TOPIC: Praise; New Year, worship
TITLE: DAY AND NIGHT – Don’t Stop Singing!
TEXT: 1 Chronicles 9:33
CONCISE OUTLINE
Of note is that these were heads of household, fathers of Levites (aka: priests) … all of this is a picture of our heavenly realm.
This is the final day of a rather inauspicious (unpromising) year. It seems appropriate for the times that three men of some fame died this past week:
One was spoken of as evil incarnate; saw himself as a latter day Nebuchadnezzar. One was a rebel and bragged about his run-ins with the law. One obeyed the law of his land, even helped frame it.
One was labeled a butcher, murderer of women and children, wicked, and cruel. One was spoken of as the Godfather of soul (little "s"), called an adultery, drug addict, egomaniac, wife abuser, and felon. The other was said to be gentle, kind, thoughtful to all, respectful, humble, good, hardworking, loving, soft-spoken, and god fearing.
All three expected to be in the presence of God when they woke up from their sleep, only one did.
I normally don’t preach holiday homilies, other than Christmas and Easter … but let this be my message to you for the New Year (2007); let it be an encouragement that you might dig deep and reach your spiritual potential in a year which may be the worst than the one now ending.
In Joshua 1:8, we are admonished to study the word of God “day and night.” In the first psalm the “righteous man” is said to meditate “in the law of the LORD … day and night.” [Verse 2]
God's praise is constant in heaven, so learn to sing its eternal hallelujahs. Just as the strains of “Holy, holy, holy,” are heard without end in the halls of heaven, so should they be heard “day and night” in your heart of hearts.
EXPANDED OUTLINE
The gladness of continual praise sheds sanctifying warmth upon us … inside and out. This creates a glow which warms us from within; this glow attracts others to us as a moth to a bare bulb.
Haven’t we something to sing about at this next year? Can’t we weave a song out of 1) our present joys, or 2) our past deliverances, or 3) our future hopes?
Effort still yields its harvest, golden fields still wave, the sun still tarries to bring earth’s fruit, and this goes on both day and night … if He has kept His promise so, shouldn’t we lengthen the hours we devote to worship.
For the love of Jesus (and He loved us first), let us be inspired to fill our days with songs of sanctified joy and praise!
TITLE: DAY AND NIGHT – Don’t Stop Singing!
TEXT: 1 Chronicles 9:33
“Now these are the singers … who lived in the chambers of the temple … who were engaged in their work day and night.”INQUIRY: Just what did they find to sing about day & night?
CONCISE OUTLINE
I. THEY SANG OF HIS PERSON …TRUTH/CONTEXT: Our text is from a section of the historical record concerning the duties of the temple servants … in particular, “the singers.” They were residents of the temple/tabernacle, and “free from other service.” We suppose so they could commit themselves wholly to the singing of praises to God, “day and night.”
II. THEY SANG OF HIS WORKS …
III. THEY SANG OF HIS CHARACTER …
IV. THEY SANG OF HIS GREATNESS …
V. THEY SANG OF HIS GRACE …
Of note is that these were heads of household, fathers of Levites (aka: priests) … all of this is a picture of our heavenly realm.
This is the final day of a rather inauspicious (unpromising) year. It seems appropriate for the times that three men of some fame died this past week:
- First came James Brown (12/25) – the obituary said, “American rhythm and blues singer and band leader, heart failure”
- Then came Gerald “Jerry” R. Ford (12/26) – his record read, “38th President of the United States (1974-1977), natural causes”
- Lastly Saddam Hussein (12/30) – his epitaph says, “5th President of Iraq (1979–2003), execution by hanging”
One was spoken of as evil incarnate; saw himself as a latter day Nebuchadnezzar. One was a rebel and bragged about his run-ins with the law. One obeyed the law of his land, even helped frame it.
One was labeled a butcher, murderer of women and children, wicked, and cruel. One was spoken of as the Godfather of soul (little "s"), called an adultery, drug addict, egomaniac, wife abuser, and felon. The other was said to be gentle, kind, thoughtful to all, respectful, humble, good, hardworking, loving, soft-spoken, and god fearing.
All three expected to be in the presence of God when they woke up from their sleep, only one did.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.Oh there will be a new year for all of us; I pray we are not standing on some phony resolution in our eternal hope; or on some inflated opinion of our self; no I pray each and all of you are standing on solid ground … the promises of God!Hebrews 9:27
I normally don’t preach holiday homilies, other than Christmas and Easter … but let this be my message to you for the New Year (2007); let it be an encouragement that you might dig deep and reach your spiritual potential in a year which may be the worst than the one now ending.
