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| A simple psalm of praise? |
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Spurred by another blogger, I started reading Psalm 138 but ended up meditating on just the first half of the first verse in the psalm. My discovery was that this simple psalm of praise, like almost every other digestible chunk of scripture, isn’t so simple after all. In fact, I have yet to find a scripture that isn’t “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” Submitted here are some thoughts that were aroused during this time of meditation. 138:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
"I will…" is a statement of determination, of choice (will), a decision has been made. Based on God's goodness, indeed greatness, and on a lifetime of blessings, this choice should be the easiest one we make in our lives!
I will what? "…praise…" Not ask, seek, petition, lean on, take refuge in, accept, call on, etc. No, this is an action that seeks NO return on the investment. This is a uni-directional action, something offered to God with great gladness, appreciation, adoration. Praise is a gift, possibly the one God cherishes most from us. “You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Ps22:3).” Authentic praise flows straight from the heart... "from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Lk6:45)" ...our praise reveals to God the high place in our heart that he occupies! The absence of praise?
"…you…" signifies that we know him, addressing him in the familiar pronoun. He isn't a stranger, he isn't aloof or distant, but rather he is knowable!!!
"…O LORD…" His title, used with greatest reverence. “O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty…"
"…with all..." means all, holding nothing back. Not a portion, but in its entirety. Not sometimes or occasionally, but constantly.
"…my…" meaning a part of me. Sacrifice comes to mind. The word means to give of ourselves. God doesn't want our money, treasures, or time nearly as much as he wants us (Ps40:6). It is a beautiful feeling to be wanted by someone. And to be wanted not just by anyone but by the great Someone is really beyond words!!
"…heart;" Perhaps the best part! Scripture informs us that God has a "heart." He's a Person, One whom we can relate to, fellowship with, talk to, seek to understand, cry to, etc. God is nothing short of the most amazing Person imaginable, the Almighty Maker and yet at the same time the Perfect Lover. And he wants my heart?! O the unbelievable joy of this!
"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart!!" Amen!! To me this tiny little fragment of scripture communicates a powerful message of spontaneous worship. How wonderful to praise God, fully and completely! But as I meditated, I was reminded that in order to give ourselves 100% to worship (I will praise you, O Lord) we must first give our lives 100% to God (with all my heart), meaning total surrender of our heart, soul, and mind. Only then will we be able to completely lose ourselves in the act of praising God, as we were meant to!!!
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| To add a comment to "A simple psalm of praise?" |
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| August 16, 2007 |
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| short verse but you proved it has a whole bunch of meanin |
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| August 16, 2007 |
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| If we could all not only completely understand this verse, but actually apply it to our lives, our witness would turn the world on its ear. People innately want to give their devotion fully to something, but aren't quite sure to whom or how. Wouldn't it be great if they saw our devotion to God and realized He was worth their adoration, too? Matthew 6:24 comes to mind, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." He wants our devotion directed 100% to Him not just because He deserves it (although that's a good enough reason), but because it is in our best interest. I love it when God does stuff like that! Now I have that Bob Dylan song in my head, Gotta Serve Somebody. Nichole Nordeman sang a version of that song a few years back. I need to dig out that CD today. Thanks for giving me something to meditate on today, Mike! Blessings! |
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| August 16, 2007 |
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Mike,
Thanks for the insight. Was just getting ready to put together the Praise & Worship for Saturday's Aglow meeting. My husband and myself lead the praise & worship and a lot of the times I feel like I am trying to pull the people which feels like dead weight into the throne room.
Have a blessed day. |
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| August 16, 2007 |
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| No way I can add anything but a simple star |
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| August 16, 2007 |
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this is great!! i really like your end thoughts of Completely Losing oursleves in worship!!! to take the focus off us and place it on HIM!!! thats really the goal is die to self that only HE remains... i like the thought of losing myself alittle more than dying to myself...sounds alittle less painful...=P
thanks for taking the time to cook up something alittle different with this...enjoyed and appreciated!!! |
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| August 17, 2007 |
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| Always keepin em guessing. If you like a change of pace, you'll LOVE this one. Or... this one. Or even this one! |
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| August 17, 2007 |
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| Awsome! |
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