His Praise Endures Forever

Our scripture reading this week comes from Psalm 111. As we consider the words of the psalmist, watch for the clear description of God’s nature and work. As you contemplate these things it becomes apparent why the writer begins with this declaration “Praise the Lord!” and finishes with this one “His praise endures forever”. For the redeemed of God, His work of redemption in their life is clear. The beauty of Christ has been made manifest in His finished work at the cross as our King took our place. I introduced that song a few weeks ago titled The King in All His Beauty. How beautiful it is to those who are being saved, the redemption worked on their behalf. 

Scripture Reading for Sunday, June 15, 2025

Psalms 111 (ESV)

1 Praise the LORD!

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,

in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the LORD,

studied by all who delight in them.

3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and merciful.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,

in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy;

8 they are established forever and ever,

to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption to his people;

he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name!

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!

Reflections on Scripture Reference

As I read the words of Tozer this week, I was reminded of the importance of worship. Tozer was a man of conviction who wrote about the importance of worship as an all consuming part of our lives. He warned that worship–true worship–must be in spirit for God is spirit. He also warned that we cannot compartmentalize worship. By this he meant that it is not just something we can do on Sunday and then go about the rest of our week as if there was no need for worship. If we are true worshippers, there is no building or location where we go to worship God. There is no single time during the week set aside for worship. Worship is to be the entirety of our life as He fills us and endwells us in every part. This is the prayer of my heart for all who read these words. That you might find yourself worshipping our great God and Savior throughout the day, in all places, and at all times. 

We worship because He is worthy. The psalmist here begins his worship by offering praise to God. He then recounts why God is worthy of praise. 

• Great are the works of the Lord

• His work is full of splendor and majesty

• His righteousness endures forever

• He is gracious and merciful

• He provides for those who fear Him

• He remembers His covenant forever

• His works are faithful and just

• All His precepts are trustworthy

• He sent redemption to His people

Is there any doubt that the psalmist knew how great God is? He proclaims, “Holy and Awesome is His Name!” For those of us who trust in the Lord, we can echo this praise and worship Him at all times because we also know that His promises are sure, that He has worked redemption for us in Christ, and that He will complete all that He has begun because He has commanded His covenant forever. Wisdom is found in the fear of God and good understanding in practicing His law. Based on all of this, we can be sure that His praise will endure forever!  

Song Selection for Sunday, June 15, 2025

All Praise to Him

Indeed, He has performed salvation for His people. All praise to Him whose love is seen In Christ the Son, the Servant King Who left behind His glorious throne To pay the ransom for His own All praise to Him Who humbly came To bear our sorrow, sin, and shame Who lived to die, Who died to rise The all-sufficient sacrifice.

Worthy of Worship

Reflect on the words of Psalm 111 and the mighty works of our great God. He is worthy of our worship!

And Can It Be

All of God’s promises can be summed up in Christ. While we were yet sinners, Christ–the God man–died for us. What amazing love! And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior's blood Died He for me, who caused His pain For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Song for Consideration

All Praise to Him

Based on the hymn, “All Praise to Him Who Built the Hills” by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889). Music and additional words by Matt Merker and Bob Kauflin © 2017 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.

Lyrics

VERSE 1

All praise to Him, the God of light

Who formed the mountains by His might

All praise to Him Who names the stars

That sing His fame in skies afar

All praise to Him Who reigns in love

Who guides the galaxies above

Yet bends to hear our every prayer

With sovereign pow’r and tender care

VERSE 2

All praise to Him whose love is seen

In Christ the Son, the Servant King

Who left behind His glorious throne

To pay the ransom for His own

All praise to Him Who humbly came

To bear our sorrow, sin, and shame

Who lived to die, Who died to rise

The all-sufficient sacrifice

VERSE 3

All praise to Him whose pow’r imparts

The love of God within our hearts

The Spirit of all truth and peace

The fount of joy and holiness

To Father, Son, and Spirit now

Our souls we lift, our wills we bow

To You, the triune God, we raise

With loving hearts our song of praise

Vessels of Honor

This week’s reading focuses on the theme of this week’s sermon. As we consider Paul’s message to the church at Colossae we are reminded just how important our role in ministering to our brothers and sisters in Christ really is. Each of us has a ministry. Whether that is as an elder teaching and preaching or as one ministering to others through prayer and service. In 2 Timothy, Paul reminds us that we are to be at peace with our brothers and sisters–not quarreling, but presenting ourselves as a worker who has no need to be ashamed.

Scripture Reading for Sunday, June 8, 2025

2 Timothy 2:14-22 (ESV)

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Reflections on Scripture Reference

Paul has already established in Ephesians that we are God’s workmanship. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has ordained for us. We can rest assured that God began the work of salvation in Christ and that He will complete it. We should also bear in mind the responsibility of the believer to “depart from iniquity” (v.19) and cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable…ready for every good work” (v. 21). Our faith and hope are in the finished work of Christ, but we are called to be vessels of honor that are useful to God in the service of His church. He has ordained good works for us to do. Our hearts desire as one who has been redeemed should be to seek righteousness and peace as we serve Him. We do not do this through our own effort, but enabled by the Spirit of God, we strive to honor Him because of who He is and what He has done for us.

