March 26th, 2021 – Friday Afternoon
“I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth.” ~Psalm 108:3-5
When is the last time (outside of a church or fellowship gathering) that you burst into a song of praise to the Lord? I’m talking about an uncompelled (by other humans), unfiltered, unfettered song (flowing through the vocal chords or at least attempting to if you are unable to speak) of worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It doesn’t matter if you can’t hold a tune in a bucket (or if your life depends on it) and it doesn’t matter if anyone else heard it. Do you sing to the Lord and proclaim His praises in your daily life?
A few things to mention about this passage: 1. We are told at the beginning of this psalm that it is a song and it is from David. Presumably, this is the same David who slew Goliath, fled from his father-in-law Saul, and eventually became king over Israel. 2. David seems to be in a bit of a squeeze in this psalm; perhaps it is set during a war or penned after losing a battle (based on verses 6-13). 3. David was intent on giving praise to the LORD; six times in the first three verses he makes some sort of declaration of how he is going to give glory and honor to God. 4. David focused on the nature of God. Here are some the attributes David mentions in Psalm 108: Mercy or lovingkindness (not little mercy, but GREAT mercy), truth (reaching to the skies), glory, holiness, and preeminent power.
In other words, David wrote this song of praise during what may have been a very difficult time. He was filled to overflowing with praise, however, not so much because of his circumstances (at least it seems), but because of the great and awesome character of God. Instead of just focusing on his need for deliverance (which he did indeed mention), David chose to pour forth glory and honor to the LORD. This was not privately, either, but for all the nations and peoples to hear. The LORD is that worthy and David was that intentional.
There are at least a couple of things here that should challenge us: 1. Do I trust in the LORD and believe Him to be who He really is? David didn’t offer empty praise or seek to appease God with flattery; no, he was abounding with praise because he knew the mercy and truth of God to be great and overwhelming. Do we know that? 2. When we are up against a wall or crushed down to the depths is our response one of praise? Is our hope in the LORD and does it show in our bursting forth in a song of praise? 3. David looked toward, but did not know God Incarnate; we, on the other hand, have come to know Him and have been given the Spirit of adoption that He has put within us. If David, before Christ’s coming, death, and resurrection, could utter such praises and honor, how can we, who have been grafted into the Vine, not?
Sing to the LORD for He is good! Sing praises to Him because His mercy is great and His truth endures to all generations! Give Him glory for it is His just due and lift up your voice in reverent awe of the Sovereign and Holy One! Don’t let another moment be wasted; let us praise Him for all of our days. Sing! He is worthy of it, even if you sound like a cow. Open up your heart and allow Him to fill you to overflowing with His praise.