Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Meditation is most helpful

a) In troubled times

b) It can take away depressive and dark thoughts

2. But Meditation is not limited to hard times of life

3. Meditation is a Way of Life

a) In happy times

b) In times of plenty

THE PRACTICE OF EXTOLLING GOD

1. The practice of Praising God   (Psalm 145:1a)

a) Blessing God’s name   (Psalm 145:1b)

b) Praising His name every day   (Psalm 145:2a)

c) Praising His name forever   (Psalm 145:2b)

2. Reasons for this Practice of Praise

a) The greatness of God   (Psalm 145:3a)

b) His unsearchable greatness   (Psalm 145:3b)

THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION AS A WAY OF LIFE

1. General practice

a) Generations

“One generation shall praise Your works to another
And shall declare Your mighty acts”   Psalm 145:4

b) Men speaking

“Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts”   Psalm 145:6a

c) Men singing

“They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness”   Psalm 145:7

2. Personal practice

a) Meditation

“I will meditate on the glorious splendour
Of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works”   Psalm 145:5

b) Declaration

“And I will declare Your greatness”   Psalm 145:6b

A SPECIAL FOCUS OF MEDITATION

1. God’s glorious Kingdom

“They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom”   Psalm 145:11a

2. God’s power

“And talk of Your power”   Psalm 145:11b

3. Majesty of God’s kingdom

“To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom”   Psalm 145:12

4. Everlasting nature of God’s kingdom

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations”   Psalm 145:13

THE RESULTS OF A WELL-PRACTISED MEDITATION

1. A correct and refined appreciation of who God is

a) Gracious   (Psalm 145:8a)

b) Full of compassion   (Psalm 145:8b)

c) Slow to anger   (Psalm 145:8c)

d) Great in mercy   (Psalm 145:8d)

e) Good to all   (Psalm 145:9a)

f) Tender mercies over all His works   (Psalm 145:9b)

2. A correct and mature appreciation of how God works

a) Upholding

“The LORD upholds all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down”   Psalm 145:14

b) Giving

“The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season”   Psalm 145:15

c) Satisfying

“You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing”   Psalm 145:16

3. A correct and strong sense of faith concerning future events

a) God’s righteousness

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works”   Psalm 145:17

a) God’s nearness

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him
To all who call upon Him in truth”   Psalm 145:18

b) Fulfilment of desire

“He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them”   Psalm 145:19

c) Preservation of believers

“The LORD preserves all who love Him”   Psalm 145:20a

d) Destruction of the wicked

“But all the wicked He will destroy”   Psalm 145:20b

CONCLUSION

1. Personal Praise

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD”   Psalm 145:21a

2. Congregational blessing

“And all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever”   Psalm 145:21b