Song Selection for Sunday, June 8, 2025

Make Me a Servant

This song reflects the heart of this week’s reading and message: service. Our hearts cry should be that God would use us in His service to build and edify His church.

How Firm a Foundation

Echoing Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:19 (But God’s firm foundation stands), we sing this truth together. “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?”

He Will Hold Me Fast

Our trust is not in what we do, but in the One who has provided salvation for us. As we seek to serve Him and pursue righteousness, we do well to remember that our hope is in Christ for He will indeed hold us fast.

Song for Consideration

All of Our Tomorrows 

Sovereign Grace 2022

Lyrics

This spinning world by Your own hand

Hurls ever on around the sun

The seasons march at Your command

The old departs, the new year comes

And though celestial is Your gaze

You search and care for all our ways

We offer up to You this day

And all of our tomorrows

May zealous youth and cautious age

Determine not the steps we choose

Great Shepherd, guide us through each day

Oh, how we want to follow You

Come Living Way, our way make clear

Let perfect love drive out our fear

Be Thou our vision, now and here

And all of our tomorrows

When winter makes us reminisce

Of warmer days so distant now

Of cherished saints the sun once kissed

Whose beauty passed behind the clouds

Let all our fond and longing tears

Remind us we are pilgrims here

We trust You, Sovereign of our years

With all of our tomorrows

Hands to the plow, we're pressing on

And running hard to win the prize

Empowered by the love of God

With grace before and grace behind

For lo, what hope before us stands

You finish all that You began

Eternal joy is in Your hands

And all of our tomorrows

For lo, what hope before us stands

You finish all that You began

Eternal joy is in Your hands

And all of our tomorrows

And all of our tomorrows

Sing to the Lord

Similar to the two psalms that immediately precede Psalm 98, the psalmist implores us to:

• “...sing to the Lord; make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)

• “...make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2)

• “...sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth!” (Psalm 96:1)

• “...sing to the Lord, bless His name.” (Psalm 96:2)

The command, clearly expressed, is for us to sing–or at least make a joyful noise–to our God. We will see the same encouragement in this week’s scripture reading in Psalm 98. 

Scripture Reading for Sunday, May 25, 2025

Psalms 98 (ESV)

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

have worked salvation for him.

2 The LORD has made known his salvation;

he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands;

let the hills sing for joy together

9 before the LORD, for he comes

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity.

Reflections on Scripture Reference

Here in Psalm 98 we are once again reminded to sing to the Lord. It is always a great joy for me to find a scripture reading that calls the people of God to worship Him through song. Of course, as the worship leader, it is my desire to hear the people of God lift their voices to Him in corporate worship through singing. As we have seen in the prior psalms, you do not have to be a gifted singer to praise God through singing. The psalmist at once calls for song and/or the making of a joyful noise to the Lord. This can be done by all those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Even those without the ability to speak can pick up an instrument and make a joyful noise. It also strikes me as wonderful beyond my ability to comprehend it that the psalmist repeatedly reminds us that even creation is making a joyful noise. In this psalm, the seas roar, the rivers clap their hands, and the hills sing for joy together (v7-8). All that the Lord has made rejoice in Him.

It is also important to remember why we are to offer up songs of praise to Him. Notice in verse 1 that we sing a new song because HE has done marvelous things. What marvelous things you ask? He has worked salvation for His people! He has “has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:2-3). Is it no wonder that we lift our songs of praise to Him who has raised us from death to life. The Lord is our salvation!

Ponder these things this week as you prepare for corporate worship. Meditate on the gracious gift of mercy that God has provided by sending His own son to save a people for Himself. Spend time at the foot of the cross and gaze upon the loving arms of Jesus Christ your savior. As you do, remember that God has worked salvation for you, a rebel sinner. The full reality of that truth should cause you to make a joyful noise to the Lord!

Song Selection for Sunday, May 25, 2025

I Will Sing of My Redeemer

As we reflect on the salvation provided to us through Christ, let us heed the calls of the psalmist and sing of our redeemer! “Sing, O Sing of my redeemer, with His blood He purchased me. On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.”

I SIng Praises

I thought it fitting that we lift our praises through song with this hymn that declares the greatness of our God. “I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, for Your name is great and greatly to be praised!”

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

What other name has power to save? None but Jesus. So, we list our praises to Him. “Hail Him who saves you by His grace and crown Him Lord of All.”

All I Have is Christ

Finally, we lift our voices as one to proclaim that we have nothing else but Him. The reason for our song, our joyful noise, is found in no other and nothing else. For all we have is Christ. 

Song for Consideration

Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise)

by Shane & Shane. Recorded live at Liberty University.

Lyrics
As the deer pants for the water

So my soul pants for You

All my tears have been my fodder

Day and night my only food

Oh my soul you feel forgotten

Put your hope in Christ alone

As the deer longs for the water

So my soul longs to be home

Chorus

Come thou fount of living water

Tune my heart to bless Your name

Streams of trouble never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

As the deep cries out for answers

As Your waves crash over me

Let Your goodness like a fetter

Bind my broken heart to Thee

In the night Your song is with me

Day by day You hold me fast

Oh my soul hope in Jesus

You shall praise your God at last

Deep calls to deep

Waves of unbelief

Breakers crash and bring me

Falling to my knees

It goes on and on and on

Where is my God

My salvation is in You and You alone