Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing For The Lord's Day

At first glance, our Psalm for this Sunday seems a bit presumptuous. As James Mays says about Psalm 26, “The theme sounds theologically wrong and the occasion unlikely.” And if we misunderstand the occasion and the request we will come to the same conclusion. Verse one of the Psalm says,

“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity.” (Psalm 26:1 ESV)

It seems at first glance that the Psalmist is praying that the Lord would accept him because of his integrity or his blamelessness. When could any of us pray such a prayer with a straight face? We would have to be living in a pharisaical delusion to request God to judge us based upon our own righteousness. Yet as one continues to read through the Psalm it becomes clear that self-justification is not at all what the Psalmist desires. Rather he rests upon God’s faithfulness and grace to redeem him (vv. 3,11).

What then is the Psalmist’s request? It is that he would find acceptance before God and not the world. We all have a desire to be validated, to be accepted. Some of us seek such vindication from the world. We want our family, our friends, our community, our teachers to vindicate us; to judge us to be right. The godly on the other hand look to the Lord alone for acceptance and proper validation. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 26, Amos 5:21-24, Matthew 23:1-11, Luke 12:4-5, Romans 1:16, 8:32-34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, and Revelation 6:9-11.

As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, the Acclamation of Praise, “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” and the Hymn of Response “Jesus, I am Resting, Resting.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him! 

Sermon Information:

Text: Psalm 26

Title: Not Ashamed

Outline:

  1. Every Christian Must Trust in the Lord Alone (vv. 1-3, 11)
  2. Every Christian Must Live for the Lord Alone (vv. 4-5, 9-10)
  3. Every Christian Must Worship the Lord Alone (vv. 6-8, 12)

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