glory

Join the Chorus

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1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
    For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 148:1-14 ESV

This is the third in a series of five psalms that close the psalter and share the theme of praise for the goodness and greatness of Yahweh. In this psalm, the author focuses his attention on Yahweh’s role as the Creator God. He begins his song by calling on the residents of the heavenly realm to join in praising the LORD.

Praise the LORD from the heavens!
    Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels!
    Praise him, all the armies of heaven! – Psalm 148:1-2 NLT

If this psalm was written after the exiles returned to Jerusalem after their 70-year-long captivity in Babylon, the author was likely familiar with the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah before Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. This was a time of great spiritual apostasy in the land of Judah, and Yahweh used prophets like Isaiah and Micah to call His chosen people to repentance or face certain destruction at the hands of the Babylonians. As part of his prophetic ministry, Isaiah was given the privilege of seeing a vision of Yahweh in His heavenly throneroom surrounded by the angelic host.

I saw the LORD. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!” – Isaiah 6:1-3 NLT

This fascinating scene must have struck a chord with the psalmist as he considered the glory of Yahweh and tried to imagine the angels in heaven responding to the grandeur of His presence. There is no idolatry in heaven. No one is worshiping false gods or tempted to share their adoration and allegiance to anyone other than Yahweh, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The angels enjoy the all-pervasive presence of Yahweh and are privileged to bask in the light of His undiminished glory.

The apostle John was given a similar vision of the heavenly throne, and he did his best to describe what he saw in the Book of Revelation.

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” – Revelation 4:1-8 NLT

The psalmist imagined the sun, moon, and stars joining in the chorus of voices lifting their song of praise to the One who created them.

Praise him, sun and moon!
    Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above!
    Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
Let every created thing give praise to the LORD,
    for he issued his command, and they came into being. – Psalm 148:3-5 NLT

Yahweh deserved the praise of His creation because He alone was responsible for their existence. “He set them in place forever and ever. His decree will never be revoked” (Psalm 148:6 NLT). Yahweh was their creator and sustainer; He spoke and they appeared, and He guarantees their continued existence. 

The psalmist personifies the planets, stars, and clouds participating in the never-ending praise of Yahweh. In one of his psalms, David wrote of the heavens declaring God’s glory without the need for words, and yet their message was loud and clear.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth… – Psalm 19:1-4 NLT

During His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus painted a similar image when He addressed the Jewish religious leaders who demanded that He order the adoring crowds to stop praising Him.    

When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” – Luke 19:36-60 NLT

The inanimate stones would burst into cheers because God deserves glory. His creation can’t help but echo His glory and greatness because they are a byproduct of His power. The same is true of God’s people. As Paul told the believers in Ephesus, “We are his workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). The apostle Peter reminds us that we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 BSB). 

The psalmist shared Peter’s view and called his contemporaries to join in the chorus of praise to Yahweh. Their voices would join the rest of creation in declaring Yahweh’s greatness and goodness to the ends of the earth.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and clouds,
    wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
young men and young women,
    old men and children. – Psalm 148:7-12 NLT

From the psalmist’s perspective, the praise of Yahweh was not an option or a choice; it was the natural response of the creative order. According to His own assessment, all that Yahweh made was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). His creation was a reflection of His power, holiness, creativity, goodness, and grace. Everything He made was an extension of His character and intended to echo His glory. This is what leads the psalmist to demand that his audience lead the chorus of praises to Yahweh.

Let them all praise the name of the LORD.
    For his name is very great;
    his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
He has made his people strong,
    honoring his faithful ones—
    the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the LORD! – Psalm 148:13-14 NLT

As the chosen people of God, they owed Him their praise, adoration, sold-out commitment, willing obedience, and unbridled worship.

This psalm reminds us of just how great a God we serve. He is not a mere concept or force, but a being of immense power and intelligence. He is a loving creator who made all that we see by simply speaking it into existence, and He sustains it all with ease. When we consider the immensity of God, it seems ludicrous to trust in men. God alone has the power to rescue, redeem, and restore. He brings healing to the brokenhearted, sight to the blind, support to the fatherless and widows, food for the hungry, freedom to the captives, support to the afflicted, and favor to those who fear Him. As followers of Christ, those phrases should sound familiar. On a visit to His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus stood in the synagogue and read the following words from Isaiah chapter 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18-19 NLT). Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s grace and mercy. He is the honest answer to oppression, illness, disease, inequity, spiritual blindness, hunger, affliction, fear, and even death.

God does not offer just temporary relief from life’s cares and concerns; He offers eternal salvation from the rule of sin and the penalty of death. He has provided a way for men to be restored to a right relationship with Him, despite their sin and rebellion against Him. He has made possible a way to remedy the results of the fall and restore mankind and the earth to their former glory. He not only created the world and all it contains, but He will one day recreate and restore it to the way it was intended to be all along. Only God can do that. Any attempts by man to improve the earth and our lives on it are fleeting and temporary.

In many cases, our attempts at improvement have resulted in greater devastation. From nuclear power that resulted in nuclear weapons to the combustion engine that has polluted our atmosphere, every “improvement” by man has ended up having a negative impact. God alone is our salvation. He alone has the power to provide us with hope and healing. So the Psalmist reminds us to praise Him. From the oldest to the youngest, the rich to the poor, the wealthy to the needy – everyone and everything should praise the Lord. “Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!” (Psalm 148:13 NLT).

Father, only You are worthy of our praise. Only You have the capacity to do anything about our neediness and hopelessness. I can praise You even before You answer because I know You will – You always do. You have sent Your Son as the answer to every single one of our problems and as the solution to all that’s wrong with our planet and the people who occupy it. Even as I read the news this morning I am amazed at all that is wrong in our world. Earthquakes, riots, rebellions, murders, genocide, war, hatred, greed, and immorality of all kinds. But I can praise You because one day You are going to make all this right. You are going to restore Your creation to the way it was meant to be. And even in the midst of all this, You have given me hope through Jesus Christ, Your Son. He is the ultimate expression of Your favor to man. So I praise You! Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Praise the LORD!

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1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7     who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8     the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The LORD will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 146:1-10 ESV

The last five psalms are anonymous and form the final Hallel (praise) section of the Psalter. Due to the similarity of their content, they were likely written by the same author. Each begins with the same call to action: “Praise the LORD.” This imperative statement is not intended as a suggestion, but as a command to give Yahweh all the dignity, honor, worship, and praise He rightly deserves. The psalmist calls for wholehearted worship on the part of the people of God, and he sets the tone by declaring his sold-out allegiance to the Almighty.

