Mid-week Advent 3

Mid-week Advent 3

December 18, 2002

Psalm 146

"When you care to send the best…"

INTRODUCTION:  "When you care to send the best choose FTD!" So says the American floral group.  We are just one week before Christmas. In our mad dash to make everything perfect we want to make sure that we choose someone who will send our cards, gifts and goodies the best. As we place our confidence in Him who broke into time and space we see Him in all of His glory as He delivers the goods in triumph, trust and truth.

1.      Triumph in the form of praise (Psalm 146:1-2)

A.     Praise Deliberately Provoked V.1 

1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

B.     Praise Distinctly Promised V.2

2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

2.      Trust

Misplaced Trust Vv. 3-4

1.      Subtle enticement -V.3 

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

2.      Simple error - V.4 

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Meaningful Trust Vv. 5-7

1.      Our song -V.5

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

2.      His strength - Vv.6-7

a.      strength to create a universe – 6

6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

b.      strength to control a universe – 7

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,

3.  Truth

God's infinite mercy - V. 8a

8a the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, 

God's inflexible morality - V.8b-9

8b the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 

God's invincible majesty - V.10 

10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

God of glory and power, happy indeed are those who have put their trust in You. Shine the brightness of Your light upon us, that we may love You always with a pure heart and praise You forever through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau - Delhi, NY © 1995