In The Beginning Was The Word

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-25-2022

John 1:1

 

Introduction:

 

A.  As we begin our study of John’s Gospel, we need to understand its principle thought: The Deity of Christ Jesus: the Eternal Word of God.  The first chapter of the Book of John is one of the most amazing of all chapters in the Bible as it introduces us to the Eternal Word of God.  Each of the four Gospels portrays Christ in a different way thus giving us a complete look at His person and His work.

 

1.  Matthew – Portrays Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  He is the coming King of Israel.  He is called the son of David - His lineage is reckoned from David.

 

2.  Mark - Portrays Christ as the Ox. He is the Servant of Man. No genealogy is recorded – a servant or slave had no recorded birth.

 

3.  Luke - Portrays Christ as the Son of Man.  100% Man on His mother's side through the virgin birth and 100% God on His Father's side.  His genealogy reckoned from Joseph back to Adam who was the son of God.

 

Luke 3:23, 38  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of  Heli,  ... Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. 

 

4.  John - Portrays Christ as the Son of God: His Divinity.  No genealogy - eternality of His Divinity (always was God)

 

B.  There are three portions of Scripture, including our verse for tonight, that record Christ's 

 

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  (I call the first four words of this verse the "greatest theological statement in the Bible."  It is a statement about God, not an argument for His existence.)

 

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (This verse is the greatest theological statement in the Bible concerning Christ as the "Word" found in the Bible.  You cannot divorce Christ from the Word.  To do so will cause theological error concerning the Person and Work of Christ.)

 

1 John 1:1-2  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  (These verses contain the availability of Christ the Word to all who seek Him.)

 

C.  These verses are not an argument for the eternality of Jesus Christ, they are statements of a fact to be believed.  God is!

 

D.  When we think of eternity, it is a thought that boggles our minds. 

 

1.  Eternity is a truth that goes beyond our experience. Beginningless so as to have no record and endless so that it cannot be measured. Eternity has no past, it has no future, it has no ends, it has no middle, it has no parts, thus it cannot be analyzed nor perfectly understood.  Eternity can only be experienced. 

 

2.  It is something which was, and is, always will be. Eternity is God's realm.  It had no beginning because God has no beginning, and it has no end because God has no end.  It has no origin and, therefore, eternity is beginningless, endless, measureless, imperishable, indescribable, and undefinable. Eternity itself is its only definition.

 

3.  When asked, "What is eternity?" We can only answer that “Eternity was and is forever!”  I can tell you what time it is...what day it is, what month it is, what year it is, but eternity has no time, days, months, or years.  Eternity has no calendars; eternity has no clocks; eternity has no measure.

 

E.  The Bible declares Jehovah God (Our Lord Jesus Christ) to be eternal.

 

Proverbs 8:22-23  The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.  (23)  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

 

Colossians 1:15-17  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

 

Hebrews 1:10-12  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:  (11)  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;  (12)  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

 

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

F.  Jehovah God (Our Lord Jesus Christ) declared Himself to be eternal - Exodus 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 

1.  This verse speaks of God’s eternality.  It is not “I WAS” but “I AM.”  God is a “present tense” God.  The sense is of this title for God is not only I am what I am at present, but I am what I have been, and I am what I shall be, and shall be what I am.

 

2.  This verse also speaks of God’s immutability.  Every time you find or perceive God, He is always the same.  Finite man is subject to change, but an infinite God is not because the constancy of His name.

 

3.  This verse speaks of God’s self-existence.  Not “I want to be” or “I should be” or “I need to be” or “I will be” but I AM!  From before recorded time, Jesus and His Father were one in essence, one in equally, and one in eternality.

G.  Jesus Christ declared Himself to be the eternal God.  John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

 

Revelation 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

H.  I do not claim to understand God as He is infinite and eternal, and I am finite and temporal. God can be known, and I am glad that I do know God!

 

J.  Eternity is an eternal moment that is totally occupied by God, and we will soon be there!

Eternity is God’s signature: it is who He is!

