Praise Out the Old , Praise in the New (1)

Happy December. It’s hard to believe that Christmas and the New Year are almost upon us. Actually even Harder its a new decadeAnd so for that we are going to put our study in Isaiah on hold until January because something else is on my heart that I believe God has put there so that we end this decade in a good place and start the new one off strong and ready for whatever God brings our way.You see I think this last year was a challenge for many people. #1 WordEveryone had their own reasons why it was a challenge.For most my guess is they spent more time and energy thinking and talking about their challenges more than anything else? Am I close.Here’s what I have seen with that.First of all that is exhausting when your challenges are all you think and talk about. And it kind of drains the life out of you.But even more it has the ability to make you feel like a victim of those circumstances and challenges, and feel trappedAnd eventually you lose hope and just think oh well, it is what it is and that is where you stay. NOT FUNOver the last two weeks I have had a lot of time to think and pray about this and know that is not a great way to end this year and decade.And certainly a horrible way to start a new decade.So for the next 3 weeks leading up to Christmas we are going to look at a Psalm in the Bible that can help us get out of this place/RUT.Because this exhaustion and hopelessness is a rut and we can do something about it. It’s called praise.That something is found in Psalm 145.This is a very unique Psalm for the simple reason is: It is the only Psalm that David calls a Psalm of Praise.The whole Psalm is about Praise and its the only one.What is so unique about it.It’s not just “called” a Psalm of Praise it teaches us “how” to praise God.That is important.You see we may not have the right picture of what Praise is and what it’s about.Because If I was to ask you what praise is mosts first thought would probably that its those fast songs we start the church service with.You know you got get a little fired up so that we can worship God.Well that is not what praise or this Psalm is about.We will see what David did and thought about when he praised God.As we learn it and do what David teaches us here it will help you finish this year in a different place and launch you into the new decade of the 20’s in a much better place.I have had a few weeks to practice this and let me tell you what I’ve experiencedAs you learn to praise, you will no longer feel like a victim, where your challenges and circumstances control your thoughts and take away your life and energy.This Psalm and what we learn will help you to stay in a good place in your mind and in your heart.Today’s take home is: I want you to leave today saying that I’m not going to be a victim but “That I am going to Praise God and know why and what that means.”THIS IS DAVID PRAISING GODBefore we read it, just one more little intro: this is another one of those Psalms called an acrostic Psalm.That means each line starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.This was a tool they used to help memorize what is here.AND just like what is called the Shema in Deuteronomy that was said everyday by faithful praying Jews this was too.That is how important they saw this: memorize and quote.Read all of Psalm 145 then come back and read:Psalm 145:1-3

Psalm 145 ESV

A Song of Praise. Of David. I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psalm 145:1–3 ESV

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

I think for most of us because of how we have been taught or just out of habit when we think of praising God we start with thanksgiving.Let me just thank God for things He has done.we think that we are Praising God when we do that.That is a good thing to do but it is not what we see David doing He does not start with thanking God for what He has doneMatter of fact that can very well become a huge problem, that can add to your despair and frustration not relieve it.That can even make you feel more like a victim than you already feel.Here’s why.Most of our (thanksgiving) praise is prompted by something God has done for us, some blessing, some answered prayer, or some help that we receive from Him. Right?What happens when you don’t see or feel any of that?Because there can be seasons where we don’t see and feel.Do we then stop Praising?????See I have heard again and again this year how people have struggled with questions about why God isn’t helping them or answering them.Then they add that to their worries.Now they feel both the victim of their circumstances and victims to God.God’s not doing what I want.That isn’t where David went or started when it came to praise.He started with WHO GOD IS.PLEASE LISTEN. If you want to change the way you end 2019 and finish in a good place, not consumed by your challenges and drained by what you are thinking and talking about nowAnd you want to launch or start 2020 in a different place than you are right now this is THE CHANGE you can make that will help up here in your (mind) and down here in your (heart.)This is it. Learn to praise like David did. that Starts with God.This is where David started

I WILL EXTOL YOU, MY GOD THE KING

David starts with an action. I will extol you.That word extol is very important. It’s where praise begins.It means to lift up. David started praise by lifting up God.again It’s not doing that by thanking God for anything.It’s putting the focus on The Lord.That takes your eyes off of everything else.It is David recognizing who God is and who he is.And making sure God is in the right place and focus.(God’s right place is reigning above you) It means to put above you.It’s to recognize that God is greater and more important than you.It’s enthusiastically bowing the knee in submission before Him. (ACT)This is where praise starts and what it is all about. It’s God I want to lift you up. I want you in the right place in my lifeI don’t want to lift me up, and make myself more important, I want you.Just this little action is what changes your focus is not on the challenges you face nor focused on what God does for you to who God is.Very Important because I think we get stuck in that other place.Too often we bow the knee to ask God for help, oh God hear my prayer, please can you do this one thing for me.And that is ok - it’s just not praise.Praise focuses on who He is not what He does and who He is and who we are.It’s where He is up here and we are down here. That is what David meant by I will extol you. It’s a choice to lift Him up.Then He focuses more on who God is.My God - The King.Now I know many of your Bibles including the ESV say my God and King.But the literal words here are My God The King.This in itself is a picture.First of all he can’t just be God He must be My God.It’s not my God like I own Him. The genie in a bottle.If I rub it then out comes the genie and I get my wishes.It’s the bowed down on the knee recognizing the He is your God, He is above me, He is who I come before and as my God I know He is way above me and worthy to be worshipped.And you realize that He is your God, not your churches God, not the prophet’s God, not your parents or any one els’s God but your GodAnd that you bow down to Him as your God.And to build on it He is The King.He is the ruler of all. Nothing just happens or is random.This is about attitude toward Him.So when you put this first phrase together what you are doing to praise is your attitude is bowing down, lowering yourself in your mind and in this world, you are recognizing that life isn’t all about you it’s really about Him.AND you are recognizing that He is God, Eloheim, the creator of all and that He is The King of all.Which means He not only created everything but is above all and rules all. That’s praising Him. If you just did this, what you think about would change How you view the world would change.You wouldn’t feel like the victim.Because you would realize your God is the creator and ruler of all.This world and your world are not left to just happen. He controls it allDavid doesn’t stop there he builds on this.He says, I will bless your name forever and ever.Again this focuses on who He is not what He does.David uses the world bless.After He has lifted God up, focused on who He isNow he expresses it.It’s where he declares something about Him.This is so opposite of what happens today Today there is a lot of emphasis on making declarations. Like wake up in the morning and say, I am wonderful, I am beautiful, I am successful, I am a winner, I am smart.Notice What the key word and focus there? “I” or “Me.”That again puts all the focus on you.The Bible doesn’t teach that you need to declare anything about yourself but that you are a sinner saved by the grace of God.This again puts the focus on Him.What needs to be proclaimed and confessed is His Name.JUST CHANGE ALL YOUR CONFESSIONS TO BE ABOUT HIMWhen it says His name it refers to His character.It’s acknowledging who He is.It’s all of His attributes.He is Love, He is compassionate, He is merciful, He is just, He is omniscient, He is omnipresentIt’s continuing to focus on Him not you.That is praise.It is a choice. David says, I will do this.You know what is so great about this.It doesn’t matter what is going on in your life you can still do this.It wasn’t based on how things were going in His life.It was just the smart thing to do.Verse 2 goes on to say, everyday I will do this.This was something David did “everyday of his life.”It’s what kept Him going and never feeling like a victim. If it worked for David and you want to change how your year ends and how to start the New Decade off right try this.

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