I. Whole-hearted Believers Praise God in Public and Private

1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

                Person and Acts   Pr 20:11 Ps 9:16; 92; 117; Ex 34:6 the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation." 8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.

                                Provider of life: past, present, future

                                Excellencies: infinitely good, just, holy, loving

                                Redeemer

                                Savior/Sustainer

                                Omni...(attributes)

                                Names of God

                Response to Revelation   Gen 22:5  2Chron 20:22

                Awe, Adoration, Admiration, Appreciation    Psalm 145

                Intelligible & Emotional   John 4:23-24  Deut 6:5

                Sacrificial Submission as well as Song & Speech   Psalm 24; 101

                Edification of God & others   Psalm 31:23-24

II. Whole-hearted Believers Study and Remember what God has done

2  The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them.

3  His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever.

4  He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. (cf Ex 34:6)

III. Whole-hearted Believers Experience the Benefits of Fearing God

5  He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage/inheritance of the nations.

7  The works of His hands are faithful/verity/truth and just/justice; All His precepts are sure.

8  They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness.

9  He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.

IV. Whole-hearted Believers Fear God and Do what Pleases Him

10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

Fear of the Lord: An awareness that the God who judges is observing (watching/hearing) and remembering everything I think, do and say.

Wisdom: Choosing the right objectives and the right means of obtaining them. (Passion ruled by reason yields virtue and then happiness)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How does someone get to know God better? How do we avoid making and worshipping caricatures of God made in our own image?

2. How do praise, thanks, worship, service, and obedience differ from each other?

3. What should you do when it doesn’t look like God is doing any praiseworthy works in your life?

4. What sort of covenantal relationship/obligations/deal do you have with God? Who has what responsibilities?

5. What can you conclude about someone who objects to fear of the Lord and states it’s all about love?