The Blessed Man

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-22-2022

Psalms 1

 

Introduction:

 

A.  It is interesting that the first Psalm pronounces both a blessing (the Righteous) and a cursing (the Rebellious).  As we read the admonitions found in this Book, it shows us the way of happiness in the Lord as well as the wrath of God upon the wicked who refuse to repent and turn to Him.

 

1.  The Righteous will Flourish.  I will deal with this first part as I am preaching to God's people, not the unrighteous!

 

2.  But, The Rebellious will Fall.  Verses 4-6.  The ungodly are not so!!!  They will not be blessed; they will be driven; they will not be happy; they will be judged; and their way will perish!

 

B.  It begins with the word “blessed.”  Many will substitute the word “happy” in the place of “blessed” but I believe that it is a cardinal mistake.  Though both “blessed” and “happy” come from the same root word (which means to be straight, to be level, to go forward, to be honest, to prosper, happy), the words are a little different in their meanings within the context.

 

C.  "Blessed" is found 302x in the Bible while "happy" (in one form or another) is only found 28x in your Bible.  This vast difference in usage is by design. 

 

1.  To be happy is a manner of disposition.  It always means happiness or to be extremely glad in your circumstances.  Everyone wants to be happy, but we are not always so for life is hard at times and we wish things to be different.

 

2.  To be blessed is a word that pertains to our personal welfare.  You can be unhappy and still be blessed.  Do you see what I mean?  In the worst of circumstances, you can be unhappy but still be blessed.  That is what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  Not to be thankful for cancer, death, or sinfulness but to be thankful that you are saved, God is meeting your needs, etc. during these hard times.

 

D.  People substitute “love” for “charity” in 1 Corinthians 13 which is also detrimental to proper Bible interpretation as “charity” is a specific type of love while “love” is an umbrella that covers all love.

 

E.  Psalm 1 tells us how to be “blessed,” not “happy.”  I am glad that the things in this Psalm will ultimately (and sometimes instantly) make you happy, but they will ALWAYS make you blessed.

 

F.  Throughout the Book of Psalms, we find contrasts between good and evil, happy times and hard times, times of victory and times of defeat for God's people.  In Psalms, chapter one, we find blessing and cursing.  I want to use a New Testament verse that helps to explain verse 1.

 

1 Corinthians 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

 

1.  The Conditions Of God’s Blessings.  In verse 1, we find a negative progression: walking, standing, and sitting.  If you walk with the world, you will stand with the world, and will ultimately sit with the world!

 

a.  The Blessed Man Finds His Counsel In God’s Word, Not The World – “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”  This means to both listen and agree with the counsel of the world.  Their counsel is anti-God.  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

 

b.  The Blessed Man Finds His Pleasure In The Things Of God – “standeth in the way of sinners”  As the wages of sin is still death, the way of sinfulness brings about the certain judgment of God.  “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

 

c.  The Blessed Man Finds His Fellowship With The People Of God – “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”  Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.  The world scorns (to have in derision) the things of God.  They mock you if you serve God and will make you mock those who serve the Lord if you run with them.  “Evil communications corrupt good manners!”

 

d.  The Blessed Man Finds His Delight In The Law Of The Lord – “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”  Proverbs 19:23 says, “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.”  We will have problems but God will deliver us out of them all!

 

2.  The Characteristics Of God’s Blessed.

 

a.  God’s Blessed Are Prominent - “he shall be like a tree”  God’s people will “stand out” and “stand above” the world!  “They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” The world may not like you but they will recognize you and most of the world will respect you.

 

b.  God’s Blessed Are Planted – “planted by the rivers of water”  The child of God will be vibrant, lively, and lovely during the most horrible spiritual droughts!  They will have a constant, unending source of both life and strength.

 

c.  God’s Blessed Are Productive – “that bringeth forth his fruit in his season”  The child of God will produce godly fruit that will be both observed and beneficial to others.  You never know who is watching your life but you do know who you want to follow in your footsteps!  “If my kids follow me they will be drug free” is a familiar bumper sticker.  If my kids follow me, they will follow the Lord!

