Advent 3: Joy To The World

Please turn in your Bibles to the book of Psalms and Find Psalm 98. Psalm 98 this is God's holy and infallible word. Oh. Sing to the Lord a new song. For he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gained him the victory.

The Lord has made known his salvation. His righteousness he has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and his faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth. Break forth in song rejoice and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with a harp with a harp and with the sound of a psalm. With trumpets and the sound of a horn shout joyfully before the Lord the King.

Let the sea roar and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell in it let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord for he is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness, he shall judge the world and the peoples with.

Equity.

May the Lord be pleased with our Consideration of his most holy word, please pray with me. Oh Lord, I pray that you would Grant joy to your people today. That our hearts would be filled with gladness and this gladness would be exuberant.

That we would be readily willing and desiring to glorify your name through the deepest part of our hearts and outwardly with shouts of praise and singing with Thanksgiving Lord Give this gift to us we pray in Jesus name Amen.

Please be seated. The title of the message today is joy to the world Joy to the world. I have a four-word Thesis statement today that should help you think about the direction of the message and that is the Lord is King the Lord is.

King.

For those of you who need an outline to help organize your own attentiveness and thoughts I have three points for you to consider. First All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. That is found in verse 3.

If you didn't catch all of that All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Second Shout joyfully before the Lord the King that's found in verse 6. Last phrase of verse 6. And finally he is coming to judge the earth that's found in verse 9.

He's coming to judge the earth this is an enthronement psalm a.

Victory.

There are royal psalms and there are enthronement psalms. In royal psalms the idea of kingship is given but there's a little bit of a different nuance to enthronement psalms and in these enthronement psalms we learn that The Lord is the King.

You say well, yes, we know that it's not very hard to see that Jehovah God is King Yahweh is King. Now when I say that that should cause you to have some questions in your mind. The psalm is divided into three parts three verses each and There are three tenses past present and.

Future.

And there are three occasions given in these sections for praise. I'm going to give those to you now so that you can have an idea of where we're going first. We need to praise God for what? He has done praise for what the Lord has already done.

Secondly we need to praise him for what the Lord is doing and Third we need to praise him for what he will do. Let's look at our text beginning at verse 1. Oh Sing to the Lord a new song. I Don't remember much of my elementary and secondary education.

I have to confess I Doubt it was entirely solid. But one thing I remember is an English teacher saying to me that we have to use Exclamation points sparingly. Your papers can't have all these exclamation points in them.

I'm here today to tell you that the exclamatory Element of the Christian life needs to be more pronounced. We need more of the exclamatory. We think of classic rhetoric. We're often in the Christian Church thinking about Indicatives and imperatives.

These are important and Churches are weak and usually indicative or imperative. They're they're weak on one side or the other they have doctrine without application or they have application without doctrine.

The church can also fail to be an exclamatory.

Church.

The church can fail to have that that sense of grandeur and Exclamation. We are buttoned up. We are reserved. We are held in check. The psalm is a call to praise.

Praise.

Is not bottled up. It's not held in check it is giving full vent to the emotions the person's inner sense of the greatness and glory of God. So you and I need to be More in the exclamatory mood. Again at verse 1 It's an exclamation point.

So We should read it that way and we should sing it that way. And Psalm 98 starts off with a call to sing to the Lord a new song. There is a singing with with this great zeal and Fervency that happens when the people of God are confronted with the myriad of victories of God.

And so Psalm 98 is calling us to Remember in the past in the present and in the future the great victories of our God and we are to burst forth in singing. We're to be shouting our text will say Oh sing to the Lord a new song.

For he has done Marvelous things. There's a lot of dispute about what is the Origin of the psalm. What's the occasion? One of the things we can almost be assured of is the Exodus from Egypt being part of the background of Psalm 98.

But there's there's another element I want us to consider here and that is. Since the beginning of God's dealing with man redemptively there has been hundreds of occasions for the people of God to respond with exclamation.

To hear the truth to experience the salvation of their God and to burst into song for he has after all done many Wondrous things. Do you ever contemplate all the myriad ways that God has done marvelous things?

What about your own salvation. Mark recounted being a younger man and attending a party before his life in Christ. Oh mark. How different things are now in Christ brother? What wondrous things has he done?

