WEBVTT 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:14.480 One of the uh the problems of the human heart, one of many, is not that we don't worship, it's that we worship too small. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.800 We were made to worship. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:21.760 We've talked about that here before. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:32.799 And we are always giving our attention and our affection and our trust and our words and our energy to something. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:36.719 We praise what impresses us. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.759 We look at something and we think, this is impressive. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:41.759 And we give it praise. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:45.759 We pursue what we think will satisfy us. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.079 This seems like something I should pursue. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:54.640 Feels like I will be satisfied in this, so I'm gonna run after it, whether it be money, you know, the list goes on and on. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:59.359 We depend on what we think holds us up. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:05.680 But so often our worship is aimed too low. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:10.959 We give ultimate weight to things that can't bear it. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.079 We build our hope on things that can be shaken. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:21.680 We look to created gifts for what only the Creator can give. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:28.400 And when we worship, and when our worship is small, our lives become fragile. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:34.400 If comfort is ultimate to us, then suffering will completely undo us. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:41.200 If success is ultimate, then failure will crush us. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:49.200 If control is ultimate, certainty, uncertainty will devastate us. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:55.519 And if people's approval is ultimate, criticism will devastate us. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:06.560 There's a text that we're going to be in this morning that I think we will find will be encouraging to us, if we allow it to. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:16.560 We will find that the Lord is great above all, he is good to all, and he is worthy of praise from all. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:20.960 This morning we're actually in between sermon series. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:29.840 We just ended our 2 Peter sermon series, and uh next week we're actually gonna be starting kind of where we left off in a previous series with the life of Moses. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:41.360 We got all the way to the death of Moses in Exodus or in um Deuteronomy 34, and we're gonna be picking up where we left off in Joshua, and we're gonna spend a series in Joshua. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:47.759 Uh, but in between that, we're here, and I thought Psalm 145 sounds fun. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.960 Let's do that. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:03:04.240 Now, as we go into this, we we see, and if if you have your Bibles in front of you, we see that the heading of this psalm is a psalm of David, but even more specific, it's a psalm of prayer, a song of praise. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:11.039 In truth, this is the only psalm that is listed like that: a praise song of David. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:22.080 As we know, David wrote a majority of these psalms, uh, but for it to carry a title that is single and solitary means something. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:26.479 Derek Kidner calls this psalm an alphabet of praise. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:30.080 And the reason he calls it that is because this psalm is an acrostic. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:36.479 So it moves to the Hebrew alphabet, so each verse starts with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.280 So and there's only eight other psalms that are like this. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:48.800 And so, in an effect, what this psalm is, this song of praise of David, is is a A to Z of what it looks like to praise. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:55.599 And beyond that, this is actually the last Psalm attributed to David. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:58.319 So there's a lot in here. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:05.039 So as we dive in the structure of Psalm 145, beyond that acrostic, there's actually a little bit more, it goes a little bit deeper. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:26.079 So what David does in this Psalm is he makes a commitment to worship, and then he gives two reasons for that commitment to worship, and then he makes a recommitment to worship, and he gives two more reasons for that reason, for the for to worship, and then another commitment to worship at the end. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:36.639 So it's kind of these three commitments that are all the same, and two reasons in between that we'll find are also the same: God's greatness and God's goodness. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.800 And he's gonna come at it from a couple different angles. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:48.560 So we have a commitment, reasons for the commitment, and then finally a commitment to worship again. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.720 So as we dive in, pray with me briefly. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:58.480 Father in heaven, we come to your word, we come to this psalm, and we are asking you to speak to us. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.839 Speak to us corporately as Hope Church, but also speak to us as individuals. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.240 Lord, we we know that your word is living and active. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.040 It is relevant for today, as relevant as it was when it was written. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.240 And you have something for us this morning. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:21.759 And my prayer for me and my friends in here is that we'd be ready to receive it. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:23.120 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:23.759 Amen. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.839 So Psalm 145, verses 1, we're gonna start with verses 1 and 2. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:35.279 David says this, I will extol you, my God and king, and bless your name forever and ever. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.680 And then verse 2, every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.720 So David again, he makes this commitment to God as his king. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:52.160 So David is the king in this moment, but he knows who the king of kings actually is. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:59.839 David has real authority, real honor, real, he is the king, but he knows who the real king is. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:02.240 We have a name for him. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.040 His name is Jesus. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.800 But what does he commit? 