 

d.  God’s Blessed Are Perpetual – “is leaf also shall not wither”  One of the greatest of spiritual assets is that of predictability!  When the world not only recognizes a life of godliness in the believer but expects to see it every time they come around.  Not shocked that our lives have changed but expectant of our spiritual consistency.

 

e.  God’s Blessed Are Prosperous – “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”  The believer will be successful in both his public and personal life.  That does not mean that we will have no problems but it does mean that we shall come through them victoriously!  We can overcome hardship with the help of an ever present, all powerful, and graciously loving God at our side.

Joy In Tribulation

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-22-2022

Habakkuk 3:1-19

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  In verse one of the “prayer of Habakkuk,” we see that it was a hard time for both Israel and God’s man.  It was a time of affliction and chastening of God’s Israel and not a pleasant time.  Because of the continued rebellion of Israel, God brought the Chaldeans to spoil the people and the land.

 

B.  In our text, the Holy Ghost bursts our perception of what joy is all about.  Times were hard and certainly not happy for Habakkuk, but there was in his heart a settled peace of God that passeth all understanding.  There is a vast difference between happiness and joy.  His unhappiness with his situation did not dictate the joy in his heart!

 

C.  The Christian life should be one of joy instead of fear and drudgery.  Many erroneously equate joy with happiness.  Happiness is something that comes and goes.  I believe that God wants the child of God happy, but life is often hard and hard to understand. 

 

1.  Happiness is like a bubbling stream.  It is greatly affected by each little bump or rock in the bed over which the water flows.  This world causes sorrow and people try to find happiness in the abundance of their possessions.

 

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 

2.  Joy is like the depths of the ocean.  Calm even when the surface is greatly disturbed by the storm.  Christian joy is a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost and has nothing to do with things.

 

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

D.  First, let me say that Joy is a choice that we make.  Not one of us (including this pastor) enjoys sickness, hardship, trials, etc. but we often have no choice but to endure these things.  I have often said that, when these times come: and they will, we can come out bitter or better.

 

E.  I want to look at four examples of joy.

 

1.  THE FATHER’S JOY – The death of His Son! 

 

Isaiah 53:10-12  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

WHY JOY? 

 

a.  It was not the circumstances that brought God the Father joy!  This was the brutal death of His only begotten Son!

 

2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

b.  It was because of His great love for sinful man!  I will never understand a love like this:  the love of God that sacrificed His only begotten Son for sinners like you and me!  Oh, what love!

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2.  THE SAVIOUR’S JOY – The sacrifice that He made!

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 

WHY JOY? 

 

a.  It was not the circumstances that brought God the Son joy! 

 

1)  He was facing the cruel cross.

 

2)  He who knew no sin would become sin for us!

 

b.  It was because of His great love for you and me!  It was because of His great love for the Church, His Bride!  He was not looking forward to Calvary; He was looking beyond Calvary!

 

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

Romans 5:6-8  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

3.  THE SINNER’S JOY – The cross of Calvary!

 

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

WHY JOY! 

 

a.  It is not the circumstances of Christ’s death that brings the sinner joy.  I am sorry that He had to take my shame and disgrace.  I am sorry that my sin nailed Him to Calvary!  I am glad but I am sad.

 

b.  What brings the sinner Joy is the blessed result of Calvary!  Because of his great load of sin that is gone.  Because his sin’s penalty was paid at Calvary!  Because his life was changed completely at Calvary!

 

4.  THE SAINT’S JOY – The soon appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 

1 Peter 1:8-9  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

WHY JOY? 

 

          a.  It is not the circumstances of life that brings the saint joy.

 

                    Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

 

1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

b.  What brings the saint joy is the great longing to see his face!  It is his great longing for home!  It is his great longing to spend an eternity with the One who loved us and gave Himself for us!  It is his great longing to see the One who died for him.  Face to face with Christ for "we shall see Him as He is!"  Oh that will be glory for me!