I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. – Psalm 146:2 ESV

His statement of devotion to Yahweh is reminiscent of the address Joshua gave to the Israelites near the end of his life. Ever since the death of Moses, Joshua had served as the God-appointed leader of the Israelites, helping them cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the land of Canaan. Over the years, Joshua led the Israelites in their effort to conquer the inhabitants of the land so they could take possession of the inheritance promised to them by Yahweh. They had fought and won many battles, and successfully occupied a large portion of Canaan, but Yahweh reminded them that He had been behind it all.

“It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory. I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.” – Joshua 24:12-13 NLT

Despite his leadership role, Joshua knew that he had been little more than an instrument in Yahweh’s hands. He had led the people into battle, but the victories had been the LORD’s doing. So, Joshua commanded the Israelites to show their gratitude to Yahweh by treating Him with honor and unadulterated reverence.

“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:14-15 NLT

Like the psalmist, Joshua tried to spur the people’s obedience by using himself as an example. He declared his intention to live out his final days in total submission to and reliance upon Yahweh, and he committed his family to follow his lead.

Joshua warned the Israelites about the dangers of idolatry because he knew their history of spiritual infidelity. He had been there when Aaron made the golden calf in the wilderness, and he had witnessed the people’s response to this false god they had crafted from the plunder taken from the Egyptians.

The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. – Exodus 34:6 NLT

Yahweh had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and given them victory over their enemies, but they gave their allegiance to a nonexistent god they had made with their own hands.

The psalmist stressed a different problem facing his peers. He was less concerned about idolatry and the worship of false gods than their tendency to worship men.

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
    there is no help for you there.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
    and all their plans die with them. – Psalm 146:3-4 NLT

While idolatry continued to be a problem for the Israelites throughout their existence as a nation, their real struggle was the worship of men. Ever since the day they rejected Samuel’s leadership and demanded, “Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have” (1 Samuel 8:5 NLT), the people of Israel had exhibited a preference for human kings over the King of kings. Yahweh would repeatedly warn them about their tendency to replace His authority with that of mere men.

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
    who rely on human strength
    and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
    with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salty land.” – Jeremiah 17:5-6 NLT

The psalmist knew his people well and wanted them to think twice about putting their trust in powerful men who could never measure up to Yahweh’s standards. As far as the psalmist was concerned, there was no comparison between mortal men and the infinite, all-powerful God of the universe.

He made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them.
    He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
    and food to the hungry.
The LORD frees the prisoners.
   The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down.
    The LORD loves the godly.
The LORD protects the foreigners among us.
    He cares for the orphans and widows,
    but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. – Psalm 146:6-9 NLT

No man could ever hope to compete with Yahweh. No king who ever lived could claim to hold a candle to Yahweh’s glory and greatness. The anonymous author of Psalm 2 exposed the futility of earthly kings trying to oppose the one true King.

Why are the nations so angry?
    Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
    the rulers plot together
against the LORD
    and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
    “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The LORD scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury. – Psalm 2:1-5 NLT

The prophet Isaiah declared Yahweh’s superiority and supremacy over all mankind.

God sits above the circle of the earth.
    The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
    and makes his tent from them.
He judges the great people of the world
    and brings them all to nothing. – Isaiah 40:22-23 NLT

In Isaiah’s estimation, the worship of men was unwarranted and a waste of time. They would always be poor substitutes for Yahweh because they couldn’t measure up to His glorious standards. Even Yahweh declared Himself to be incomparable and irreplaceable.

“To whom will you compare me?
    Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. – Isaiah 40:25 NLT

The psalmist understood that Yahweh’s immensity and eternality set Him apart from all false gods and every man with god-like aspirations. He deserved man’s praise because He was praiseworthy. Yahweh wasn’t a figment of man’s fertile imagination and had not been formed by human hands. He was the maker of “heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them” (Psalm 146:6 NLT). Yahweh is the uncreated Creator of the universe who has no beginning and end. He is eternal and all-powerful. He is holy and wholly righteous. He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV). With those thoughts in mind, the psalmist closes his song in the same way he opened it, with a call to praise the eternal, always-present, forever faithful God.

The LORD will reign forever.
    He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Praise the Lord! – Psalm 146:10 NLT

Father, I must confess that I do not always recognize and honor Your greatness. I say I believe in it but, far too often, my actions and attitudes reflect something altogether different. I don’t praise You enough. I fail to trust You fully. I tend to put my hope in men, even in myself, rather than trusting in Your proven track record of greatness and goodness. While I could easily deny any worship of false gods, I know it would be a lie. My idols are far more subtle than those of the Israelites, but they are idols all the same. Anything I turn to instead of You is a false god that will always provide false hope. No man or human institution can replace you. No idealogy, political party, or human leader can replace You or hope to compete with You. Yet, it is so easy to put my trust in those things that will always prove untrustworthy. Help me to heed the psalmist’s call and learn to praise You for who You are and all that You have done. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Singing Yahweh’s Praises

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A Song of Praise. Of David.

1 I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The LORD is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.]
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
    and kind in all his works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. – Psalm 145:1-21 ESV

David loved the LORD, and talked about Him and to Him constantly. Maybe it was because he knew how much he needed Yahweh — for everything. David had much to be grateful for, and he continually praised God for who He was and for all He had done. He didn’t treat God flippantly or casually and refused to take Him for granted. In David’s estimation, God was great and greatly to be praised. As a matter of fact, God’s greatness was unsearchable; you could never plumb its depths. Just when you think you know how great God is, He surprises you. God’s greatness is unlimited and inexhaustible. He doesn’t run out of wonders or miracles to perform – a fact that David had experienced personally, time and time again.

Here was David, the king of Israel, acknowledging Yahweh as his God and as his King. David was a king himself, and he knew well the implications of that title. God is sovereign and rules over everyone and everything, including David. God is not just a deity to be worshiped, but a King to be honored and obeyed. God’s word is final, and His majesty is incomparable. There is no other king who could compare to Him, including David.

But for David, Yahweh’s greatness was not just something to be admired; it was to be declared. In verses 4-7, he emphasizes the importance of passing on the news of God’s glory and goodness to the next generation. According to David, the only time we should be silent about God is to meditate on the splendor of His majesty and on His wondrous works. But those times of meditation should provide us with food for thought and then words of testimony and praise. Our thoughts about God and His greatness should be transformed into words that inform and influence others.

