Tag Archives: Hold

Singing with the King (39) – I Was Glad

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I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1)

Church Worship4This Psalm was written by David, and it is one of 15 “Songs of Ascents”. And although there is no way to know the actual meaning of this term, many believe these were the Psalms the priests and pilgrims sang as they made their way through Jerusalem up to the Temple.

When David composed this, there was no Temple, just the Tabernacle. But don’t you hear his enthusiasm in this verse? I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Here is David with his family, friends, advisers, officers, etc., etc., and for a time, the intrigue, the infighting, the jockeying for position, the plans for peace, the plans for war—all have been put on hold because they are on their way to come before the LORD; and the worship begins when they start singing these Psalms. I believe David gave his whole heart when he went to the house of the LORD. That kind of example is infectious.

Are you glad to go to the house of the LORD? Are you excited to worship and exalt the Lord together with other believers? Or has it become Ritual? Habitual? All the joy and gladness has been squeezed out and replaced by the ordinary and routine.

Find the joy and gladness again. Understand that this enthusiasm which David exhibited and proclaimed was not about singing, or sacrifices, or service. It was about meeting with the Most High.

Unlike the people of the Old Testament, You have God’s Spirit within you. The Everlasting, Almighty, All-Knowing and Infinite God lives within you. He has given you eternal and abundant life. If all these limitless and unending characteristics and graces have touched you, are all around you, and abide in you, how can you be bored (or boring)?

May you be ignited by His glory and His presence.  May others see you are glad to go to the house of the LORD.

Singing with the King (10) – An Uninvolved God?

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Search me, O God, and know my heart – Psalm 139:23

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There are those who believe God is unknowable–or at least uninvolved. Consider these lyrics by King David from Psalm 139.

You have searched me (vs.1) means to investigate, explore, and examine thoroughly

You hem me in—behind and before (vs.5) is a military term; means to confine, secure, bind, cramp, and besiege.

You have laid Your hand upon me ( vs.5) not only has to do with placing or setting one’s hand upon, but making, performing, appointing, and taking a stand.

Your hand will guide me (vs.10) means to lead, and bring.

Your right hand will hold me fast (vs.10) to seize, to be caught, to take possession.

For You created my inmost being (vs.13) besides create, the word is often used for acquiring, buying, possessing and even redemption.

You knit me together in my mother’s womb (vs. 13) to hedge about, to cover, to fence about, to protect.

All the days ordained for me (vs.16) a theological word; but for God it is a creation word. It has to do with forming, fashioning or framing; and implicit in its meaning and use is, God will form or fashion us the way He has ordained.

Search me (vs.23) Same as vs. 1

Test me (vs.23) a refining, mining word; like an assayer, the LORD tests our purity.

See if there is any offensive way within me (vs.24) inspecting, gazing, consider, and to look after.

Lead me in the way everlasting (vs.24) means to lead, guide, or bring.

Note all these are verbs, describing the LORD’s actions.

Consider some questions which should arise regarding the LORD’s actions:

Does He know you? Does He protect you? Does He hold you and guide you? Has he created you? Is there anything about you that He does not know? Do you belong to Him? If these are not rhetorical questions for you, please read Psalm 139. You will see it is impossible to regard the LORD as a distant, aloof, and uninvolved.