## The First Thing for 1997

## Psalm 107:8

Perhaps many of you have considered various thoughts concerning this.

Prayer: Bible Reading: Witnessing:

Read: Ps 107: 8, 15, 21, 31

If we render forth praise in a Biblical manner, it can only go to God Himself, so I want to challenge you to make praise the first thing you do on Jan. 1.

In our text we read four times the very same words, and they were that men should praise the Lord. I believe the Psalmist is making a point that we should not ignore. We should praise the Lord.

We are to praise Him for His goodness and wonderful works to the children of men. I believe that we are being told and challenged by the author of Psalm 107 that it is imperative that we praise the Lord. The letter "O" at the beginning of the verse is placing a great emphasis on the reason for praise.

He is not saying, "I wish men would praise the Lord". Neither is he saying, "It would be good for men to praise the Lord." He is not inferring that praise is pleasant. I think that he is saying that it is in desperation, or of great necessity. "O-o-o-o-o-o-o" that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

It seems to bear a requirement or consequence if praise is omitted. It certainly indicates that praise is our method of showing appreciation for His goodness. He goes on in further verses and tells what the goodness and wonderful works are toward the children of men.

This praise is not just for Christians alone. It is for the children of men and not Children of God alone. Everyone should praise the Lord. God shows forth goodness to all men, saved and unsaved. He has performed wonderful works to every person who every lived. Thus praise is to be done by all mankind.

I. WHY PRAISE HIM? Vs. 9 & 16

(PSA 107:9) "FOR HE SATISFIETH THE LONGING SOUL, AND FILLETH THE HUNGRY SOUL WITH GOODNESS."

(PSA 107:16) "FOR HE HATH BROKEN THE GATES OF BRASS, AND CUT THE BARS OF IRON IN SUNDER."

II. Praise is More than Mouth Action.

(MAT 15:8) "THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME."

A. "O that men would praise the Lord..."

1. This is more than uttering words, or rendering forth signs of praise.

2. It is a deep, inside, desire to honor and give homage to the Lord.

3. It is because of love.

4. It is because of fear. (reverence)

5. It is because of awe.

6. It is because of His greatness and royalty.

7. If men give honor and reverence to the Queen, Heads of state, and the President, then surely we can understand that God should deserve and demand more.

B. Jesus said that this people honored Him with their mouth, but not in their heart.

1. All to often we may say, "Praise the Lord" with our lips, but in our heart and in our daily lives we are not praising nor are we honoring Him.

2. It is not possible to praise Him and dishonor Him as the same time.

3. We hear and see those who outwardly are giving forth the semblance of praise, but their doctrine and scriptural structure are far from Him.

4. Our life and our mouth must be in harmony in this matter of praise.

(PSA 9:1) "...I WILL PRAISE THEE, O LORD, WITH MY WHOLE HEART; I WILL SHOW FORTH ALL THY MARVELLOUS WORKS."

(JAMES 1:22) "BUT BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES."

5. True praise must be more than words coming from our mouth. It must be through our actions also.

(PSA 138:1) "A PSALM OF DAVID. I WILL PRAISE THEE WITH MY WHOLE HEART: BEFORE THE GODS WILL I SING PRAISE UNTO THEE."

III. Praise Must be done on God’s Terms.

A. The believer does not have the privilege of determining what praise is.

1. That position belongs to God.

2. We don't just toss anything up toward heaven and say, "Here, God, this is to be used as praise."

B. Failure to Praise reveals a problem.

1. Depression:

(PSA 42:5) "WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL? AND WHY ART THOU DISQUIETED IN ME? HOPE THOU IN GOD: FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM FOR THE HELP OF HIS COUNTENANCE."

(PSA 74:21) "O LET NOT THE OPPRESSED RETURN ASHAMED: LET THE POOR AND NEEDY PRAISE THY NAME."

