Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

I THE JOY OF WORSHIP- 1-5 II THE JOY OF WORLD MISSION- 5-8 III THE JOY OF THE HARVEST- 9-13

INTRODUCTION:

“For the choir director: A psalm of David. A song.”

This psalm is for public worship by the temple choir. Its lyrical beauty probably made it a favorite song of the Feast of Tabernacle celebration. It is attributed to King David and is the first of four psalms that have the addendum ‘a song’ . (65-68) This can be interpreted as a ‘Lyrical Poem’ elevating it to the highest expression of song writing.

I THE JOY OF WORSHIP - 1-5

“What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, for you answer our prayers, and to you all people will come.” (1,2)

Once again we find a verse that is translated in two ways. The first major interpretation is like we find here in the New Living Translation and the New International Version: “Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion;” (NIV) . But others have translated the first part of this verse like this:

• “There will be silence before you, and praise in Zion…” (NASB95) • “Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God…” (Message Bible) • “To Thee, resignation (silence) is as praise…” (Franz Delitzsch)

The thought behind this is that silence is a sign of resignation before God during worship. He re- ceives this inward attitude as much as an outward expression of mighty praise. Silence is a nervous time in most worship services. This verse can free us to offer both ‘mighty praise’ and humble ourselves in stillness before him. We are reminded ‘to keep our words to God’ as God has made a promise to keep his word to us and answer our prayers. Answered prayer is proof of a living God and is like a magnet drawing people to come to him from all over the earth.

“Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.” (3)

This verse represents the Feast that immediately preceded The Feast of Tabernacles, The Day of Atonement where God provided an offering for the sins of his people. “On that day you must humble yourselves, gather for a sacred assembly, and present offerings to the Lord by fire…it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement will be made for you before the Lord your God, and payment will be made for your sins.” (Lev. 23:27,28) There must be cleansing and forgiveness of sin before joy and harvest.

“What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What joy awaits us inside your holy Temple.” (4)

The New Testament times in which we live are vastly superior in spiritual quality to the times of the Old Testament believers. In their day only the High Priest was chosen to come near to God and the priesthood had exclusive access to the holy courts of the temple. “… the priests went in and out of the first room regularly as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, and always with blood, (Heb. 9:6,7) Through Christ we are all invited into the Holy Place, there is no more exclusivity. “…we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place be- cause of the blood of Jesus…let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him.” (Heb. 10:19,22)

“You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior.”(5)

Worship and prayer is the two lane street of heaven affording us access to his courts and him ac- cess to our human condition. Answered prayer is one of the assurances we have in our times of worship.

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