Ps. 8:1 - 9:1
INTRO: This holiday called “Labor Day” we often have heard messages on labor lifted up, careers considered, rest rehearsed, work weighed, busyness balanced and duty dignified. Today, however, I would like to look at the work God has done and extol (exalt, praise, commend, eulogize, admire) that which He has done. I’ll be elaborating on that which the Psalmist has already done. He encapsulates the message with two verses like bookends on the beginning and ending of chapter eight. “…how excellent is thy name in all the earth…” May I say God’s name is excellent for a reason. The reason or reasons are found in the context of the chapter.
I. HE BRINGS STRENGTH OUT OF WEAKNESS V. 2
If it were not for the magnificent work of God in giving your strength you would really understand just how weak your work would be.
A. Man’s Work is nothing.
Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought:
Isaiah 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing
Dan. 4:35 all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing
Jn. 6:63 the flesh profiteth nothing
Jn 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing
Jn. 15:5 for without me ye can do nothing
Isaiah described the very best we have and the value of it to God…
Isa. 64:6 all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away
Even the Lord Jesus Himself said, speaking of His flesh …
Jn 8:28 I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me,
B. God Makes the Difference
Yet in our weakness, God chose us to display His strength. Paul said “I can do all things through Christ which strengeneth me’
1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.
II. HE BRINGS SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING V. 3
God created all things and John tells us there was nothing made that was made other than what God made. Creation is bringing to life from that which is not just dead but from that which does not even exist. Here the Psalmist gives credit to God for the heavens, the moon and the stars. We celebrate the work that God did, not that of coincidence and happenstance. When we look at the beautiful sights we find on our earth, ….such as the prairie grasses waving in the wind like waves on the ocean… such as the snow-caped mountains that protrude up into the clouds and glisten in the sunlight… such as the glorious waterfalls that offers a continual rainbow of brilliant colors… and all that is only a shadow of what God is capable of doing. He is preparing a glorious place for the saints in eternity. No wonder it says How excellent His name is in all the earth. His fingerprints are on every part of creation.
II. HE BROUGHT LOVE OUT OF ENMITY V. 4-8
We are told that He made man and He made him from the dust of the ground, but he had already created the dust. Man, then in his arrogance, took upon himself, as a created being, to disobey the creator and consequently became at enmity with God. 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
A. God was mindful of Man V. 4
Yet God is so merciful that ….God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Man was no more than a sinner with nothing to offer and no chance of getting better. God was mindful for no conceivable reason but love, perfect love, unconditional love, love that is greater than all our sin. The Psalmist says “What is man?” He was reminded of the depravity of mankind and the undenialable love and mysterious love God has for us. He loved us so much that His OWN Son was sent to pay the debt of our sin so we could be saved. He visited us… having given up the splendor of heaven to become a lowly human man and suffer as we for 33 years. As He hung suspended between heaven and earth, when the Father allowed Him to become sin for us…. He defeated death, hell and the grave. Then the crowning of glory and Honor was at the resurrection when the Father accepted His payment for sin and took Him from the tomb. Then the Father gave the simple plan to allow man to be saved through the power of that resurrection. He said that if we would confess with our mouth and believe in our heart …. We would be saved.
Saved from a Devil’s Hell to God’s Heaven.
Saved from the torment of fire and brimstone to the peaceful serenity of Abraham’s bosom.
Saved from the wrath of God to the Mercy of God.
Saved from an eternity of loneliness and darkness to the foreverness of fellowship and the Son being the light.
Saved from bearing the guilt of sin to the satisfaction of knowing Christ took that all away.
B. God was More than Fair to Man V. 6-8
He was so fair that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; He gave man dominion over His creation to care for it. He gave man the family name and status as a member of His family, wielding His authority over all living things. Out of every living creature that God created, Man is His crowning achievement. So stand we here…. Body, soul and spirit…. Made in His image and displayed as His handiwork.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
No wonder the Psalmist said… I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
On the eve of this Labor day may we extol the marvelous works of our God with lives that demonstrate His goodness….with hearts that display thankfulness….. With lips that shout Hallelujah.
The labor of our God was and is great.!!!
Labor Day takes on a whole new meaning when we extol God’s labors instead of man’s.
Friend, if you’re not saved… take Him at His Word and trust the work that has already been done by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. It’s not what you can do … but what He has done.
John Flanagan Song…
I don’t want a do, do, do
I want a done, done, done
Everything to pay for sin has been done by the Son
You my have your work, work, work
Your toil… your run, run, run
But I don’t want a do, do, do
I want a done, done, done
