I shared with you in the First Light Blog that Eric and I have been reading a Psalm a day since January 1st. This practice has radically changed how I view God. I am overwhelmed by the discovery of how BIG GOD is. It seems I should have known this already, but I just keep finding Him BIGGER. So when things come up or questions arise that seem inconsistent with my foundational understanding of who God is, I am not undone by how uncomfortable it can feel to question with reverence and fear the One who holds the world together with His hands.
As I was reading the Psalms for the second time, I picked ten that I would study more deeply and wrote Cries of Praise from the Psalter for the Ladies Bible Study I teach at my church on Wednesday evenings. I have been sharing my reflections from this study with you here these past months. The process has been incredible.
Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude
For the month of November, I carefully selected thirty Psalms of Thanksgiving to read and pray back to God, praising Him for who He is. This process cultivates a heart of Gratitude. Nothing changes my heart more than giving thanks.
I get up around 5:30 AM, grab my coffee, Bible, and journal and sit on the porch expectantly waiting for God to break through the darkness with His glorious light. And He meets with me every day. Even on the cloudy days, His light is there to guide me.
Of the thirty Psalms of Thanksgiving selected, I picked two, Psalm 98 and Psalm 100, to study more deeply and use as opportunities to teach the ladies with which I have been entrusted how go about doing my study. I actually picked three but had to sit on the bench with Covid. So my capable friend, Letha, was up to bat to pinch hit for me, as she sometimes does, with Psalm 95.
A Fresh Experience of God’s Grace
In the meantime, I was given an opportunity to share my ongoing story with a group in a neighboring church. I shared how God did not leave me in the pit of despair as I kept crying out to Him, that He heard my cries and put a new song in my heart. Psalm 40:1-3 are my life verses. They speak of this very miracle that compels me to proclaim what He has done to the whole world so that many will see and fear and put their trust in Him.
Psalm 98 also speaks of singing to the LORD a new song. As I studied, I learned it’s not that I am necessarily composing something new. I am singing the song that is a fresh experience of God’s Grace.1
My reflections of Psalm 98
I am compelled to sing a new song
The reason I am compelled to sing a new song is because I cannot get over the marvelous things God has done that defy human logic. He is giving me a fresh opportunity to praise Him. The chief of which is how He saved me with His mighty right hand and holy arm. May I never get over what Jesus did to rescue me!
He made known this great salvation when He revealed His righteousness in the sight of the Nations. There will come a day when He rights all the wrongs and victims will be vindicated.2 He has never and will never forget His covenant promise of steadfast love and faithfulness that started with the house of Israel through our Faith Father Abraham3 but was always intended to be for the whole world as John proclaimed in the New Testament.4 Jesus came the first time to pay the price for deliverance and conquer death. When He returns, every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord as was prophesied in Isaiah.5
This is Dress Rehearsal
When that day comes, the joyful noise that will erupt will not be contained as the peoples of every tongue, tribe, and nation cue the orchestra and shout in praise as is the only fitting response worthy of the KING. Kidner says we anticipate the LORD’s return with every act of worship, and the songs we now sing are rehearsal as a prelude to His appearing.2
Creation Cries
Creation itself cannot keep silent as it joins in the cries of praise. The world itself is renewed1 as the seas roar, rivers clap, and hills sing for joy together before the LORD as He comes to rule the earth!
And not only the earth itself, but He is also coming to administer justice and govern the world and its peoples with honesty and integrity. He is the King of kings.
Glimpses of Heaven
As I wait for His return to set up New Heaven New Earth, I get glimpses of it that power me through each day. As I lean into His Spirit, He opens my eyes to see His mercies anew each morning. A heart of gratitude is cultivated as I can’t stop thanking Him for all the marvelous things!
98 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! 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
