Let The Lord Be Glorified In His Works

Introduction

Anyone’s hearing my son, he’s just saying amen. He’s always good. Welcome to all. Welcome to our visitors. We have a good number assembled with us already. And I know this is just the first day, and there’s still a lot of things to be worked out, and we’ll have to see how this works. But I don’t know about you, but this just starts the day off right, if you ask me. To start the day off by coming together and to pray to our great God and to sing these wonderful songs of praise as we begin our day focused on the Lord. Certainly every day is to be focused on the Lord. But as we begin this day, his day, and thinking about him and worshiping him and praising his name.

I’m about to be turning in your Bibles to the 104th Psalm. The 104th Psalm. We’re actually going to be looking at three Psalms this morning. And if you kept up with the Bible reading for this week, you know that you read three Psalms. There was Psalm 19, there was Psalm 104, and there was also Psalm 148. And you may have noted that there is a connection or there’s a common theme, a common thread through all three of those psalms. That all three Psalms have to do with God’s creation. Not just in the fact that he did create, but that he created and the response of his creation. We’ve already read this morning from Psalm 104 and verses 31 through 35. And I don’t know about you, but there was a phrase there that really caught my attention this week.

And it’s the second part of verse 31, where there we read, Let the Lord be glad in his works. Now it reads that way in just about every translation, except if you’re reading from the original King James, it will read, The Lord shall rejoice in his works. But if you’re reading from New King James or English Standard or the NIV or the New American Standard, it’ll read something to the effect of, let the Lord be glad in his works. And that phrase seems to indicate that there’s a responsibility on our part. That as the Lord has created, then we should allow him to be glad in his works. Truly the glory of the Lord will endure forever. And it is now our responsibility to let the Lord be glad in his works.

1. The Lord Should Be Glad In His Works

Of course, if you read Psalm 104, you recognize why the Lord should be glad in his works. And first of all, it’s because he’s the one who created them. We’ll not take time this morning to read all of Psalm 104, but just note how it begins. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a cloak, stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. He’s clothed himself with light, and he’s stretched out heaven like a tent curtain. If you will hearken back to Genesis chapter 1, you’ll remember that what did God create first? Let there be light. And here the psalmist is proclaiming, you have clothed yourself in the very light in which you’ve created.

And then, of course, on the second day, what did he create?

He stretched out heaven like a tent, the psalmist is saying. And he goes on, in fact, you can go through here and you may outline even the various parts of Psalm 104 and how they coincide with the very days of creation in Genesis chapter 1. He lay the beams of his upper chambers and the waters. He makes the clouds, his chariot, he walks upon the wings of the wind. He makes the winds, his messengers, flaming fire, his ministers. He established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not totter forever and ever. You covered it with the deep as with a garment. The waters were standing above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled. The creation of dry land here. At the sound of your thunder, they hurried away.

The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place which you established for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass over, so that they will not return to cover the earth. And again, like I said, you can continue on and reading the psalm. And you’ll see time and again the coinciding days of creation from Genesis chapter 1. Where God created light. God is the one who created the firmament. God is the one who caused dry land to come forth, and the vegetation the vegetation is brought forth from the dry land. It is God who created the stars and the sky and the moon and the sun. And he did it for a variety of reasons. That’s all indicated here in Psalm 104. But the point is, again, after you go through all this aspect of here is what God has created, we come to verse 31.

Let the Lord, I’m sorry, let the glory of the Lord endure forever, but the Lord be glad in his works. He created all this, including man, and he should be glad in all that he has made.

2. All Creation Is Called Forth to Praise the Lord

You may now turn to the 148 Psalm. This is a very simple Psalm to outline, if you like, outlining passages of the Bible. The first six verses is all of the host of heaven. They are called forth to praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all stars of light, praise him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away. The heavens, the very host of heavens, even the angels call forth to praise God.

Then our attention is brought to earth, and all that is in the earth, beginning in verse 7. Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling his word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and virgins, old men and children. As God has called forth, the psalmist has called forth all of God’s creation to give him praise. And certainly we come to the climax of his creation with man. And there all of man is called forth to praise God. No regard to station in life, no regard to age or to sex.

