Sermon Tone Analysis

HOOK Question: How do you revive your soul?

In one way or another, aren’t most of us trying to revive our souls, trying to bring joy to our hearts?

when we feel incomplete, or lacking, or discouraged, or purposeless, or antsy, or tired.

What do we do?

>>> What are common ways we try to bring reviving & rejoicing?

Trips, renovations, health, job change.

++++Natalie & tile: funny I have been talking about tile for years and thought it would make this big impact in our house and I would feel that things are more complete.

But now that it is done, it just feels like our house.

Today, this Scripture teaches us that the only true way to bring a reviving and rejoicing is to know God and God reveals himself to us - good news.

How is this the case?

Let’s dig in...

Big Idea: God Wants Us to Know Him

1. Creation’s Word: God Reveals himself so we can know him.

Vs. 1-6 — Creation Proclaims God’s Glory!

The awesomeness of creation reminds us that we are small.

This is God’s story not ours.

Creation speaks () but doesn’t speak ().

+++ Body Language.

Non-verbal communication.

Creation gives “knowledge” of God ().

God is magnificent, galaxies and billions of stars.

God is meticulous - seeds and insects and atoms.

The whole earth experiences the heat of the sun, God’s glory, the reality of himself is revealed to all of creation.

All people. .

Transition.

We need more than creation to know God!

Creation is beautiful but also not merciful.

There is the sunrise and the tornado.

The kitten that cuddles and the lion that rips apart.

Creation displays God’s power but not his Love.

Magnificience not mercy.

Greatness not goodness.

His love is revealed in the Law.

2. Scripture’s Word: God Revives Us so we can know him (in his love).

God Revives Us so we can know him (in his love)

Vs. 7-13 - Psalm now speaks of God’s Word, the Law.

God reveals himself further.

>>>> Which line stands out to you?

“God” = El.

All-powerful deity, the creator.

But now in vs. 7 speaks of “LORD” = Yahweh.

God who is personal, relational and makes covenants with his people.

He is merciful, caring, and makes promises.

Want to get a sense of God’s power look to nature.

But want to know his love - you need to look to his Word, the Bible.

Interesting, in this case, the Psalmist is speaking of the Law, the OT early Scriptures.

God wants us to know him and his love, he wants us to obey him so we can reap the benefits ().

+++Parents give their kids instructions & guidelines.

Why?

For the benefit of the child, but also for the flourishing of the family & the broader community.

When a child loses it in a grocery store - there is an impact on child, family, and community, it isn’t the best way.

WALK THRU

Vs. 10 - The Law is better than gold or honey!

The benefits are better.

How is this the case?

i.

You get to know God and his ways.

ii.

God’s Word warns you, keep on on the right path.

(vs.

12)

iii.

Convicts, reveals how we drift towards selfishness.

Without a compass, we drift towards self-centeredness and trying to revive our own souls.

The Psalmist wants to know God and obey God.

He knows he drifts towards rebellion and prays for God’s help.

This leads to the conclusion, vs. 14

Vs.

14 Transition:

He wants his words and his heart to be acceptable to God.

There is a theme of “words” in this psalm, the words of creation which reveal God, the word of God which reveals him further.

Psalmist knows his words fall short in being pleasing to God but he wants this to change, he wants his words to glorify God just like creation does.

God’s Story - God creates through his words.

He is the source of life and gives purpose.

We rebel against God, we all fall short.

Within ourselves we know this, this is why we need our souls, our inner heart revived.

We aren’t acceptable before God.

God is perfect, pure, clean and he wants to change us, to save us.

“acceptable” a word often associated with sacrifices in the OT.

Death occurred as a consequence for rebellion against God, something else would die… How can we be made “acceptable”?

Creation

“Redeemer” this word speaks of deliverance, of purchasing back.

The psalmist recognizes that he can only be acceptable to God if God his Rock and and strength and God delivers him.

RECAP

1. Creation’s Word: God Reveals himself so we can know him.

2. God’s Word: God Revives Us so we can know him (in his love).

3. Jesus the Word: God Redeems Us so we can know him (as his kids).

God creates, warns, reveals through his word.

In the NT scriptures in John, Jesus is called the “Word.”

Jesus creates, warns, and reveals God in the ultimate sense.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God.

God wants us to know him so much that God became a human!

Jesus is the ultimate redeemer.

The psalmist is looking forward to Jesus, the sacrifices point forward to Jesus the ultimate sacrifice.

When you read the Word of God, even the laws, and you see how God is powerful and we fall short before him, but then we see how he is merciful… when we read vs. 14 and think of Jesus - then we find that God’s word revives our souls.

God’s word rejoices our heart.

Because we are led to the Word = Jesus!

ME reading - Abraham friend of God.

How can I be God’s friend?

Answer Jesus.

Wow, talk about a revival of soul.