Introduction: At one time or another in your life you will probably become interested in your genealogy. You may attempt to trace your family tree as far back as you can. But that's just the nuts and bolts of genealogy. A deeper question, and much more difficult to answer: what were my ancestors LIKE? What sort of man or woman was my great grandfather or great grandmother? It is hard enough to start with our own parents. What sort of person was my mother? My father? As Christians, we believe in God. But we want to know more. What sort of Person is my Heavenly Father? Theologians call this the study of THEOLOGY. Psalm 50 tells us a lot of basic truth about God, so I call this Psalm, THEOLOGY 101. Today I would like to highlight four facts about God that are brought out in this Psalm:
I. God is Omnipotent (verse 1).
Psa 50:1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
In this verse God is called "The Mighty One." And an illustration of His power is given: His power over all the earth, from ultimate East to ultimate West. His power is universal.
Theologians have three words to describe God that all begin with the word "Omni," which is Latin for "all."
How powerful is God? Job caught a glimpse of God's power:
Job 9:4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
Job 9:5 He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
Job 9:6 He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
Job 9:7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
Job 9:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
Job 9:9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
Job 9:10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Job 9:11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
Job 9:12 If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
Jeremiah said:
Jer 10:12 ...God made the earth by his power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
God made all things, and He controls every human being, every animal, every act of history. It is all in God's almighty hands. His power is infinite. He is the Almighty One!
II. God Speaks (Ps. 50:1, 3, 7)
"The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets...Our God comes and will not be silent...Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel..."
Theologians use the word REVELATION when they consider how God communicates with us. They speak of "General Revelation" and "Special Revelation."
General Revelation teaches us that God has spoken all over the world by means of creation, and by means of conscience. Every human being everywhere has heard the voice of God through General Revelation.
Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psa 19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Rom 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
Rom 1:19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Rom 2:14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
Rom 2:15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
God has spoken most fully to us in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, and in the written Word of God, whereby we learn of the living Word of God. The Bible is inspired by God. 2 Tim 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed." It is the breath of God Himself, and when we read it the Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts, and makes us understand.
1 Cor 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--
1 Cor 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
III. God is Righteous (Psalm 50:6).
"...the heavens proclaim his righteousness."
Psa 11:7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
Psa 119:137 Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right.
Psa 119:138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
Psa 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
Rev 15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
God is utterly holy in all His thoughts, words and deeds. There is no sin in God whatsoever. He is always just, always fair, always righteous, always holy, always good, in every possible way. He is so good that even the holy angels in Heaven cannot bear to see God.
Isa 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
Isa 6:3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
It is the holiness of God that accounts for the death of Jesus on the cross. God could not simply decree "I forgive your sins." God could not just sweep our sins under the rug and not think about them. God was compelled by His own righteousness to DO SOMETHING DRASTIC about our sins, in order that He might love us, and receive us to Himself. So He sent His Son to make the ultimate sacrifice, in order that our sins might be literally washed away and expunged by the blood of Jesus.
IV. God invites us to worship Him (Psalm 50:5,8,14-15).
Psa 50:5 "Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
Psa 50:8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
Psa 50:14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
Psa 50:15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
This morning we have gathered here in this place to worship God. I hope you have been worshipping Him. Worship isn't something that happens to you when you go to church. If you have no INTENTION to worship, you won't worship. If you MAKE NO EFFORT to worship, you won't worship. When we enter this place, we must turn our thoughts toward God. When we pray, we must pray from the heart. When we sing our hymns, we must concentrate, and offer our singing to God. When we hear the special music, it is not just to be entertained. We must take that music and in our hearts adore the Lord, and offer Him our praise and adoration. When we hear the sermon, we must think hard about the meaning of God's Word, and offer our hearts, minds and wills to God. That's what worship is all about. But it is UP TO YOU. Worship doesn't happen to you. Worship is something you make up your mind to do, and you DO IT.
Conclusion: What have we learned about God today in Theology 101?