October 27, 2024
Sunday Sermon
THE WORSHIP GOD DESERVES
Psalm 18:1 - 3
It is impossible to walk through life without facing opposition. While many foes are human, not all enemies are people. In fact, life is a series of trials that have to endure and overcome. For example, temptation is a constant threat. Circumstances beyond our control can oppress us. Our own weaknesses can stand between us and happiness or success. Physical limitations can hinder us and add difficulty to our lives. Mental and emotional foes such as depression, grief, guilt, loneliness, and anxiety are faced by many people. Spiritual forces---unseen agents of Satan---work tirelessly to destroy our lives. Every person----believers and non-believer’s alike---must fight battles. The New Testament repeatedly warns that the believer’s life is a battleground, not a playground.
In Psalm 18 David is looking back at how God delivered him so amazingly and gave him victory over his enemies. Psalm 18 is a praise-filled song of celebration, a testimony of God's mighty power and faithfulness. The victories given by God made David bolder and more confident to stand against future enemies.
This Psalm was written when all David's foes lay defeated at his feet. David had been given absolute victory and he wanted to express his gratitude to the Lord for His glorious provision. You see, during the time David was running from Saul, he was in constant danger of death. Now, he has been delivered from his enemies and he lifts his voice in praise to the Lord God Who has given him victory. This is David's song of victory, but you and I have a victory song to sing as well.
When God saved us, He gave us victory over our enemies, 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 4:17; Rom. 8:37. Now, we who were hounded by Hell and in danger of dying without Jesus Christ have been saved and delivered from the snare of the enemy, we also have ample reason to worship and praise the Lord.
We don't have enough time to do the entire 18 Psalm today. However, I would like to spend some time in these first three verses and preach for a while about The Worship God Deserves.
As we spend our time in these verses, let's allow the Lord's Word to remind us of Who He is and what He has done for us, and what he can do for us. Let us be reminded today, The Worship God Deserves. The word "worship" comes from an Old English word that means "worthship". It means " to ascribe worth to someone". We worship God because He is worthy. Our worship ascribes worth to Him because of Who He is and What He does. Let me share a few reasons with you from these verses that teach the worship God deserves.
I. GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR DELIGHT v. 1
A. At the very beginning, the Psalmist makes two great and profound declarations.
He bears his heart and tells us what he has determined to do. First, he declares
his love for the Lord. Second, he declares his absolute dependence upon the Lord.
B. Let's examine these two themes a little more closely and see what they mean for us
this morning.
1. I Will Love The Lord - The 'love” here is a word that means, "to love deeply. "It speaks
of tender intimacy. David is telling us he just wants to "slide up real close to the Lord and hug him forever".
2. I Will Lean on The Lord - He calls God "My Strength". Did you realize that "my" is the first pronoun learned by most children? They say things like "my toys", "my house", "my room’, etc. What David is doing is expressing simple, childlike faith in his relationship with the Lord.
C. David is telling us that he is totally dependent upon the Lord for everything.
l. God Is Worthy Of Our Delight
II. GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR DEPENDENCE v. 2
A. There Is Praise For A Personal God - The usage of "my" again
B. There Is Praise For A Powerful God - In God and in his relationship with Him;
David finds all the strength that he needs to make it through life. Notice the
images that David uses to describe God and His power in our lives.
1. God Is Our Stability- David describes God as a "Rock", " craggy cliff"
2. God Is Our Safety - David says that God is like a "fortress"
3. God Is Our Savior - David refers to the Lord as his "deliverer", one who
saves"
4. God Is Our Sovereign - David refers to Him as "God". It refers to God as
the Almighty God.
5. God Is Our Strength - “unmovable rock". When everything else in the
world is being tossed and twisted; God forever remains the same. Not
the same word in v. 1
6. God Is Our Shield - David calls the Lord a "buckler"
7. God Is Our Security - Here, the Lord is called a "horn of salvation". When
David calls God the horn of salvation he is saying that the Lord is the
strength of salvation, and that in His salvation, we have absolute security.
8. God Is Our Supply - In the last image, David says that the Lord is our "High
Tower".
C. It is no wonder that David praised the Lord! However, we have the very
same reasons that he did. Therefore, let's praise Him and honor Him and
resolve in our hearts that we will worship and serve Him in "in spirit and in
truth.'
I. God Is Worthy Of Our Delight
2. God Is Worthy Of Our Dependence
III. GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR DEVOTION v. 3
A. David learned that he could depend upon God. And because of the Lord's
faithfulness, He was worthy of the highest praise.
B. What a lesson for us! As children of God, we must learn that God is all these
things that David said He was. Let us remember whom the Lord our God is,
and what He has done and let us worship Him, honor Him, and praise Him.
Conclusion: Davis reminds us that our God is a God Whom, is worthy to be worshipped! He is worthy of being our delight. He is worthy of our dependence. he is worthy of our devotion. He is worthy to be loved; to be praised; to be exalted and to be followed.
Responsive Reading: Psalm 18:1-6
Comments