Bless the Lord
Book of Psalms • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Last Song of Ascent
Shortest in series
Second shortest - Psalm 117 / for the sake of time Ill read the entire chapter
An evening Psalm
Reminds us of Psalms 113:3 “3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.”
Psalms 120-134 are the Songs of Ascent
When we reach Psalm 134 you’ve reached the top of the mountain.
We've come all the way from Kedar and Meshech to Mount Zion.
We are at very highest step. This is why you made the journey to begin with.
This is the goal of your journey as a Christian: blessing God, and being blessed by God.
Review of Pilgrim Songs
Please, follow with me as we walked through these together.
Psalm 120: Peace from His Presence Psalm 120:1 “1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.”
Psalm 121: My Help Comes from the Lord Psalm 121:1 “1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Psalm 122: Let us Go to the House o f the Lord Psalm 122:1 “1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
Psalm 123: Biblical Response to Contempt Psalm 123:4 “4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
Psalm 124: The Lord is on our Side Psalm 124:1 “1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;”
Psalm 125: Security for the Journey Psalm 125:1 “1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.”
Psalm 126: Longing for More Psalm 126:1 “1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
Psalm 127: Work, Rest, and Kids [Beau] Psalm 127: 1 “1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
Psalm 128: [Beau] Are you Blessed? Psalm 128:1 “1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.”
Psalm 129: [Greg] A cry for help to the Lord A Fierce Enemy Met by a Faithful God. Psalm 129:1 “1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:”
Psalm 130 & 131 [Beau] Waiting Well Psalm 131:1 “1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”
Psalm 132: Sing by Faith Psalm 132:1 “1 LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:”
Psalm 133: God and Pleasant Psalm 133:1 “1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 134: Bless the Lord Psalm 134:1 “1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”
Beautiful Picture
Beautiful Picture
We've come all the way from Kedar and Meshech to Mount Zion.
The pilgrims would be singing as they are coming into Jerusalem for festival, is this the pilgrims coming along and they get to Jerusalem at night, at the time of the evening service.
It appears to be a back and forth between pilgrims and those who serve at the temple.
They shout out encouragements to the Levites (v.1-2) who were leading the worship in the temple at the evening service (v.3)
We do not really have this in our tradition. But I do like them. I have heard churches respond with “God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good.”
What does it mean to bless the Lord?
What does it mean to bless the Lord?
The concept of blessing is important to understand this Psalm and much of Scriptures. Let’s make sure we are getting this right.
Psalm 134:1 “1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”
Psalm 134:2 “2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”
Psalm 134:3 “3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.”
How do we use this term?
How do we use this term?
We say God bless you.
We say God bless you.
Sincerely
Out of habit when someone sneezes
Maybe condescendingly when someone does something foolish
Bible has benedictions. Prayers of blessings. Numbers 6:24-26 “24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Less familiar or comfortable with the thought of blessing the Lord
Less familiar or comfortable with the thought of blessing the Lord
Who should do this?
Who should do this?
Psalm 134:1 “1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”
Is that you tonight? Is there anything that is a better descriptor of our lives.
The servants of the Lord here in the psalm are the priests and the Levites who ministered in the temple.
Not just them but us.
We could turn to many places in the NT show this.
1 Peter 2:9 “9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
As believers in Christ we are all priests in God’s kingdom, and we are all called to declare his praises.
All God’s people should praise him.
When should we praise the Lord?
When should we praise the Lord?
Night shift. We know from the Scriptures that the Levites in particular praised the Lord both day and night. 1 Chronicles 9:33 “33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.”
33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
What was the purpose of their work night and day? 1 Chronicles 23:30 “30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;”
Any of you ever worked the night shift. Lauryn Carpenter is with a new born.
Earlier in the Psalms of Ascent we looked at Psalm 126:5 “5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
Now instead of weeping, even the night is full of praises.
All the time. response. God is good. response.
Not just in the temple even in the prison cell. Acts 16:25 “25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
“They are exhorted to fill the night with prayer as well as watchfulness, and to let their hearts go up in blessing to Jehovah. The voice of praise should echo through the silent night and float over the sleeping city.” (Maclaren)
How should we praise?
How should we praise?
Psalm 134:2 “2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”
This is not our first time of hearing a reference to hands. Psalm 24:3-4 “3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
The reference we might hear of hands today are kids making threats to one another “you come out here. I am going to show you these hands” Much different how Scripture is using the phrase
Lifting up your hands is associated with prayer in the Scriptures.
Lifting up your hands is associated with prayer in the Scriptures.
“The lifting up of the hands was a gesture in prayer, it was an intimation of their expectation of receiving blessings from the Lord, and it was also an acknowledgment of their having received the same.” Spurgeon
Sometimes your heart lifts your hands, but other times your hands can help your heart.
Not for show. But for the Lord.
Blessing Received from the Lord
Blessing Received from the Lord
We have been blessed from Zion. Psalm 134:3 “3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.”
Any blessing we have comes in the person of Jesus Christ
Any blessing we have comes in the person of Jesus Christ
Jesus ascends into Heaven as He is blessing His church
Where Jesus gave His life.
Where Jesus was resurrected.
All the wonderful things in the book if Acts in Jerusalem
Not just in Jerusalem, but from there.
We are blessed from Zion.
“Zion cannot bless us; the holiest ministers can only wish us a blessing; but Jehovah can and will bless each one of his waiting people.” (Spurgeon)
Wonderful image from the ascension of Christ
Luke 24:50-51 “50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”
Jesus makes us able to lift our hands.
We are only clean because we are forgiven. Psalm 130:3-4 “3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”
Every man, every where. 1 Timothy 2:8 “8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Our forgiveness and cleansing in Christ is so complete that you can not only lift up your hands in the sanctuary. You can now enter the very presence of God through Jesus your Savior. Hebrews 10:19-22 “19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Application
Application
There are times on the journey I desperately need to hear “behold, bless ye the Lord” Those times that I feel like I am just putting one foot in front of another and moving through life without real purpose.
When get to that place need to remind ourselves we were created to worship God. We should do it at all times and in all circumstances.
We can and should often lift up our hands. In surrender and to signify that we have need from Him.
Do you recognize all the blessings that have come to our lives from Zion. Our God has not withheld any good thing from us.
Let us lift our voices tonight in praise to Him. You are also invited, not by me, but by God to lift your hands to Him.
Psalm 134 closes out the Psalms of Ascent by teaching us that the life that blesses God is a life that is blessed by God. The very act of praising God is a blessing in itself, plus God promises to add his own blessing to it.