Yahweh deserves praise, and we are intended to use our voices to verbally acknowledge who He is and all that He has done. We are to commend, declare, speak, pour forth, and sing aloud. Of all people, believers should have the most to say about God. We tend to praise that which we appreciate. We talk about what interests us. When we see a beautiful sunrise, we feel the urge to share it with someone. When we take a memorable vacation, we can’t help talking about it. When we are proud of our children, no one can stop us from bragging about them. We unashamedly testify to others about what we find meaningful in our lives. It could be a delicious meal at a local restaurant, a good book, a movie, a newly discovered musical group, a recent Facebook post, or a personal achievement. But how often do we declare the greatness of God? How many times do we commend Him to others? How frequently do praises concerning God come from our lips and to the ears of those we meet? Are we prone to sing God’s praises out loud and outside the context of a Sunday morning worship service?

David states that the heavens declare the glory of God. We can see it in a sunrise or sunset, a cloud formation, a night sky filled with stars, or the gentle breeze on a warm summer night. God’s creation constantly praises Him. The angels in heaven never cease to offer Him verbal praise and adoration. But as human beings, the pinnacle of His creative energies, we remain silent far too often. Rather than commend God to others, we complain. Instead of declaring the mighty acts He has already done, we demand that He do more. We speak, but do the words that come out of our mouths concern God? Do words of praise, thanksgiving, and honor for God pour forth from our lips? Do we sing aloud of His righteousness?

David found no shortage of reasons to praise Yahweh.

The LORD is merciful and compassionate,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The LORD is good to everyone.
    He showers compassion on all his creation. – Psalm 145:9 NLT

He knew from firsthand experience that Yahweh was gracious, caring, merciful, and forgiving, and he was not shy in declaring his amazement and gratitude. He was blown away by the fact that the God of the universe not only showed an interest in him, but showered him with love and compassion. David was a firm believer that God’s creation was a living testament to His glory. In an earlier psalm, he wrote, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known” (Psalm 19:1-2 NLT). People can look at nature and see the power and creativity of God, but creation does not necessarily display His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. But when they look at a child of God, they can see a sinner transformed into a saint by the priceless gift of God’s grace. When they hear us talk about all that God has done and continues to do for us, they hear a different side of His glory and greatness. But for them to hear, we must speak; we must make God known. We have a responsibility to act as God’s personal press agents, telling everyone we meet of His glory, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness.

David puts it plainly. Those who have been blessed by God will brag about God.

…your faithful followers will praise you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
    they will give examples of your power. – Psalm 145:10-11 NLT

As a king, David understood the importance of establishing an enduring kingdom. No king wants to be a one-trick pony whose kingdom dies with him. He dreams of establishing a long-lasting dynasty that will carry on his legacy through the generations. When David thought about Yahweh, he couldn’t help but think about the everlasting nature and incomparable power of His Kingdom.

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
    You rule throughout all generations. – Psalm 145:13 NLT

David was amazed at the sheer size and scope of Yahweh’s dominion. He ruled and reigned over all. David couldn’t help but compare his own reign with that of God, and when he did, he realized that God’s Kingdom was far greater and His responsibilities were more extensive. Yet, God was faithful in all His words and kind in all His works. Everyone looked to Him to provide their food and fulfill their desires, whether they acknowledged Him as King or not. David recognized that it was God who opened His hand and satisfied the desires of every living thing. God is gracious and merciful to all.

From David’s perspective, Yahweh was the perfect model of a king. He always keeps His promises and is gracious at all times. He assists the fallen and bears the burdens of the oppressed. He provides food for the hungry and water for the thirsty. He is righteous in all that He does and filled with kindness. When called upon, He answers. When needed, He shows up. Yahweh was the consummate King who ruled over His extensive Kingdom with righteousness, compassion, mercy, grace, and love.

Unlike human kings, God always does what is right. He always keeps His word. He doesn’t lie, deceive, renege on a promise, or act unjustly. We may not always understand His actions, but we can never question His integrity. Based on what we see happening around us, we can easily conclude that God is either indifferent or incapable of doing what needs to be done. It can appear as if the wicked are winning. The psalmist felt that way and cried out, “Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?” (Psalm 94:2-3 ESV). Ethan the Ezrahite wrote, “How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!” (Psalm 89:46-47 ESV).

There are times when it feels like God is either out of control or out of earshot. It seems as if He is not listening to our pleas for help or seeing the gravity of our situation. However, God is a righteous King who is always in complete control of the circumstances. Yes, it may appear as if the wicked are prospering and the unrighteous are getting all the breaks, but God knows exactly what He is doing. He is not fooled or duped by the ways of men. He knows that “there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10 ESV). No one deserves the benefits of rain or crops. No one has earned God’s favor through their acts of righteousness. The fact that any of us exists at all is a testimony to the enduring patience of God.

But David reminds us that “The Lord is close to all who call on him” (Psalm 145:18 NLT). He would have us know that God is always near. He always hears. He always preserves those who love Him. But how God does so may not coincide with our own expectations. We rarely go to God without some well-thought-out idea of what we want Him to do for us. In fact, most of our prayers consist of clear-cut instructions for God, telling Him exactly what it is we want Him to do and when we want it done. If we have a bone to pick with God, it is because He doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we desire. But His job is to do His will, not ours. He knows what is best for us.

Paul gives us some timeless counsel: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). It is perfectly okay to tell God what we need. It is even OK to share with Him what we want. But at that point, we have to let go of our wishes and come to grips with the fact that His will may not be the same as our wish. He may choose to do something different altogether. And if His answer comes back in a different form or on a different schedule, it DOES NOT mean He is not near or that He does not hear.

Like David, we must learn to trust Him because He is trustworthy. When we look back on our lives, we will be able to see that He is a righteous, loving, and compassionate God who knows what is best and always does what is right. Then we will say with David, “I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:21 NLT).

Father, You are worthy of praise because You are the righteous King of the Universe. You are mighty, majestic, incomparable, holy, just, and without equal. But that is not the extent of Your praiseworthiness. You have given me ample reasons to praise You because You have shown up in my life in tangible ways that have proven Your love for me. You have saved me, redeemed me, guided, disciplined, and loved me through thick and thin. You have patiently put up with me and graciously forgiven me, time and time again. You have listened to my prayers and endured my complaints. You have watched me stray and graciously led me back. But despite all You have done for me, I remain far too silent when it comes to singing Your praises and expressing my gratitude. I want that to change. Give me a heart like David had and a passion to praise You to the next generation and beyond. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Our Worship

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1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The LORD is great in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
    Holy is he!
4 The King in his might loves justice.
    You have established equity;
you have executed justice
    and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God;
    worship at his footstool!
    Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
    They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
    they kept his testimonies
    and the statute that he gave them.

