April 29, 2026
Prescription for Praise #
Psalm 117:1-2
Introduction
We have a short Psalm before us, but it is not without content. The words may be few, but the content is great. The Psalm may be short, but there is no shortage of content. Praise is certainly prescribed in this Psalm. It is one of the Psalms that ends in the phrase, “Praise ye the LORD” It most definitely was sung as a part of worship. It probably was a Psalm that was sung in the opening of closing of worship, and probably sung regularly. There are three notable things about this Psalm that I want to point out.
I. The Scripture (2) #
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Truth – conformity to fact or reality, Fact
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We live in an age of information. Not all that information is true!
- There is a lot of false information on the internet. Not everything you see on TV is true, and not everything you read or see on the internet is true! Today, not even everything you see on the news is true!
A. God’s Word is TRUE! “truth of the LORD” #
- Jesus said:
John 17:17 — Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
i. The Word of God is truth! #
- What is it talking about when it says “the truth of the LORD” - that is the Word of God!
ii. When it says, “God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1) – that is true! #
iii. When it says, “Male and female created he them” (Gen 1:27) That is true! #
iv. When it says, “for all have sinned” that is true (Rom 3:23) #
v. When it says, “the wages of sin is death” that is true, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23) - True #
vi. When it says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!” (Rom 10:13) True #
B. God’s Word is preserved! “endureth for ever” #
Isaiah 40:8 — The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
- The book that you hold is an eternal book!
Matthew 5:18 — For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- God is concerned with every Word in the book! – jot – smallest part of a letter!
- If God didn’t preserve them for us, we wouldn’t know if every law was fulfilled!
Psalm 12:6–7 —6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
- From this generation for ever… again, the idea is that God will keep it among us.
II. Salvation (2) #
- Since the Bible is truth… we get the message of Salvation from the Bible, not from tradition, not from a religious group, but from the Word of God!
- A lot of religions will tell you how you can get to heaven, but we should be more concerned about the truth of God, and how it tells us to get to heaven!
A. “merciful kindness” (2) #
i. The entire plan of salvation is kind! (1 Peter 1:18-20) #
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Salvation cannot be purchased with the price of money or traditions (1 Pet 1:18)
- A lot of religions tell you you can be saved… but they don’t have solid scripture to back it up!
ii. Precious blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:19) #
- Jesus out of great compassion, gave himself, of his own blood. He was beaten, bruised, for our transgression!
Isaiah 53:5 — But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- It was great mercy, and kindness that Jesus took our punishment upon himself!
B. “toward us” (2) #
- Salvation was given to all!
John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- God’s love was not only for a select special group… but for the World!
III. The Scope of the Praise (1) #
- Even in the OT, we see that God’s plan did include the entirety of the World!
- We see this Psalm quoted in Romans 15
Romans 15:11 —11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
A. All ye nations #
- The USA is often referred to as a “Christian nation” that is a put off to many nations… they see what comes out of Hollywood, and think, if that is christian, then I don’t want anything to do with that!
i. Praise the Lord that Jesus died for Americans! #
- It is not exclusive to America!
Matthew 28:19–20 —19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
B. All people #
Mark 16:15 — And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Before they can praise the Lord, they must be given a Gospel message!
- They must be saved!