Worship Notes for Sunday, July 15, 2012
In Psalm 87, God reminds us that He is up to far more than we can imagine—or that we are comfortable with! He lists as His own people those who have come from pagan nations and whose corporate identity was opposed to Israel, God’s chosen nation. What we learn is that God’s chosen race extends far beyond national borders and the artificial boundaries that we presumptuously erect on His behalf.We begin with Jesus Shall Reign that is not just a statement of His dominion over property but His Lordship over peoples. The Call to Worship from Revelation 15 calls us fear and glorify the “King of the nations” for all nations will come and worship Him. The Opening Hymn is All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name such that we may join in praise with that “yonder sacred throng” from “every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball.” We continue our praise with O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.
The Old Testament Reading is from Psalm 22 and focuses on the spreading of the name of the Lord for “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord…and worship before” Him.
The Confession of Sin from Leviticus 19 reminds of the sinful tendency of our hearts to think of ourselves as special—especially by minimizing and degrading others. We follow that with singing Psalm 67: O God, to Us Show Mercy with the desire that “all the peoples praise You, let all the nations sing.” With our Sung Responses Lord, Every Nation on Earth and verse 5 of How Sweet and Awesome, we again reiterate the theme of God’s Word bringing home the strangers from the nations.
We conclude the service of worship with Mighty Lord, Extend Your Kingdom with the prayer that the shades of night be scattered to the world’s remotest bounds.