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:17.040 He commits to extol him or enthusiastically praise God, and his commitment is to praise the Lord and his character at least on Sunday mornings. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:17.920 Isn't that what he said? 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:19.680 Wait, oh, hold on. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.360 Oh, actually, he says forever and ever. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:33.279 He will praise God and his character, another one, so his name, to say his name is his character forever and ever. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.000 But he's actually doing something more than this, a little bit deeper. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:44.560 As a part of corporate worship in the Old Testament, the king was supposed to lead the people in blessing and praising, so acting as their representative head. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:56.240 So what he's doing here as the king, who's praising the king of kings, is he's actually making a personal commitment, leading his corporate, the people, into that same kind of praise. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.000 Into that same kind of commitment. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:03.360 He's committing to it, but leading them in worship to commit the same thing. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:11.439 He makes this commitment and he draws and then he tells us why. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:12.720 Verse 3. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.399 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.959 His greatness is unsearchable. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:28.160 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. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:33.920 They shall speak of the night of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:38.879 So David declares that the Lord is great and therefore worthy to be praised. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.319 He says his greatness is unsearchable. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.279 So, what does he mean by that? 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:50.000 So when God says his greatness is unsearchable, he means that God's greatness is beyond human measurement. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.319 There is no way for us to fully measure his greatness. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:57.680 Does not mean unknowable. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.480 So David, we cannot, we will never exhaust the greatness of God. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:11.839 It doesn't mean unknowable, but David is praising God because God has made himself known through his works, his character, his mercy, and his kingdom. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:17.360 But even what we truly know of God does not come close to exhausting all that he is. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.839 So David is saying there is no end to God's greatness. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:33.919 You could search it, you could study it, you can sing it, you can preach it, you can meditate on it, you can experience it, and you will never reach the end of it. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:37.679 We will never reach the end of it. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:52.240 And this truth is something that we ought to declare, not just to ourselves or to each other, but David says, generation to generation, we shall declare God's mighty acts all the time. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:58.320 He continues on with describing God with phrases like glorious splendor of your majesty, wondrous works. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:06.960 In view are things like the creation of the universe, parting of the Red Sea, these kinds of brilliant things that only God could have done. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:11.840 But he also says, meditate on these things. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.519 He will meditate on them. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:18.720 It's a reminder that our worship is not just shallow emotionalism. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:20.639 It includes meditation. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:22.879 It includes thinking deeply. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:27.039 It remembers carefully, it declares boldly. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.200 Well, it's true that we'll never get to the end of God's greatness, we should never stop talking about it. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:38.480 In other words, so God is to be praised for his greatness. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:44.080 That's reason number one, and then reason number two, starting in verse seven. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:51.840 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:57.440 The Lord is gracious and merciful and slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:02.720 And his mercy, the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:06.399 So verse seven builds on verse six and also functions as a bridge. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:12.320 We worship when we pass on the mighty deeds of the Lord, and he longs for the next generation to do that. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:19.840 So David is saying, and keep saying that, keep singing it, keep singing it, keep teaching it, teach it to the next generation and the next generation and the next generation. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:27.440 But he also wants us to make famous the goodness of God, the abundant goodness of God. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.559 Here in verse 8, David uses a familiar phrase to speak of the goodness of God. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:38.399 He says, The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:45.759 If that is something that is familiar to you, it's because it's the way that God revealed himself at Mount Sinai to Moses. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:52.720 Exodus 34, 5 through 6 says, The Lord descended on the cloud and stood with him there, and he proclaimed the name of the Lord. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:11:02.080 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:07.200 This is the way that God revealed himself to Moses at Mount Sinai. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:11.360 And David is drawing on this to talk about the Lord's goodness. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.279 God is not merely powerful, he is also gracious. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:22.080 He's not only sovereign, he's also merciful. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:27.120 He is not quick-tempered, he is slow to anger. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.360 He's not stingy in his covenant love. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.559 He is abounding in steadfast love. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:44.159 And in verse 9, he widens the lens, saying, the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:58.000 So obviously, God is good in his special grace, in a way that he revealed himself in Jesus Christ, but he's also infinitely good in what we call common grace that everyone can experience. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:00.480 And this is what David is talking about here in verse 9. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.759 The mercy that he gives humanity in the beauty of creation. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:10.799 Even the worst of the worst can experience God's grace by the fact that they're breathing. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.399 We breathe in God's grace. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:26.559 When we're able to see a sunset, again, even the worst of the worst, they see a sunset and they that is a grace that God has given them. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.720 A grace that God has given them. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:42.799 When we drink clean water, when we smell sweet flowers, whether we are in Christ or not in Christ, we are experiencing God's grace by being afforded that opportunity. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:50.960 So the Lord is good to all, he says, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.480 Let's move on to round two. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.000 Verse 10. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:07.919 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:13.039 Again, he is continuing his train of thought here in verse 9, uh in verse 9, here in verse 10. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:23.840 He says in verse 1 that I will, and now he says, everything that God has made should give thanks and praise to their maker, and especially all your saints, he says. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:25.200 God's faithful people. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:30.480 So creation gives God praise by being what he has made it to be. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:35.679 The saints give God praise by declaring who he has revealed himself to be. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:42.399 And after again, the commitment that he makes, he starts to give the reason. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:45.120 And this time it's a little bit more kingdom-focused. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:46.639 Verse 11. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:56.159 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:02.799 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:06.480 David returns to the theme of God's greatness. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:14.559 So again, the reason that we commit to worship him is because God's greatness is so great. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.399 But he focuses on God's kingdom. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:21.279 So his greatness is not just abstract. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:24.080 He actually reigns. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.159 He sits on the throne now. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:36.080 He rules, he has dominion, his kingdom has glory, power, majesty, and preeminence. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:39.519 So David had seen earthly kingdoms rise and fall. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:48.399 Israel knew the fragility of human kings and human armies and human institutions, but God's kingdom is not fragile, David declares. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.840 His dominion does not expire. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.200 His purposes are not threatened by human rebellion. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.840 So there's another reason for worship. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.759 God reigns forever. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.720 From his greatness. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.960 Because God is burned out and can't do the job anymore. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.399 That's not a thing. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:29.679 And with this first commitment, there's another reason to praise God's greatness. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:31.519 So reason number two. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:39.600 So the Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:44.960 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:49.919 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.639 You open your hand, you satisfy the desires of every living thing. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:59.200 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:04.559 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:08.000 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.399 So we're talking about God's goodness here. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.399 This final section of the most is one of the most pastoral parts of the Psalm. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:29.440 After lifting our eyes to God's everlasting kingdom, God shows us what kind of king this Lord is. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:47.440 He's not distant, he's not harsh, he's not indifferent, he is faithful, he is kind, upholding, providing, satisfying, righteous, near, preserving, and just. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.000 All of these things. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:59.200 David praises God for a number of things that we can go through fairly quickly here, but God's word can be trusted, and God's words are kind. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:12.480 He does not make careless promises, he does not speak beyond his ability, he does not act outside his character, reminding us that God's kindness is not always immediately obvious to us, but it is always true of him. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.920 We're reminded that God is one who stoops to the collapsing. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:27.519 He is interested and willing to help those who are hurting, who are marginalized, who are oppressed. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.359 God's people do fall. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.279 God's people are bowed down. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:39.440 There are seasons of weakness and sorrow and discouragement and pressure, but the Lord does not despise the lowly, he upholds and raises them. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:43.119 So we lean on him when we're in those situations. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:50.720 Verse 15 and 16 remind us of the caring and providing nature of our God. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:54.079 These verses remind us of the generosity of God. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.279 This image is beautiful. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.680 God opens his hands. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:08.480 The eyes of all who look to you and to give them their food in their due season, your open hand you satisfy the does desire of every living thing. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.559 He's not pictured as tight-fisted or reluctant. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.680 He gives in due season. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.440 So it's not exactly when you want it. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.640 He is no genie. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.319 But he sustains what he has made. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:30.720 It's a dec declare, it's a it is a declaration that all life depends on God's providential care. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.640 So every meal is mercy, every day. