One of life’s great mysteries: “Why do we always want what’s bad for us more than we want what’s good for us?”
David is crying out, pleading with the people to sing and praise the Lord. He uses the word “sing” as a command, or a directive. He wants the people to spontaneously worship, but I get the feeling that they are reluctant to do so. At the very least they are half hearted.
You and I both know that only by maintaining our relationship with Jesus Christ will we escape the horrors of hell, and avoid many pitfalls in this life as well. Make no mistake, only by surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can we be guaranteed heaven.
Why then, since we all agree that it’s so important….is so hard to motivate ourselves to do? Add to this discussion the other things that I know are good for me, like healthy eating, exercise, reading, devotions and speaking kindly to my wife. In every situation I find it easier to do what is wrong than what is right. It’s easier to eat fast food..or snack foods, it’s easier to sit in a recliner and watch TV, and it’s easier to get busy and put devotions off until tomorrow, and to grumble and be grumpy. Probably all these things are related to each other….and I don’t even want to think about what image of myself I just put out there…
Since what is wrong is easier than what is right, there must be something within me that is “bending” me toward wrong choices. I think David saw the same thing in the people of his day. When they woke up on Sunday morning, they had other things on their mind besides going to church. In fact, I think they would rather be doing almost anything else instead of going to church. (speaking metaphorically.. they didn’t really “go to church” in the same way we do). Singing and praising God wasn’t high on their priority list. I’ll bet they occasionally became critical of the music, the time of worship, the appearance of the temple, or the people who were leading. However, they didn’t appear to be too busy to worship other gods…hmmm.
Moving on to Psalm 88, I notice that it was written by Heman. That’s exciting! I remember his name from yesterday. He was the leader of temple worship, I think. So it’s possible that Heman wasn’t a strong, powerful person who looked good and had natural charisma. He says he was always sickly and close to death. Reading this I imagine a person who has a terminal illness that disfigures them from youth, not the leader of worship for the nation. I wonder if Heman was actually this ill, or if he simply saw himself as a weak, incomplete person when compared to God’s perfection and beauty? No one has an inflated opinion of themselves once they have spent time in the presence of the Almighty. There’s something about being near to God that helps us remain humble. Heman definitely had that…I wonder if that’s why David put him in charge of temple worship. I wonder if that’s our number one requirement when looking for people to lead us in worship. Would we be content with someone who is disfigured and doesn’t present well…if they were constantly in the presence of Jesus, and enabled by the Holy Spirit to lead in worship?
Heman also points out to us the best way to deal with difficult times. Cry out to God, and don’t stop when you don’t get an immediate answer. continue to trust in Him, lean on Him and plead with Him for strength, wisdom or whatever you need. I doubt that Heman knew that in 2000 years someone would be reading what he wrote on that particular day and would be encouraged. I’m sure he had no idea that it would be read from a web-based version of the Bible, and entered into a blog. Both of which can be accessed by the whole world. (although I think Biblegateway is slightly ahead of me on “hits”…)
What a refreshment Psalm 92 and 93 are, after reading Psalm 88!
I wish that Heman had written 92 and 93 as well, then I would rejoice knowing that God brought him through all his troubles. But, these are likely songs of David, who is celebrating his victory.
Every Christian can echo the sentiments of these Psalms. God is great, and powerful and just! God increases our strength and vitality! In Jesus Christ we can minister in power and effectiveness even to our old age!
I want to remember the phrase “only a fool would not understand that even though the wicked sprout like weeds they will be destroyed forever”. It isn’t the exact wording, but it captures the sentiment. There are times when it seems like it would be easier to get ahead if we “broke the rules”….(spiritual rules) but that sort of behavior only leads to failure and destruction.
“As I proclaim my love for you this morning Lord, and as I reflect on the futility of any other “walk of life”….and as I consider your great love for me and all the ways that you have blessed me, and this church, and all of the people around me….I cannot help but be happy.
You are good, and you have been so very good to me. I love you and I want my life to always be a testimony to that.”
Considering that…how could anyone possibly want to stay home on Sunday?
Faithfully,
PR