8 O LORD our God, you answered them;
    you were a forgiving God to them,
    but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the LORD our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for the LORD our God is holy! – Psalm 99:1-9 ESV

The psalmist opens his song with a statement of God’s kingship and sovereignty.

The LORD reigns… – Psalm 99:1 ESV

This statement is not up for debate or open to discussion. It is a matter-of-fact declaration of a non-negotiable reality. Yahweh rules over all and is worthy of worship, reverence, and obedience. His unprecedented power and authority are without question and demand the fear of all men. That is why the psalmist states, “Let the peoples tremble!” (Psalm 99:1 ESV).

To illustrate Yahweh’s majestic holiness, the psalmist describes Him as “enthroned above the cherubim” (Psalm 99:99:1 NLT), a reference to the Shekinah glory of God that appeared above the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. The instructions for constructing this earthly “throne” were given to Moses by God on top of Mount Sinai in the wilderness.

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.” – Exodus 25:17-22 NLT

Once the Tabernacle was completed, God agreed to inhabit it with His glory and dwell among the people of Israel.

“I will meet with you, to speak to you there. There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory.” – Exodus 29:42-43 ESV

“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.” – Exodus 29:45 ESV

The promise was meant to reassure His people by guaranteeing His abiding presence. But it was also intended to instill in them a reverential fear because of His holiness. The entire Tabernacle was an elaborate symbol of Yahweh’s glory and greatness. It was adorned with gold, silver, expensive fabrics, and finely crafted furnishings that testified to the majesty of its divine inhabitant. This was no ordinary tent but the dwelling place of Yahweh, the God of the universe and the all-powerful King who loves justice and establishes equity on earth. That is why the psalmist demands a response of awe and reverence from the people of God.

Praise the LORD our God.
Worship before his footstool.
He is holy! – Psalm 99:5 NLT

As if to drive home his point, the psalmist recalls how Yahweh appeared to the people of Israel as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to guide them during their journey from Egypt to the land of Canaan. They were never without His abiding presence and never lacked His protection and provision for their needs. When they prayed to Him, He listened. When they sinned, He punished. When they grew thirsty, He provided them with water to drink. When they ran out of food, He graciously gave them manna and quail. And all He asked for in exchange was their worship.

But let’s be honest. Most of us need a good reason to worship God, which usually has more to do with us than Him. We’ll worship Him if He has been good to us. We’ll worship Him if He has met our expectations and fulfilled all our desires. We’ll worship Him if our life goes as we expected it to go. But let one thing go wrong, and all bets are off. We find it hard to worship God amid difficulties. Singing His praises is difficult when we’re busy singing the blues.

But the Psalmist reminds us that our praise of God has little to do with what He has done for us lately. It has everything to do with who He is. He is God, and He is holy. So we should exalt or lift up His name, simply because of who He is. Our praise should be motivated by His character and essence, not His ability to meet our laundry list of needs or wants.

God is not worthy of our praise or worship because He meets all our desires and answers every one of our prayers. We worship Him because He deserves it.

God rules. On your toes, everybody!
He rules from his angel throne—take notice!
God looms majestic in Zion,
He towers in splendor over all the big names.
Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!
    Holy. Yes, holy. – Psalms 99:1-3 MSG).

He is KING! He is mighty, majestic, powerful, and deserving of our honor, respect, fear, awe, obedience, gratefulness, and worship. Worship is a recognition of who God is. It is an awareness that He is God and we are not. When we come to God only for what we can get from Him, that is the farthest thing from worship. In doing so, we turn Him into a glorified slot machine. We pull the handle, hoping to hit the jackpot. We want Him to deliver on our desires for happiness, success, popularity, peace, comfort, and contentment. And when He doesn’t come through, we express disappointment rather than worship.

But again, the psalmist reminds us, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem, for the LORD our God is holy!” (Psalm 99:9 NLT). We are to worship Him simply because He is holy. He is set apart, distinct, different, sacred, one-of-a-kind, unique, and without equal in all the world. And if that doesn’t get us to worship Him, then the psalmist reminds us that one day God will judge the earth. He will send His Son back to set things right and restore the world to its original splendor. He will judge the nations. He will put an end to sin and establish His Kingdom on earth. That’s the God who deserves our worship, praise, honor, glory, and full attention.

Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

Round up an orchestra to play for God,
Add on a hundred-voice choir.

Feature trumpets and big trombones,
Fill the air with praises to King God.

Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.

Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
And mountains harmonize the finale—

A tribute to God when he comes,
When he comes to set the earth right. – Psalm 98:4-9 MSG

Father, You deserve my praise and worship, not because You do things for me, but simply because of who You are. Forgive me for the many times I hold back on my praise because I am waiting for You to meet my needs on my terms. I fail to recognize Your holiness and so I fail to give You the honor You so rightfully deserve. Open my eyes to the reality of Your uniqueness. Let me see You in all Your splendor and holiness, and shout Your praises simply because of who You are. Anything You do for me is like icing on the cake – an extra bonus from the hand of the Almighty God. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You Reign Above It All

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1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;
    the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their roaring.
4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
    mightier than the waves of the sea,
    the LORD on high is mighty!

5 Your decrees are very trustworthy;
    holiness befits your house,
    O LORD, forevermore. – Psalm 93:1-5 ESV

This psalm is short but packs a punch. In it, the psalmist declares Yahweh’s sovereignty and eternality. His reign is everlasting and overwhelming in its power and influence. The God of Israel is without equal, ruling over all creation, including the waves of the sea and the kings of the earth. But unlike human rulers, King Yahweh doesn’t derive His power from men or rely on regal attire to define His glory and greatness. The psalmist describes Him as “robed in majesty” with “strength as His belt.”

Yahweh needs no throne, scepter, palace, or royal raiments to set Him apart from His peers, because He has none. His unbridled power and sovereignty are evident in the natural world, and all nature declares His undiminished majesty and might. King David shared the psalmist’s vision of creation displaying Yahweh’s glory.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
    It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
The sun rises at one end of the heavens
    and follows its course to the other end.
    Nothing can hide from its heat. – Psalm 19:1-6 NLT

In the ancient world, the ocean was considered a place of mystery and dread. It was filled with sea monsters that threatened the lives of men, and its waves could destroy the strongest of ships. Despite their close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the Israelites were not a seagoing people. They feared its power and associated it with evil. For their ancient ancestors, the Red Sea had served as a barrier to their escape from Egypt. But Yahweh parted the sea and allowed them to walk across on dry land.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. – Exodus 14:21-22 ESV

When the Israelites finally arrived in the land of promise, they found it inhabited by Canaanites, who believed their god, Baal, had overcome Yamm, the god of the seas. Yet, Yahweh aided His people in conquering the land and defeating the Canaanites and their powerful god.

