Showing posts with label Psalm 150. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 150. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Personal Reflections on Psalm 19 & Psalm 150

Psalm 19: The Works and the Word of God.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

In the opening of this psalm, the author declares that the heavens and their sheer expanse clearly give proof of the Glory of God and in seeing them one should be in awe.

While creation itself has no voice, the author points out the fact that it speaks loudly of a creator. Toward the end of the description of creation, we are told that there is nothing hidden from the heat of the sun which makes me reflect that there is also nothing hidden from God. While the sun gives light to every part of the world, leaving no one place out, God seeks to shine light on all of us internally. The sun itself is an item we can see and feel physically while God is something we see and feel without physical sight or touch.

From there, the author of this Psalm celebrates the law of the Lord. He shares the truth that when we pay attention to the law, life itself becomes sweeter in a sense. He shares that God is the source of wisdom and how when you go to God for such items, they are given to us in ways that are simple. While we are guaranteed to face storms, we are able to find rest in the truth of the Lord. When we discover this truth, life does indeed become sweeter, for we are able to find joy in everything.

I feel in knowing these truths, the writer is also fully aware at how easy it is to fall outside of the law and he is fully aware of the awful feelings that come with sin. He calls out to the Lord praying that the Lord helps guard him from sin so that he will be blameless and ends with the final heartfelt emotion that he hopes his words and his focus on the Lord are acceptable to the Lord revealing his deep desire to be loved by God.

I love that he ends with calling the Lord both his rock and his Redeemer. When you consider this was written long before Christ died for our sins, it makes me realize that God indeed has been revealing himself to those who have sought him just as He promises He will.

Psalm 150: A Psalm of Praise.

I love the joy that is in this psalm. I feel it must have been written when someone was having the best of best days. It seems to have the same purpose as Psalm 100. This weekend was a hard weekend for me as far as being able to keep my focus on the truth; The Lord is faithful. He is my provider of all I truly need. I think this psalm is a great reminder of how we are to live each day.

First the psalmist reminds us that we must praise the LORD! Next he tells us to praise Him not only in church (His sanctuary) but also in His mighty expanse. When I read that today, it made me pause and remember how incredible it is that the God who created the universe, is also the God that created me for a purpose. In just the view I see upon waking, I should give praise. This message was one I needed to focus on today and reflect upon. Yesterday, I was so caught up on the ‘what ifs’ that I forgot to give thanks for the guarantees in life; God will provide me with all the grace I need to get through each day.

From there the psalmist reminds us that we should praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Sometimes, when we are focused on the rotten stuff in life like I was yesterday, we lose sight of all that God is doing for us in the middle of the muck. Yesterday, I was so focused on what I was not going to be able to take care of as well as worrying about how my situation was going to play out, that I could not see the blessing in the things I could take care of. By not singing thanks and giving praise as suggested for all that is good, I could not see any good at all.


I love what comes next. Praise him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. To me this verse clearly shows how much the LORD loves music and celebration. He truly loves for us to live abundantly. We sing and dance and celebrate when things are good. In ending this psalm by saying that everything that has breath should praise the Lord, I am reminded that no matter what the world throws at me, in God alone, I should find all I need to celebrate life and give / sing praise.