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Worshiping the Lord
Lesson 9 - October 30, 2016
Focus Text: Psalm 86:1-15
Central Truth: Our worship should seek to give God His rightful glory.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list new ways to worship God in their lives.
Lesson Outline:
- Petition in Worship (Psalm 86:1-6)
- Humility in Worship (Psalm 86:7-10)
- Praise in Worship (Psalm 86:11-15)
What was David's hope for in his prayer for cleansing?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:
The need is greater than just blotting out sin. The psalmist longed for a totally new beginning. Scholars are amazed at the boldness of this petition. The word create suggests that David was looking for a miracle. In no other text is this word used to refer to moral changes in a person's life. This is the word used for God's speaking worlds into existence. This is a request for the removal of everything that separates man from God — a heart where no sin exists. Renew a right spirit within me. The term spirit occurs three times within three verses — twice referring to the human spirit, and once to the Holy Spirit. Here David, in parallel with asking for a clean heart, asked for an inner stamina to pursue right in every situation.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 48.
How was David "shapen in iniquity"?
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)
In "God's Word for Today" David Woods writes:
We have no indication from scripture that David's parents committed adultery or fornication when he was conceived. Rather, every indication we have is that his parents were in a loving, faithful relationship. Verse 5 points to a deeper truth. Indeed, David would probably say that we all have been “shapen in iniquity.” How is this true?
We are all born with a nature corrupted by carnality, an inclination to rebel against God in order to worship self as god.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 47.
What is the most common word for sin in the Old Testament?
In "Word Focus" Danny McCain writes:
“Cleanse me from my sin.” The word used here (chatha) is the most common word for sin in the Old Testament. It basically means “to miss the mark” or “to come short of the goal.” Robert Girdlestone says, “If man was originally made in the image of God, it must have been implanted in him as a first principle that he should live as God lives. Every departure, therefore, from the law of right is a coming short of the purpose for which man was made, and a missing of the goal which ought to be reached” (Synonyms of the O.T.).
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.
The Fruit of Repentance
Read Psalm 51:1-10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (v. 10).
My mom loved planting trees. Sometimes the trees she ordered arrived looking like lifeless twigs. With proper care in planting and nourishment, however,we would soon have a foliage-filled tree bearing beautiful, delicious fruit. God has a desire for every human being ever conceived to live such a wholesome life with a guilt-free, purified, and loyal heart toward Him.
Why would we remain a "lifeless twig" when we can have an abundant life? This doesn'tmean our lives will always be easy, with no sorrow, health concerns, or broken relationships. Those are often the tools of cultivation and means of nourishment that produce the sweetest fruit. With God's plan of growth through repentance and forgiveness, we can prevail through all this world's storms of sin. We can have a victorious, peaceful, and bountiful life, knowing we have a whiter-than-snow heart, a home in heaven, and a Savior, who has it all under control. (Wanda Skeen)
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- James Nicholson (Public Domain)
Forsake sin and live free and clean.
This devotional is the Sunday, October 23, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
The Barrier of Unfamiliar Songs
The post-modern Church has been blessed with a large repertoire of worship songs. One unintentional barrier we may place before the unchurched who visit our services and Sunday school classes may be the songs we choose to sing.
Unfortunately, our society has lost much of its Christian influence. While expressing our love for God in newer songs is important to keep our faith fresh, many unchurched people have limited knowledge of songs, often knowing only hymns sung at funerals. At the other extreme, while some of the older hymns have great words and meaning to us, the unfamiliar wording and cadence may be confusing to our guests. These observations should be tempered by the recognition people do need to learn new worship songs to broaden their faith.
The point is that public worship, even in the Sunday school hour, should strive to bring people together in unity. This is made difficult if only a few are participating in the singing, due to a barrier of unfamiliar songs.