The psalmist describes Yahweh as “mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore—the LORD above is mightier than these” (Psalm 93:4 NLT). No power in heaven or on earth could stand before the God of Israel. 

The waters of the ocean were no match for Yahweh, and the armies of earthly kings were powerless before Israel’s God. His kingdom was everlasting, and His royal decrees were binding. He could not be defeated or dethroned. And the psalmist found comfort in the truth that Yahweh’s reign was “holy forever and ever” (Psalm 93:5 NLT).

The contemporary hymn, “Reign Above It All,” paints a vivid picture of God’s sovereignty and power as revealed through Jesus Christ.

The reign of darkness now has endedIn the kingdom of lightIn the kingdom of lightForever under Your dominionYou’re the King of my lifeYou’re the King of my life
You reign above it all, You reign above it allOver the universe and over every heartThere is no higher nameJesus, You reign above it all
On the cross, the work was finishedGod, You poured out Your lifeJust to give us new lifeNow from the lips of the forgivenHear an anthem arise‘Cause Jesus You’re alive, oh
You reign above it all, You reign above it allOver the universe and over every heartThere is no higher nameJesus, You reign above it allLet all of Heaven and the Earth erupt in songSing hallelujah to the Everlasting OneThere is no higher nameJesus, You reign above it allYou reign above it all
You sent the darkness runningOut of an empty graveNow seated alone in gloryEnthroned on the highest praise
You reign above it all, You reign above it allOver the universe and over every heartThere is no higher nameJesus, You reign above it allLet all of Heaven and the Earth erupt in songSing hallelujah to the Everlasting OneThere is no higher nameJesus, You reign above it all
– Paul McClure, Reign Above It All lyrics © Essential Music Publishing

Father, You reign above it all. You are great and greatly to be praised. May I never forget just how powerful, majestic, and worthy of praise You are. Never let me forget that You alone are God, and that no power in heaven or earth can stand before You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Light in the Darkness

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To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
    I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
    but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8     Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth! – Psalm 57:1-11 ESV

Because of Saul’s unjustified vendetta against him, David was forced to seek refuge in the wilderness. During his 13-year-long exile from Judah, David and his faithful band of men lived in constant fear for their lives, trying to stay one step ahead of Saul and his posse of well-trained mercenaries.

David wrote this psalm during this emotionally draining and confusing phase of his life. Yet despite the less-than-pleasant conditions in which he was forced to live, David remained confident in the Lord’s care and concern for him.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
    I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
    until the danger passes by. – Psalm 57:1 NLT

While caves had become a source of physical refuge, David never stopped trusting in God as his ultimate protector and provider. Even as he hid in the dark recesses of some dank and unhospitable cave, David trusted his fate to God, believing that the Almighty would one day restore his fortunes.

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
    disgracing those who hound me. – Psalm 57:2-23 NLT

Though David was renowned for his military prowess, he viewed himself as a helpless bird huddled under the protective wing of its mother. During his extended trial, David had found God to be a constant source of strength and encouragement, showing up at just the right time and delivering him from the hands of his enemies. His escape from King Achish and the Philistines had not resulted from his award-winning acting skills, but because God had intervened on his behalf (1 Samuel 21:10-15).

David was a realist and not an overly optimistic, glass-half-full kind of guy. He knew the desperate nature of his circumstances and was more than willing to paint his conditions in realist terms.

I am surrounded by fierce lions
    who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
    and whose tongues cut like swords. – Psalm 57:4 NLT

But as he expressed in the previous psalm, David saw no reason to fear men as long as God was on his side.

…my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me? – Psalm 56:2-4 ESV

This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me? – Psalm 56;9-11 ESV

David was in God’s leadership training school, where he received on-the-job training in trust and obedience. His path to the throne of Israel was proving to be anything but smooth and pleasant, but his awareness of God’s power and provision increased daily.

His life was an up-and-down, roller-coaster affair filled with constant threats to his life that required persistent reliance upon God. But even during his darkest moments, David never stopped viewing himself as a servant of God whose role was to shepherd and protect the people of God. At one point, he heard that the Philistines were stealing grain from the town of Keilah. Apalled by this act of aggression, David sought to know what God would have him do. When he asked the Lord, “Should I go and attack them?” (1 Samuel 23:2 NLT), he received a positive response.

So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. – 1 Samuel 23:5 NLT

When Saul received news that David had rescued the town of Keilah, he didn’t rejoice in this unexpected defeat of the Philistines. Instead, he saw an opportunity to capture David.

“We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. – 1 Samuel 23:7-8 NLT

Fresh off his victory over the Philistines, David soon received news that Saul was coming. What made this report so disturbing was the fact that Saul intended to destroy his own people just to capture David. So, David sought the will of God once again.

“O Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here. Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell me.” – 1 Samuel 23:10-11 NLT

God confirmed David’s suspicions, so rather than risk the lives of the people of Keilah, David and his men vacated the town and headed back into the wilderness.

So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him. – 1 Samuel 23:13-14 NLT

That last line is key and explains why David had such confidence in God. He understood that God was responsible for his safety and security. Yahweh had provided every last-minute escape and led them to just the right cave to serve as their “stronghold.”

Looking back at his circumstances, David crafted a song to tell others what he had learned about his God. He penned the lyrics to a hymn of praise that chronicled God’s goodness even in the worst of times. David was being chased and hounded. His very life was in danger. He was surrounded by enemies and facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Yet he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel and appointed by God to be the next king of Israel. That is why he kept trusting in and crying out to the one “who will fulfill His purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2 NLT). Despite all that had happened since his anointing, David continued to trust God for the future.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises! – Psalm 57:7 NLT

When Samuel traveled to Jesse’s house to find Saul’s replacement as king, David heard the Lord say, “This is the one; anoint him” (1 Samuel 16:12 NLT). Then Samuel poured the anointing oil on David’s head, and God poured His Spirit into David’s heart. In doing so, God promised David that he would one day be the next king of Israel. Yes, Saul was still on the throne and David was hiding out in a cave in the wilderness, but despite those circumstances, God would keep His promise.

David could sing God’s praises because He had learned to trust God’s promises. He didn’t delay his praise until God had fulfilled all his promises and he was sitting on the throne of Israel. No, David sang God’s praises from the depths of a cave in the middle of the wilderness, years before he ever put a crown on his head or set foot in the city of Jerusalem. David sang of God’s love and faithfulness in anticipation of God’s future fulfillment of His promises.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
    I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 57:9-10 NNLT

David had learned to praise God in the midst of his problems, not just after they were gone. He could sing in the darkness of the cave, when the light of God’s glory was difficult to discern and the hope of His promises was hidden from view.

