Today’s reading is Psalm 21.
Psalm 21 begins and ends with the strength of the Lord. It begins with the king exulting in the Lord’s strength. It ends with the people of the king exalting the Lord and His strength in song and praise. The Lord’s response to our praying deserves, in fact demands, a response from us in praise. We asked Him for victory and He gave it. He deserves praise. The Lord’s supremacy over the powers that assail us deserves, in fact demands, a response in praise. And we, more than any of the ancient Israelites who prayed Psalm 20 and witnessed the victory of Psalm 21, have reason to praise. How can we not when the victory of our King was the victory over sin and the grave? C. Hassell Bullock in his comments on this psalm reminds of a hymn written by Robert Lowry: “How Can I Keep from Singing?”
My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the clear, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
Robert Lowry
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?
“How Can I Keep from Singing?”
Quoted (though rearranged) from C. Hassell Bullock, Teach the Text Commentaries, Psalms vol 1, p 155
Isn’t the psalmist really saying exactly that? We see Your power, Your response, Your victory, Lord; how can we keep from singing?
Next week’s reading is Psalm 22.
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A Word for Our Kids
Hey kids, nothing bugs me more than to hear people claim they are going to skip an assembly of the local church because “It’s just a singing.” Or worse, “It’s just a prayer meeting.” We don’t assemble as a church to hear a sermon. We can do that online. No, we assemble to worship God. We assemble to praise God. Often that comes in the form of a sermon. But it happens nowhere more than when the entire congregation lifts their voices together in the harmonious unity of singing. It happens nowhere better than when the congregation has elected someone to voice a prayer on their behalf, a prayer they can with unity say “Amen” to. When we decide not to attend because “It’s just a singing,” we aren’t saying that we don’t like to sing. We are saying that God is not important enough to praise. We are saying God hasn’t done enough for us to warrant gathering together to sing and praise. The fact is when we appreciate what God has done and who God is, we won’t be able to stay away from the singing and praying. How can we who know the love, strength, power, and grace of Yahweh God keep from singing?
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