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:39.279 Every harvest is grace, and every breath is a gift. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:51.599 Then in verse 17, Psalm 145, 17 says, The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.039 God is not righteous but cruel. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:57.119 He is not kind but morally soft. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:02.559 He is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:09.920 That means everything God does is right, and everything God does is consistent with his holy kindness. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:18.480 This means that we don't fully understand why something happens, but we can trust his character no matter what. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:22.400 He is always right and always kind. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.839 The Lord is near to those who call in him, verse 18. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.720 And to all who call in him in truth. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:43.440 God's greatness does not make him inaccessible. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:47.359 He is near to those who call in him sincerely. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.599 This phrase in truth matters. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.599 Because we don't exist in a manipulative religion. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:58.559 So this is not God using God as a last resort while refusing God as king. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:03.039 This is sincere dependence, honest prayer, and humble faith. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.319 In truth. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:21.279 The fear of the Lord reshapes our desires. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:27.680 God is not promising to fulfill every sinful impulse of a self-centered wish. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:34.319 He is describing his care for those who revere him, who trust him, and who cry out to him. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:44.240 God's goodness means that he is a God who preserves and a God who judges rightly. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:50.880 In verse 20, the Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.960 God is truly good, he must oppose evil. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:00.079 And his mercy towards his people does not cancel his judgment against wickedness. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.119 And finally, he makes a commitment again, which is his third time making the same commitment. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:11.599 He says, My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:18.319 And let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.440 The psalm begins with one worshiper and ends with all flesh. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.039 David's praise becomes an invitation. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.359 Personal worship becomes public witness. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:33.279 Private adoration becomes a missionary proclamation. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.279 Okay. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:55.119 As we turn the corner here, from exposition to a little bit more of application, I do think it would be helpful to address maybe one of the objections that at least that bubbled up to the surface for me as we read this. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.839 The old overall idea is that God is worthy to be praised and we should praise. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:07.839 Him all the time and gives two reasons because God is great and because God is good. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.799 God is great, God is good. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:15.759 He's unsearchable in his greatness, and there's no depth to his goodness. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:24.400 I think for a modern readers, there there's a couple things that are a little bit difficult potentially to reconcile. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:35.680 Because the truth is our God is great enough to rule over all things, and he is good enough to care for all that he has made, but sometimes those things don't feel like they completely fit together. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:42.720 When we think of greatness, we don't often associate goodness with it. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.279 Think about it. 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:52.400 I I I can think of the most obvious of examples is typically like an athlete or like a titan of industry. 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.359 The best of the best. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.519 Arguably the greatest basketball player that ever lived is named Michael Jordan. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.480 Maybe you've heard of him. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:02.880 Maybe? 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.200 No? 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.480 He hasn't played for a long time. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:06.000 Maybe you don't know about him. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.079 Really? 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.279 You guys don't know Kevin. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:15.680 Arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time and an insane competitor. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:19.599 He competed in everything: golf, gambling, everything. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.519 He came up with a game for whatever. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:23.519 Like he just everything. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:28.160 He hated it not being the best at whatever he did. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.279 And it drove him. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.519 That hatred to not be great drove him to greatness. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.400 To reach the highest of heights. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.880 But he was notoriously not the best teammate. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.039 There's stories of getting punching Steve Kerr in the face. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.279 I don't know if you watched The Last Dance at all. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.880 He could be cold. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.400 He could be mean. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.480 He could be harsh. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:53.839 He was best buddies with Charles Barclay. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:24:01.519 And Charles Barkley, after Michael Jordan retired and he was an executive with the Washington Wizards, he he was a notoriously pretty bad drafter. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.240 So he's drafting college and high school players. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:06.160 And he drafted really bad players. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:15.039 And Charles Barkley said that, like on TV, and he and Charles still don't talk because he's so offended by what Charles said about him. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.559 And in many ways, this is part of the point. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:23.440 How could Michael get the most out of his teammates if he wasn't a hard-driving jerk? 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:27.599 And then in many ways, it was illustrated in The Last Dance. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.880 If you watch it, so think about it. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:35.039 All the great men, like if you think about all these movies, Titans of Industry, they will always sacrifice good for great. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.240 Always. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:43.200 I want to be in charge, like I'm going to hard drive this, I'm going to do everything that I could possibly do. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:46.480 And that will that will get me to where I need to be. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.759 I don't need to be kind. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:51.119 I don't need to worry about how other people, like, I don't need to worry about any of that. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.359 I just need to drive, drive, drive, drive, drive. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:55.279 And it gets them to this spot. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.240 Achieving and making and all that. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.559 That's the goal. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:15.440 So it's so when we start to juxtapose, which in Christ, and we'll see, they are not juxtaposed, but for us, we look at greatness, the great like Bill Gates, well, whatever, like these titans of industry. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:21.359 Bezos, greatness, whatever. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:26.480 We start asking a couple different questions. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:30.400 If God is truly good, why does he allow any suffering? 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:40.799 And if God is truly great, sovereign, holy, majestic, ruling over all, can he really be tender? 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.599 Can he actually be near to us? 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.200 Can he actually be good? 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:56.480 Even another way to think about it is a distortion of God's goodness. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:06.559 That really what's described and what being good means is just this blanket idea of acceptance. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:08.960 That's what it really means to be good. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:16.000 Psalm 45, 145 flies in the face of all of this. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:23.440 Psalm 45 does not let us choose between a God who is great and a God who is good. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.400 It doesn't let us distort what it means to be good. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:36.640 The God who reigns over all is the same God who opens his hand, upholds the falling, raises the bow down, and draws near to those who call on him. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:39.359 These are not mutually exclusive in the Lord. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:48.799 So without spending too much time on these things, because I have a lack of time this morning, there was an entire sermon that I've preached on in our God is series called God is Good. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:55.279 That if you want to do a deeper dive on how could God allow suffering and all those kinds of things, feel free to check that out on our website. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:59.519 But let me actually just deal with our text this morning in Psalm 145. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:06.000 Psalm 145 says, God's goodness is not disproved by the existence of suffering. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:12.480 It actually is his goodness is often experienced most personally in the midst of suffering. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:19.039 The fallen are upheld, bowed down are raised, the hungry are fed. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.960 Those who cry out are heard. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.039 Those who fear him are saved. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.279 Those who love him are preserved. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:29.759 Here's the truth that Psalm 145 teaches. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:33.680 The presence of suffering does not mean the absence of God's goodness. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:40.880 The Lord's goodness is not only seen in keeping us from falling, but upholding us as we do fall. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.519 God's goodness is not fragile. 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:48.640 It does not disappear when life gets painful. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:55.519 His goodness enters the pain, upholds the weak, hears the cry, and preserves the people. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:02.720 And often when people think of greatness, they think distance. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.799 The greater someone becomes, the less accessible they often are. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:12.240 Powerful people are often protected, insulated, unavailable, and hard to reach. 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:17.279 They higher the rise, higher they rise, the less they seem to notice ordinary people. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:21.920 But Psalm 145 speaks directly into that. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.759 It gives us the opposite picture. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.920 The Lord's greatness does not make him distant. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:30.640 His greatness makes him able to be near to all who call on him. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:36.079 God is not less compassionate because he is great. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.960 He is perfectly compassionate because he is perfectly great. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:43.279 His greatness is not the kind of greatness that needs to protect itself from weakness. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.160 His glory is not threatened by stooping low. 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:53.200 In fact, one Psalm 145 shows us that one expression of God's greatness is his tender care. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:00.559 Lord is not great like earthly kings who rise above the needy. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:06.400 He is great as an eternal king who stoops to behold, to uphold them. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:12.000 God's greatness does not apply itself like the great people of today's world. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:17.839 Isolation, distance, insulation, none of that. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.759 And we see this most beautifully at the cross. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:25.440 At the cross, we see the greatness and goodness of God meet perfectly. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:31.200 Jesus' greatness is seen in his holiness, justice, sovereignty, wisdom, and power. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:36.160 Sin is not ignored, evil is not waved away, and judgment is not dismissed. 