Well, good evening, everyone. And I sort of don't want to break this celebration up. We were starting to get into it there. But let's go to the book of Psalms tonight. Psalm 147, 148. Psalm 147 and 148. And we're getting down near the end of the Book of Psalms. Our next session will be our last excursion into the Book of Psalms on Wednesday night. Lord willing. Who knows, this may be our last excursion into the Book of Psalms. We might be excursioning with the Lord up there next time. So that would be very wonderful. Very wonderful. Let's bow for prayer. Dear Father, we do come before you this evening. We want to thank you, Father. Thank you for the privilege to lift up your name, to lift up your, your honor and your glory in singing. What a joy that it is. From the first song that we sang tonight, there's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. Will he refuse us a home in heaven? No, not one. No, not one. Thank you for your wonderful love for all for all of us, Lord, all of us here and all of the people in this world that we want to come along with us to share eternity with you. Well, Lord, we want to ask now your blessing as we get into your word tonight. Father, please energize your word in each person's heart by your Holy Spirit. Make yourself real to us this evening. We pray in Jesus's name. Amen. These last five Psalms here in the Book of Psalms are called the Hallelujah Psalms. And Hallelujah, of course, simply means, y'all praise the Lord. Or as in the Elizabethan tongue, praise ye the Lord. But in Arkansas, we'd say, y'all praise the Lord. So that's the thought. That's the thought. Praise ye the Lord. So there are so many wonderful things in the book of Psalms, and we'll go back and do sort of an overview a little bit later on, but so many kinds of Psalms, so much instruction in Psalms, and so many heartfelt agonies and heart-lifting joys in the book of Psalms. But here in the last five Psalms, these are invitations and they're stronger than invitations. They're actually commands to come before the Lord and worship, worship him, lift up his name, say good things about him. And here in these two Psalms, Psalm 147 and 148, they kind of go together. Psalm 146, which was very appropriate considering the time of year in which we looked at it. Psalm 146, the theme of Psalm 146 is praise the Lord because he is greater, he is a greater help than any prince. And I know that we're all, and I think I can say this truthfully for all of those that are here, we're all very happy about the outcome of the election and the the kind of leadership that we're looking for the next few years in contrast to what there was. But it's not over yet. A lot can happen in a couple of months. A lot can happen. But nevertheless, our hope is not really in a guy named Trump. Now that's biblical. He may be the last Trump. So I guess it's okay to say that. But he himself is not really our hope. Our hope is in the Lord. And we're grateful that the Lord saw fit to place a man in leadership that has policies that are more in line with God's way of thinking on things. And we're grateful for that at this time. But we know that it's really the Lord. that has given us the liberty. And as Paul told us in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, if you find yourself with freedom, then use it. Use it. And so we found ourselves perhaps with a little bit more freedom, and we just need to keep on pressing on. We need to keep on pressing on, whether the Lord wants us to do something different with our lives individually or as a church, he can show us that. But the main thing is to keep going, keep going and keep using the liberty that we have. But here we are in Psalm 147. In Psalm 147, the big idea is praise the Lord for all his works. Praise the Lord for all his works. And there are many and varied works of the Lord. And in Psalm 147, it says, praise him for all of them. Praise him for all of his works. It's okay to praise the Lord for his physical blessings. It's okay to praise the Lord for the beauty of the creation and all of the things around us. Praise him for everything. that he has done. And then, so Psalm 147, I've entitled praise the Lord for all his works and 148 is let all his works praise the Lord. So we should praise the Lord for all he's done and everything that he's done should praise him. So let's go ahead and take a look at these before our time is gone this evening. Psalm 147. I want you to notice the first cat out of the bag on this Psalm. Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God. Now, I want to ask you to think back about six or eight minutes ago. Wasn't it good to be just standing here and singing these songs? Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation. You know, there's a joy in that. There's a joy. It is beneficial. It's good. It's good in the sense of it's beneficial to praise the Lord. For it is pleasant. Pleasant. Of course, pleasant, take a look at that word. Pleasant is related to the word, it's a cognate of the word pleasing. It's pleasing. It's something that, well, it feels good. It feels good. It causes a happy response. And praise is comely. Comely, that's an interesting word, isn't it? It sounds like come in the sense of come here, you know? And it's related to that too. It's comely. It makes you want to come to it. In other words, it's attractive. It's attractive. Something that's comely is attractive. It makes you want to come to it. Boy, isn't it much better to be in the presence of someone that has good things to say about what's happening in their life than someone that's just griping? Hmm. Yes. Yeah. Praise. It is pleasant. It is pleasant. And praise is comely. You know, that's something that we as as a saved person and as a person that's an ambassador for Christ, we need to be sure that that's a part of our testimony is that we were talking. We're saying good things about the Lord. talking up the Lord. And I don't mean just to, you know, flippantly or religiously just say, well, praise the Lord. You know, I don't mean to make anybody feel bad by saying that, but, you know, to praise somebody means to say good things about them. You know, to think about what this person is doing well and to mention, you know, the Lord did this well, the Lord does that well. The Lord is wonderful. So we should be sure to have praise as a part of our personal life and testimony. But verses one through six here. Verses one through six, let's take a look. He tells us that praise is beautiful. Then he talks to us about something to praise him for. Verses two through six. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem. He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars and he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord and of great power. His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the weak. He casteth the wicked down to the ground. A couple of thoughts here. One is that the Lord doth build up Jerusalem. He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. Our generation and especially our parents' generation saw that, saw the return of the Jewish people to the land. I saw that and that has been going on and it's still going on. Israel is still a land that is experiencing immigration in a good way. Immigration in a good way. People that have the right kind of background that really want to go there because they view that as their homeland. That's still happening. And the Lord does that. I want you to notice the contrast here. He heals the broken in heart. He bindeth up their wounds. So the Lord is interested in the healing of the individual person. And then, he tells the number of the stars. He calleth them all by their names. The Lord that is so interested in the details of our human heart knows all about all of the millions of stars and all of their names out there. No wonder the next verse says, great is our Lord and of great power. His understanding is infinite. What a magnificent God. How magnificent God is. Then the next section, 7 through 11, sing with thanksgiving. Sing with thanksgiving. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving. Sing praise upon the harp unto our God. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving. Of course, a part of our praise of Him is giving Him thanks. Telling the Lord thank you for things that He's done is a way of praising Him. It's a way of praising Him. And sing praise upon the harp unto our God. So using instruments is appropriate. It's appropriate to sing with those. But the big thing, the big statement that he has in these verses is, the Lord who provides for all delights in those who fear him. He provides everything that everything needs. But what he enjoys is to see someone who fears him. someone who honors and respects him. Let's take a look here at verses 8 through 11. Our God, who covereth the heavens the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse, he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure. in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." So this magnificent God that makes provision for all living things in the earth has something that he delights in. We delight in God's provision, don't we? We delight in all the provision that God makes, but what does God delight in? Does he delight in the strength of the horse? Oh, what magnificent animals horses are, how special. And of course, even more so back in their days, we appreciate their beauty now and perhaps the pleasure of horseback riding now. But back in these days, horses were absolutely essential, especially for war, to move quickly and to have the advantage in battle over the infantry. The Lord doesn't take delight in the things that we delight in, in that strength. And the Lord doesn't take pleasure in the legs of a man. And of course, this is talking about the strength of a man to move quickly from one place to another. Now, this is a joke, but I've heard that it was said that this verse is the reason that men shouldn't wear shorts. because God doesn't take pleasure in the legs of a man. I don't think that that was what the psalmist intended. No, he was talking about, he's talking about the human strength. God doesn't delight in our human strength. What does God delight in? As he looks down, he delights in this person who fears him. The one who recognizes who the Lord is and respects and yields and surrenders himself to God. God delights in that. And, you know, we have a choice as to whether we're going to do that. But and if we choose to do that, if we choose to be one who recognizes the Lord and respects him and honors him and allows him to be the main influence in our life, we've got the word right here. He delights in you. The Lord delights in that. He takes pleasure in that. The next section, praise him, O Jerusalem. Now he's going to get specific to Jerusalem, to the people of Israel. And of course, this book of Psalms is the hymn book for the people of Israel. Look what he says here. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise thy God, O Zion. And Zion is a reference to the hill upon which Jerusalem is built. So Jerusalem is the city, and Zion is the name of the hill, I guess, in a way you could say. Praise, how does he say it here? Praise the Lord, O Fayetteville. Praise thy God, O Mount Sequoia. Okay, so it's talking about the place. Why? For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee, he maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat, he sendeth forth his commandment upon the earth, His word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool. He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels. Who can stand before his cold? So he's calling on the people of Israel to praise the Lord because of the blessings that he has given them, the strength that he has given them, the provision of the food that he has given them, and because of his control of the elements of the weather. Verse 18, he sendeth out his word and melteth them. That is, he melts the cold, the snow and the ice. He causeth the wind to blow and the waters flow. The Lord does that as we're looking about at the weather and the natural phenomenon of water and ice and all of that. That's the work of God. That's the work of God. And we're beginning to experience some of that colder weather here, aren't we? Even now. discerning, we can attribute that to the Lord. The Lord is the one that brings about the changes. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. And of course, that's a reference to the Lord giving to the nation of Israel, as Paul said in the book of Romans, the oracles of God, the scriptures. the scriptures handed down to them. He showed his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel. He has not dealt so with any nation. No one else has the Lord given his word to, as he gave it to the nation of Israel. As for his judgments, they have not known them. That is, other nations have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. The Lord is active, not just in the natural realm, but in the human realm. And God has focused on and given special privilege and revelation to the people of Israel. and here in this time specifically, the books of the Old Testament. There's no need to look any place else. No need to look at the books of any of the other religions. It's the book that God gave to the people of Israel. That's the book that's the revelation of God. Let's take a quick look at Psalm 148. Let all his works praise the Lord. The Lord has blessed his works, and now let his works bless him. And let's take a look here. First of all, verses one through six. Praise him in the heights. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens. All right, so we're talking about up yonder. up in the sky. Praise Him in the heights, up in the high places." How high are we going? Well, praise ye Him, all His angels. Praise ye Him, all His hosts. So we're talking about the angelic hosts. We're talking about those that are in the presence of God. Those that are not here on the earth and and not even just up in the atmosphere, but those that are in the presence of God. Praise ye Him, all His angels. Praise ye Him, all His host. Now, now we're gonna come down to the universe. Praise Him, sun and moon. Praise Him, all ye stars of light. So we're talking about that. Praise him ye heavens of heavens. And that's a reference to outer space. Praise him ye heavens of heavens and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He also, He hath also established them forever and ever. He hath made a decree which shall not pass." So we're always going to have a physical universe. The Lord has decreed that, He has created that, and they praise Him. They praise Him. And of course, the scripture says that, doesn't it? Psalm 19, the heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day, utter his speech. Night unto night, showeth knowledge. They do praise him. They do honor him. And the angels in the heaven of heavens, the third heaven, are praising him. There in 2 Corinthians chapter, if you would come with me quickly here in reference to the heavens, 2 Corinthians chapter 11, No, I'm sorry, it's chapter 12, 2 Corinthians chapter 12. The apostle Paul says here in verse one, it's not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above 14 years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth. Such in one was caught up to the third heaven. The third heaven, see right, the atmosphere around us is heaven. And then we've got the outer space, which is the heaven of heavens. And then there's the heaven above that, which is the third heaven. Such one was caught up to the third heaven. I knew such a man, whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell God knoweth how he was caught up unto the third heaven and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Did you notice, where did he say he was caught up when he was caught up? Caught up to paradise. Caught up to paradise. The third heaven is paradise. Isn't that noteworthy that Jesus told the man that was crucified next to him on the cross, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. In the third heaven. That's the dwelling place of God. Nevertheless, May God be praised there. And as we come down into the outer space, God is praised there. And let's continue on in verse seven. Here verses seven through 13, praise him from the earth. He's being praised in the heavens and may he be praised from the earth. Now we're focused on this planet and may praise go up to God from this planet. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps. Well, sometime we'll have to have a study about ye dragons. Ye dragons, that word is used to refer to several different things and some different kinds of animals both in the sea and on the land, but it mostly has to do with wild beasts. but praise from the earth ye dragons and all the deep." So we're talking about from the earth, the land, and from the seas, from the ocean. Fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling his word. May all of these things praise him, all this different kind of weather, may it praise the Lord. And then the land masses, mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars. And then the animals, beasts and all cattle. Beasts, of course, are wild animals and cattle are domesticated animals. Creeping things and flying fowl. So all the land and all the animals, may they praise the Lord. And then kings of the earth, and all people, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is excellent. His name excels above every name, above every honor, above every celebrity. Anything or anybody that deserves any credit, the Lord is greater than they are. His glory is above the earth and heaven." So he is excellent and his glory is above all, and may all of them praise and honor him. And in addition, he goes back to this one thing, he has exalted Israel to be near him. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him." See, it's passages like this in the scripture that make those of us who believe the Bible take the position that we better be on Israel's side. because Israel is a people that is near unto him. And we need to respect and honor that. And of course we understand, although they are a people near unto him, they are a people as a people, as a group that are not yielded to him in their hearts at this time. The great sadness and unfortunate thing is that most of the people that are over there, the Jewish people are would probably be best classified as agnostic. And most of them don't even believe that the Bible is the word of God. But nevertheless, regardless of the standing of the people of Israel, they have a special relationship with God because God has determined to use that nation to bring his word. That is the nation through which Christ came. And ultimately, that is the nation through which and over which Christ will rule the earth one day. Praise ye the Lord. Just a couple of thoughts here in closing. One, we're gonna look at a few New Testament passages. Come with me to the book of Romans chapter 15. This issue of praise, I asked us to sing that song, let there be praise, let there be joy in our hearts. Notice what Paul says here in Romans chapter 15, beginning in verse eight, now, I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, for this cause, I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name. And that's where we are. We're the Gentiles. Christ came to minister the mercy of God to us. And again, he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people." See, the Lord here in these Psalms is calling on Israel to rejoice, and he wants us to rejoice also in the Lord. Again, verse 11, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, honor him, speak well of him, all ye people. That should be an issue for us just as it was for Israel, praising the Lord. Hebrews chapter 13. Come with me to Hebrews chapter 13. Again, another exhortation to praise, but Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 15, Hebrews 13, 15, by him, that is by Jesus, by him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God. And I just want us to notice that next word, continually. continually. Praise should be a part of our life continually. What does that look like? Well, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. We should be expressing thankfulness to the Lord continually, continually, not just next Thursday. All right, next Thursday is going to be that special day of Thanksgiving. And may God bless us as we're having our time of Thanksgiving dinner with our family to take some time and intentionally be thankful to the Lord for things. But it shouldn't be a once a year thing, should it? Should be continually. And then finally, let's go to Philippians chapter 4. We'll close with this scripture, Philippians chapter four, where he tells us to think on these things. I want you to notice what he says here. Notice the bottom line on the things to think about. Philippians four, verse eight. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue, and then last but not least, if there be any praise, think on these things. What we think about, you know, Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. So if we're thinking praiseworthy thoughts, then praise will be coming forth from our mouth, right? And it's so much more pleasant, well, to go back to the first scripture that we read tonight, praise is comely. Praise is an attractive thing. So may the Lord bless us in our life, in our testimony to be people that have that attractive quality of praise in our life that people might be drawn to the Lord. Amen? Amen. But would you all stand please and we will close our services with Brother Pat.