1. Hallelujah!
A New Year Sermon
By Michael Fletcher
1 January 2017

2. Structure of the Psalms
Read the Psalms as One Book!
Theme: The Messianic King

3. Structure of the Psalms
Life as it Should Be
Life as it Is
Life as it Will Be

4. Flow of the Psalms Begins: Life as it should be
Picture of life in ideal world (Psalm 1)
Good always wins / evil always loses

5. Flow of the Psalms Everything between: Life as it is
Reality of life with pain & suffering
Good does not always triumph
Evil seems to overwhelm
How a believer is to live now...

6. Flow of the Psalms Concludes (146–150): Life as it Will Be
Eternal Praise
Hallel-YHWH
Oftentimes “praise” is born out of hardship, however, in 146–150, the praise is the trumpet blast of final victory. It is praise of God coming from the perspective of life as it will be.

7. Praise (Hallel-YHWH) Psalms
Today we focus our attention on Psalm 148.

8. Psalm 148 The Place of the Creator The Praises of the Creation
Praying Psalm 148 with Christ

9. I. The Place of the Creator
From High to Low
High: From the Highest Heaven (v.1)
Low: To being Near (v.14)
Deuteronomy 4.7: “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”
Acts 17.27: “that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”
He is not far—he is near—but we are called to search for him.

10. II. The Praises of the Creation
From High to Low
The heavens (v.1–6)
The earth (v.7–9)
The animals (v.10)
Humanity (v.11–14)
From Kings to Children

11. “Children & Kings” by Michael Gungor
It's been sung
It's been prayed
Countless times
Throughout time
It's been said
A thousand ways
By children and kings
Poets and priests
I'd like to say it again
Let me say it once again
I love you Lord
I just want to say
As simple as it sounds
In You my heart is found
I love You

12. Psalm 148 The Place of the Creator The Praises of the Creation
In Highest Heavens & yet Near
The Praises of the Creation
Universe, Earth, People…
from Kings to Children in countless ways...
Praying Psalm 148 with Christ

13. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Together: Hallelujah! (v.1a)
Jesus: Praise the Lord from the heavens! (v.1b)
Church: Praise Him in the heights! (v.1c)
Jesus: Praise Him, all His angels! (v.2a)
Church: Praise Him, all His hosts! (v.2b)

14. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Jesus: Praise Him, sun and moon! (v.3a)
Church: Praise Him, all stars of light! (v.3b)
Jesus: Praise Him, highest heavens! (v.4a)
Church: [And praise Him] all the waters that are above the heavens! (v.4b)

15. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Jesus: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. (v.5)
Church: He has also established them forever and ever, he has made a decree which will not pass away (v.6)
Jesus: Praise the Lord from the earth! (v.7a)
Church: [Yes, Praise the Lord all you] Sea monsters and all deeps. (v.7b)

16. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Jesus: [Praise the Lord] lightning and hail, snow and clouds (v.8a)
Church: [Praise the Lord] stormy wind, fulfilling His word (v.8b)
Jesus: [Praise the Lord] mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars (v.9)
Church: [Praise the Lord] beast and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl. (10)

17. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Jesus: [Praise the Lord all you] Kings of the earth and all peoples (v.11a)
Church: [Praise the Lord all you] Princes and judges of the earth. (v.11b)
Jesus: [Praise the Lord] both young men and virgins (v.12a)
Church: [Praise the Lord] Both old men and children (v.12b)

18. Praying Psalm 148 with Christ
Jesus: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted. (v.13a)
Church: And His glory is above earth and heaven. (v.13b)
Jesus: And he has lifted up a horn for his people, praise for all his godly ones. (v.14a)
Church: Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him (v.14b)
Together: Hallelujah! (v.14c)