The Promises Of God’s Compassion Series

We continue in our series on hope found here and this month our focus is on the compassion of God.

This morning I want us to consider together The Promises of God’s Compassion by looking at a Psalm where King David speaks of God’s goodness, greatness, compassion and grace, Psalm 145.

In the original Hebrew, Psalm 145 is written as an alphabetical acrostic. King David begins each verse with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first verse begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the second verse with the second letter, and so on to the end of the Psalm.

Jewish tradition teaches that the ancient Israelites recited the 21 verses of Psalm 145 twice in the morning and once in the evening. Perhaps as the words come up on the screen you would like to read it aloud with me.

Psalm 145 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.

2 I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.

3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.

5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour and your wonderful miracles.

6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.

7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.

10 All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.

11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.

12 They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.

13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

15 The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.

16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

18 The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

20 The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

May God bless the reading of His word to us.

Some sermons have 3 points, some sermons have 4 points and some sermons have no point at all.

Think about that for a moment.

The purpose of this sermon is to remind you of the promises of God’s compassion and there are seven points that I want to briefly cover with you this morning.

1st point - The Compassion of God’s Position

King David said I will exalt you, my God and King, (in Hebrew ’e-lo-w-hay ham-me-lek) and praise your name forever and ever. To “exalt” is to lift up, to raise above, David is affirming there is a king who is a greater king than him a God who is worthy to be praised for ever and ever.

Our God is above all powers, all thrones, above all He has created, so great is the Lord, no one can measure His greatness. Yet, in His compassion, the eternal God, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, cares about you. You are created in His image, you are His beloved creation and He wants to be in a real relationship with you.

Sin separated us from God, so God sent Jesus on a rescue mission to save us. Jesus gave up His position and humbled Himself for you. Jesus was incarnated into this world, born as a fully human baby in a stable not a palace, grew into a man, lived a spotless life, then went to the cross to pay the penalty for your sin and mine. He died, He conquered death, He conquered sin, His sacrifice was sufficient for all who would repent and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. Then on the third day He rose from the grave. Appeared to His disciples. Then Jesus ascended to return to His position at the right-hand of God in Heaven and He has promised one day He will return.