Today’s Scripture Reading (March 11,
2013): Psalm 103
There is a
soundtrack to my life. I am not sure if everybody’s life is like that, but
there are songs that take me back to a particular period in my life. And
sometimes, when I am confronted with an idea or a circumstance, it is a song
that comes rushing back to me. So, whenever I read Psalm 103 it is an old
Andrae Crouch song that I start to sing. I think the reason is that I grew up
in what we would call a traditional church. I have always been wired towards
music (I grew up in a very musical family) and so my favorite part of the
church service was the singing of the songs. But the music in my church was
old. And so I liked some it and tolerated other parts of it (but all of the
music trumped the sermon.) In the hymnal that we used, there were a few newer
pieces (and newer is a relative word) and a couple of those songs were written
by Andrae Crouch. So it was a great day when the worship music included one of
those songs. One of the newer Crouch songs was called “Bless the Lord” and it
quotes Psalm 103:1 in the King James Version language – “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.”
But bless is kind of a weird word (the NIV’s “praise” is a
bit easier to understand) when it comes to our response to God. When God
blesses us, he adds something substantial to our lives. But that is not what
happens when we bless God. When God receives our blessing, there is nothing
that is added to God. All that our blessing does is recognize the absolute
richness that is available in God. Our blessing of God recognizes the
incredible wealth that exists in the person of God. David writes that his
praise arises from the deepest part of his soul – we might call it the core of
his being. What that meant was that no matter what was happening in the
external parts of his life and whatever was being said about God, deep down David
knew exactly who God was. And when we are able to bless or praise God from the
deepest parts of our lives, there is a confidence that exudes out of us automatically.
Perry Noble (Newspring
Church) makes this observation, sometimes Christians just look mad. They are
judgmental and critical in nature – and none of them looking like they are
having any fun. In fact, sometimes it seems that they walk out of church
grouchier than they were when they went in. And he is absolutely right – but I
would assert that no Christian that lives a life like that (and I have to admit
that there are a lot of them) has learned to praise or bless God from the
inmost part of his being. Recognizing who God is would seem to preclude the
idea of a grouchy Christian.
More recently,
Matt Redman has written a song that is also based on Psalm 103. He calls his
song “10,000 Reasons” and he says the song is the biggest understatement of
life. When we understand how great and good that God is – how can we not praise
him? And there are many more reasons than just the 10,000 mentioned in the
song. And Matt is right. When we understand God in the core of our being –
praise becomes our automatic response and a naturally critical group of people
are filled with an unspeakable joy. It is the natural response that comes from
blessing God in the deepest part of your soul.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm
108
Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my
Dad – who I know loves both Andrae Crouch’s “Bless the Lord” and Matt Redman’s
“10,000 Reasons.” I hope you have a great day!
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