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BIG IDEA:

KEEP YOUR HEART TENDER FOR PRAISING THE LORD JOYFULLY AND WORSHIPPING THE LORD HUMBLY

(some major points and commentary from John Cobb)

I. (:1-5) PRAISE THE LORD JOYFULLY

A. (:1-2) Call to Praise the Lord Joyfully

1. “Let us” — Corporate emphasis; not enough to praise the Lord on your own

2. Emphasis on Attitude = Joy, Thanksgiving

3. “To” the rock of our salvation

not just about Him

safe place of refuge — look at all the times the Lord delivered Israel

4. Privilege of coming before His presence

Application: The Lord is worthy of our best praise; we need to spend time daily with Him; we need to be excited in our corporate worship

B. (:3-5) Reason: — The Greatness of God

1. As compared to other little gods like the idols worshipped by the other nations

cf. 1 Samuel 5:2ff Dagon no match for the King above all gods

2, As compared to any of the wonders or powers of Nature

– the depths of the earth

– the peaks of the mountains

– the sea

cf. Jonah 1:9ff the Lord able to quiet the sea and cause the panicked pagan sailors to worship Him

– the dry land

II. (:6-7A) WORSHIP THE LORD HUMBLY

A. (:6a) Call to Worship the Lord Humbly (worship; bow down; kneel)

B. (:6b-7a) Reasons:

1. The Lord created us — every life is a gift from God; He has a plan for each one of us

Who are we to criticize our Maker

2. He cares for us daily as a shepherd takes care of the sheep

  • protecting us

  • feeding us

III. (:7b-11) WARNING: KEEP YOUR HEART TENDER

A. By Listening to the Lord daily

B. By not hardening your heart through unbelief and bitterness

Historical Reminder — don’t repeat the national disaster of Meribah

Complaining: Is the Lord still with us? He doesn’t seem to be taking care of us

C. By remembering the Lord’s gracious provision in the past instead of testing the Lord

D. By not getting the Lord angry at you

God hated that generation with contempt — “loathed”

  • they erred in their heart

  • they do not know God’s ways

E. By Focusing on the Goal = entering the promised Rest