Songs of Renewal #31

The last half of Psalm 16 says:

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This psalm of David displays a full trust in God, both for this life and the life to come.  In verse 10 you may have noticed those familiar words, quoted by Peter in referring to the resurrected Christ. Just as Jesus, God the Son, felt secure in the hands of His Father, so did David. He knew that God would be there to give Him direction and a solid foundation. He had a joy and a security that God would see Him through the whole path of this life, and that someday he would be in God's presence forever. We can have that same joy and assurance, if we, like David, will entrust ourselves to God's rule, God's plan, God's care.

Songs of Renewal #30

David wraps up Psalm 68 with these words:

 32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

Once again, we find that David has a heart for the whole world to know his God - the God Who rules over all the world.  He is in the driver's seat. He speaks and things happen.  He holds the power in His hands, and He gives it to whomever He chooses.  He is the God Who is to be praised! May we praise him today!

Songs of Renewal #29

Psalm 27 has been a favorite of many dear saints I have known through the years:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

As we have stated before, there was a long time in David's life when he was on the run. Therefore, he could not go where the tabernacle of the Lord was and worship. So, he longed for that opportunity; he dreamed about the possibility of being there every day. That developed into a passion to build the temple, a permanent place to worship God. During those long years, however, he came to realize that the Lord was always with him, lighting the way, protecting him, giving him a solid foundation for his life.  He learned he could come to God in prayer wherever he was, and find His presence, power and peace. So can we. 

Songs of Renewal #28

PSALM 68

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

This psalm of David shows a man with experience. He has seen firsthand God's powerful deliverance from the hand of ruthless and godless enemies.  But he has also seen further than that to the character of God.  It is not that God is just a bigger, badder bullie who beats up His enemies. What lies at the root of His actions is His heart for the orphan, the widow, those left all alone with no one to stand up for them. He offers peace and security to those who are willing to get right with Him and trust His ways.  May we be willing to do so today. 

Songs of Renewal #27

Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.

Just how do you express this simple truth: "The Lord Reigns"? Since we cannot see into heaven, except the few glimpses given in scripture, we can only see things from "the under side": clouds and darkness, fire and lightning, earthquakes and volcanoes, and the glories of the skies after all the storms and great displays of what insurance adjusters call "acts of God" have gone. The earth still holds together and spins; His eyes and hands are watching over it.  The shorelines still hold the waters in place, while we watch a beautiful sunset.  We can rest at night knowing: The Lord reigns. 

Songs of Renewal #26

Yesterday we read the first stanza of Psalm 47. Today we read the rest of the Psalm:

 5 God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!

Once again, God is pictured as a victorious King. He has gone out to battle and has now returned victorious. There is a trumpet parade as He sits on His throne, ruling the nations around the world. Around Him are princes of all peoples - not just the Israelites or descendants of Abraham, but all peoples. Around the walls of the throne room are the shields of all the nations and peoples of the world. All have come for one reason: to worship the great Creator and King.  The war is over. God rules. There will be true, eternal peace. 

Songs of Renewal #25

PSALM 47:

1 Clap your hands, all peoples!

    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,

    a great king over all the earth.

3 He subdued peoples under us,

    and nations under our feet.

4 He chose our heritage for us,

    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

One might look at the words of this Psalm and wonder: Did the people of Israel really think that they ruled the world? That all nations were under their dominion?  Not at all. But they did realize that God is the Great King and He had set His love upon them - their King was The King. This song goes on to repeatedly call on people to praise Him because He is King over all the earth, and that all shields, each with their own crest symbolizing their nation and people, are on display in His palace: all belong to Him.  To be sure, when we get all these people singing together, it will be a loud song of joy.

Songs of Renewal #24

Psalm 138: A Psalm of David:

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,

    for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

    for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,

    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

    and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

There are three key phrases I'd like to spot from this song that really say it all. First, at the end of verse 3: my strength of soul you increased.  When David was ready to just give up, God renewed his determination to continue on; why? For the glory of the Lord.  The second phrase is found in verse 7: you preserve my life.  David saw that it was the Lord Who kept him going, not his own self will. Finally verse 8 begins: The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. David knew it was God's faithfulness that had seen him through His struggles and would continue to see him through, because God had a plan and purpose for his life.  He has one for me and you too. 

Songs of Renewal #23

Psalm 149: 1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.

