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.