- Trust is the key: it is foundation of faith (Heb 11)
3. Third, to live rightly we put our hope in God (v22)
- “May your unfailing love be with us”: They plead with God to stay with them
-- Why? “As we put our hope in you” … Confess: “God is all that we need”
- HUGE: Their confession is that He is their everything … to be totally dependent
-- This is who God is seeking, ones who will serve and honor in love (agape love)
--- Not blindly, but lovingly submitted to Him who loves us more …
-- God is calling out to us today to understand this, to believe, and to follow
- IMP: Even in the topic of praise, He directs us to wait, trust, and hope in Him
- TR: So, how does this relate to the year ahead?
- FACT: A new year brings new opportunities, inside & outside the church!
- “HOW?” We are daily given a chance to praise Him; to honor all He has done
- And each night we can reflect on what He has done, give Him honor for it
- Discipleship challenge: Ask, “Is my Lord pleased with me?”
- When we choose to focus on Him, we stop looking at ourselves; that’s how!
- In the new year, won’t you consider honoring Him and focusing on Him more?
-- Charles Spurgeon said, “Beloved friends, may we well continue to praise God, for our God continues to give us causes for praise!” (Re: He does the work!)
-- But what will we do with it? We must start somewhere – maybe even crying out
-- Perhaps we can just be honest in next few moments of our need for God? Pray