Here is yet another reference to singing a new song, to changing our tune.  It is a song sung in stereo, with once channel chanting about the Creator, while the other proclaiming His greatness as King. It is a song where everyone is involved, including instruments and dancing.  The Lord is watching with pleasure as we sing and dance before Him. Why? Because the focus is not on us and how great or beautiful we are, but on Him, the beauty He creates, and how Great He is.  It is a picture of wonderful celebration. May we rejoice in Him today. 

Songs of Renewal #22

PSALM 122:1 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!

The Psalmist continues on to call on the winds and the waters, the mountains and the hills, the sea creatures, land animals and birds, then finally to all kings and peoples of the world to praise the name of the Lord.  Why? Often we begin to think we are alone in all of this. We cannot hear the song being sung around us. All of the noises of this world and in our mind drown the praises out. But there is, at all times, a song being sung.  We need to just start singing, then we will hear the rest of creation singing along: Praise the Lord!

Songs of Renewal #21

You might be able to identify with Psalm 10:

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
    let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
    all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 His ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
    as for all his foes, he puffs at them.

The psalmist is expressing something we find often in the Psalms: "Why do the wicked and arrogant prosper and seem to get away with it?"  He then goes on for ten more verses talking about all the damage the wicked do and bragging they do that God will never punish them for it. It sounds pretty hopeless and frustrating till we get to the end. Almost out of the blue the psalmist says:

16 The Lord is king forever and ever;

    the nations perish from his land.

17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;

    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

    so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

God is in control; He hears and cares: He will do something. End of story. Stop of ranting. All is well. Sometimes, to be renewed you just need to let it drop and let God rule and as for His strength for the day.

Songs of Renewal #20

Psalm 57 

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!

Sometimes it's hard just waking up in the morning - the day before was hard and long, or it's hard just thinking about what is coming on this new day. Where do you begin? With a song to the Lord. Determine that you are going to sing a song of renewal to begin the day. Make it your determination to glorify God no matter what may come your way.  Rather than you waking up, you wake up the day!  May today be a great day of songs of praise in your heart, on your mind, and from your lips. 

Songs of Renewal #19

Psalm 96

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

We talked not that long ago about the importance of singing new songs, not just our favorite ones. There is one theme that we should never tire of singing about: the wonder of God's creation.  There is a consistency yet a variety in His wonderful creation that should cause us to stand in wonder, yet feel safe and secure. When we pause, step back, and take a fresh look at what He has done, we should have this reminder that God is in control.  All the false idols of this world, and those who follow them, should not make us fear, because our God is the Great God. Today, take a fresh look, and sing a new song.

Songs of Renewal #18

PSALM 122:

1 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—built as a city
    that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

This psalm is ascribed to David, and we know how he felt about going to "The House of the Lord".  For many years he was on the run for his life, unable to be in the assembly of God's people. So when he did become king, and had the tabernacle brought to Jerusalem, it was a highlight of His life - to be with God's people assembled together to give thanks to God. It wasn't the building, because the temple was not built yet. It was the gathering, the thanksgiving, the celebrating with the people of God. Songs of renewal come more naturally, and supernaturally, when we gather with God's people in worship. Don't fly solo; be with God's people.

Songs of Renewal #17

We were in the middle of Psalm145 the other day. It begins this way:

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.

David is making a vow, a commitment here, to praise God every day - to talk about His greatness and His mighty acts.  Why is it so important? For two reasons: himself and for others. Sharing and comparing notes on God's greatness helps us all see and remember Who He is, what He has done, and the tidal wave of greatness that will carry us through our lives and into the next generation.  If there is anything encouraging and renewing to our faith and our hearts, it is hearing those we have shared our praises with praise Him. We are able to see the impact our faith has had on them and receive that blessing back. Let us make that same commitment today: to praise Him daily, let others hear, and listen when others praise Him.

Songs of Renewal #16

Psalm 115:

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
    he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.

Whereas we are used to most songs having verses and then a chorus that repeats itself, driving home the main point, some of the most impactful songs of renewal begin with the climax, like here in Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

This top line is the bottom line: what should concern us most is God's glory - that He be known for His great loving activity. When compared to Him, all other "gods" are deaf, dumb, blind, and unable to smell, go anywhere or do anything. He is sufficient unto Himself and more than enough for what we need. What we need to do is trust Him and let Him speak and act, showing others He is worthy of their trust too.   

Songs of Renewal #15

If you haven't noticed, the Songs of Renewal focus especially on the character of God. Psalm 145:

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.