He's he's given you a wife. He's given you children. He's he's forgiving you all of your sins. You have dramatic cause. For rejoicing and we walk around moping and grumbling and complaining. Our hearts should be full.

This theme of Advent today is one of joy and when I was thinking about this I say we all need a good kick in the rear end that we might have more joy. But it seems like it doesn't really work that way.

Burst forth in song. Salvation has come. God has done it. He's done wondrous and marvelous things. And then we have this summation of this idea. His right hand and his Holy arm. Have gained him the victory.

The Conception of Christ and Mary’s Magnificat

Well, there's another element to this I'd like to introduce. If you didn't know this the the song joy to the world is based on psalm 98. That's why I chose that as the title. But there is another portion of scripture that's familiar to us that Interacts and I believe in a very profound way with psalm 98.

I'd like you to turn With me to the book the gospel of Luke in chapter 1. Gospel of Luke in chapter 1 the section of scripture is most known for Mary's Magnificat or Mary's song. But there's some elements in here that I want you to see that lead up to Mary's response her hymn of praise.

That she offers in Luke chapter 1. So we start reading in Luke 1 verse 26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David the Virgin's name was Mary.

And having come in the angel said to her rejoice. Highly favored one the Lord is with you blessed. Are you among women? Exclamatory then angel Gabriel appears to Mary.

And.

Declares that you are blessed. You're highly favored. The Lord is with you. Verse 29 says When when she saw him she was troubled at his saying And considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God.

Now here it is. When we say the Lord is King we go, of course Pastor the Lord is King. I don't think we Grasp the significance in the weightiness of that statement. Covenant God is. You see I'm gonna give an explanation about this in a minute.

You don't understand how radically crazy this is in some ways. It's real. It's true. But this is crazy.

That that God.

Himself would be king. Go back to Old Testament Prophecy. It seems that the people were always failing to get the message that God was their king. And they seem to separate God and his kingship as being a kind of ethereal kingship over all things it's kind of.

Misty.

It's in the ether. And Kings that's something we can understand. We can see a king seated on a throne. He goes out to war with his army. This is something that Humanity can can grasp. I want you to see how pregnant with meaning this section is.

Do not be afraid Mary you've found favor with God verse 31. And Behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus. I want you to pay close attention to this next part children.

Pay close attention now. He will be great. And will be called the son of the highest. And this would be you remember That the charge from the Jews about Jesus from black as a blasphemer would be that he would be the son of the Most High.

Gabriel announces to Mary that this son to be named Jesus is going to be the son of the highest and That the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. How exciting. Mary insignificant by all accounts but she and her husband are part of the family of David a Second Samuel 7 Promise.

Maybe could this Jesus be the one who would sit on the throne of his father David? This is exhilarating. It's exciting. The heir to the throne but it pales in comparison to what's going to be revealed next and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

I don't know if we can find it then. But in the time of the scripture in the New Testament, you could go and visit The tomb of David or at least say this is where David's bones are buried. How can there be a king who reigns over the house forever?

He lives his life and he dies and there's another heir. This is the last king. He's going to reign forever and ever and ever and of his kingdom. There will be no end. David's kingship ended. Solomon's and all of its grandeur built the temple of God and his kingship ends.

But.

This king in his kingdom. There's never ever going to be an end to it. Embedded here. Not only do we have the incarnation, but we also have.

Resurrection I.

Don't know if Mary understands all this in its full import. Jesus is going to die. But his death is going to be our salvation. His death is going to be the Reconciliation of the created order and all of those creatures who were created for communion with God.

He's going to make all of that right in his death on the cross but he's not just going to be put into the tomb and face the corruption that every other king before him had faced but he's going to be raised from the dead and his kingship upon his ascension into heaven.

Is the beginning of a kingdom a reign a rule that will never end. This is what a little peasant young lady found out One evening in Nazareth. Verse 34. Further evidence of the virgin birth that Mary said to the angel.

How can this be since I do not know a man? She has not been married she has not had Intimate relations with a man. She has no way earthly speaking of being pregnant. Angel gives her an answer. He says the Holy Spirit will come upon you in.

And the power of the highest will overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. We are familiar with this story, but can we recover a little bit of the exhilaration the excitement the exclamation?