 

Conclusion:  As a sinner, you will never find joy in the things of this world.  The only joy and peace that you will find will be in Christ and His great salvation.  As a saint, you will never find joy in the things of this world either.  It is not the world that I love.  How I hate it and how it affects me!  You and I that are saved will only find joy and peace in serving the Lord.  Our hearts should cry, “Even so come, Lord Jesus!”

Loving Your Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2022

Ephesians 5:25-33

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Hebrews 10:25-27 are possibly the most quoted verses concerning church attendance and has been normally been preached as a negative. 

 

1.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “As the manner of some is.”  The word manner means a custom or habitual practice.  There are so many people who professed to be saved that have no desire to be faithful to the local church. 

 

2.  We have a good nucleus here at Temple.  I want to encourage the “as the manner of some is” this morning to get in.  I also want to encourage the faithful to stay in. Many of the unfaithful were once faithful. 

  

B.  There has been a great forsaking of the assembling in the past few decades with many in America unchurched.  What happened?  Desire and delight turned into discipline and drudgery! Discipline without desire and delight is a recipe for disaster!

 

1.  Our nation if following the same path as England and Europe: the path of godlessness which always leads to ungodliness. 

 

2.  The faithful few that make up the nucleus of the local church have become fewer in number, especially Sunday and Wednesday night crowds.  Few want any time of “extra” services such as revival meetings or mission conferences.

 

3.  Sunday has become a day of recreation. 

 

C.  With some, it is a salvation problem. 

 

1.  In the Bible, when people got saved, they assembled!  I thank God that, when we got saved, Barbara and I “got in!”  We have been faithful to church for 46 years! 

 

2.  With others, it is the problem of worldliness.  These have the love of Ephesus, the deadness of Sardis, and the apathy of Laodicea.  As Demas forsook Paul, having loved this present world, people of our day forsake the church.

 

D.  With many, it is a leaving your “first love” problem.  This morning, I want to encourage you to love your church!  Make it a major part of your life.  What a privilege it is to come to church!  What a blessing to be able to come to church!  What a benefit to be able to come to church!

 

Why should you love the Church:

 

1.  It Is The Place That God Loves - Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.  (Jesus Christ died for the Church!  He gave His life for that which He loves.  Truly, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  When you get saved, you should love what God loves!)

 

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

2.  It Is The Place Of Worship - Psalms 5:7   But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.  (You can and should worship anywhere but the church house is a special place.  It was a place built to worship in.  You can come here and sing as loud as you please; you can say “Amen” or shout “Glory to God;” you can give your tithe and offerings scripturally in God’s house.  What a blessing!)

 

 

Psalms 84:1-2, 10  How amiable (no love of church) are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  (2)  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD (no longing for church): my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God (no desire for God).  

 

(10)  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God (no love of service in the church), than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

3.  It Is The Place Of Preaching And Teach God’s Word - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (You probably know it by now but I love this blessed old King James Bible that I hold in my hand.  We can read it at home; We can study it at home; but here in the house of the Lord, men of God preach like they know what they are preaching about!  I rejoice with the Apostle Paul when the Bible is heralded and the preacher lifts up his voice like a trumpet!)

 

4.  It Is The Place Where God’s People Gather - Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.  (The greatest people on earth are there!  When I got saved I fell in love with a lot of things that please God but one of the greatest of all was the people of God.  No, they are not perfect but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ!  We are all in the Body of Christ which is the Family of God and we love you!)

 

Acts 2:46-47  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  (47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

6.  It Is God’s Instrument For World Evangelism - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.  (I love to give an offering to missions!  We can help support precious families as they cover the globe preaching the same gospel that we preach.  Missionaries are the greatest people in the world!  There is no greater calling than that.  Carrying the Word of God to a world that needs Jesus Christ and we can help go by giving!  We can personally witness to the Lost and occasionally see one get saved!)

Introduction to Psalms

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2022

Psalm 1:1-6

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tonight, I will begin preaching through the Jewish Hymnbook, the Book of Psalms.  I want to give a generalized and short introduction to the Book of Psalms.

 

B.  The Hebrew name for the Book of Psalms means praises upon instruments accompanied by voice.  Today, we call our "psalms" hymns.  Hymns are an important part of our worship just as these Psalms were to Israel.