What is God like? He is gracious and merciful. He does not immediately react with wrath, but consistently shows love. He is good - not only to some, but all.  All creation should give Him not only praise, but thanks - especially His saints, who have accepted His call to His family and His kingdom.  He is worthy of our praise and testimony - to tell how great He is, and how great it is to follow Him.  Last of all, He will never let us down or lose control; He will always be in charge and will watch over everything and everyone. 

Songs of Renewal #14

From Psalm 2, a Messianic Psalm about God's anointed King:

 7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

One of the things that wears on us in daily life is looking around us and in the news and seeing all the corruption and hostility in governments across the world. It is easy to get discouraged and feel helpless before such powerful.  Psalms like this help us put things in perspective and remind of that Christ is the rightful King and we need to do our part. We need to serve Him with joy, give Him the honor He deserves, and take our refuge in His presence and power. One day we will see all nations bow before Him. 

Songs of Renewal #13

Psalm 98

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

When we think about songs of renewal, our automatic response is often to think about old favorites with which we are familiar and comfortable.  Even if you listen to or even sing often, how many songs do you really know of all the styles, genres, languages, and generations of songs there have been - even narrowing them down to songs of worship.  If His mercies are new every morning - and they are - should we not "change our tune" once in a while?  As we meditate on God's marvelous works, His wonderful salvation, His astounding revelation, and His steadfast love and faithfulness, how many more ways can we find to sing His praises?

Songs of Renewal #12

The Introduction to Psalm 89:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
    in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
    I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
    and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

This song is a celebration of the steadfast love of the Lord.  He reminds himself and all who will hear that God has chosen to set His love on His people, He has made His covenant with them, and He has made a vow to keep His promises to them.  This choice, this vow, this covenant was not just for a passing moment; it was for eternity, for all generations, forever.  The key is in the One Who promises, vows, makes this covenant: He is the Faithful One, the One on Whom we can depend.  So how can we be renewed and refreshed? By remembering and relating to others Who our faithful God is and what He is like: Faithful.

Songs of Renewal #11

 

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
    your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
    God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
    let all the ends of the earth fear him!

This song is rather unique in how quickly it breaks for a musical interlude. The word Selah, "lift up", indicates an instrumental interlude to allow the people to reflect on what has just been sung to let the message sink in: "God, we need Your blessing; we need Your attention; we need You to smile at us.  Notice why the psalmist asks for blessing: it is not a selfish thing - it is so all nations will be drawn toward Him. That is a key to renewal and blessing - it is not just for us. If we are only calling out to God for Him to do for us, to bless us, to give to us, we're missing out. He wants to bless us to make a difference in the world. When we sincerely call out to Him to renew us for that, we shall be blessed.

Songs of Renewal #10

We return today to the longest Psalm - Psalm 119, and the fourteenth stanza: 

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

We have already alluded to the fact that the Word of God is crucial for our need for renewal.  The Psalmist is going through a rough time, feeling like others are out to get him, struggling with some sort of affliction, sensing that even though he has acted responsibly, his hands, his actions are not enough on their own. He needs help; he needs instruction, so he recommits himself to follow the path, the rules, the law, the statutes of God - not out of mere obligation or desperation, but with joy and thanksgiving and sincerity of heart. He is not looking for a quick fix, but a life, an ongoing relationship he will live out to the end following God's ways. May we say with him: give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

Songs of Renewal #9

Psalm 23 is a great Song of Renewal.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

The first line shows us the prerequisite we need to find renewal: Contentment with what the Good Shepherd supplies. There is a full trust here in His actions: He makes me lie down, and we must be willing to allow Him to. He leads; He restores; He gives comfort, He prepares; He anoints - God will do it all, if we will simply trust His plan and provision.  This is a daily routine for the sheep and Shepherd, but it is not a rut or boring, or unsatisfying; it is refreshing and renewing. These times of renewal also keep us looking forward, long-term, to continued refreshing and the ultimate renewal in His Home for eternity.  Let's allow Him to take us through today, and every day, to His pasture of renewal. 

Songs of Renewal #8

PSALM 87:

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2     the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O city of God. Selah
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
    “This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her”;
    for the Most High himself will establish her.
6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”

Can you tell how much the psalmist loved Jerusalem, Zion, the city of God?  Even though established as the capital of Israel and home of the Temple late in history compared to these other cities, he saw her as the source, the home from where life flows.  What was different about Jerusalem? It was the place where the worship of the true and living God took place. God had chosen there, so there is the place from which all life flows.  Since it is a city on a mount, springs of water literally ran from there into the surrounding valleys. In a same way, since God dwelt there, the water of spiritual life flowed from there. As you seek for renewal, there is nowhere better to turn than the worship of the true and living God. Life comes from worshipping Him.  Make sure you do so today. 

