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C:\LESSON\PRAISE\FPRAISE1.DOC 14.07.91 A NEW DIMENSION WHEN PRAISING PART 1 THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 Psalms 100 - 1 to 5 read This I would say is one of the most joyous pieces of scripture in the Bible --- The only churches today that are making it with God in the sense of winning souls for Christ -- are those who are praising God -- and as you look at them -- you will see the presence of God overflowing within their midst --- Wherever there are believers who are growing in grace and the knowledge of God --- there you will find they are unrestrictedly praising God from within -- their spirit is overflowing with the joy of the Lord --- What is the key to -- this moving this praise this worship of God in the church For the next few weeks we will look at this praise and worship and see what the Bible says -- and then adjust our lives to what the scripture means -- rather than what we may think it means --- Where did this Psalm 100 actually begin -- Where did this joyous praise and worship to God actually begin --- It began a long time before this Psalm was written -- The whole book of Psalms in this sense began a long time before they were written -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 It goes all the way back into the book of Exodus -- where God entered into a blood covenant -- with a certain family who were called the family of Israel --- God brings Moses to Mount Sinai --- and there the covenant takes place --- A covenant is the bringing together of two parties -- and they will become practically functional as one -- So this means -- all the resources of the one party become the resources of the other -- And God says -- I enter into covenant with you Israel to achieve my ultimate purpose -- now the two become one -- They were the only nation on earth that could claim That they were in a covenant relationship with God They were married to God God to them was their husband And they were his bride How is this going to work out In those days before the revelation that came to us in Jesus -- God's salvation came to them in picture language The picture of this Old Covenant was a tent -- that was placed in the middle of all the other tents of these people called Israel --- And as they wandered through the desert -- each time they came to pitch their tents -- which covered an area of about 12 miles wide -- and right in the middle was the tent where God lived -- You might say as they wandered through the desert they were camping with God --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 God had his tent -- They had their tents -- and the whole of their tents revolved around God's tent -- What was in God's tent --- You had the priests -- You had the blood sacrifices -- Without their sins being dealt with they could not approach God -- so an animal's blood was shed to cover over their sin -- this then gave them access to God -- This was God's gift to them - enabling them to have fellowship with him --- The priest and the sacrifice was only a ritual -- you needed something that was real -- you also needed the living presence of God himself -- this was in the inner-most room of the tent The tent was called the Tabernacle -- but that inner- most room was called -- the Holy of Holies -- In there was what they referred to as God's throne -- this is where he lived -- this is where he ruled over Israel his people- In the Holy of Holies there was a box -- this box was called the Ark of the Covenant -- This Ark was made of Acacia wood -- it came from the nearby desert -- and this wood was just about everlasting -- The Ark was covered over with a layer of gold -- and the lid of the box was made of solid gold -- which was called the Mercy Seat -- It was on this seat - that once a year - the priest sprinkled the blood of an animal -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 Which was saying -- for one more year - the sins of the people have been covered --- Inside the box was the 10 commandments -- ever reminding them that God was the Holy God -- and that man could never walk with him unless that broken law had been covered by the blood of the sacrifical animal --- Also in the box was a pot containing manna -- the bread that God rained on them from heaven -- this bread was miracle bread because it never went mouldy -- it never deteriorated --- This was a reminder that in the covenant -- God had said -- I will never leave you or forsake you I will be your supply --- Alongside of the Ark was a rod -- you could say it was the walking stick of Aaron the High Priest --- When some of the tribe wanted to turn the priesthood into a democracy -- and have a vote to see who would be the next high priest --- God does not believe in democracy we do not vote to see if God is to be president next year --- God says -- bring your rods and lay them before the Ark -- I will show you the man I have chosen -- The next morning Aaron's rod had budded and blossomed and almonds appeared on it --- God said -- I am the God of resurrection -- I will choose my one -- and I will give him the life to fulfil my purpose --- This rod that was beside the Ark -- was the proof that the whole ritual of the priesthood centred around the Ark of God -- it was a living thing --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 Above that golden mercy seat was a light that was uncreated -- It was the light of the presence of God It was called the glory of God It was where God reigned over his people and this light went up like a great cloud that covered over the people --- at least it would be twelve miles diameter - It led them at all times -- at night it looked like a pillar of fire -- and in the day it looked like a pillar of cloud -- It was God's presence watching over his people -- they lived out their life in the presence of their covenant partner -- If you took the Ark out the Holy of