3 good reasons to be Loud!

Read Psalm 47.

This is going to get loud.  For generations, clapping and shouting were not considered a part of traditional worship.  But as Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time and place for everything.  The very first verse of this song exhorts the congregation physically and vocally to respond with joyful volume!

Why?

1. "For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared..." (vv.2-4)

Those who refused to respect and respond in obedience learned the hard way.  God "subdued" them at His command.  The people who fear God enjoy His love.  Clap and shout for joy!

2. "For God is the King of all the earth..." (vv.5-7)

He is sovereign and in control of this world.  "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; in the turns it wherever he will." (Proverbs 21:1)  It may not seem like it as we view world events, but the worsening turmoil is leading to a climax and revealing of the King of kings (Revelation 19).  We can read the end of the Book and know how the story will turn out.  Clap and shout for joy!

3. "For the shields of the earth belong to God..." (vv.8-9)

In the meantime, the LORD is our protection.  This world, including us, is His property.  "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)  Our security is assured by the One who loves us and gave Himself for us.  This is worthy of some clapping and shouting!

Make some noise for God today.

Oh, how we need Him!

Read Psalm 46.

A mighty fortress is our God.  He is our refuge and strength.  The need for protection causes us to seek a refuge.  Weakness motivates us to find a source of strength.  Without problems, we will not sense a need for those things.

We say our trust is in God.  We believe that God is sovereign and in control.  We sing the songs of our confidence in Him.  But, how we respond when disaster strikes is the real proof of our faith.

The psalmist claimed that even if the entire physical world crumbled and went into upheaval, his faith would stand firm.  Politically, morally, spiritually, economically our world is crumbling day by day.  War and violence are escalating on every continent.  Peace talks for the most part only allow factions to rearm themselves.  Increasingly, around the world from Littleton, Colorado to Nairobi, Kenya people are being killed only because they are Christians.

Where is the peace?  Where is the fortress?

Dr. Crawford Loritts presented the following simple outline of this Psalm to grasp its message:

1. We need help

2. We need hope

3. We need Him

Our help and our hope are not in negotiated world peace.  Our help and our hope are not in the improvement of our circumstances.  Regardless of what our culture and even the devil himself may throw at us, our eternal confidence is in Him.

"Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Here comes the Groom

Read Psalm 45.

The songwriter is literally "bubbling over" with excitement and he cannot wait to tell about it.  This psalm anticipates a royal wedding.

The Groom. (vv.2-9)

In American culture the attention at weddings is on the bride.  In eastern tradition, all eyes are on the groom.  How handsome he is!  How blessed by God he is!  He is a mighty warrior, motivated by truth, humility and what is right.  He is referred to as God.  In the historical context, those in ultimate authority were to serve in God's stead.  They were to rule and make judgments as God's representatives on earth.  In several places human judges and kings are referred to as God (Elohim); see Exodus 21:6.  And, this "God" has a God in heaven who has appointed him to this position of king (v.7).

The Bride. (vv.10-15)

She is beautiful and told to leave her father's house to become the desire of her husband.  Bowing and submitting corresponds to Ephesians 5:22.  The young woman is colorfully dressed, wearing gold jewelry.  It is a joyous occasion.

The Future. (16-17)

They look forward to a large family that will carry on the royal dynasty in praise "forever."  In Samuel 7, the Lord made such a promise to David.

But the Bible does not stop there.  Jesus was born in the royal line of David and has a right to the throne of Israel.  The writer of Hebrews details who Jesus truly is in the opening verses of chapter 1.  He is fully God in the flesh.   Then, in 1:8-9, he quotes Psalm 45:7 and states that Jesus is the fulfillment of that verse.  The Apostle John wrote that one day Jesus will enter as a groom for His bride, the Church, and celebrate in a marriage feast (Revelation 19).

Get ready for the wedding!

Failure is not Final

Read Psalm 44.

It is easy to praise the LORD when everything is going well.  But what we think, say and do when circumstances do not turn out in our favor demonstrates our true faith.

In the middle of this Psalm we learn of a national defeat.  The enemy triumphed.  Embarrassment, confusion, and humiliation were the emotional results.  In addition, their very lives were at risk.  Weren't they God's people?  Were they not doing what He wanted them to do?  The answer to both questions was, "Yes!"

Then, why weren't they experiencing victory?   Verse 22 provides the most graphic description of their plight.  "Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

That verse is quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:36 to remind believers that life is not always health, wealth and happiness.  Real life is full of challenges.  The greatest tests are beyond the physical, financial and emotional tough times.  How we respond to God in the midst of difficulties is a test of faith.

Exhibit A of this truth is that fact that this same verse is quoted two additional times in Scripture to refer to Jesus!  In Isaiah 53, the prophet predicted that the Messiah would suffer and die for "the iniquity of us all" and quoted Psalm 44:22.  When Philip spoke with the Ethiopian official in Acts 8, he explained that Jesus fulfilled what Isaiah predicted.

So, how can we not only endure tests of faith but actually grow through them?  Here are three things we can do today.