Songs of Renewal #7

Psalm 116 is entitled: "I Love the Lord."

What does that look like?

 12 What shall I render to the Lord
    for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his saints.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
    You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the Lord.

The "cup" is an interesting instrument in scripture: sometimes it is a cup of wrath or suffering, while at other times it is a cup of blessing. Here it is an empty cup asking to be filled, as we call on the Lord to fill it. People are watching; a loved one has died or some other struggle in life has taken place: "How will we respond?" To make it through such a time we need to beware bitterness and not abandon faith; we need to give thanks, be faithful, and be willing to say: "Lord, I really need you."

Songs of Renewal #6

Psalm 117 

Praise the Lord, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Songs come in all shapes and sizes. In the book of Psalms, we have some long accounts with multiple verses - even Psalm 119 with 22 stanzas and 176 verses, while some of the best known, like Psalm 23, have under 10 verses. Psalm 117 is the shortest.  Sometimes all you need to make your day is a simple chorus, reminding you of God's goodness and greatness. The message reminds you of Him and His steadfast love.  It may be the kind of day you don't need to be pulled out of a pit or delivered from some dangerous enemy like David often did. All you need to know is that God is there, He cares, and He is Lord over all: He is in control.  All you need is a simple song praising the Lord. Find yours today.

Songs of Renewal #5

Yesterday we read the opening stanza of Psalm 66, which call on us to come and see the awesome things God has done. Today we look at the last stanza, beginning in verse

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,

    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth,
    and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
    because he has not rejected my prayer
    or removed his steadfast love from me!

The Psalmist now gives his personal testimony of God's faithfulness in responding to his prayer and demonstrating His love. The psalmist is doing exactly what Paul exhorts us to do in both Ephesians 5: addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart and Colossians 3: teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Often the way to renewal in our hearts and minds happens when we share testimonies, scriptures, and songs of thanksgiving with one another.  Though our natural tendency may be to withdraw when we are down and discouraged, that is the last thing we should do. Songs of renewal take place in fellowship and community.

Songs of Renewal #4

            Psalm 66

1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2     sing the glory of his name;
    give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
    and sings praises to you;
    they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done:
    he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
    they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7     who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
    let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

In these first two verses of this Psalm, the writer calls on God's people to shout, sing, and stop to see all the awesome things God has done.  That is a word that has been worn out recently in our culture: awesome.  It has been so overused and abused that we tend to tune it out. But when we are down and discouraged and frustrated and fearful, nothing is better than a good dose of giving God some awe.  "Look", the psalmist says, "even the earth praises God." How much more should we, when we have eyes to see, and a soul to ponder all the wonderful deeds of God.

Songs of Renewal #3

In Psalm 31, David is calling out to God for some security and stability in His life. He says: 

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.

David pictures for us what it is like to be redeemed, to trust in the Lord, as opposed to "paying regard" to the worthless idols of the world.  It is allowing Him to pull us out of the net, the snare, the trap which held us helpless, and finding ourselves firmly planted on a clear path, knowing where we are heading, having the Lord, the solid rock, as our personal guide and protector. Once again, our emotional affliction and distress finds relief, and a sense of joy and love settles into our soul. That is what our Redeemer does. 

Songs of Renewal #2

The fourth stanza of Psalm 119:

25 My soul clings to the dust;
    give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!

I'm sure we can all identify with the psalmist in how he feels: his soul clings to the dust and melts away for sorrow - emotionally he is down on the ground, eating dirt, and the life is sapped out of him. What does he ask for? God to refresh him with the truth of His word. He rightly believes that when he understands what God wants, he will have the renewed resolve to chose God's path, set his course, and get up and run - not walk, but run the course God has set before him. May we have the renewal to run the course of faithful obedience today. 

Songs of Renewal #1

 

PSALM 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

The song title before this Song of Renewal says it was presented at the dedication of the Temple. David, having been beaten down by life and those who opposed him, was reminded that God's mercies are new every morning - that as he prepared to go to worship, like we are preparing to go to worship today, in the big picture of things God is faithful and favorable to us: He is working for our good. Let us wake up and look ahead with thanksgiving in our hearts and sing His praises with His saints.