Holies -- it would be no more than just a room -- the holiest of all Holies became this -- because of the presence of God -- The priesthood -- the sacrifice -- The whole thing had no meaning -- unless the presence of God was there -- The presence of God was the focal point --- God was ever being -- their covenant partner -- Incredible as it may sound -- the people forsook God -- and turned to empty idols -- But they always remembered the Ark -- It was a sort of lucky charm -- like a rabbit's paw hanging on a chain --- They remembered this was the presence of God -- although they did not have much to do with God -- But yet they could not forget - the presence and the miracles that had once taken place -- because of the God who had chosen to fellowship and dwell with man above that Ark --- or you may say mercy seat --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 One day the Philistines - who were known at that time to be the pirates of the sea coast - came and were in the process of conquering the Israeli people -- Someone said -- We are finished -- But they remembered the Ark -- and ran to get it out of the Holy of Holies -- their lucky charm their rabbit's foot Now no one can touch us -- because we have the Ark -- we are in God's Quiver --- God said --- You will not use me as your lucky charm -- and he allowed the Ark to be captured --- The people were devastated -- They wrote across their history book the word -- Ichabod -- which means -- the glory has departed -- where sin is - it is over -- God's presence had left --- The Philistines took the Ark - to their country -- They were excited because they had captured the God of the Israelites --- they took that little box into the temple of their great fish god -- Dagon -- and they said -- Dagon we have brought you a gift -- we have brought you the God of the Israelites --- In the morning the great idol of Dagon was flat on its face -- The next day after they had propped him up -- he fell down again -- and this time was smashed to pieces --- He had to bow down before the little box --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 The Philistines then moved the Ark from place to place - and everywhere it went there was trouble -- Eventually they had enough of the box -- so they decided to send it back -- They placed the Ark on a cart and it was pulled by cows -- back to the border of Israel -- This was a very wrong thing to do -- because the Ark was to be transported on the shoulders of Levites -- Being the God he is - he had mercy on the Philistines - allowing them to shift it in the way that they did --- The Israelites picked it up -- and they took it to Kir'jath Jearim a farmland --- The people there did not understand -- they just had a lusting desire to get a look at God -- and in taking the lid off -- there occured a great tragedy --- Now no one wanted the Ark -- the presence of God was too much for them --- 1 Samuel 7 says -- The men of Kir'jath Je-a-rim came and took the Ark of the Lord - into the house of A-bin-a-dab on the hill -- and they sanctified E-l-e-a-zar his son to keep the Ark of the Lord -- and it came to pass that the Ark abode in Kir'jath Je-a-rim -- a very long time -- nearly 100 years -- it was twenty years that the house of Israel lamented after the Lord ---- Think about this -- You have the Tabernacle You have the priests You have the sacrifices going on every day And there is that room in the centre of the whole thing -- and they called it the Holy of Holies -- But the Ark was not there - the Holy of Holies was on a farm on a hill in Kir'jath Je-a-rim--- You see the Holy of Holies - was only the Holy of THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 Holies because the Ark was there -- this just naming a room the Holy of Holies did not mean anything -- The whole ceremony and rituals going on in the Tabernacle -- did not mean a thing -- because the Ark was not there the presence of God had gone The Ark was in the front living room of a farmhouse in Kir'jath Je-a-rim -- and that front living room was turned into the Holy of Holies -- because this was where the Ark was -- The blessing of God was in that front room -- In this sense you have two Tabernacles -- One is as dead as dead -- but yet it goes on with its rituals --- In this other place which is a farmhouse -- there is more going on in the presence of God -- then in the established Tabernacle --- David becomes king -- and his first desire is to bring the Ark to the centre of Israel --- It says in 2 Samuel 6 -- David arose and went to the people to bring up the Ark of God -- by which is called by name -- of the Lord of hosts who dwelleth between the cherubims -- or you may say the Mercy Seat ---- David put the Ark of God on a new cart -- just as the Philistines did --- You can excuse the Philistines for doing this -- but not David -- he should have known better --- As they are nearing Jerusalem -- the cart hits a rock and the Ark nearly falls off -- and again tragedy takes place- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 David became very upset by this -- Saying -- God I am sincere in what I am doing -- and here look at this mess I am in -- Just nearby where the Ark nearly fell off was the house of Obed-e-dom --- The word Obed-e-dom tells me he came from the Edomite tribe - which was not part of the covenant family -- He was a stranger a foreigner who came from a very nasty tribe and they had no history of ever walking with God There they left the Ark of God in the house of Obed-e-dom - At this time David is upset God has let him down --- The scripture goes on to say --- While the Ark was in Obed-e-dom's house -- the Lord blessed him and his household To God it makes no difference as to who you are -- if you are in his presence -- then he will bless you ---- David began to read the Old Testament and he saw how the Ark was to be removed -- It was not to be by cart -- but was to be on