O Lord God

-Introduction

-I began the lesson last week with Matt. 6:9

            -God’s name is to be exalted - set apart - reverenced.

            -Indeed, it is a shameful thing to use God’s name in vain.

                        -not limited to the attachment of vulgar language

                        -also includes empty, meaningless (hence vain) references - “God,” “O God,”

                         “O Lord,” “Jesus,” “Jesus Christ,” “OMG,” etc.

-As a follow up to that lesson, I want to look at occasions in the scriptures when people

 did correctly utilize the terms “O God” or “O LORD” or “O LORD God.”

            -Looking at these references (and there are far, far too many of them to address in

             this one lesson) will reveal great reverence for God, man’s proper response to God

             and requests made to Him.  

-These should serve as good reminders for us.

-The Psalmists’ Reverent References to God

-Although you can look at a number of books within the Bible and find statements such

 as “O God,” “O Lord,” “O Lord God,” I’ll focus on the book of Psalms in this lesson.

            -The book of Psalms is rather unique.  Overall the Bible is God’s communication

             (revelation) to mankind.  Yet, the book of Psalms is an inspired record of mankind’s

             communication to our Holy and Righteous God. 

            -Lord willing, I hope to talk a little more about the book of Psalms tonight.

-The use of “O God,” “O Lord,” “O Lord God” in the book of Psalms reveals the

 Psalmists understanding of:

            -God’s exalted nature - Psalm 57:5,11

            -God’s holiness and greatness - Psalm 77:13

            -God’s great power - Psalm 68:28

            -God’s righteousness - Psalm 65:5

            -God’s protection and refuge for His people - Psalm 84:9, Psalm 71:1,3

            -God as the source of salvation - Psalm 69:29

            -God’s steadfast love - Psalm 36:5, 7, 10

            -God’s great mercy - Psalm 57:1, 69:13 (KJV)

-The Psalmists’ Response to God

-It is obvious that the psalmists were in awe of God.  They were humbled before Him. 

 They appreciated their relationship with Him and strove to serve Him appropriately.

-They were thankful - Psalm 75:1

-They praised God - Psalm 65:1, 48:10, 67:3,5

-They trusted God - Psalm 36:7

-They longed for God - Psalm 63:1, 42:1

-They wanted to submit to His will - Psalm 51:10

-The Psalmists’ Requests of God

-Hear me and Answer - Psalm 54:2, 17:6

-Save me - Psalm 54:1

-Preserve me - Psalm 16:1

-Forgive me - Psalm 51:1

-Summary and Invitation

-We, like the psalmists, should be reverent in our references to God.  We need to

 contemplate His exalted nature, holiness, greatness, power, righteousness.  We need to

 seek the protection and refuge He offers.  He is the source of our salvation thanks to His

 love, mercy and grace.

-We, like the psalmists, should respond to God with reverent praise, thanksgiving, trust

 and a strong desire to obediently submit to His will.

-We, like the psalmists, should appreciate the blessing of having a giving God who hears

 us, answers us and is willing to preserve us, forgive us and save us.

-Psalm 63:1 - Notice the word “my.”  We each can have a relationship with the Almighty

 God of heaven.  We each can say He is my God.

-What about you?  Do you have that relationship through the Gospel of Christ.  If not,

 don’t you want it?  Believe in Jesus (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess your faith in Him (Matt.

 10:32, Rom. 10:9-10), Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized into

 Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), Walk in Newness of Life

 (Rom. 6:4, Eph. 4:22-24)\

-If you have previously obeyed the Gospel, have you maintained your relationship with

 God through faithfulness?  If not, confess your shortcomings, repent and pray for

 forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).