Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

“They say, ‘ We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own-who can stop us?”(4)

This is the first psalm that mentions the ‘lips’ and it always represents our words. Who would ever think of speaking without their lips unless it was a ventriloquist? Basically there are two categories of ‘lips’ in the psalms, those mentioned here who say: “ our lips are our own-who can stop us. ” They end up lying and deceiving as described in later psalms: “ May their lying lips be silenced-those proud and ar- rogant lips that accuse the godly.”(Ps.31:18) Then there are those who pray as David did: “ Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed.”(Ps. 141:3) Praise is a sign that our lips are under his control: “ My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praise unto you!” (Ps. 71:23) ‘Lips’ (or speech) that is under the control of the Holy Spirit will pour forth praise and blessing.

II GROANS OF THE POOR - Prophecy from the Lord- 5

“The Lord replies, ‘ I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.’”(5)

This is the second time prophecy occurs in the psalms, the first being in Psalm 2:6,7 where the Lord directly prophesies that His Son is the king that he has set upon the throne in Zion. David is described as a prophet in Acts 2:30 and it is from the atmosphere of praise and worship that musical prophecy arises and gives birth to the prophetic age in Israel. David most likely received his prophetic instruction from Samuel his mentor. When Saul’s soldiers were sent to capture David in Naioth the Bible says: “ …they arrived and saw Samuel and the other prophets (David?) prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to proph- esy.”(1 Sam. 19:11) The spirit of prophecy is powerful and can deeply affect a person’s life giving us deep insight into the Word of God. It is inherent in the receiving of the Holy Spirit as we are told our ‘ sons and daughters will prophesy”(Acts 2:17) . As a person or congregation sings the songs inspired by the Holy Spirit, they come under His life-transforming influence. God is pouring out his spirit today and there will be those who ‘sing’ under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit like David and the singers of old. Now we are introduced to one of the greatest themes in all of the psalms, the purity and trustwor- thiness of God’s words. While present day prophetic insights can be tainted by faulty human nature and needs to be judged by mature believers, the prophecy of the scripture is completely pure and is itself the judge of all life and experience. “ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.” (2 Pet. 1:20,21) God’s words stand in drastic contrast to the lips of those who lie and are self-willed in their speech. As we hold on to the promises of his word we will experience the fires of testing but God promises to bring us through with increased purity and praise! “ You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver melted in a crucible.”(Ps. 66:10) A true worshiper will value the words of God above everything in this world. Jesus said: “ …the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”(Jn. 6:63) and in the great psalm that celebrates God’s words and commands it is recorded by the writer: “ Your law is more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver!”(Ps. 119:72) III PROMISES ARE PURE - Promises from the Lord- 6 “ The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.” (6)

IV PRESERVE THEM FOREVER - Protection from the Lord- 7,8

“ Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.” (7,8)

While evil is being praised we walk in the assurance of God’s promised protection. God preserved David in the time of evil when Saul ruled Israel. His word gives greater security than any earthly guar- antee, it has carried many people in every century through the fires of life and it will surely carry us safely on.

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