Sermon Tone Analysis

How did you feel when you turned on the TV or Radio Monday Morning?

I was on my way to the gym and heard the news of the shooting in Las Vegas … My first thoughts were “Oh no … not again”

A mass shooting at a Country Music Concert … When all was said and done Stephen Paddock had killed 58 innocent people and wounded another 489 from his perch on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

As the night’s headliner, Jason Aldean, was playing and singing the shots rang out as people fell and ran for cover.

What has driven your thinking since that day?

Maybe a new desire to discuss gun control; maybe a concern for the injured; perhaps you are just angry that this actually happened; maybe you are confused how a madman could get 23 guns (many of them fully automatic) into a hotel room; Now the discussion may need to move to having metal detectors in hotel lobby’s; maybe the discussion of the bump-stocks - the means by which semi-automatic rifles are converted into nearly fully automatic.

Has CNN, or Fox News, or Social Media been driving your thinking in this “mad, mad world” (to take a Tom Cochrane phrase)

We come to on this thanksgiving Sunday

is a Mix of Praise and petition; Celebration and Setback

David Praises God (vv:1-2) for his power over his enemies (3-8) and His continual Presence with David during the battles of life (9-12)

Then in the midst of His praise and thanksgiving David is reminded of old injuries and hurts or experiences a set back in battle (13-14).

Rather than giving into despair or questioning God’s love and power, David affirms God’s final Justice of wickedness (14-17)

As he concludes David affirms God’s provision of hope for needy people (18)

And he calls on God for victory over this persistent enemy(19-20) - Whoever it may be!

PSALM-Formation

Types of Psalms (Fee and Stuart - There are others who classify them differently)

1. Lament

2. Thanksgiving

3. Hymns of Praise

4. Salvation History Psalms

5. Psalms of Celebration and Affirmation - Title defines them … There are several sub-categories here: Covenant Renewal Psalms (50.

81) (Deal with a return to and a renewal of covenant faithfulness); Davidic Covenant Psalms (89, 132) - Focus on Line of David and Messiah); Then there are Royal Psalms - Many references to Messiah in The King (2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 144); Enthronement Psalms - The King is enthroned - 24, 29, 47, 93; 95-99; Songs of Zion - Ties into symbolism of Jerusalem - 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122

Psalms of Celebration and Affirmation

6. Wisdom Psalms - 8 Psalms - 36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133 - is itself a Psalm - Praise of the merits of wisdom.

Read with proverbs.

7. Songs of Trust - Ten psalms - 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131 - Focus attention on fact that God can be trusted.

“These psalms help us express our trust in God, whatever our circumstances.”

FS

These psalms help us express our trust in God, whatever our circumstances.”

Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. K. (1993).

How to read the Bible for all its worth (3rd ed., p. 214).

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.”

8.

I added … not in Fee and Stuart - The Songs of Ascent (Included in other Psalm Types) - Song of Ascents is a title given to fifteen of the Psalms, 120–134; each starting with the ascription Shir Hama'aloth (Hebrew: שִׁיר המַעֲלוֹת‎‎, meaning "Song of the Ascents").

any one of 15 psalms in the series to 134 sung by Hebrew pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem or possibly while ascending Mount Zion or the steps of the Temple —called also Gradual Psalm, Pilgrim Psalm, Psalm of Ascents.

The Centre --- The Key to the Psalm is Verses 7-8

The Setting … Non-certain

Muth-Labben -

To the Choirmaster … According to Muth-Labben - This is probably some kind of musical notation - Muth-Lebben = The Death of a son

Possibly a tune for singing in worship

This psalm of thanksgiving and praise builds upon the language of preceding psalms.

David previously asked God to deliver him from his enemies and other hardships.

One more note … Many believe that form ONE Psalm - 10 Has no heading/superscription

It also forms what is called an alphabetic acrostic … every verse begins with each successive letter of the Hebrew Alphabet (, , are true acrostics) - These Pss leave a number of letters out.