 

C.  A psalm is an ode (an epic or story normally based upon personal experience).  "It Is Well" is a hymn that we are familiar with that shows the personal faith of H. G. Spafford in a time of tragedy and great loss when his four daughters died on a transatlantic voyage.  Psalms were normally accompanied by a harp, flute, or other musical instrument and were meant to be sung in worship by the Jews.  Paul alluded to these in three types in Ephesians 5:19. 

 

Ephesians 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

 

D.  Of the 150 Psalms, over one hundred have a pre-fixed inscription containing the particulars of the Psalm along with direction to the musician as to the style of the accompanying instrument.  Our hymns are also set to music, either by the writer of the song or by a musician who wrote the music to which it is sung. 

 

E.  “The Chief Musician” (55x) was a reference to the superintendent of the music or the overseer of the Psalms.  Habakkuk possibly refers him as “the chief singer.”

 

Habakkuk 3:19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

F.  Psalms is also called “The Psalms of David" as he wrote almost half of them.  There are 150 psalms and David is known for 73 of them and possibly more that do not bear his name.

 

G.  David used his musical talents to create instruments and to beautify the worship of the Sanctuary and is referred to as "The Sweet Psalmist of Israel."

 

2 Samuel 23:1  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

 

H.  The Book of Psalms contains 150 Psalms that are independent of each other making it impossible to give an overall analysis of the Book.  The Jewish people divided the Book of Psalms in this way:

 

1.  Psalms 1-41 – Genesis

 

2.  Psalms 43-72 – Exodus

 

3.  Psalms 73-89 – Leviticus

 

4.  Psalms 90-106 – Numbers

 

5.  Psalms 1-7-150 - Deuteronomy

 

J.  Though different and independent, as a whole, they convey a consistent system of moral truth.

 

1.  They are Poetical.  Hebrew poetry.  Most of our songs are also poetical as they rhyme.

 

2.  They are Lyrical.  They are written to music and adapted to musical instruments.

 

3.  They are Devotional.  They are:

 

a)  Didactic—moralistic, portraying both good and bad.  Good and bad people, God’s Law, the vanity of human life, and the duty of rulers.

 

b)  Praise—for the goodness of God to Israel, to good men, mercies to individuals, and for God’s attributes.

 

c)  Devotional—Penitence, trust in trouble, sorrow in hope, peach in distress, desire for help, intercession

 

4.  Historical.  They are a historical record of the lives and deeds of the Jewish people.

 

5.  Prophetical.  Many of ours are also prophetical as they speak of the return of Christ and the beauty of heaven.

 

K.  Found in this devotional nature of the Psalms, we find theological doctrines, the nature—attributes—perfections—providence—grace—mercies—and works of God.

 

L.  The Book of Psalms is instructive in its purpose as they address how we are to praise and trust in the Lord at all times, both good times and bad times.

 

"Although thousands of years old, virtually all the psalms, in one way or another, mirror our own struggles and our joys today. Whatever a particular psalm’s subject may be, each gives voice to the emotions we feel as we grapple with life’s issues. Some psalms capture our delight in God as we experience the divine presence with us through a tough situation that has had a good ending. Others express raw emotions of anger or grief in a struggle to understand why God has not acted as we thought he would when “the wicked triumph.” In some, God speaks. In others God is silent."  (Theology of Work Project, Inc)

 

M.  As we go through the Book of Psalms, we will find that they involve every aspect of our human existence, from birth to death and will therefore be an encouragement and help "in time of trouble." 

 

1.  Psalms of Deliverance - Psalms 126:1-3 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.  The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

2.  Psalms of Encouragement - Psalms 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

3.  Psalms of Comfort - Psalms 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

4.  Psalms of Rejoicing - Psalms 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.

5.  Psalms of Redemption – Psalms 40:13  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  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.

6.  Psalms of Thanksgiving - Psalms 69:30  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

7.  Psalms of Faith - Acts 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God (probably from the Psalms): and the prisoners heard them.

8.  Psalms of Endurance- Psalms 119:54  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.