A HEARTFELT WORSHIP

Psalm 145: 1-21

A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe

As the world descends more and more from the Christian consensus of the earlier decades of our century, we can begin to understand the burdens, cares and concerns of the worldly who have not the goodwill and peace of our kind Shepherd King Jesus Christ. Was it only fifteen or twenty years ago when Christmas was a carefree enjoyable time of the year that everyone looked forward to? Of course we remember a secular holiday tune of long ago that pleaded for us to put Christ back into Xmas. But that was long before the manger scenes on public display had to have their quota of reindeer, elves and Christmas trees to be politically correct.

This year, the annual door decoration contest at school specifically stated that only tree and Santa designs would be judgeable. As big as angels are in the public sector for decorations, books and television specials, even their use was denied! However, even one of our more worldly young ladies at school almost cried when she asked why the manger story could not be used in our school run preschool. Another of our blond haired "Dennis the Menace" types was sitting on the floor brooding by the front entrance. When asked what was the matter he honestly stated that what he wanted most for Christmas was "a new life".

"Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men" the old song goes, this is a message that is earnestly desired amidst the frantic, hurried pace of our modern holidaze where the facts of the birth of the Christ child are hardly heard. Even as the peace and goodwill of the Christian era declines, I was led to verse fourteen of our psalm this week as the focal point of our worship today. How I got to this psalm is interesting in itself, but that's another story. My working translation of verse fourteen goes like this:

"The Lord helps those who are discouraged,

He gives strength to those whose hearts are weak!"

Spurgeon reports that it is noteworthy how the psalmist proceeds to exhibit the mightiness of God's kingdom, not by His power to break nations and kings, but by our King's readiness to aid the weak. Even the Roman pagan Ovid observed that "It is a kingly thing to help the fallen." And yet, this verse is one of the best observations of the mind of God. The Almighty God of heaven, unlike the dominant humans among our race is concerned with the fallen, the weak, the lonely and discouraged. He is able to make their hearts strong. And they way He does this is the theme of this particular psalm.

This psalm is entitled "A Song of Praise". It is the only one so designated. The same phrase is used in its plural form at the beginning of the entire Psalter. So in a particular sense, this psalm is a summary of the Psalter itself. In the teaching of this psalm, there is a progression from the general praise of God to an affirmation of His Kingship, of His compassion and of His daily provision for those who truly call unto Him. Those three things are the gifts of goodwill and peace that He would bring to those in need during this and every Christmas season. All He asks in return is our worship. And the worship desired is as simple as the words of our children's lesson today: "God is great, God is Good, let us thank Him for our food.

The first two verses of our psalm show us the readiness of David to praise the God of heaven. In David's double address of God and King, he prepares to tell everyone about the greatness of the One he worships. Verses three through seven celebrate this awesome greatness of the God of heaven. As we begin this short section we should note well that there is no searching His greatness, by these ancient words we may confess that God's greatness cannot be fully understood by mere man. Spurgeon encourages us to consider that such a great God deserves great praise! How great is your praise today? Very many of the worldly will admit that there is indeed a God, but how feeble is the praise they bring to our God and our king with that minimum of a commitment. Some people will remember to praise God when they have troubles or during the appropriate seasons of the year, others will even put in a regular appearance at worship. Yet, there is more to this heartfelt relationship than mere physical presence. The point I am getting at is simple. The greater your appreciation of the awesome nature of our God in heaven, the more intense will be your praise. Through the intensity of our worship we commend the faith to family and friends around us. And by our witness to God's mighty deeds we communicate the awesome power of God.

In these verses there is the interesting phrase "the splendor of honor of Your majesty". These words are very much like a mathematical formula. If we would write two times three times four, each multiple increases the total impact of the whole. In such a same way do splendor times honor times majesty increase the awesome greatness of our God. In the Hebrew the multiple is five times over. The Hebrew would read: "On the splendor of the glory of the majesty of You and the doing of the wonderful works of Yours, will I meditate." This is how we worship God, by realizing how great He really is. But, we have only just begun, as a popular song once claimed. In verses eight to fourteen we see David praise the goodness of the Lord.

In verse eight we read of His graciousness, we learn that He is slow to anger and rich in love. His compassion and mercy are directed to all of His creatures both small and large. In response, verse ten tells us that all of creation will praise our Lord, and we His saints are encouraged to lift up His Name in praise and song. No other faith has as many songs as does the Christian faith. In every land and language the psalms have been translated and new songs have been added. These same songs are shared across national boundaries and appreciated around the world. In these songs and in our praise we testify before a watching world that our God is great. Indeed, even as we recite our reports of creation, exodus, prophecy and the coming of Christ, we celebrate the glory of His Kingdom until He returns.

This glory of the kingdom mentioned in verses eleven through thirteen is not that of a geographical or even a temporal Kingdom. No, the glory of His Kingdom is that of God's timeless and unlimited power by which the universe stands and holds together. The last phrase of verse thirteen, which was lost for many centuries, again reminds us that the Lord is faithful and that He keeps His word because He loves us. And because he loves us, in the fullness of time He kept the promise of His Patriarch and Prophets, by sending the long expected Messiah in the person of Jesus Christ.

By the hand of this Jesus, God the Father lifts up those who are bowed down with the cares and concerns of a burdened life. In verse fifteen we see that all of those who look to Him will have the food of the last supper, even Christ Himself. God will open His hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. When I heard of that young man sitting on the floor, I wanted to know his name, but I have not been able to find him. He remains nameless, but we may certainly pray that in the Lord's own time, he might have the desire of desires: a new life in Jesus Christ. By His grace, God opens His hand with the free offer of His Son, that all who might believe on Him may gain eternal life.

The last few verses assure us that the Lord is near, near to all who call on him in truth. And if those who call will only respect Him fearfully with awe, their needs will be met and God will watch over their lives for ever and ever. For us, these words have already come true, may we say with David the heartfelt worship of verse twenty-one. "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever." Amen.

	Resources Used:
Alexander, Joseph H.	Commentary on Psalms.
Beisner, E Calvin.	Psalms of Promise.
Kidner, Derek.	Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms.
Robertson, O Palmer.	"A Father Who Listens", Tabletalk. (Dec 94)
Spurgeon, C.H.	The Treasury of David.
United Bible Societies.	A Translator's Handbook on the Book of Psalms
United Bible Societies.	Preliminary & Interim Report on Hebrew OT Text ...
IBS: The Holy Bible, New International Version (1984)
Psm 145b	23 September 91 & 18 December 94

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