Psalms 147

November 6, 1993 Psalms 147:

- this Psalm, just like many of the others we've studied,
brings up a new subject for us to think through biblically
- the subject of music.

- let's read the psalm together - READ Ps. 147

- before we look at the verses individually, I believe it
would be wise for us to back up and ask:

Why do we need to study what the Scripture says about music?
(when we talk about music, we're talking about all forms of
music -- music in public worship <which is probably what's
emphasized here>, music in our homes//cars, music that we
sing to ourselves, etc.

INPUT?

1) Because of what a person's music reveals.

- one writer on these verses said, "Different types of
music originate from various types of emotions."
- INPUT - how would you evaluate that phrase?

- (there may be an element of truth in it, but it
misses the more important point that "different
types of music originate from different types of
theology.")

- you can tell much about a person's view of God by
what their music.
- you can also tell much about a person's view of
themselves.

- that’s why it's so important to evaluate the words of a
song to determine whether they're accurate
theologically.
- that’s why it's so important to be sure that the music
that accompanies the words do not fight against the
message the words are trying to communicate.

- bad music reflects bad theology.
- feeling oriented music reflects a feeling oriented
approach to life.
- shallow music reflects a shallow approach to life
- depressing music reflects a depressed outlook on life.

- the point is, a person's music reveals a lot about them.

2) Because many of us developed wrong/bad music habits as
unbelievers.

- one of the most important principles of NT growth is
the Put off/Put on principle.
- The first step in benefiting from this principle is
being willing to identify what needs to be put off.
- Prov. 28:13 - He that covers...

- since most of us "came into the Christian life with
some bad/wrong musical baggage", the question now is -
- what are we going to do about it?

- INPUT - what should be some answers to that question?

- be willing to admit it
- be enthusiastic about studying the Scripture
- be ready to change

3) Because music can help us purify our heart.

- last week we talked about the heart from Psalm 138

- recently, someone at a conference asked, "how do you
change your heart?"
- that was an excellent question.
- I think she was saying that she could understand how
you change behavior--because that’s something you can
see -- but how do you change on the inner person?
- there are a number of answers to that question...
- it surely involves changing the way we think
- it involves evaluating our desires and bringing them
into conformity with Christ
- but another important component to changing our
hearts is the kind of music we "feed our hearts."
- that’s especially true because much of what goes on
in the heart is HABITUATED.
- after we've thought, and wanted things SO LONG
and SO OFTEN -- those thoughts and desires
become automatic--they become habit.
- our music will have a great effect, either
positively or negatively, on the condition of our
hearts.

- cf. Eph. 5:19-21.

4) Because we don't always benefit from the music in our
church services the way we should.

- as we mentioned earlier, these verses in Psalm 147 are
speaking first and foremost to the music that’s part of
our corporate worship.
- they're going to tell us about the benefit that comes
from singing together as the redeemed people of God.
- but that assumes we're being "good stewards of the
music service."

- what are some other things that might be happening in our
minds during the music service that could get in the way
of what the Lord is wanting to accomplish with that time?

- this Psalm is very easy to divide because it falls very
naturally into three parts:
- note verses 1, 7, 12 - in each one, we're commanded to sing

- we'll use that same division in our outline today.

I. Singing About God's Care For The Meek and Mourning - 1-6

A. The command to sing - 1

- as we said a moment ago, there are three commands to
sing in this Psalm.
- the first one, "Praise ye the Lord" is actually one
word in Hebrew--the word hallelujah.
(jah - Lord, hallel - praise)

- you've heard, of course, the "hallelujah chorus."
- it's often sung around Christmas
- usually in a public building, folks stand when it's
sung
- but many probably don't know what the word means
that they're standing to--it literally menas,
"praise the Lord."

- in this first command, the writer gives some reasons
why we should put emphasis on praising the Lord.

1. it is good

- we ought to want to praise the Lord because it's
the right thing to do.
(John White)
- it's acceptable to God
- it's beneficial to us
- it stimulates those around us

2. it is refreshing

- verse 1 says - singing praises to God is pleasant
- Psalm 135:3 says the same thing - "sing praises unto
his name, for it is pleasant."

