Sermon Overview & Prayer: "The Wisest Investment"

Psalm 19 – PRAYING THE SERMON

The author of this Psalm wants to convince you that there is no wiser investment of time that you can make in 2021 than to read the written Word of God in order to grow in your knowledge of, love for, trust in, and obedience to the Incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, among the many reasons, blessings, and effects of reading your living and active Word, may my primary, and most passionate purpose be, to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent – for therein, and therein alone, lies eternal life! Holy Spirit illuminate my reading with glimpses of the glory of God, that reading might lead to beholding, and that beholding might lead to worship, obedience, and transforming grace.

 1. God’s Revelation in the World – Psalm 19:1-6

v.1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork

So, when we look up we should see and perceive the weightiness of God and the worthiness of God, the majesty and beauty of God revealed in the skies above. If creation is this magnificent and beautiful, what must the Creator be like?
Lord, open my eyes to see that from sunrise through sunset, on every day and night, and in every season, your presence and your glory are everywhere. And may that awesome reality inform and inspire me to live each day in grateful faith and worship.

2. God’s Revelation in his Word – Psalm 19:7-11

Only in Holy Scripture is the good news of the grace of God and the gospel revealed.  The heavens introduce us to the glorious Creator...the Scriptures introduce us to the gracious Redeemer. In verses 7-11 David...provides us with a list of six titles for the written revelation of God. David’s purpose in giving this list...is to convince the reader of...the sufficiency of Scripture for all of life. And finally, and perhaps most importantly for this song, David draws the reader’s attention to the benefits or effects of God’s written revelation.
Father, may the Holy Spirit remind me, that in knowing Jesus Christ I have everything pertaining to life and godliness, and that through the Scripture I may be complete, equipped for every good work.  Please prompt me in every circumstance and situation, whether prosperity or adversity, to draw from your Word the appropriate thought, belief, desire, and response.

1. 10-11 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

There is no treasure that compares to Holy Scripture. There is no pleasure that compares to Holy Scripture. Whatever the treasure, whatever the pleasure, Holy Scripture exceeds the treasures and pleasures of this world.
Lord, even in a fallen world, you have richly provided us with much to enjoy. As we begin a New Year, please help us to rightly discern where we find our greatest pleasure, and most precious treasure. Holy Spirit, please help us to evaluate, and properly prioritize and steward, the gift of time. Prompt us to assess the place and priority that we give your Word among our attention to social media, technology, entertainment, and other reading or viewing. Give us a godly hunger and thirst, with wisdom and guidance, to be rightly devoted to your Word.

3. The Reader’s Response to God’s Revelation – Psalm 19:12-14

John Piper – Many good things do not happen in our lives for the simple lack of planning…Most Christians neglect their Bibles not out of conscious disloyalty to Jesus, but because of failure to plan a time and place and method to read it.
Father, help us to prayerfully and decisively determine the what, the when, and the where of our time of communion with you, in your Word and prayer. Expose any hindrance or obstacle that takes us from your Word. May your Holy Spirit, through your Word, search our hearts for errors, faults, and sins. May he take us to Scriptures that remind us of the gift of your grace in the gospel; and of the treasure, the necessity, the revelation, and the power that is your Word. May this inspire us – no, compel us – to a devoted determination to read and love your Word!

OVERVIEW OF THE SERMON:

This Psalm of David shows us God’s revelation of himself through the world he created and through his Word. First, the Psalm draws our attention to the goodness and magnificence of the expanses, causing us to worship its Creator. David then transitions to the more personal revelation of God through his Word. We have a God whose instruction is trustworthy and to be desired. David closes by modeling an appropriate response to God’s revelation — understanding our sinfulness in light of God’s glory and relying on God as our Rock and Redeemer.
1. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. “One of the greatest tragedies of the fall is that we get tired of familiar glories.”
   // Clyde Kilby
   In the first part of Psalm 19, David explains how God reveals himself through creation. How have you recently experienced true awe over creation? What has distracted you from God’s revealed glory in creation?
2. This Psalm encourages us to spend time meditating on God’s Word. C.J. encouraged us to create a plan for reading the Bible. How can our community groups encourage each other towards this goal? (Maybe even spend some time making a plan together or finding ways to encourage each other throughout the year)
3. How can you use the rhythm of this Psalm (God revealing himself in the world, in his Word, and our response) in conversations with unbelievers?
4. David’s requests in verses 12-14 should motivate us towards repentance and prayer. Richard Baxter remind us, “Apostasies usually have small beginnings”. What specific hidden faults or presumptuous sins, no matter how small they may currently seem, can we pray for God to keep you back from?