Will look at acrostics on another Sunday … Today we will just focus on (It’s a broken acrostic)

We need focus … we need to have a focus and mindset in this world where we live that enables us to see in reality and yet not be overwhelmed by all that is around us

is a Psalm of Thanksgiving that focuses clearly on that reality of troubles … but places us on a higher vantage point.

So … Out of grateful hearts, in the world where God has placed us …

WE Praise … vv:1-12

Here the Psalmist looks back on God’s Faithfulness, Looks forward to God’s Ultimate Victory, and Looks up at God’s Person …

Look at His Commitment - 1-2 (vv:1-6 He reflects on what He has been through)

Note the fourfold “I WILL”

I will Give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart (wholeheartedly; committed; this is a discipline he practices)

I will Recount all of your wonderful deeds - Idea here = I will INDEED recount all … (Again - Disciplined commitment)

I will be glad and exult in you (Exult = To Rejoice … stems from rejoicing over defeat of enemy - This again is a mindset choice to rejoice and give thanks for God’s faithfulness)

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High - El Elyon - Supreme Lord of all - Again a commitment … to focus attention on God’s Person

Look at David reflecting on the Lord’s deeds in his life …

Was He thinking on 1 sam 17 - Goliath; or the Absolam fiasco in 2 sam - Not Sure

But He was intentionally reflecting on God’s work for Him

3. My enemies turn back … stumble … and perish before your presence … God you have been there on my behalf … and you have fought for me

4. Lord you have maintained my just cause you sat on the throne giving righteous judgement - The Psalmist allowed God to fight for him … and here he found relief.

Lord you have maintained my just cause you sat on the throne giving righteous judgement -

HE IS REFLECTING IN COMMITTED PRAISE

He is not hiding his head in the sand and making all better … or “It’ll all work out in the end.”

He is remembering His trials … and troubles … and intentionally calling to mind God’s sovereign care for him

5-6 - He does it again and see’s the Most High as ruling over the nations who opposed Him

7-8 - Now we have the epicentre … the focus of His Praise

He is not ignoring the realities or difficulties of life … or the pain or the disappointment

Rather He is grounding his life (aches and all) in a sovereign God

Literal rendering of 7-8

And Yahweh, forever sits enthroned, for judgment he has established his throne, and He will Himself judge the world in righteousness, and will settle cases for the peoples w/fairness

The Psalms are unique in that they seek to give us words to express our experiences more than they seek to give us answers to our struggles.

The Psalms teach us to think of life with God at the centre more than they teach us what to do in God’s world.

Their function is more worship than instruction, but with the intent that worship would give life to instruction.

9-10 - The Lord (Yahweh) is a Stronghold for the Oppressed (High tower, High Point)

Between January and May of 1944 the Allies attempted (and finally did) break through the Gustav line in Italy … Monte Cassino was the name of this battle - Four Costly assaults on this Stronghold of the Nazis … The Focal point of the assault was the Abbey or the Monastery high in the Hills

From this High Point the Third Reich Held off allied assualts

The Psalmist Committedly Praises Yahweh as His Stronghold:

When oppressed

and In Times of Trouble

10 - Here He Praises again … He is speaking this praise to the Lord … Reflecting on the Lord’s Character and Faithfulness:

Those who know your name (Yahweh … the faithful covenant keeping God)

Will put their trust in You

BECAUSE (for) you O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you

This is not only COMMITTED Praise

It is ALSO INFORMED Praise

The Psalmist KNOWS GOD as He is Revealed …

Just in this Psalm: Name or Attribute

Yahweh - 4x so far

Most High - El Elyon

Judge

Righteous

Sovereign (On Throne)

Faithful

Defender

Just

He is not going to be silent about this God … 11-12

he is going to sing praise

he is going to tell of this God’s Deeds

FOR (Because) This God will certainly not forget Him

A MAN was trying to teach his horse to obey and to stop and start on command.