03/09/23
TEXT : Psalm. 98: 1-2; 96:1-2, 11-12, 97: 1, 8,11-12; 98: 1, 4-9; 99:3: 100: 1-2, 4-5.
INTRODUCTION: Psalm 95 to 100 are 6 Psalms that go together,
They are expression of gladness and joyful praise to the LORD, They give us reasons to rejoice!
There are many reasons that we can rejoice.
Bought a car; I have a cost to rejoice. The single man who starts dating will rejoice! then she breaks up with him…..
A couple gets married — Rejoice — then they have big conflict and can’t stand each other.
Get a new phone – rejoice! — then it got stolen, or it gets broken…….
All these reasons to rejoice are temporary. They can be lost or taken away from us.
We, as God’s people, have reason to rejoice! Our reason to rejoice is not temporary – it can not be lost or taken from us. We always have a reason to rejoice!
We used to sing a song,’ I have joy in my heart, deep, deep down in my heart J. O. Y . Down in my heart. Jesus gave it to me, and no man can destroy it’.
Today, I want to give you 3 reasons to rejoice from Psalm 95 to Psalm 100.
(1) THE LORD REIGNETH WE NEED TO REJOICE.
It is not man that is in control of my life. It is the creator of the universe. He knows everything about me. He loves me, and He cares for me, He is the one on the throne.
Psalm 95: ‘ For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods’
Psalm 96:10 ‘ Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth……”
Psalm 97:1 ‘ The LORD reigneth; Let the earth rejoice, let the multitude of isles be glad thereof ‘
Psalm 98:6, ‘ With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King ”
Psalm 99:1 ” The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.”
Psalm 100: 2, ” Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
GOD IS KING! We have reason to rejoice! And He is not just any king – He is Kings of Kings.!
( For example, in Africa, we have sub-chiefs, then chiefs, then Paramount Chiefs, then King Otumfuo )
King Nebuchadnezzar came to mind— is not this great Babylon that I have built God said the kingdom is departed from thee you will eat grass like ox until you realize that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth them to whom He chooses.
Nana Akuffo Addo may be the president of Ghana. President Biden may be the President of the USA —– but God is the KING! We have reason to rejoice.
David said in Psalm 37 ” I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree, yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not, yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, but the transgressor shall be destroyed together, the end of the wicked shall be cut off “
How could David be so confident that the wicked rulers with such great power would be cut off and destroyed? Because He knew that the LORD reigneth!
” Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord “
I just want to remind you that the LORD reigneth! Rejoice.
(2) THE LORD IS A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE — REJOICE
Psalm 96:10 ” he shall judge the people righteously “
Psalm 96:12 & 13, ” Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD: for he cometh, to judge the earth, he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth “
Psalm 97:2 ‘ Clouds and darker are around about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Psalm 97 ; 6. ‘ The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory ‘
Psalm 97: 8 ” Zion heard and be glad: and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy Judgments, O LORD “
Psalm 98 : 8 & 9. ‘ Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity’.
Psalm 99 : 4 ‘The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob’
The LORD is a righteous Judge—- Rejoice!
Do you ever get tired of all the corruption in the world? Do you ever get tired of all the bribery and extortion and injustices that are common place in the world? For me, I do!
So many politicians, so many agencies, and so many elite globalists are corrupt! And they are pushing lies and deceit on the people. They are working hard to silence the dissenting voices who refuse to go along with their lies. This is so frustrating to see!
Yet, we have a reason to rejoice! The LORD is a righteous Judge! He is coming to judge the world with righteousness and the people with His truth.
HALLELUJAH : Justice will be served
In Genesis 18, Abraham asked a question of God. He said, ” shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? ” Yes, the LORD, the righteous Judge of the earth will ALWAYS do right.
The powers of evil have their temporary ability to cause destruction, but judgement day is coming.
Long time ago, Dr. Hyles preached a sermon called ” Sunday’s Coming! God’s day is coming. That day, He will make everything right.
The LORD is a righteous Judge – Rejoice.
(3) THE LORD REMEMBERS HIS OWN— REJOICE.
Psalm 97: 10-11, ” Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart
Psalm 98:3 ” He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Psalm 99:8, ‘Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions’
God does not leave us as helpless beings in hopeless situations. He remembers His own.
11 Timothy 2:19. “….. The Lord knoweth them that are his. “
Rejoice, God knows your name, He knows the very number of hairs on your head, He remembers His own!
CONCLUSION : We have reasons to rejoice, These reasons will never be taken away from us. We always have a reason to rejoice. May be this is why Apostle Paul could say from a prison cell, ” Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice “
Let us have a life that is characterized by Rejoicing in the LORD.
Amen!!!