A Psalm of the Servant’s Praise

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-14-2023

Psalm 113

Introduction

 

A. Psalm 113 is one of what I call “Praise Psalms”. It begins with “Praise ye the LORD” and ends with "Praise ye the LORD”. The LORD, Jehovah God-Jesus Christ, is certainly worthy of praise.

 

B. The Jews classify Psalms 113-118 as the Hallel Psalms: ( Hebrew: הַלֵּל, "Praise") is a Jewish prayer, a verbatim recitation from Psalms 113–118 which is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays as an act of praise and thanksgiving.

 

C. Though it is right for every child of God to praise the LORD, and should praise the LORD, the Psalmist is speaking to the “servants of the LORD”.

 

1. Why only certain people, servants of the LORD, and not all people? I thought about this for a while, and this is the conclusion that I came to.

 

2. Serving people are God Conscious people. If you are busy serving God, you are mindful of Him. If you are not serving God, you are serving the world and are world conscious in a right way.

 

3. I know that we are in the world and there are important things in the world that we are instructed to take care of such things zas family, jobs, etc. But these things must not supersede the things of God.

 

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

 

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

 

D. Too often, we get so wrapped up in the things of the world, and I am talking about good things that need to be done, that we have little or no time to use our talents in the service of the LORD.

 

1. One of the signs of the last days is that people will “run to and fro”. Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

2. The LORD saved us to serve. We must take time to do the things that are eternal as well as the things that are temporal. Remembering that the temporal are temporal while the eternal are eternal.

 

E. Service for the LORD brings about closeness to the LORD while closeness brings about knowledge of the LORD. Knowledge of the brings about praise of the Lord!

 

F. Paul explained this well in Philippians, chapter 3.

 

Philippians 3:7-10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 

1. Paul’s Sacrifice. “loss for Christ”

 

2. Paul’s Seeking. “Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord … that I may know Him”

 

3. Paul’s Service. “resurrection … suffering .. surrender”

 

G. Peter explained the benefits of living for Christ. 1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

 

H. I am not sure where I got this Sermon Outline, but I believe that it came from Pastor and Brother Mike Walls, who is not with the Lord. I sure loved that man who worked a fulltime job while pastoring a small church. I believe that he would have been pleased for me to use it.

 

1. Verse 1. The Proclamation of Praise. “Praise ye the LORD.” “praise the name of the LORD.” 

 

2. Verse 1. The People of Praise. “Praise, O ye servants of the LORD,” These work for the Lord every day and everywhere they go. They are God conscious and soul conscious.

 

3. Verses 1-2. The Person of Praise. “Praise ye the LORD.” “praise the name of the LORD.” 

 

4. Verses 3-4. The Period of Praise. “Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. (3) From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.”

 

5. Verses 4-9. The Purposes of Praise.

 

a. Verse 4. Praise The LORD’s Position. “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.”

 

b. Verse 5. Praise The LORD’s Preeminence. “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,” 

 

c. Verse 6. Praise The LORD’s Personality. “Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” 

 

d. Verse 7. Praise The LORD’s Pity. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;”

 

e. Verse 8. Praise The LORD’s Purpose. “That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” 

 

f. Verse 9. Praise The LORD’s Power. “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”

Servanthood

Temple Baptist Church - 6-4-2017

Romans 1:1

Introduction:

A.  Paul beings his salutation with a couple of titles: one given to him by God, and apostle, and the other given by himself, a servant of Jesus Christ.  I want to deal with the latter for a few minutes.

B.  Being an apostle was of the utmost importance but Paul’s apostleship was based upon his willingness to be a servant of Jesus Christ.  Paul knew that Biblical Salvation brought about obligation in service.  “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

1.  Paul was a true servant in his salvation.  Acts 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

2.  Paul did not miss his appointments.  Acts 22:10  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.  (Interesting verse!  If Paul had gotten saved and did not serve, he would have miss the work that God had for him and it may not have gotten done.)

3.  Paul remained a true servant in his life.  Philippians 1:20-23  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

4.  Paul both kept and accomplished what God had for him.  2 Timothy 4:6-7  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

C.  Our understanding of servant is nothing like the word in the time of this writing.  When we think of a servant, we think of someone we hire to keep house, mow the lawn, etc.  A servant, in the biblical sense, is a bond slave.  To fully understand what Paul was saying, we need to go to Exodus, chapter 21.

D.  Let us read verses 1-6.  Exodus 21:1-6  Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.  (2)  If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.  (3)  If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.  (4)  If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.  (5)  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:  (6)  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

1.  Servanthood is a Purchased Destiny. vs. 2 “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve”

1 Corinthians 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 7:21-23  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.  (22)  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.  (23)  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  (Paul never got over what the Lord did for him on the Damascus Road.)

2.  Servanthood is a Personal Decision. vs. 2b “and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing”

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Nobody can make you serve him; you can go out free if you want to.  You are free.)

3. Servanthood is a Plain Declaration – vs. 5 “And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free”

John 15:9-10  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  (10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  (Being a bond servant is based upon one’s love for the Master!)

4. Servanthood is a Public Display – vs. 6a “Then his master shall bring him unto the judges”

1 Peter 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  (Bond servants are not ashamed of their Masters!)

5. Servanthood is a Permanent Distinction – vs. 6b “Then he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.”

Galatians 6:15-17  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  (16)  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace beon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  (17)  From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  (There will be the personal of a mark on the ear and a permanent mark on the door, the place of surrender.)