All are called forth to give praise to God. Why? Well, the very reasons for why creation should praise God are also indicated in this passage. Once again, as we’ve already read there in verse 5, let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. The same point as in Psalm 104, that the Lord be glad in his works. He created them all. Therefore you should give praise to him. He created you. Furthermore, in verse 13, let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above earth and heaven. As the creator, he is greater than the creation. His name is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. And so praise should be given to his name.

And a man in particular and his people in particular in verse 14. And he has lifted up a horn for his people. Praise for all his godly ones, even for the sons of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the Lord. The time of the Psalm is not indicated. It is postulated, and perhaps with good reason that this was a psalm penned after Israel’s return from captivity. And now the hosts of heaven and the earth and God’s people are called forth to praise his name, for he has lifted up his horn. He has blessed them. So man should, or creation should praise God. For one, he created. Two, his very nature, and three, the blessings which he bestows on his people. Let all give him praise.

3. Creation Does Praise Him

And the fact is, creation does praise him. Psalm 19. Psalm 19 is a passage known to many, and it’s a beautiful passage. Psalm 19. And just read the first six verses with me. We’ll come back to verses 7 through 14 a little bit later. But for now, note Psalm 19, verses 1 through 6. We’ve already seen again, the creation is called to praise him. He’s deserving of this praise. Let the Lord be glad in his works. And note what the psalmist says creation is doing. The heavens are telling of the glory of God. And their expanse is declaring the work of his hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are their words. Their voice is not heard.

Their line, your translation may read something along the lines of sound has gone out through all the earth. And their utterances to the end of the world. In them he has placed as tent for the sun, which is a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

And its circuit to the other end of them. And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

But then what does he say? Well, there is no speech.

No, there is no sound coming forth. There is no utterance coming forth from our mouth. But the very fact of their existence, the psalmist is saying, gives praise to God each and every day. Perhaps he dwells on the sun for good reason, for man has been predisposed to worship the sun. Man looking at the sky and seeing that great ball of fire and seeing it move across the sky day to day. You know, if you’ve studied any mythology, the sun worship. If you study Greek mythology, that is supposedly Apollo in his chariot, and he is riding the course of the sun day by day. Man has been predisposed to worshiping the sun. What’s the point of the psalm? Yes, here is the sun in all of his glory.

Here is the sun moving across his course in the sky day by day. Here’s the sun giving heat to all, and there’s nothing that escapes, says he, but what is it that created the sun? Why is it that the sun is there? It’s because of the glory of the Lord, and the sun by its very nature and its existence and its going forth across the sky day by day. It is declaring every single day, praise be to God. It’s never said a word. But in every day of its existence, it has glorified God. God’s creation has glorified him and praised him ever since he created it. With one exception, and that is man. God does not need to rebuke the Son for failing to praise and to glorify him.

4. I Will Sing Praise to My God

God has never needed to rebuke the mountains and their grandeur for failing to praise and to glorify him. It is only man that God has ever had to rebuke for failing to recognize his wondrous creator and giving him the praise that he deserves. Turn back with me again to the reading which we’ve already had this morning. Psalm 104, verses 31 through 35. Read it again with me.

Let the Lord be glad in his works. He looks at the earth and it trembles. He touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to him. As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord. My soul praise the Lord. The psalmist here is declaring, I will praise the Lord. But it’s also issuing a challenge to us. Will you? He has created all. He has blessed us. He’s saying we should. He gives us a little reminder there in verse 32 of why we should. He looks at the earth and it trembles. He touches the mountains and they smoke. Here’s the one we’re talking about. We’re talking about one so unlike us.

We may ask the question, well, how is it that God would have me praise him? We have indication here in verses 33 and 34. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to him. As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. It’s an attitude, it’s a disposition, it’s a mode of life. Again, you look at the created world, they praise God just by their being, and by the fact that they operate in the ways in which God has declared they should operate. So how is it that we are going to give praise to him? By operating in the way in which we are to operate.

5. To Glorify the Lord, You Need His Will

And living a life full of singing praises to his name, glorifying his name. Go back to Psalm 19 now. The second major section of Psalm 19. First six verses again, given from the standpoint of here is the creation, it glorifies the Lord. But then you have beginning in verse 7, a consideration of the law. Why is there a consideration of the law here? The point is, if you are to glorify the Lord as the heavens currently glorify the Lord, then you need his will.

