Praise is Where the Journey Ends
I am not praising the Lord that we have come to the end of the Psalms. I am praising the Lord for what we find at the end of the Psalms.
As we’ve read the psalter off and on over the past five years, we’ve seen themes and even sections that seem to tell stories (remember especially the Songs of Ascents). But trying to figure out an overall structure to the Psalms is quite elusive. The best description I’ve ever heard of the order to the entire psalter is quite simply the order of life.
We have ups and downs, highs and lows. We have days when the joy of the Lord fills our hearts, minds, and souls. We know God is with us. We see the evidence all around us. We cannot help but praise Him and shout for joy. However, we have other days when we search and pray and pray and search, yet we cannot find God anywhere. We fear He has abandoned us. We wonder if He has decided to renege on His promises. And we have lots of times in between which are a mixture of these feelings. Sometimes we experience these things in loneliness. Sometimes we experience them with others. And, of course, sometimes we know we just need to study our Bibles (that is the eleven weeks of Psalm 119).
But where does this roller coaster journey end? In the sanctuary of God in the mighty heavens, around His throne, shouting praises.
The psalmists went through every emotion and experience we endure. God, through the psalmists, has provided for us words, verbiage, prayers we can bring to Him in all these moments. They experienced victory and defeat, community and betrayal, joy and sorrow. They walked on paths of righteousness and drank from quiet waters, but they also traversed the valleys of deep darkness. They experienced the attack of strangers and the betrayal of friends and even the abandonment of family. In many of these moments, their faith nearly slipped. But they hung on and see where it has led. Praise! Hallelujah!
Their faith was vindicated. Their tenacity rewarded.
I don’t know what kind of day, week, month, year, even decade you are having. But I know this, if you hang on to Yahweh in Jesus Christ it will end in praise and glory. If you are in a time of easy praise and celebration, rejoice. It will only be better when you get to the end. If you are in a time of sorrow and even despair, hang on. It will get better, and it will be worth it in the end.
The Lord is with us. Hang on. And get ready for a crazy, eternal celebration.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 150.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 150 admonish you?
Read the Bible 