In Joshua 1:8, we are admonished to study the word of God “day and night.” In the first psalm the “righteous man” is said to meditate “in the law of the LORD … day and night.” [Verse 2]
“… day and night (the four living creatures) do not cease to say, ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.’”The House of God was so well organized (courses, orders, shifts) that its sacred singers’ songs did not cease sun or moon … at set times, “day and night,” they praised God (whose mercies endure forever; and who inhabits the praises of His people) symbolizing continuous praise. Thus, the priests lived out their lives mak-ing majestic melodies for Almighty God.Revelation 4:8 [adapted]
[RAIN] In the same way that the oceans, without ceasing, supply moisture for the clouds, which eventually refreshes the soil with shed tears, God’s mercy and grace never cease to flow … not by day or by night … so, neither should the heart-songs of God’s children-priests be hushed.O beloved, your heart (which is the new temple) should learn the lesson taught by Zion's ceaseless songs: you also, like the Temple singers, are dependent upon God, so see to it that your gratefulness, like love [1 Corinthians 13:8a], never fails.
God's praise is constant in heaven, so learn to sing its eternal hallelujahs. Just as the strains of “Holy, holy, holy,” are heard without end in the halls of heaven, so should they be heard “day and night” in your heart of hearts.
[SUN] Just as the sun sheds its light upon the earth, its radiance awakening grateful recipients to begin their morning labors, so too as “day and night” navigate their course a strain of praise should ascend at all hours, wrapping the earth in a blanket of thanksgiving and worship.INQUIRY: Just what did they find to sing about day & night?
Even when clouds intervene, the sun continues in its labor.
The Lord deserves always to be praised … He inhabits them after all.
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. THEY SANG OF HIS PERSON …A. Wonderful Attributes: we might say character; some inherent quality found in a person’s personality and life.II. THEY SANG OF HIS WORKS …1. In Him there is no darknessB. Wonderful Nature: the disposition or temperament of someone.
2. In Him there is all perfection1. He so loved the world.
2. While we were yet sinnersA. Power-filled creative works …III. THEY SANG OF HIS CHARACTER …“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”B. Tenderhearted providential works …Psalm 19:11. God foresaw the need of man
2. Jesus had compassion and fed the multitudes
3. Jesus provided a way of escapeA. Lovingkindness toward his creaturesIV. THEY SANG OF HIS GREATNESS …
B. Protection from their enemiesA. Acts of deliverance (Egypt and rebirth)V. THEY SANG OF HIS GRACE …
B. Sustaining provisions
C. Hope-filled promisesA. Which flow from our obedience
B. Which flow from our sacrificePaul said,“I urge you therefore, brethren … to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”Romans 12:1
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: It’s always beneficial to praise the Lord; it brightens our days & warms our nights; it lightens our loads & softens our sorrows.
The gladness of continual praise sheds sanctifying warmth upon us … inside and out. This creates a glow which warms us from within; this glow attracts others to us as a moth to a bare bulb.
[GERRIT GUSTAFSON/WORSHIP EVANGELISM] He defines it in two simple phrases: “whole-hearted worshipers calling the whole world to the whole-hearted worship of God … [and] the fusion of the power of God's presence with the power of the gospel.”We can’t expect non-Christians to understand the concept of a new life in Christ if they see Christians in church on Sunday morning worshiping a holy God and then worshiping the mighty dollar and living a lifestyle … that is no different from a non-Christian lifestyle. Our worship of God has to carry over into every aspect of our lives.
Evangelism is what happens when our worship testifies to God's greatness, love, and faithfulness. …. In order for worship to evangelize, it needs to be more than just one hour … out of the week.
Worship that speaks to God’s majesty and transforming power is a lifestyle. It’s a 24/7 … worship.
Haven’t we something to sing about at this next year? Can’t we weave a song out of 1) our present joys, or 2) our past deliverances, or 3) our future hopes?
Effort still yields its harvest, golden fields still wave, the sun still tarries to bring earth’s fruit, and this goes on both day and night … if He has kept His promise so, shouldn’t we lengthen the hours we devote to worship.
For the love of Jesus (and He loved us first), let us be inspired to fill our days with songs of sanctified joy and praise!
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