Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Christ is encouraging all of his people to praise and honor the Lord especially those who are suf- fering. Praise precedes the victory. Jesus’ faint song of praise from the cross (v.3) is now become a mighty flood of encouragement to all those in his church facing difficulties. “ …don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad- because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.” (1 Pet. 4:12,13) “ I will praise you among all the people; I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their heart will rejoice with everlasting joy.” (25,26) People were meant to live in an atmosphere of praise. Christ makes a vow of praise that will never be broken and all who seek him are encouraged to follow his example of rejoicing. The “ poor will eat and be satisfied, ” is traditionally thought to refer to the communion table, the churches most intimate mo- ments of worship with our savior. “ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. People from every nation will bow down before him. For the lord is king! He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and wor- ship. Let all mortals-those born to die- bow down in his presence.” (27-29) The fruit of Christ’s suffering is people from every nation worshiping God. The song from the throne became the song of the cross (v 3), the song of the church (v 22) and finally the song of the whole earth (v 27). Worship is unstoppable, his reign is infallible; the spread of his love is uncontrollable! All strata of society, poor and rich alike will worship Jesus in this worldwide kingdom. “ Future generations will also serve him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything he has done [‘It is fin- ished].” (30,31) Each generation will have their unique, new sound of praise and worship to express the ageless ‘song of the cross.’ Some versions translate the final sentence of Psalm 22 in the last words of Christ: ‘ It is finished. ’ The Song of the Cross Touches the Whole World-

1 Spurgeon 2 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 23: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD The Shepherd Psalm

This is the greatest of the psalms and is the best-known passage of the Bible along with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew. Spurgeon calls it “a surpassing ode, which none of the daughters of music can excel.” It is a masterpiece of literature; so short yet every line a gem of thought and poetry. The 10th chapter of John’s gospel is a close parallel to this song where Jesus declares: ‘ I am the good shepherd.’ (Jn. 10:11) It begins with the sheep in the meadows, the streams and a dark valley and then ends with the sheep at the table in their master’s house. The psalm is reflective of God’s faithfulness to David over his entire lifetime yet it draws upon his early experiences as a shepherd. When Samuel asked David’s father if he had any more sons he an- swered: “’ There is still the youngest,’ Jesse replied. ‘But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep.’” (1 Sam. 16:11) David helped his father shepherd the flock as preparation for shepherding the nation of Is- rael: “ But David went back and forth between working for Saul and helping his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.” (1 Sam. 17:15) David’s courage and confidence was developed as he gave his life for his sheep: “’ I have been taking care of my father’s sheep,’ he said. ‘ When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth…”(1 Sam. 17:34,35) The bravery gained in shepherding the sheep was used by David to slay Goliath, the Philistine giant.

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