NIV of Psalm 1-4a. maybe read last Thursday by some of you?

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1 Psalms 1-41 Sunday 24 th April 2016 Advert: came across a very new devotional translation of the Psalms this week it was published in January this year. Alec Motyer, aged 92, is a theological scholar and writes really well. As well as his own translation, there are notes and regular Pause for Thoughts. Psalms 1-41 Sunday 24 th April 2016 NIV of Psalm 1-4a. maybe read last Thursday by some of you? What use is silence? Perhaps just like when we show our emotions and we don t have to use words, then the heavens are saying something really important, without being audible. NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 1

2 What emotions do the following slides show?? Can you hear anything though? They re not really silent to us. How does he feel? How does he feel? How do they feel? Paradox: v2 Pour forth speech + v3 have no speech V3 no sound is heard + v4 their voice goes out not just to vicinity but to the ends of the earth. For the worship leader. A song of David. 1 The celestial realms announce God s glory; the skies testify of His hands great work. 2 Each day pours out more of their sayings; each night, more to hear and more to learn. 3 Inaudible words are their manner of speech, and silence, their means to convey. 4 Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voices have gone out; the whole world can hear what they say. Psalm 19:1-4a [The Voice] The Voice is quite a recent translation. The Title of the Psalm talks about The Director of Music, Worship Leader, Chief Musician, Choir Director and Choir Master this was in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Lots of existing Psalms might have been brought together to form a hymn book when this Temple was built when the exiles returned to Jerusalem in c.516bc. The first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians around 70 years earlier. A great structure was built, so lots of worship and praise of God would have taken place there. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 2

3 Hebrew verb mesapperim means to tell, preach, recount, relate, make known, announce, proclaim or declare. It s heard throughout the earth, as all the earth has sky! Everyone in the world can relate to it. How is it possible to believe that creation was made by chance when you look at the sky the colours, the stars, the planets? What the heavens say is not a mere hint, but a plain, unmistakeable declaration. This declaration is constant and abiding. End of v1, the work of His hands [NIV, HCSB, ], what His hands have made [ERV], His hands great work [Voice] His craftsmanship [NLT] but KJV, RSV, ESV say His handiwork. Cp a weekend for DIY doing tiling, shelfing or carpet laying very different handiwork! A great metaphor. When the Queen is in one of her residences, the Royal Standard is raised. The skies are God s Divine Standard it is always raised. It is always saying that God is here. He loves us. He wants a relationship with us. Hebrew noun ra qıŷa means an expanse - that which is spread out - and is applied to the heavens as they appear to be spread out or expanded above us. God s glory is referring to His honour, benevolence, skill, faithfulness, power and wisdom. God s glory is affirmed and declared by His creation. It s incessant, going on night and day. The sky is saying, God is mighty, God is skilful, God is creative. Both the night sky and day point to God they don t say, Look at me I m beautiful. I sparkle! They do say, Look at God; He made what you can see. He is brilliant! In photo of Turkey where are your eyes drawn to? The sky?! The trouble with the so-called silent voice of creation is that it says so many different things! The astonishing beauty of a sunset or the grandeur of a mighty NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 3

4 mountain might make us feel closer to God. Do we feel closer to God or see His majesty when there is a tsunami, an earthquake or a volcano erupts? Creation speaks that there is a glorious God who created such marvels, but its message is limited it can t tell about Him, and it s confusing, for the beauty of the hills tells one truth and the storm and volcano seem to tell another. It would be terrible if we only knew God to be with us in the lovely and brilliant times and didn t know He was there in the worst and foulest of times too. When Psalm 19 was written, maybe 3000 years ago, the heavens were only viewed by the naked eye. Now we see amazing pictures from space. God s creation is now in the C21st so much more grand and impressive than when the Second Temple in Jerusalem was in existence. Can our worship be even more loud, explosive and heartfelt due to the development of science than when the Israelites first used this Psalm? What does God think when we discover a little more of the universe? He helps us to explore and find new places both on earth and light-years away!! Perhaps He thinks, Wait until they discover so and so, now that will get 35% of the population grinning from ear to ear! The Hebrew in v2 has in it the thought of pouring out, or welling over, with speech; as though days and nights were but as a fountain flowing with description and testimonies of God and His fantasticness. V4 is quoted by Paul in Romans 10:18. Everyone can sing but some people prefer not too. Not comfortable. Most of the time we meet we seem to sing and is heaven going to be just singing? Ahhh if you don t like it. Worship isn t just singing and speaking though. If none of us could sing or speak, then how would we worship God still? How would we declare the glory of God? How do we worship God collectively? I love Thee exceedingly my God. Lord, Thou art incomparable. Gracious God, every facet of Your character is ineffable! Sovereign of my life, I esteem You. et cetera NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 4