Like David, we can praise God for what He has yet to do, because He always comes through. He keeps His word. The Lord never lies or reneges on His commitments.

God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through? – Numbers 23:19 NLT

David cried out to God, knowing that He would send help from heaven to rescue him. In due time, God would do what He had promised to do. And He still works the same way today. We can trust Him because He is trustworthy. We can sing in the cave because God is there. We can rejoice in the darkness because God’s light never diminishes or dims.

Father, may I be able to say, “My heart is confident in you, my heart is confident.” And may I be able to say it long before You’ve proven it true. May I praise You based on Your reputation for faithfulness, not just when I’ve seen it lived out. I tend to want to praise You when Your promises have been fulfilled in full. But David sang of Your greatness even when his circumstances painted a different picture. Strengthen my faith so that I might praise You even when I can’t see You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Light and Dark

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To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in a way that is not good;
    he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O LORD.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise. – Psalm 36:1-12 ESV

In this Psalm, David compares the wicked with God. Both are realities in his life. As the king of the nation of Israel, David is surrounded by enemies – both within and without. He could witness and experience firsthand the attitudes and actions of the wicked as they interacted with him daily. Of course, David seems to be using the literary device of hyperbole to make his point about the wicked  – but only slightly. He speaks of their hearts being filled with wickedness. He describes them as being so blinded by pride that they are oblivious to their sinfulness.

In their blind conceit,
    they cannot see how wicked they really are. – Psalm 36:2 NLT

They display no fear of God, and everything they say and do is perverted by their own sin so that they are incapable of doing anything good or wise. Their wickedness is so pervasive that it inhibits their sleep and produces a non-stop obsession with wickedness.

They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
    Their actions are never good. – Psalm 36:4 NLT

David imagines them lying awake at night, dreaming up evil things to do the next day. From his perspective, it’s as if they couldn’t stop doing evil even if they wanted to. While much of this is exaggerated, there is a certain degree to which it is true. Those who do not know Christ and have a relationship with God through Him are controlled by sin. They are slaves to sin (Romans 6:19). They are incapable of doing what is right or righteous in God’s eyes. This doesn’t mean they are incapable of doing anything good, but that the good they do will never earn them favor or merit in God’s eyes. Isaiah put it this way:

We are all infected and impure with sin.
    When we display our righteous deeds,
    they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
    and our sins sweep us away like the wind. – Isaiah 64:6 NLT

So, in a way, David was right. The wicked – those who do not believe in God – are incapable of doing anything good. They are controlled by and enslaved to sin.

But then, David addresses the other reality in his life: God. While the wicked were always present in David’s life, so was God. Yahweh was a constant and consistent source of strength, encouragement, hope, and help. David describes God’s unfailing love and mercy, His unbelievable steadfastness or faithfulness, His justice and righteous judgments, and His ever-present salvation, care, provision, and protection. David describes God as the “fountain of life, the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9 NLT). God not only gave us life, but He graciously maintains and sustains it. He makes every breath we take and every second we live on this earth possible, which is true for the righteous and the wicked.

God provides us with light so that we can see. In Hebrew, verse nine literally translates as, “In thy light we see light.” David is saying that it is only in the illuminating presence of God’s glory that we gain the capacity to see things as they really are. The wicked can’t see their own wickedness. But when we stand in the light of God’s glory, our sinfulness is exposed by His glory. The prophet Isaiah had just such an experience.

I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 6:1-5 NLT

Peter had a similar experience when he first witnessed Jesus performing a miracle. He and his companions had fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus commanded them to go back out and cast their nets one more time. Unused to taking fishing advice from a Rabbi, Peter reluctantly obeyed, and what happened next would be a life-changing experience for him.

…this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. – Luke 5:6-7 NLT

Stunned by the results and convinced that Jesus was more than just a Rabbi, Peter “fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man’” (Luke 5:8 NLT). In the light of Jesus’ glorious presence, Peter saw the depth of his own depravity. He experienced the truth of John’s words, which opened up his gospel account.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:1-5 NLT

John goes on to say, “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him” (John 1:10 NLT). The Light of the world came into the world to dispel the darkness, but those who lived in the world rejected Him. They didn’t want their darkness exposed. They didn’t want the Light to illuminate and eliminate the wickedness they had grown to love. Yet John writes, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13 NLT).

David was intimately familiar with the wickedness of man. He had experienced its pervasive presence in his own life. But he also knew that God was righteous and just. His ways were pure and free from any hint of wickedness. He could be trusted because He was always trustworthy. David had discovered God’s faithfulness to be immeasurable and inexhaustible. God’s love was unfailing, and His mercy was unwavering. David would not allow the presence of the wicked to diminish his trust in God because he knew the Light would conquer the darkness. The wicked were no match for “the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9 NLT).

With David, we can say, “Pour out your unfailing love on those who love (know) you; give justice to those with honest (righteous) hearts” (Psalm 36:10 NLT). We have had our darkness exposed, our sins forgiven, and our hearts transformed by the Light of the world. We were once just like those David describes in the opening verses of this Psalm. But because of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God, we have been given a second chance. We have experienced the truth of the prophecy first spoken by Isaiah and recorded by Matthew in his gospel account.

“…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” – Matthew 4:16 NLT

We have drunk from the river of delights, sheltered in the shadow of His wings, and fed from the abundance of His house. We have been enlightened and transformed by the life-changing power of God’s glorious presence, and while the wicked may prosper, they will never prevail.

Father, we are surrounded by those who love darkness more than light and wickedness more than righteousness. But we used to be the same way. And we would still be that way if it were not for the gracious gift of Your Son. May we learn to love the Light and increasingly appreciate how it exposes our own sin. You are always transforming us into the likeness of Christ and that takes the exposure of our sin nature. It isn’t always fun to see, but it’s a necessary part of the transformative process. Thank You for Your patient, loving care for us. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Praise

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A Psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the LORD, over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
    the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
    the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
    the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
    the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people!
    May the LORD bless his people with peace! – Psalm 29:1-11 ESV

How do you honor someone you can’t see? How do you recognize and rejoice in the greatness of an invisible God? That has always been a problem for the people of God. Abraham and Moses had private conversations with God. Abraham even caught glimpses of God’s glory in the burning bush, and Moses was allowed to see God’s back as he passed by him on the mountain. A handful of God’s people have had supernatural glimpses of God’s glory. For the rest of us, we are left with the task of trying to honor and adequately ascribe to God the glory He so richly deserves.