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:41.359 But Christ's goodness is also seen in his mercy, his love, his acceptance and grace. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:44.400 The Son of God gives himself for sinners. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:46.319 The judge bears judgment. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.079 The king stoops to save. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:55.599 The cross tells us that God's goodness is not shallow niceness, his greatness is not cold power. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:00.240 Jesus at the cross proves that God is righteous and merciful. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.599 God judges sin and saves sinners. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:08.960 He reigns in majesty and stoops in love. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.880 All of that is true. 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:19.119 So when suffering raises questions we cannot fully answer, we do not look at suffering as isolation. 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:22.160 We look at suffering through the cross. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:30.640 At the cross, we see that the great God is good enough to come near, and the good God is great enough to save. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:39.039 We get to see that in Jesus Christ, God is all good and greater than anyone or anything else. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:44.480 Obviously, so much more could be said, but for a lack of time. 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:06.480 Because the Lord is great above all, trust him with all of yourself. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:11.440 Psalm 145.3 says, His greatness is unsearchable. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:15.279 That means we can know God truly, but we can't know him exhaustively. 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:18.240 But the application is trust him humbly. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:23.759 There will be things in life that we cannot trace, we cannot explain, we cannot control. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:29.519 But Psalm 145 reminds us that we are not trusting in a small and limited God. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:37.119 We are trusting in a Lord whose greatness is beyond our comprehension and whose kingdom is everlasting. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:44.319 So do not let what you cannot understand keep you from trusting the God who cannot be exhausted. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:32:02.960 This applies to our anxiety, our suffering, our uncertainty, our parenting, our church life, our finances, the future, and unanswered prayers from our perspective. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:10.240 But continuing on, because the Lord is good to all, call on him in your weakness. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:17.839 Psalm 145 does not show us a God who reigns, not only shows us a God who reigns, it shows us a God who descends. 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:23.119 So bring your need to him, fall down before him. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:29.200 The Lord is not annoyed by your falling, he does not despise you when you fall. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:44.880 The great King who is also the good Father, who draws near. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:52.480 And beyond that, because the Lord is worthy of praise from all, make his praise known. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:57.359 This psalm is full of spoken worship. 00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:02.559 Extol, bless, praise, commend, declare, meditate, speak, pour forth, sing aloud. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.359 David praises. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:07.519 David's praises do not stay private, and neither should ours. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:17.279 It moves from, I extol you, to one generation shall commend your works to another, to let all flesh bless your name forever and ever. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:22.000 So the application to this is do not keep his praise to yourself. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:28.880 Praise is not only something we sing upward, it is something we speak outward. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:40.160 The beauty of Psalm 145 is that in many ways it is the it echoes the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:46.880 Just make some parallels for you between Psalm 145 and the Lord's Prayer. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:51.119 I will extol you, my God and King, our Father in heaven. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:53.359 God's greatness is unsearchable. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.359 Hallowed be your name. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:57.599 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.880 Your kingdom come. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.279 The Lord is gracious and merciful. 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:03.200 Forgive us our debts. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:06.240 You give them their food in due season. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.559 Give us this day our daily bread. 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:11.199 The Lord upholds all who are falling. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:14.000 Let us lead us not into temptation. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:16.320 All flesh will bless his name. 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:19.840 Yours is the kingdom forever and ever. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.039 Amen. 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:30.960 Psalm 142 gives us, 145 gives us the God-centered vision that the Lord's prayer turns into daily dependence. 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:37.599 David said, The Lord is great and good, and Jesus teaches us to pray. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:48.320 Then let his name be hallowed, his kingdom come, his will be done, his bread be given, his mercy be received, and his protection be trusted. 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:57.519 The God whose name is holy, whose kingdom is everlasting, and whose hand is open is the God Jesus teaches us to call Father. 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:00.400 So let me encourage you with this. 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:14.320 If you are struggling with God for any of the reasons that we've laid out, allow Psalm 145 to re-teach you what it means to praise Him. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:20.079 To reteach you what it means to pray to Him. 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:24.239 To reteach you what it means to humbly trust Him. 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:29.679 To re-teach you the truth that He cares for you deeply. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:41.119 I wonder what would happen if we read Psalm 145 for like every day for a month straight, what that would do to us. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.239 I wonder. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:49.760 Because here's what it teaches The Lord is great above all. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.920 He is good to all. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:55.280 And he is worthy of praise from all.