2. DEATH:

(PSA 115:17) "THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD, NEITHER ANY THAT GO DOWN INTO SILENCE."

a. The Physical Dead: No one in the cemetery praises the Lord.

b. The Spiritual Dead: No one that is depressed or dejected in spirit will praise the Lord.

c. Those who are always down and spiritually dragging do very little praising.

3. We must force ourselves to praise Him when we are in the spirit of dejection or depression.

(HAB 3:17-18) "ALTHOUGH THE FIG TREE SHALL NOT BLOSSOM, NEITHER SHALL FRUIT BE IN THE VINES; THE LABOUR OF THE OLIVE SHALL FAIL, AND THE FIELDS SHALL YIELD NO MEAT; THE FLOCK SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM THE FOLD, AND THERE SHALL BE NO HERD IN THE STALLS: {18} YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION."

4. He said, "I am going to praise the Lord regardless of the circumstances!"

IV. Praise Must be Directed to God.

(PSA 9:2) "I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN THEE: I WILL SING PRAISE TO THY NAME, O THOU MOST HIGH."

A. Because Of Salvation.

(PSA 9:14) "THAT I MAY SHOW FORTH ALL THY PRAISE IN THE GATES OF THE DAUGHTER OF ZION: I WILL REJOICE IN THY SALVATION."

1. Do we ever just stop and praise Him because He saved us?

2. We should...and we should do it often.

3. Where would we be without Him?

B. Because Of His Power.

(PSA 21:13) "BE THOU EXALTED, LORD, IN THINE OWN STRENGTH: SO WILL WE SING AND PRAISE THY POWER."

1. The Red Sea. God parted the waters.

2. The power of the resurrection.

3. Power of victory over sin.

C. Because Of His Provision.

(PSA 22:26) "THE MEEK SHALL EAT AND BE SATISFIED: THEY SHALL PRAISE THE LORD THAT SEEK HIM: YOUR HEART SHALL LIVE FOR EVER."

1. If God withheld His provision, all of us would immediately be gasping for air.

2. We would cry for water.

3. If God turned off the switch marked "Earth" this whole planet would immediately die.

4. Many take Him for granted.

5. Many seem to think that He owes us air, water, food, etc.

D. Because Of His Protection.

(PSA 28:7) "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTED IN HIM, AND I AM HELPED: THEREFORE MY HEART GREATLY REJOICETH; AND WITH MY SONG WILL I PRAISE HIM."

E. Because Of Our Health.

(PSA 42:11) "WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL? AND WHY ART THOU DISQUIETED WITHIN ME? HOPE THOU IN GOD: FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM, WHO IS THE HEALTH OF MY COUNTENANCE, AND MY GOD."

V. PRAISE INVOLVES CERTAIN EFFORTS

A. It Involves Music.

1. Singing praises unto His name.

2. We can see this principal all throughout the Psalms.

3. Singing will bring joy to your soul.

(PSA 106:9-12) "HE REBUKED THE RED SEA ALSO, AND IT WAS DRIED UP: SO HE LED THEM THROUGH THE DEPTHS, AS THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. {10} AND HE SAVED THEM FROM THE HAND OF HIM THAT HATED THEM, AND REDEEMED THEM FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY. {11} AND THE WATERS COVERED THEIR ENEMIES: THERE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM LEFT. {12} THEN BELIEVED THEY HIS WORDS; THEY SANG HIS PRAISE."

B. It Involves Sacrifice.

(HEB 13:15) "BY HIM THEREFORE LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD CONTINUALLY, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME."

C. It Involves Service and Obedience.

1. When a Christian gives themselves totally in service to the Lord, then He is praised by that service.

2. When we obey His commandments He is praised by our obedience.

3. When we cease to obey and serve Him our praise will cease as well.

(PSA 40:3) "AND HE HATH PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, EVEN PRAISE UNTO OUR GOD: MANY SHALL SEE IT, AND FEAR, AND SHALL TRUST IN THE LORD."