For David, it was pretty simple; he saw God all around him. When he looked into the night sky and saw all the stars and planets, he saw God’s hand.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them? – Psalm 8:3-4 NLT

The heavens reflected God’s glory. After Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel, David spent years running from King Saul and hiding in the wilderness. While sitting in the mouth of a cave in the middle of the rugged mountain landscape, he saw more than his fair share of storms. As he witnessed the lightning flash across the night sky and occasionally strike a tree, shattering it in two, and as he listened to the thunder echo off the canyon walls, shaking the ground beneath his feet, David couldn’t help but think of God. To him, the thunder was the very voice of God.

The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
    the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. – Psalm 29:5 NLT

The voice of the Lord strikes
    with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. – Psalm 29:7-8 NLT

The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
    and strips the forests bare. – Psalm 29:9 NLT

His use of anthropomorphic language was an attempt to describe God’s incomparable power. The thought of God speaking was enough to cause David to stand in awe. Seven times in this passage, David refers to God’s voice. He knew that God had spoken the world into existence. He recognized that God’s words carried weight and the sound of His voice was more powerful than the most potent lightning, capable of bringing great destruction or incredible blessing.

David was a king, and he understood the concept of power. He knew that the king’s word was law, but he also knew that, as a man, his power was limited, and his voice only carried so much weight. However, God’s voice was limitless in power, and He alone deserved glory and recognition on the part of both angels and men that He alone was worthy of worship.

Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
    honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. – Psalm 29:1-2 NLT

David begins this Psalm by encouraging men and angels to give to God honor for His glory and strength. As far as David was concerned, all beings were to recognize God’s unparalleled majesty and worship Him accordingly. God alone is King. His voice is powerful, and He is worthy of our worship and praise.

This dramatic imagery of God’s thunder-like voice shattering trees and shaking mountains almost portrays Him as unapproachable and inaccessible. It is reminiscent of the language Moses used to describe God’s appearance on Mount Sinai in the wilderness.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. – Exodus 19:16-18 NLT

The people of Israel stood at the base of Mount Sinai and gazed up at this spectacular demonstration of Yahweh’s divine glory.

“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice.” – Deuteronomy 4:11-12 NLT

And this unforgettable pyrotechnic display made an impression on them.

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. – Exodus 20:18 NLT

They feared Yahweh’s power and presence. His awe-inspiring demonstration left them shell-shocked and begging Moses to protect them from God’s wrath.

“You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” – Exodus 20:19 NLT

But Moses assured them that they had nothing to fear.

“…for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” – Psaelm 20:20 NLT

God wanted His people to know that He was to be feared but for the right reasons. He was glorious and great and worthy of praise. He was powerful and capable of dispensing judgment on the disobedient and unrighteous. But He wanted to bless His children, not destroy them.

That is why David ends His Psalm with a comforting thought.

The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:10-11 NLT

This same glorious, powerful, majestic God gives His people strength and blesses them with security. David knew that it wasn’t he and his mighty men who protected the people of Israel – it was God. God gave them the strength to face their enemies and withstand adversity. It was God who blessed them with peace (shalom). For David, peace was not just an absence of conflict but a sense of completeness and an awareness of well-being and security in adversity.

When a thunderstorm strikes, it’s an opportunity to think about God. As the lightning flashes across the sky, it provides a visible demonstration of God’s glory and greatness. These meteorological displays are God-ordained reminders of His power and worthiness of our awe and wonder. They should remind us of His greatness and cause us to give Him the glory He so richly deserves.

Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. – Psalm 29:2 NLT

Father, Your power is all around us, but we fail to recognize it. We just see nature, but we don’t see the God behind it. Give me the eyes of David. Help me to see You all around me. Let me recognize Your presence in all of life. I want to worship You and honor You for who You are. I want to grow in my awareness of Your power and glory. Open my eyes so that I might see You more clearly each day. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The King of Glory

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A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah – Psalm 24:1-10 ESV

Ultimately, this Psalm is about God. It speaks of His holiness, power, glory, and transcendence. God is not like us. He is transcendent and wholly righteous in all that He does. He is the creator of everything and operates outside the limits of time and space. God is eternal and omnipresent. He sees all, knows all, and is obligated by His holiness to mete out justice to all those who fail to live up to His rigorous and unbending moral standards. Sinful men can’t just come into His presence any time they want – flippantly or arrogantly. They must recognize His holiness and acknowledge their unrighteousness.

David understood and revered the otherness of God. He begins his Psalm with a declaration of God’s status as the maker of the heavens and the earth. He is the uncreated, ever-existent one who exists outside His creation and rules over it from “his holy place” (Psalm 24:3 ESV). From his limited, earth-bound perspective, David envisions God’s abode as a mountain. He is inaccessible and unapproachable. David may be referring to Mount Sinai in the wilderness, where Moses met with God and received the Ten Commandments. Moses described God’s glorious presence on Mount Sinai in startling and intimidating terms.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. – Exodus 19:16-20 NLT

Not only was this manifestation of God’s glory frightening to the people of Israel, but they had been warned about the danger of coming anywhere near His presence. In preparation for Yahweh’s appearance on the mountaintop, the people were commanded to purify themselves.

“Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’” – Exodus 19:10-13 NLT

God was holy and they were not. They could not just barge into His presence unprepared and with an attitude of entitlement. David seems to have this incident in mind when he asks, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” (Psalm 24:3 NLT). And he answers his own questions. 

Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
    who do not worship idols
    and never tell lies. – Psalm 24:4 NLT

God’s holiness demands that His people be righteous and faithfully keep His commands. David seems to truncate God’s law into two simple imperatives. The first is God-directed, demanding that men worship Yahweh alone, which is in keeping with the first of the Ten Commandments. David’s second injunction is man-oriented, prohibiting the speaking of falsehoods. His simplification of God’s moral code is in keeping with what Jesus said when He was asked what the greatest commandment was.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

Love God and love others. That was the core issue behind the Mosaic Law, and David seems to have understood that long before Jesus explained it to the Pharisees. Only those who love God and others well “will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior” (Psalm 24:5 NLT). According to David, only those kinds of people can seek God and worship in His presence.

This high view of God runs counter to the current trend of seeing God as our friend or the kindly old grandfather in the sky. Far too many treat God like He’s their personal valet, life coach, or personal trainer. David reminds us that God is not someone who is to be treated lightly or with disdain. Those who seek God and enjoy the benefits of a relationship with Him are those whose deeds are blameless, whose hearts are pure and innocent, and whose lives are not marked by worthless, vain conduct. They recognize that their behavior plays a big part in their ability to enjoy God’s blessings.