5 Hebrew Hebrew Greek Halal Yadah Barak Tehillah Todah Shabach Shachah Halal Yadah Barak Tehillah Todah Shabach Shachah Doxa, doxazo Eulogatos Exomologeomai Megaluno Psalmos Proskuneo Latreuo Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 [English Standard Version] NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 5

6 How often are we still before God? Written between , there are lots of notes to be played in this marvellous piece. There are lots of other symbols too that are another kind of sound. Silence is very important in music. Not passive silence in orchestra, but an active one. The seemingly non-playing musicians are really playing and concentrating on the conductor and other musicians. Cp Beethoven No.5 it s a good few bars before everyone plays! Silence is important in life too. Perhaps the best way to draw strength from God for doing life well is when we are silent before Him. Our noisy and active lives need to be balanced by calmness, stillness and silence before God. Are we silent enough? What about an expansion of our Vocabulary for worship? A few weeks ago I made a crown for the cross on Easter Sunday. That was an act of worship too. NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 6

7 Mark 14:3-9 Matthew 26:6-13 The lady was rebuked harshly by those around her for giving Jesus beautiful worship. It was a lavish thing to do. Mark 14:3, 4 perfume rebuked harshly (our worship and love for God may be too). Response from Jesus 6-9 She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark stresses the value of the perfume, the lavishness of the woman s love. Crazy, irrational, over-the-top it was an appropriate response to Jesus who has poured out crazy, irrational, over-the-top love on us! What is our worship of God like? I have a gift of waving. Chat to others. In the past I ve prayed that I ll encourage people when my path crosses with theirs. This week in London I saw some oriental men giving out tracts. God whispered, Mention Rev Taedae Yoon to them and watch their faces. They knew and we prayed together. We ve recently realised as a church that using words doesn t help us to describe God fully. Do mainly using words in our worship of Him do Him justice fully too? Can we use non-verbal worship with God? There s a rich heritage of songs, Scripture and poetry to help us in our worship. Is that the end of it? Sometimes our words run out words by themselves are not enough to convey feelings. At noon remind me through this day to give My full attention to the ones I m with, Be mindful of those things around and those within, And fully enter in. Liturgy of the Hours Verse 2 NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 7

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 [English Standard Version] LORD, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbour, who despises the one rejected by the LORD but honours those who fear the LORD, who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent the one who does these things will never be moved. Psalm 15 [Holman Christian Standard Bible] What is your Vocabulary for Music Some churches worship with a large choir and orchestra. Building things Relationships Lincoln Cathedral - the tallest building in the world (c ) Making people feel happy and comfortable. Perhaps try being silent for a day or even 60 minutes? What is your Vocabulary for Something totally different? 17 Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24,25 [English Standard Version] Habakkuk 3:17,18 [New International Version] NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 8

9 So here s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Romans 12:1,2 [The Message] God is.. Ineffable Not Silent Creative Love Glorious Holy The Omni-s Jealous Faithful Ineffable God is.. How will you worship Him this coming week? Not Silent Creative Love Glorious Holy The Omni-s Jealous Faithful Are there Seconds please? Psalms of the Day Alec Motyer Christian Focus, Translation/dp/ ?ie=UTF8&keywords=psalms%20by%20the%20day&qid = &ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 There is a similar Book on Isaiah too. What is worship? How can I be a living sacrifice to God? NCF Psalms 1-41 Part 4 of 9 9