1. Remember God delights in you. (vv.1-3)

Self-esteem and self-worth can hit bottom in the middle of a test.  Psalm 44 opens by remembering that God delivered His people because He delighted in them.  When the LORD delivered David out of a tight spot, he wrote, "He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:19)  As believers, we are children of God.  We are members of the family of God.  God not only loves us, He likes us!

2. Remember all the good things God has done for you already. (vv.4-8)

Speak about how we came to faith in the first place.  What has God done since us since we placed our faith in Him?  Let others hear us giving thanks to the LORD "continually."

3. Remember God knows our hearts. (vv.17-21)

Stay true to your commitment to the LORD.  The Psalmist could say, "we have not been false to your covenant.  Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way."  Refuse to give in to temptation just because you feel bad.

The cross was not final.  In His sufferings, Jesus knew that resurrection was coming.  He trusted the Father to bring Him through it.  And, so can we.  Our deliverance is on its way.

Where is your God?

Psalm 42-43.

The insides of the songwriter were churning.  Something happened to cause his emotions to hit bottom and even to struggle with his faith.  This appears to be a mix of prayer and a good dose of self-talk to encourage himself in his faith.

In his distress, the unbelievers (43:1) ask, "Where is your God?"  Where is this One you say you trust when you need Him?

These two Psalms were most likely one song originally.  Three times he wrote, "Hope in God".  His hope was not in his circumstances.  His future was not based on things getting better.  His faith caused him to believe that God had a plan and a purpose that would one day cause him to "again praise Him."

How can we endure such tests?

1. Only God can truly satisfy us. (42:1-5)

His soul was parched.  There is no thirst on earth like the longing for God to intervene at a critical moment in life.  He was panting for God, crying out to Him day and night.  What sustained him were the wonderful memories of worshiping the LORD in the past.

2. Only God can truly secure us. (42:6-11)

In the midst of overwhelming despair, he looked to God for stability.  He called God "my rock."  William B. Bradbury wrote in the old hymn The Solid Rock, "When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay."

3. Only God can truly show us clear direction. (43) 

The way out of tough times is directed by two provisions from the LORD.  First, He gives us "light".  When darkness closes in and we cannot see our next step, God can help.  He can turn the light on with insight and wisdom to follow Him successfully out of the test.  Second, He gives us "truth" that does not change with the shifting sands of culture and time.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

3 Principles that will meet Needs

Read Psalm 41.

1. "God helps those who help themselves."

That old adage is not a quote from the Bible, yet it is true that God has ordained that our needs be met by our labor.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "...we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

2. "God helps those who cannot help themselves."

Concerning how to attain eternal life Jesus said, "With man this impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

3."God helps those who help others who cannot help themselves."

And then we come to Psalm 41.  David was in need of help.  Apparently he suffered from some life-threatening ailment.  His enemies waited for him to die.  Even his friends turned against him.  How serious was this offence by the so-called friends?  The words of verse 9 were quoted by Jesus to described Judas!

The basis of David's appeal to God was his integrity (v.12).  He had come to the relief of the poor.  He came to the rescue of the needy.  And, now when he was in need, he prayed to the One who ultimately heals and delivers.

Opportunities abound everyday to work, to depend on God, and be ready to help others in need.

It is time for your Check-up

Read Psalm 40.

Regular check-ups are part of maintaining a healthy life.  While physically we may undergo an annual examination, the believer in Jesus needs a spiritual one everyday.  Too often we wait until something is wrong to visit with the doctor and run the tests.  David felt overwhelmed by sin (v.12) and threatened by enemies (v.14).  He turned to the Great Physician for a complete analysis.  Here is the checklist for all of us.

1. My feet. (v.2)

He had been bogged down in a pit and was sinking.  When we get away from God, we dig a hole for ourselves that can only lead to self-destruction.  But God brought him out of it and put his feet on solid ground.  The steps of his life were now secure.

2. My mouth. (vv.3-6)

God looks beyond our words to the source inside.  What is in the heart and thinking comes out of the mouth.  We need regular cleansing.  When a person places their faith in the LORD, He puts a new set of words within us.  They are words of praise to God and everyone around us hears them.  So much so that they want the faith that we have.

3. My ears. (v.6)

Figuratively, God had to dig out David's ears so he could hear what God wanted done.  This world can plug up our listening ability and drown out what God is trying to say to us.

4. My heart. (vv.8,10,12)

A healthy spiritual heart begins with a commitment to do God's will, instead of our own.  What God wants becomes the guiding desire of life.  It pumps life and energy throughout everything we do.  Sin causes us to causes spiritual heart failure.

5. My lips. (v.9)

A speech analysis of our vocabulary and tone demonstrates clearly the purity of what is inside of us.  We must get rid of words that displease the LORD.  Our new speech proclaims the good news of what God has done for us.

6. My head. (v.12)

His sense of a guilty conscience and feelings of being overwhelmed prompted this check-up in the first place.  Jesus offers cleansing through the forgiveness of sins.  The result is clarity of thinking and peace of mind.

The Doctor is always in and waiting for us.