What a profound amazing moment in history this is. There's only one incarnation. There's only one King of Kings in time and in space. It's happening here before our eyes. Verse 36. Mary's cousin. Now indeed Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son.

This is the mother of John the Baptist in her old age. This is now the sixth month for her who is called barren. With God nothing will be impossible. Mary responds in an exclamatory way. Behold the maidservant of the Lord.

Let it be to me according to your word and The angel departed from her. I think there may be an application in the lesson there for us about how to respond to the glorious declarations of our God. Let it be to me according to your word.

It's a good response. Verse 39. Mary arose in those days and went to the hill country with haste to a city of Judah. Entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth and it happened. This is one of those glorious Moments in Scripture when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the babe leaped in her womb.

I don't think Elizabeth thought that this was Disagreement with matzo balls that she ate the night before to you. She knew it was evident to her that her son in her womb Recognized the king of kings in his presence.

It's he worshipped him and she speaks out. Elizabeth to Mary says blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb? But why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me.

I Want you to picture this moms? You're six months pregnant. Your belly's big. And the way we think of time and space. Elizabeth is in a position of honor over Mary. She's an older woman to Mary.

And.

She says why this privilege that the woman who carries my Lord and my Savior would come into my house. We have to read these stories these Narratives with fresh eyes and be exhilarated and excited again.

For indeed as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears The babe leaped in my womb for joy. John the Baptist Got it. You and I need to leap For joy, we need to sing with joy. We need to shout With joy, the King has come.

Christ the Lord.

That was introductory to the part. I wanted to get to. I'm going to try to pare this down To make it easier. I believe That Mary is so conversant with Psalm 98 on this occasion of the conception of the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings in her womb that her Magnificat her song is an echo back to the psalmist in Psalm 98.

Listen what the psalmist says. What we just looked at. Oh Sing to the Lord a new song. The voice. Psalm 98. The liturgy on the lips of the people of God for a very long time and Every festal occasion when all their times they would recount the victories of their God.

They're singing by memory Psalm 98. Mary knows Psalm 98. The psalmist. Oh Sing to the Lord a new song. What does Mary do. Look at verse 46. She responds my soul magnifies the Lord. She's composing a hymn.

New information new revelation about the King of Kings has come and he's in her womb. And she says my soul magnifies the Lord. The psalmist again Says he hath done marvelous things. Mary responds verse 48 for he has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant.

For behold henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. The psalmist He has done marvelous things. Mary. He that is mighty has done marvelous and great things in me.

The psalmist again. It's amazing how it follows with his own right hand and holy arm he has Gotten himself the victory. Look at verse 51 of Luke 1.

Mary.

He hath showed strength with his arm and scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. Mary today in her womb sees the victory of God Unfolding in her own experience. And it's not just for her.

It's for the nation's. The psalmist says the Lord hath made known his salvation in his righteousness. He has openly showed Mary says in verse 50 his mercy is on them that fear him. From generation to generation The psalmist says he has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel down at verse 54.

In verse 55 Mary he has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as He spoke to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed forever.

The.

News about the conception of Jesus in the womb of the verge Virgin Mary is nothing short than the arrival of the promise of messianic expectation and it turns out the arrival of Jesus Christ in the flesh is even greater than they ever Imagined.

The Lord’s Salvation, Joyful Worship, and the King Who Comes to Judge the Earth

Let's turn back to our text. It's all 98. I want to point out an observation to you really quickly about the last part of verse 1. I'm not going to be doing an exposition of each of the verses. I want to point this out one of the things that I think happens to us is that we think of these words about God and his right hand in purely Anthropomorphic terms, it's almost like a simile for us.

God is so powerful. It's like he has a strong right arm. Our catechism tells us that God is a spirit. So it makes sense that he would speak to us in language, but but how profound this God who in Scripture With his mighty outstretched arm delivers his people and with his fingers and the dexterity in his own hands He orders the providence of all that happens.

Oh, what wonder should fill our hearts. We consider that God would have an arm. Jesus had an arm. He had hands he had feet so the Anthropomorphism of the past is now changed and it's kind of magnified in the reality that Jesus Christ has an outstretched arm.