the shoulders of the Levite ---- David goes to the Ark and shifts it according to the instruction given by God -- and as they neared Jerusalem - The scripture says in 2 Samuel 6 -- David danced before the Lord with all his might --- This was something that had not been seen nor recorded in Israel before -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 This was a joyous time -- and when it came to harvest time these people danced and rejoiced -- they leapt into the air -- in great rejoicing -- 2 Samuel 6:15 says --- David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord -- with shouting and with the blowing of the trumpet --- Now this was very different to what was happening over there in the official place in the Tabernacle there is was a ritual David had prepared a place -- you could say it was in his own back yard -- and in this place he prepared a tent for the Ark -- David -- the Ark -- and all the people came to the gates of Jerusalem --- you can read this story in 1 Chronicles 15 -- There it tells us that David pitched a tent for the Ark It says --- David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites -- telling them to appoint their relatives -- the singers with instruments of music -- to raise sounds of joy --- They brought anything together - as long as it would make a sound of joy --- This is the picture -- it is great joy God is dwelling with his people God is in the centre When they came to the gates of Jerusalem - David wrote a special song -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 It is Psalm 24 and verse 9 he says --- Lift up your heads -- O ye gates -- and let the King of glory come in -- The ones on the other side of the gate say --- Who is this King of glory -- The answer comes back --- the Lord of hosts -- he is the King of glory -- The gates now open and the Ark of God comes in --- The true king of Israel is now taken to Mount Zion -- the centre of the nation -- and is placed in that tent -- Now God and man can have fellowship -- a place where man can sit in the radiant light that was uncreated in the glory of God where the worship and the celebration of God would go on -- and on Within the Tabernacle that Moses had set up it was now an empty room -- with rituals and the priesthood -- The glory and the presence was not there -- for the presence of the living God was on Mount Zion -- But still the rituals went on in the Tabernacle -- With the Ark of God coming to Mount Zion -- a new dimension of praise broke out -- from then on music was brought into the praise of God -- Out of this they began to raise their hands --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 Of course the raising of hands had been going on since Leviticus -- it was in the peace offering the sacrifice of praise They would take the lamb of sacrifice and would lift it up to God -- and as it was lifted -- they would shout their praise to God -- It was known as the sacrifice of praise or the sacrifice of shouts but no one had lifted their hands without the offering in it -- This was the first time that people just lifted their hands and Said --- Thus will I bless you -- I will lift up my hands in your name --- It was a sacrifice of praise they were holding the invisible sacrifice it was almost in anticipation of when Jesus would die and rise again --- They began to clap their hands -- this had not been done before -- David was saying --- God is worth an applause -- Clap your hands all you people -- This is body language -- Then people would kneel Saying -- I humble myself before God -- Sometimes they would lay flat on their face before God -- other times they would do as David did -- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 and that was to dance with the joy of the Lord --- This was body language -- it was expressing the mood of their spirit -- in fact a new ministry appeared --- It is interesting for we see in 1 Chronicles 16:4 It says --- And he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of the Lord -- to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel -- And verse 6 says --- The priests were to blow trumpets continually before the Ark of the covenant of God -- You will notice two things -- One they were appointed -- that is they got a job -- they were paid to do this -- they were paid to stand before the Ark of the Lord and to praise God continually -- Remember this was their job this was the job that they were appointed to do They were to be in the tent on Mount Zion -- and there continually praising and blessing God --- They would be singing Psalms -- writing Psalms -- and teaching others to do likewise --- Others would be blowing trumpets continually -- Still others in 1 Chronicles 25 we see prophecies with harps and cymbals -- they prophecied in giving thanks to the Lord --- Prophecy is the operation of the Holy Spirit -- It says --- They prophecied with guitars, banjoes and violins -- in giving thanks --- THE FOUNDATION OF PRAISE PART 1 This is the Spirit of the Lord bringing forth from within them -- a spontaneous giving of thanks and praise to God even to the point that they were playing a tune that came from within --- This is a giving of thanks to God -- initiated from God -- To these people it was a full time job -- They were paid to delight in God - so that the world might know that there is a living God - and his presence is here in Jerusalem --- The word Zion slipped into their language -- You might say it became shorthand -- because when they said Zion -- they did not mean that hill in Jerusalem --- The word Zion began to mean a holy celebration -- a celebration that God and man are in a real fellowship together -- a celebration that is to be psalmed -- that we shall sing spiritual Psalms -- When man and God come together -- it will be an explosion of holy joy --- God liked this also -- and he would join in -- But I am afraid we will have to leave that till next week --- AMEN