God is the King of Glory. He deserves our praise, adoration, worship, wonder, awe, reverence, fear, and respect. He is strong and mighty. He is holy and righteous. He is set apart. He is above all and deserving of all glory and honor. It is God’s separateness and our own sinfulness that makes the cross of Jesus Christ so amazing and life-changing. It is Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross that allows sinful men and women to have access to the very throne room of God. It is what He has done that enables us to share in His righteousness and be viewed by God as holy. We have access to His presence not because WE are blameless and pure in and of ourselves but because Jesus Christ was blameless and pure. Because He took all our sinfulness on Himself at the cross, we were imputed His righteousness. We are seen by God as blameless, innocent, clean, pure, holy, and righteous.

And as if that was not enough, God gave us His Holy Spirit to indwell us and empower us to live holy lives. We can live righteously and rightly – despite the presence of our sinful natures. We can live by the Spirit, or we can live according to the flesh (our sinful nature). We can live in obedience or disobedience. The choice is up to us. Each day we must recognize God’s holiness and our own sinfulness. We must remember what Christ has done for us on the cross. We must rest in the fact that we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead living within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. We can live holy lives. We can say no to sin and yes to God’s transformative power in our lives.

Our daily desire should be to come into God’s presence – recognizing His holiness and our responsibility to treat Him with dignity, honor, and respect. Paul put it this way,

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. – Romans 12:1 NLT

We belong to Him. He paid for us with His own Son’s life. We are to give our lives to Him and allow Him to transform us into the likeness of His Son – and in so doing, honor Him for who He is – the King of Glory.

The final three verses of this Psalm provide a prophetic vision of the second coming of Jesus Christ when He appears as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will be Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, who returns to earth to complete God’s grand plan of redemption that includes the restoration of all things. David describes the gates of Jerusalem being opened wide so that the LORD of Hosts can enter and rule in righteousness from the throne of David.

These closing verses present a stark contrast to David’s opening questions: “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” Rather than a man attempting to enter God’s presence based on his own righteousness, this closing scene pictures the King of Glory coming to dwell with men on earth. The righteous one will make His home with us. 

Father, never let me treat You with anything but respect, glory, and honor. Never let me get so casual with You that I lose sight of your holiness. Never let me take for granted that I have access into Your presence because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. You are the King of glory and You deserve my respect, honor, and awe. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Name You Can Trust

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To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O LORD!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O LORD!
    Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah – Psalm 9:1-20 ESV

This Psalm opens with what appears to be a musical notation: According to Muth-labben. The exact meaning of this phrase is unclear, but the NIV translates it as “The Death of the Son” and treats it as the name of a tune to which the Psalm was to be read. 

This Psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God opens with David declaring his intentions.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. – vs 1

I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. – vs 1

I will be filled with joy because of you. – vs 2

I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. – vs 2

No timeline or details are provided that might explain David’s excited declaration. It’s impossible to know what event may have prompted this impassioned promise to sing God’s praises, but David does give a list of reasons for his joy and gratitude.

  1. His enemies had retreated because God had defeated them.
  2. God’s defense of David had vindicated his right to rule as God’s vice-regent.
  3. As the true King and Judge of the earth, God had decided in David’s favor.
  4. God had “rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked” (NLT)
  5. In His sovereignty, God had blotted out their names forever.
  6. The victory of God had been complete and comprehensive.

It seems likely that this was a compilation on David’s part. He was looking back on his life and recalling the numerous occasions when God had intervened and rescued him from difficulty. This wasn’t about one isolated incident. From David’s perspective, God had a proven track record of faithfulness that showed up in His sovereign intervention in the affairs of his life.

David may have been the king of Israel, but he viewed Yahweh as the King of the universe, who “reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne” (Psalm 9:7 NLT). As the Judge of the world, God was just, fair, compassionate, and righteous in all His judgments. He never showed partiality or ruled unjustly. His verdicts were always accurate and free from corruption or coercion. God could not be bought off or deceived by the clever arguments of men, and David found God’s integrity to be a source of joy in a world filled with uncertainty and populated by untrustworthy men who could not be trusted.

David was intimately familiar with Yahweh’s character because he had seen it in action. He knew and understood God’s nature because he had witnessed it throughout his life. But the Psalms are more than a personal journal of David’s experiences, they are an expression of his grasp of God’s greatness and goodness. In this Psalm alone David reveals that his God is all-powerful, just, eternal, righteous, faithful, merciful, sovereign, impartial, holy, and wrathful.

David’s understanding of God’s nature produced in him a growing sense of trust and confidence. With each trial he encountered, David saw God show up and pour out His justice, mercy, and compassion. That is why David could say with confidence, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you” (Psalm 9:10 NLT).

To know God’s “name” is to be familiar with His reputation. Those who follow and trust God do so because they know Him to be trustworthy and reliable. He has proven Himself to be powerful and present in their lives. The Hebrew word translated as “name” can also mean “reputation” or “fame.” To trust in the name of God is to trust in who He is – His nature, character, and reputation. It is to stand on His past accomplishments and to rely on His track record of reliability. God had proven Himself to David time and time again, and had shown Himself to be faithful, powerful, righteous, just, trustworthy, merciful, and holy. So David trusted in the name of God. When in trouble, he appealed to the name of God.

But for David, recognition of God’s goodness and greatness was not enough. He was emboldened to turn his gratitude into songs of praise, and he wanted everyone to join in.

Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.
    Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. – Psalm 9:11 NLT

David wasn’t a one-man band, he was the director of a massive choir made up of fellow Israelites who lifted their voices in praise of their gracious, all-powerful King and Judge.

God was worthy of praise because of all He had done in the past. David had found God to be a shelter and a refuge in the past, so he knew God would be so in the future. He was faithful, consistent, reliable, and unchanging in His nature. David knew he could turn to God and find mercy and help no matter how difficult the situation. He knew from experience that God had a special affinity for the helpless and the hopeless, rescuing and restoring them in His grace and mercy.

David had seen God judge righteously and justly, bringing judgment on the wicked and avenging the righteous, and he was confident that God would do it again. For David, God’s works were “unforgettable” and “marvelous.” They were worth singing about, talking about, and relying upon. No matter how bad things got, David knew he could trust in his God because he knew Him well.

Father, I want to know You like David did. I want to trust You like David did. I want to understand the full scope of Your character and be able to rest in the integrity of who You are based on all You have done. Give me eyes to see Your reputation all around me. Help me know You better and better with each passing day. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.