And we know in him that we have gained the victory. Look at verse 2. The Lord has made known his salvation. We could get into this with the Magi. Gentiles from the East are coming and they recognize because of the signs and the star and the revelation of God that this Jesus is the salvation of the nations.

God's great works of victory have been done. Not in secret they've been done with a shout. They've been done with a loud song. Do you think? The troops in Egypt who drowned in the Red Sea would be able to testify to us that surely there is a God in Israel.

He's revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. And we think about the cross of Christ and and hanging above the cross the description of him and all those those four languages. His salvation has been made known and can't we see the promise of the future.

It happens in time and space and and isn't it true today? Everyone in the four corners of the world the Muslims the pagans the Buddhists. They know the name of Jesus and Many of them are saved. His righteousness has been revealed In the nations all the ends of the earth Have seen the salvation of our God.

It was true when the psalmist composed it. How much more so is it today? Well now the The middle section which could be overlooked. Because it doesn't seem as Theologically significant as the others accepting the last part of verse 6.

This is actually the heart of the psalm. This is the main point of psalm 98. We're called to joy today on this joy Advent Sunday. What does verse 4 say it says shout? Joyfully To the Lord. All the earth break forth in song rejoice and sing praises.

The appropriate response to the Lord's salvific activity is a fusive song and noise. I appreciated what you said today. Mark about us being Curtailing the work excesses of the spirit. We become the wine and cheese theology class of Christians unmoved.

And.

Speaking in museum tones Never bursting forth in Praise because that wouldn't look decent in an order possibly. The Lord through the psalmist commands us to shout joyfully To break out in song and rejoice and sing praises.

And I'm not finding fault with you, but I wonder did your singing and praising this morning. Did it measure up to the standard of psalm 98 where you move deeply and profoundly to? Exult in praise. There's a heart issue in view here.

We need to be the kind of people who Feel this Rooted in the truth and we express it.

Actively.

Forcefully there's another element. I want to point out to you, and I think there's an artisanal Excellence that should be found in our worship. We need to become people who are skillful in the use of the harp and trumpets and the horn.

So far.

See the highest Essence of our being is a worshiping people really and it would seem that we would give great attention to the excellent worship of our God and we're grabbing the Instrumentality that God has supplied if there's there's something that can show forth his praise in this song.

I need to take up those Instruments and with great skill and excellence. I need to play them for the Lord. Wonder how much of us how many of us view our worship in this way that are. The very best of us and our effort and attention is given to the worship of God.

Again, it ends this little inclusio with Shout joyfully before the Lord. The king now a question that I tried to introduce in the beginning. Is this? This speaking of royalty. This is a kingly season in the life of the church.

We are anticipating the arrival of the king liturgically on our calendars. But this is the part I want you to grasp today it says shout joyfully before the Lord the king. This enthronement psalm obviously speaks of royalty.

It states clearly that the Lord is king and That his kingship does not merely reside in the heavenly realm. This is a problem in the church today because a lot of our fellow Christians think that he's only the king of heaven.

The last day he gets to be king of the earth. It would seem to me a proper understanding of the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. Incarnation of Christ is the king has come to reclaim his creation. He has come to Reconcile the creature who was created for communion with God and that communion has been broken by sin.

And he comes and he reconciles them that they might have communion with him. And what of his resurrection.

And.

What of his ascension which is testified by numerous witnesses?

Our.

God reigns and his name is Jesus Christ. He sits enthroned not only Reigning and ruling in heaven, but this very earth. This is for the purpose for which he came into the world. How could we say? That he is not the king.

Well, the time is short let me get through this next little section. We'll have a quick word of application What you may not recognize in verse 7. There's a little hidden gem here. We think maybe that the Lord is just recounting some creative creation things and Applying this here through the psalmist but it says in verse 7 let the sea roar and All its fullness.

If you look through the pages of Scripture the the most terrifying place in Scripture is the deep sea. It's analogous to hell in some cases. It is utterly related and connected to the idea of chaos. And if you've ever been out far away from the from the shore deep-sea fishing in a storm crops up and The waves go really high you would say surely this is the most terrifying place in the world.

There's nothing like it but here the psalmist says let the sea roar and the chaos is transformed into a festal choir. The sea which is formerly chaotic and tumultuous and dangerous is now submitted and Conforming and and coming in worship to God is very beautiful and picturesque.

