Summer Playlist: Trust & Praise
Summer Playlist: Trust & Praise
Notes
Psalm 115 (NIV)
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. 2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron, 13 he will bless those who fear the Lord— small and great alike. 14 May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. 17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; 18 it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord.
Implications of Liturgy
The content was critical to their national heritage.
Repetition is a learning aid, driving information into hearts and hands.
Understanding allows crossover application.
Repetition was necessary not to just remember the events of Passover but to remember the GOD OF PASSOVER!
Stories likes this were written into Psalms for the purposes of…
Securing their identity in the historical acts of God.
Settling their spirit, whatever their current context, in the Hesed of God.
Sending them forward with courage into the future.
Psalm 115:1 (NIV)
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Hook #1
My story is anchored in His Story and secured by His hesed.
2 Truths from Verse 1
Our stories aren’t solo, detached, independent personal stories.
We are here for God’s glory and for His purposes, not God here for our purposes and our glory.
Missiologist Steve Hawthorn divides the names of God into 3 categories…
Name Tag Names – Lord of Lords, God Almighty, King of Glory
Window Names – Shepherd, Light, Provider, Healer
Fame Name – God’s public renown and reputation.
To be God’s is to surrender our story to Him. To be gods, we live and tell our own story.
Hook #2
Don’t fall for life promises that come from dead places.
Psalm 115:2-8 (NIV)
2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
Hook #3
Blessings for us and others are found between Trust and Praise.
Psalm 115:9-11 (NIV)
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield.
To Trust God is to keep moving through whatever is in front of you and this moving leads to blessing!
The Hebrew for “help” means “a superior force coming to the aid in a victory”. Help is a powerful offensive force and “shield” is a defensive protective barrier.
Psalm 115:12-15 (NIV)
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, 13 he will bless those who fear the Lord— small and great alike. 14 May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
The only adequate response to the blessings is praise.
“It is we who extol the Lord both now and forever more. Praise the Lord! “
Praise is an outward, out loud expression of an inward recognition.
Praise is an outward, out loud expression of gratitude.
Praise is an outward, out loud attribution of blessing.