May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen
This Morning we’re continuing our series in the Psalms - Poems, songs of Ancient Israel that continue to speak to us in our day
Richard Hooker - Anglican Theologian says about the book of Psalms :
What is there necessary for a person to know which the Psalms are not able to teach?
They are to beginners an easy and familiar introduction, a mighty augmentation of all virtue and knowledge in such as are entered before,
a strong confirmation to the most perfect among others.
Heroical magnanimity ,
exquisite justice,
grave moderation,
exact wisdom,
repentance unfeigned,
unwearied patience,
the mysteries of God,
the sufferings of Christ,
the terrors of wrath,
the comforts of grace,
the works of Providence over this world,
and the promised joys of that world which is to come,
all good necessarily to be either known, or had, or done,
this one celestial fountain yieldeth.
Let there be any grief or disease incident into the soul of man,
any wound or sickness named,
for which there is not in this treasure-house a present comfortable remedy at all times ready to be found.
Hereof it is that we covet to make the Psalms especially familiar unto all.
This is the very cause why we iterate the Psalms oftener than any other part of the Scripture besides; the cause wherefore we inure the people together with their minister, and not the minister alone to read them as other parts of Scripture he doth."
As we delve in to this Psalm today let’s realise that we are dealing with some profound things - yes it’s a few verses that someone penned many years ago but actually - God is the same God as he was back then and his people still make the same mistakes time after time.
The scene set before us is that of a courtroom
God as the Judge appears and calls for a hearing (4-6)
Heavens and earth are called as witnesses
There are 2 Accusations
God’s people must realise that true worship does not consist of mere sacrifice
But sacrifice offered with thanksgiving and faithfulness (7-15)
The ‘wicked’ are denoted for not keeping God’s law thou they pretend to do so
And need to repent
The psalmist is very clear
I. Introduction: The Supreme Judge Enters to Preside (50:1-6).
II. The Supreme Judge Levels Two Charges (50:7-21).
A. First Charge: Ritualism (50:7-15);
B. Second Charge: Rebellion (50:16-21).
III. The Supreme Judge Offers a Solution (50:22-23).
What prompted this Psalm to be written?
Was it what he was experiencing at the place of worship - the tabernacle
Was it what he was experiencing around the society which was meant to have been God’s people and realising that it was the heart of the matter that was important?
We can’t speculate but certainly there is those possibilities
We have 2 possibilities of ways to preach this psalm - I could go down the
We must not! Route or the We need to … !
The ‘we must not route’ would entail looking at what constitutes ritualism and rebellion which might be productive.
Or the “we need to…” route looks at what authentic worship looks and feels like - I feel that this would be a much more productive route.
Let’s make a start
First Charge - Ritualism
Going through the motions - without any engagement with heart
The Pslamist points the importance of authentic sacrifice particularly Thank offerings
Thank offerings or peace offerings were - One commentator states - The general principle of the peace offering seems to have been that it should be entirely spontaneous, offered as occasion should arise, from the feeling of the sacrificer himself.
On the first institution, ( Leviticus 7:11-17 ) peace offerings are divided into "offerings of thanksgiving" and "vows or freewill offerings;
Its an expression of thankfulness, about relationship with God
In the context that the psalmist there is a realisation that this act of worship needs to come from a heart full of thankfulness for God’s provision and his love for his people. If it’s simply from any other place the heart of the worship is broken and if its done out of mere obligation or doing it to get through the motions then there is difficulty.
What do we have to be thankful for … how dependant are we upon God for absolutely everything?
One Pastor I was reading during the week suggested a few things
#1 – He’s Given Us The Greatest Gift
#2 – Undeserved Gift Of Salvation
#3 – His Precious Word
#4 – His Mercy, Love, and Faithfulness
#5 – That Nothing Will Ever Separate Us From Him
#6 – That Someday We’ll See Him Face To Face
#7 –For Making Us Like Christ
#8 – That He’ll Fulfill His Plans For Us
#9 – For His Abundant Goodness
#10 – For His Daily Provision
#11 – For His Constant Protection
#12 – For His Constant Guidance
#13 – That He Hears Our Prayers
#14 – For Our Families And Friends
#15 – Every Good Gift
#16 – For Health and Strength
#17 – He Causes All Things To Work For Our Good
#18 – For His Promises To Our Children
#19 – Because It Honours Him
Yes sometimes it is really difficult to be in a place of thankfulness all of the time - I get that … when things are tough, when life is not going as it should - we don’t live in a perpetual lint of holiday-ness but coming back and asking questions such as what do we have to be thankful for is really important for our spiritual lives and even the impact it has on our everyday well being.
In order to combat Ritualism and going through the motions we need to test our hearts … what are we thankful for - the small things as well as the big plan things - what are we focusing in on in our lives
It was this ritualism that prompted Asaph to write this Psalm - God is not needy - he doesn’t ‘need’ sacrifice of the people of Israel. In terms of going through day by day and doing the religious thing - but rather out of love, out of thankfulness - giving back to him. This is a challenge in our day how do we show our love and our commitment to Christ.
By What we say, by what we do, by the things that we give back to him. How do we understand thank offerings today - Tithing - Giving a tenth of our income and perhaps a bit more to the work of the church - not because we have to but understanding that all things belong to him.
I don’t like talking about this because churches sometimes talk too much about money - and we don’t usually here do this but in the context of this passage - it certainly is a challenge - Long before coming into ordained ministry I saw this in practice in Uganda -
{ Johns Story }
How do we show our thankfulness - Through prayer in the morning, through grace at meals, through how we spend our time, use our talents, our treasure - our money.
The second charge was against Rebellion
against the actions of people not doing what they are supposed to have been doing when they were supposed to have been acting as God’s people.
The psalmist points out deceit, thieving, going against the law, adultery - Again the Psalmist touches on some big issues - people who are meant to have been God’s people but who were living as hypocites - saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. This rebellion accusation is challenging - because whilst most of us would not be doing things the psalmist says - there is in all of us a sinful side - and we need to sort it out! - The good news is that we don’t have to kill bulls or animals to do that - we simply need to come to the foot of the cross and say thank you God for sending Jesus - he is the way we can sort our sin out and be made clean.
Again this comes back to thankfulness
In Galatians there is a similar list to the psalmist
6 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But Paul goes on to state - and this is the We need understand with thankfulness
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
This morning -
I wonder if all of those who called upon the name of the Lord took these things to heart and lived in a way where we took the thankfulness for our everyday and combined them with the Fruit of the Spirit could the world be a changed place?
It’s got to start with us!
What does all of this look like?
Thankfulness - What are you thankful to God for today?
How are you expressing your thankfulness - is there more that you need to do? With Time, Talents, Treasure
What do you need to cut out of your thoughts, actions ?
Where do you have a tendency to sin?
In the final verses there a warning to consequences, a challenge and a promise
“Times up for playing fast and loose with me
I’m ready to pass sentence and there’s no hope in sight
It’s the praising life that honours me
As soon as you set your foot in the Way
I’ll show you my salvation” (THE MESSAGE Paraphrase)
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