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true. They are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned. In keeping them there is a great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back your servant from presumptuous sins. Let them not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

How is it that mankind is going to give praise to God, the praise that he deserves? How is it that mankind is going to let the Lord be glad in all that he has created? And man takes forth the law, the word of God. And what does that word do? It restores the soul. It makes wise the simple.

There is an admission here.

And then my words and my meditation, they will be acceptable to him. He’ll be my rock and my redeemer. The creation gives praise to God. And it is our, whatever you want to say. You want to say duty, responsibility, or privilege to also praise him.

6. Let Sinners Be Consumed From the Earth

And so we do so by singing his praises, by letting the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to his eyes. And how is that going to be if we are not meditating on the wonderful words in which he has given us? Let the Lord be glad in his works. Going back, returning to Psalm 104. After the psalmist says, I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing him. As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. He’s saying, here’s what I have committed myself to doing. I will allow the Lord to be glad in me, for I am glad in him. But, verse 35, let sinners be consumed from the earth.

Let the wicked be no more.

Is he just wanting no more of evil? Well, you might say that, yeah. But what’s the point within regards to the Psalm? What will be the fate of sinners? What will be the fate of those who will not allow the Lord to be glad in his works? They will perish. They will be consumed. They will be no more. He’s not saying someone who is at one time by a mistake or by a not because he did not love the Lord, but he transgressed. No, he’s talking about those who are given to sin, those who have no regard for God, those who do not love him or want him to be glad, he says, they shall perish. Here are the consequences of not giving praise to God as he deserves, and not letting the Lord be glad in his works.

Conclusion

And so the psalmist concludes in the same way that he began. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord. The first verse says the same thing. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Not exactly the same thing. And all those within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of it. I’m sorry, I’m in the 103rd Psalm. That makes sense. Going back to 104th Psalm. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Oh Lord my God, you are very great. As we begin this Lord’s day. And in just a little bit we’ll be dismissed to Bible class. And then we’ll come back again to remember the great sacrifice which our Lord made for us. And we’ll continue to bless and to praise his holy name.

Let us remember that we have not come together one time this week. But that as his creation. As his creation, he is deserving of our praise. He deserves to be glad in his works.

And so the challenge and the opportunity for us is simple. Let the Lord be glad in me. May I commit myself and my soul to bless the Lord and all that is in me to bless him, to praise his holy name. I can’t do that in sin. But he has provided the remedy of sin. He and even giving his son something the psalmist could not yet fully comprehend, but yet recognize even within the passage of the Old Testament that one was coming to forgive us of our sins. Ultimately, yes, they can be forgiven, and yet another reason to bless the Lord, oh my soul. Friends, we can’t do that if we’re living a life of sin. What happens to the sinners? They are consumed from the earth.

The wicked will be no more, but we can bless the Lord by coming to him and receiving his grace that he is so freely offered in the sacrifice of his son. We cannot bless the Lord if his thoughts and his words are not on the meditation of our hearts. So let us commit ourselves to bless the Lord, to look to his wondrous word, to meditate on it, to allow it to transform our lives, to make us into the people that he would have us to be, a people of holiness, righteousness, justice, and peace. Let us commit ourselves to bless the Lord on my soul. Would you pray with me? And after we pray, we’re again part of our service just to understand, we’re going to start Bible class at 5 till 10.

Bible class will end. Sorry about that. But will you go to me to our great God in prayer? And at the conclusion of that prayer, we are dismissed from this assembly, and you have 10 minutes to get to your Bible class and be ready to engage in that period of Bible study. Pray with me, please. Let the glory of the Lord endure forever. Let the Lord be glad in his works. For you, Father, you look at the earth and it trembles. For you, Father, you touch the mountains and they smoke.

Father, as we depart from this place in a couple of hours, let us even look around us at your created world and be impressed by the fact that your creation cries out glory all the day long. And so, Father, let us give you glory. Father, may we have the commitment to sing to you as long as we live. To sing praise to you while we have our being. Let our meditations, Father, be pleasing to you. And may we be glad in you. For Father, we recognize that one day the wicked will in fact perish. Those who do not praise you, those who do not allow you to be glad in their work. But Father, may we bless you with all of our soul. May we praise your holy name.

And it’s in your Son’s name that we pray. Amen.