- the Hebrew word has the idea of being sweet or
cordial.
- singing about God, and to God has a refreshing,
pleasant effect on you and me.

- contrast that to the effect the world's music has
on people.
- INPUT - what are some of the negative ways the
world's music affects people?

- commit suicide
- leave your wife
- hate your job
- be depressed

- we ought to love to sing to God because it's so refreshing.

3. it is beautiful

- verse 1 also says that praising God is beautiful or
"fitting".
- NASB - it is "becoming"
- it's the natural thing for believers to do.
- you sing praises to the Lord and you say,
"this is right--this is what believers ought to do"
- so the point is -- it's good to sing praises to the Lord.

- so let me ask you--is that the way you respond when Pastor
Lopez (or someone else) leads us in music.
- it'd be perfectly appropriate, when Pastor Lopez
announces the hymns this morning, for you to respond
in your heart -- "good idea--I like to do that, I need
to do that--I'm glad we're doing that--let's sing!"

- now, in verses 2-6, the writer gives us a number of truths
about the Lord that ought to motivate us to praise the
Lord.
- this is the pattern throughout the whole Psalm--a command
to sing, followed by truths about the Lord that ought to
motivate us to do so.

B. The reasons for singing - 2-6

1. God cares for the broken and dispersed - 2

- read

- the idea in this verse especially emphasizes the
physical aspects of God's care.
- he's speaking here about the Lord's physical care
of Jerusalem.
- the Lord gave them the promised land.
- after the Babylonian captivity, the Lord sent
Zerubbabel and Ezra back to rebuild the temple.
- he sent Nehemiah back to rebuild the walls.

- the children of Israel knew that God was concerned
about them physically.

- of course that’s true of you and I today
- Phil. 4:19 - "But my God shall provide all your
need according to his riches in heaven."

- see, why should we praise the Lord?
- because of His provision for us physically.

- INPUT - let me ask you this before we move on. How
does the subject of thankfulness fit into our
topic this morning?

- If a person isn't very interested or excited
about singing praises to God, what might that
reveal about the condition of their heart
especially as it relates to thanksgiving?

2. God cares for the troubled - 3

- read

- we're not just talking about the Lord rebuilding
and repairing the walls of a city
- we're also talking about Him rebuilding our
lives, and our inner persons, and our
relationships.

- can you imagine what it would be like to live today if
you didn't have a God who had healed your broken heart
and bound up the wounds caused by sin?
- can you imagine what you would be like on the inside?
- can you imagine how that would effect the joy of your
heart?
- can you imagine what your marriage would be like?
- can you imagine what other relationships would be
like?

- we'd be in sorry shape for sure, if it wasn't for the way
the Lord ministers to our inner man through forgiveness,
and grace, and truth.

- but can I ask you this morning--is it possible that we get
to the place where we take that ministry for granted?
- is it possible that we're not as motivated to sing as we
ought to be because we're not appreciative of the
ministry that God has (or wants to have) to the inner
man?

- let's try to get the other four ideas from this section "on
the floor" and then we'll summarize them.

- INPUT - how would you summarize verse 4?

3. He cares for the universe - 4

- INPUT - what about verse 5?

4. God cares with complete understanding - 5

- INPUT - Verse 6?

5. God cares for the meek - 6a

6. God casts down the wicked - 6b

- see, the overall point is that there are many, many reasons
why our praise and our singing ought to be genuine.
- we're not talking about being asked to do something that
is forced -- or unnatural because there's no content
behind it.

- the more we know God, and the more we understand about
Him and the nature of our relationship with Him, the
more we ought to desire to sing and praise.

- that same line of argument is found in the remaining
verses.
- remember, we said verse 7, and verse 12 repeat the
command to sing.

- I'm going to divide you into groups, and ask you to "scour"
the remaining verses, to find as many reasons as possible
for enthusiastic praise and worship.

(divide into groups - come back together and complete
outline)