I know, I know...it's Lent.There's a tradition in Lent, to put away the praise until we experience the cross and bask in the glory of the empty tomb.
I'm sorry - that's a crock!
If our lives are to be "lives of worship" - that means that each day, every day we stand before the Lord we do so in repentance, forgiveness, thanks and praise.
That means every day is a "sending up" to God - a great a glorious Hallelujah to our God!
Psalm 22 starts with these words - the very words Jesus speaks for us from His cross:
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my god, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." What a dark moment of realization for David. David has bared the deepest most raw place in his soul. David has been brought low - into the final consequences of sin - separation from a God who wished nothing else than he be a man after His own heart. Salvation seems distant. Cries go unanswered. Day and night living steeped in our own desire God is pushed out. Yet, for David and for us there is hope -
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame."
David's faith in a God that will deliver is grounded in the praise lifted up by those who have been saved! How can we "put away the praise" when it is the very recognition of all Christ has done for us on the cross? We are, after all, Easter people! Those who bask in the glow of Jesus victory over sin, death and the devil every moment of every day! Must we recognize our sin? YES! But must we praise our salvation? DOUBLE YES! David reminds us in the Psalm:
"You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel!" For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, He has not hidden His face from him, but He has heard when he cried to Him!"
The Father heard the cries of the Son from the cross - as He alone was saddled with the sins of the world - the greatest praise offered by Jesus and the greatest praise we can offer in response to His love are all wrapped up into those final words on our Saviors lips...
"Father, into YOUR hands I commend my spirit."
HALLELUJAH!!!!
2 comments:
A famous radio personality, Paul Harvey, died this weekend; he was 90 years old and still on the radio. He had a well known line that he would use: “And now you know the rest of the story.” He would start a story on radio by giving little known events or challenges in a life of a famous person without telling you who he was talking about. Then he would say, “In a minute you will hear the rest of the story”. Afterwards, he would let you know who he was talking about; usually you were surprised.
In some ways, Psalm 22 reminds me of why “knowing the rest of the story” is so important. How can David in this Psalm switch from
“My God why have you forsaken me?” to
“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” from
“But I am a worm and no man” to
“But You are He who took Me out of the womb; you made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts” from
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint“ to
“I will declare Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you“?
How can such extremes of feelings be within one man within one Psalm? When David looks at his sin and his trials, he feels hopeless. Only by knowing the rest of the story can he start praising God. We know that Jesus’ story didn’t end at the cross but that the rest of the story was the empty tomb. Likewise, we know that our personal stories don’t end with our sin but that the rest of the story is forgiveness and righteous in Christ. Always remember the rest of the story in all circumstances, and your mind will turn to praise God.
"good day"
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