The LORD Upholds All Who Fall

Text: Psalm 145:14-16
27 January 2019

DECLARING SOME SPECIAL GREAT WORKS OF GOD

1. The upholding of those who fall

“The Lord upholds all who fall”   Psalm 145:14
a. Those who have fallen into sin
b. The Lord upholds the fallen
i. David prayed for God to create a clean heart   (Psalm 51:10)
ii. To renew a steadfast spirit   (Psalm 51:10)
iii. To not cast away   (Psalm 51:11)
iv. To restore the joy of salvation   (Psalm 51:12)
v. To uphold him   (Psalm 51:12)

2. The raising up of the bowed down

“And raises up all who are bowed down.”   Psalm 145:14
a. Those who have been discouraged
i. A glimpse of how David felt troubled by his enemies
“LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!”   Psalm 3:1
ii. An expansion of his feelings of being weary from groanings
“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.”   Psalm 6:6,7
b. The Lord raises up the bowed down
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”   Psalm 3:3

3. The provision for those who are in need

“The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”   Psalm 145:15,16
a. All expect to receive from God
b. He would provide for all living creatures
c. He would satisfy the needs of all
d. Very similar idea found in Psalm 104
“These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.”   Psalm 104:27,28

DISCERNING THE SPLENDOUR AND MAJESTY OF THE LORD’S GREATNESS

1. Seeing the splendour of the Lord’s generous Spirit

“And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”   Psalm 51:12
a. The majesty lies in the Lord’s magnanimous Spirit
b. The Lord is truly generous and magnanimous
c. Behind the Lord’s upholding is His generous Spirit

2. Seeing the renewal that God gives through the Spirit of God

“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth. And uphold me by Your generous Spirit”   Psalm 104:30
a. The Spirit of God was involved in creation
b. He would also renew the face of the earth
c. The Lord sustains all life on this earth…including us

3. Seeing the life that the Spirit of God can pour into us

“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;”   Isaiah 44:3
a. The Spirit of God will give life to our weary and dried up spirit… the bowed down
b. The Holy Spirit can be poured into our life
c. We can become rivers of living water   (John 7:37)

DEVELOPING OUR RESPONSE TO THE GREATNESS OF GOD

1. Thanksgiving

2. Praise

3. Bless the Lord

4. Extol the Lord   (Psalm 145:1,2)

5. Exalt the Lord   (Psalm 99:5,9)