5 Understandable Words:
/5 Understandable Words:
“Sing praises to the Lord…” Psalm 9:11
It is God, Who sits enthroned forever (v.7), Who avails Himself to every Believer who call on His name (v.10), and Who will never abandon those who do call upon His name. (v.10b) The very same personal Defender is worthy to be praised, both personally and corporately. The psalmist encouraged the reader to sing to God.
Singing is a dynamic exercise which strengthens both the spirit and body. It is an engagement of the mind and body to produce the melodies which stay with us for a lifetime. In producing the tone, one breathes in enough air to sustain a melodic phrase, so as to be uninterrupted in expressing one’s heart and mind to God. The exercise is done with excellence when accomplished with understanding the dynamics of vocal production, cooperative singing, and the message given to the Lord in song.
King David was an “all-in” personality: at the slaying of Goliath; his sin with Bathsheba; his refusal to harm King Saul; and when returning the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. It was all or nothing. God showed through David’s life Heaven’s standard for living: wholeheartedness. And one’s worship should not be void of it. David was not satisfied with one song, he encouraged the reader to sing “praises”… plural.
Have you ever been to a church, sung a hymn or song and felt like your heart was just getting ‘warmed-up’, only to be seated, moving on to another element of the service? David’s humanity provided an advantage in exposing every person’s need for being primed to worship. Our hearts are like the old-fashioned water pumps which needed priming by pouring a small bit of water on the device which pumped the refreshing liquid from the ground. Our minds are linked to our hearts, and worshippers need that priming to draw from the deep reservoir of praise to present their whole heart to God. Like priming the pump, one song of praise primes the pump, so that they become a wellspring of living praise before the Lord!
Singing wasn’t the only thing David directed the reader toward. Those who approach God’s throne in corporate worship are to share their stories… they are to tell each other how the cries of the afflicted were heard. (v.’s 11b-12) I think it is to be a glimpse of Heaven, where we will hear such wonderful stories of God’s marvelous deeds… not just by the forefathers of our faith, but from those we never met. God is writing a story in the lives of each of His saints, and those stories will be told throughout eternity.
Have you shared God’s story in your life lately? It becomes an offering in our worship. Encourage your worship leader to sing PRAISES to the Lord.
To Him Who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb belong glory and honor and strength!