The chaotic sea the roaring sea which Destroys and kills is now turned to be a choir that echoes the praises of our God. We're also called to Roar and praise with it the world and those Who dwell in it?

Another image the flooding Side breaching river let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. And this of course speaks to the creation's longing and yearning for the revealing of the children of God that they too might be restored to their.

Creator.

This morning very early in the morning I was on my back porch. We live on a very small lake. I was looking off toward the lake. The wind was howling it was raining. And I saw a duck with her ducklings and They couldn't have been happier.

It was surprising the little kids were like playing those ducks in their Inability to get wet with their fancy feathers that God gave them. They sing praises to our God. They say we love the wind and the rain and we can swim in the pond.

This is wonderful. Think about the cheetah running 60 miles an hour. And he's just blasting through all the juke moves of the antelope and he catches the antelope. He was created for this very purpose.

God gave him those lightning-fast wheels to catch Antelope, I think also children that when you hear the birds sing that's it's background noise. To us but but those birds even that they sing to the Lord He created with them with those beautiful voices.

We need to stop and ponder and appreciate What the Lord has done in his creation. With all this info Further cause for our rejoicing and we can say we understand that the created order Longs for the revealing of the sons of God and if all of these promises have come true thus far.

Isn't it assured that that every member of the elect will be redeemed and on the last day? The created order will be restored and heaven will come down and earth will be ascended and we will be living with the king.

We have absolute confidence that He's coming to judge the earth. Elizabeth knew crazy. She knew that her God her salvation Was in the womb of the Virgin Mary her relative. And the life Sinlessly the perfect ministry of work and word obedience.

The keeping of the Ten Commandments, which we could not we prayed through. I hope you recognized again that you do not keep those perfectly. But Jesus did and that righteousness has now been conferred upon the people of God.

Surely. We should respond shouting joyfully. Praising him earnestly. That his name might be glorified in all the earth. We have to ask God today. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the burning desire to shout the praises of our God.

That we would have heart so given to Christ that we burst forth in Singing. I don't have time but if you need something to do for this Sabbath afternoon read Ezra chapter 3.

This.

Context is that they're laying the foundation stone of the rebuilt temple and they they began the priests begin to lead them in singing with instruments and the people shout and scream and sing so heartily that they could be heard far far away.

I Wonder if the people who walk by us On a Sunday morning if they could hear our voices Are we bound by an improper view of indicatives and imperatives? To not have the exclamatory Sometimes we need to burst out in song and sing and praise him for his glory.

How can?

Yahweh.

Be the king.

This isn't.

Anthropomorphic this isn't theory. This is practice. How does this happen? It can only happen through the conquering Messiah Jesus Christ our Lord. How can God Himself occupy the throne of David on earth and occupy the throne in heaven.

It can only happen it happens in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. And brethren every person who's ever lived Will say and confess that Jesus Christ is King. Everyone believing and unbelieving His vindication his victory is assured.

Quickly a couple of words of application. I wonder how many of us Are singing new songs to the Lord For the wonders he has done. Take some time today with your family and Rejoice in all the blessings that have been showered upon you and shout joyfully to the Lord in response.

You should rejoice today. The Lord has made known his salvation To the ends of the earth and guess what that grace and mercy has landed upon you. You rejoice because Christ the King has saved you and Redeemed you and reconciled you and brought you back to your purpose that you might have communion with God.

Be filled with hope peace joy and love today for our Lord. Our King is coming to judge the earth and even now he reigns and rules in Righteousness. Intended to do this last week with a different song.

I wrote it in my notes again. I'm not forgetting today. I'm gonna ask you to take up your hymnal and stand. And this will be the final application of the message today. Sometimes we have to be coached.

We need to shout and we need to sing and we need to praise and we need to exalt and we need to.

Exclaim.

But now I want you to turn to number 195 and I don't know if we were lackluster before but but now. Let's do justice to the song that this is based on. Let us from our bowels Praise the most worthy name that there is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us shout to the nations that our God reigns. Let's sing joy to the world together. Let us begin.

Please be seated. Oh.

Lord, we thank you for this day and we thank you for The kick in the backside that causes us to shout joyfully to you to sing. To have hearts that are white-hot for God. Oh Lord. Give us those hearts we pray in Jesus name Amen.