Worship: A Study in PsalmsSample

What does it say?

Many would place their trust in the Lord as David broke his silence about the wonders, love, and truth of the Lord – his hope, help, and deliverer.

What does it mean?

Both of these psalms were likely written during Absalom’s rebellion while David suffered the physical effects of God’s judgment on his sin with Bathsheba. It seemed to David that things couldn’t get any worse. Instead of simply refraining from complaining, David tried to remain entirely silent to ensure he didn’t slip up and sin. His misguided attempt at silence fell apart as he poured out his emotions, questions, and confession to the Lord. Such intensity gave David a deeper appreciation for all God had done for him in the past, causing a new awareness of what worship was all about. He was confident that others would also trust the Lord when he openly talked about God’s love and mercy. The God who helped him in the past was the God who allowed his present situation. All of David’s hope for deliverance was in Him.

How should I respond?

We are too often silent about the things that really matter. Complaints and negative emotions pour out of us like a broken fire hydrant, while genuine praise for the Lord gets bottled up. If we’re honest about why this happens, we’d probably have to admit that we’re more focused on everything that seems wrong than we are on the love and mercy of God. What have you been the most vocal about this week? Have your words drawn people to Christ, or would they be considered sinful? Don’t wait until your present situation improves to praise and worship the Lord openly. Recounting what He has done in the past will improve your outlook for what He can do in the present.