Journal PS 104-106 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! … Remember the wondrous works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered…” (excerpts from Ps 104:1-2 and Ps 105:1-5)
Observation: Coming off the lamentations of Ps 102, David sounds like what? Cheerful or purposeful?
Analysis: There are times where I have to be finished with griping and just hitch up my pants and go to work. That’s the image I think of reading these Psalms—David adamant preaching to his soul, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth!”
I say to myself: “Bless the Lord, O my soul!!” I am telling myself not to get caught up with the issues of the recent past and get my head on straight. How best to do that but to preach to myself.
It is evident that David is talking out loud. Clue!! If Dave is doing it, I should too.
It is evident that David is reviewing step by step, issue by issue. I should be doing that as well.
It is evident that David is not only reviewing the “good” stuff, but also the “not so good.” I shouldn’t shy away from reviewing that, either.
Here is an example: David praises God, saying, “Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love…Then (remembering or being reminded again) they believed his words; they sang his praise.” Ps 106:7 and 12
But here is something that happens to all: “They soon forgot his works; they did not await his council.” Ps 106:13
His Word, precepts, principles, doctrine (all parts of the Jewel that is the Gospel) should be reviewed every day, maybe for no other reason than we are so prone to FORGET his goodness and his majestic sovereignty in all of creation. Reality of life creeps in silently, insidiously, and pushes out the presence of His Voice, His Word.
Maybe the bane of our lives is: “I forget.”
Prayer: Lord, please keep me in remembrance mode. Help me to remember to lean in upon You in every respect—the little as well as the middle to big things. Keep me from the pride that wants me to solve things without you. That is so very hard because I am not skilled in hearing your still, small voice; I am not skilled in remembering your Law and Word.
Build your Doctrines of Grace more and more inside me. Make them the Lens from which I view life.
AMEN
Rick Sutton