Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 15-17, Psalms 67
I love the heart of David. To be sure, the guy’s a mess. The successes of his life are massive but so are his failures. His devotion to the Lord is convicting, his unfaithfulness deeply troubling. Despite the problems he creates for himself through his penchant for violence and greed and selfishness and a lust for power, David does have his moments. Moments when his deep love for God shines through. Today’s prayer (1 Chronicles 16:8-36 CSB) is a great example. There is praise, thankfulness, gratitude, and joy. There is awe and reverence for who God is and revealed Himself to be as well as humility as David acknowledges his need for salvation. David’s prayer provides a model for the believer to help guide our own prayers as we seek to build a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
“Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him; sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” David begins with an ascription of praise. He looks at the world around him and sees the handiwork of God. He looks back throughout history and sees the hand of God at work. He knows God is faithfully ordering things according to His sovereign will and purpose and he calls on God’s people to give Him praise. Take a moment and look at the world around you. No matter where you live, creation itself is singing the praises of God. The mountains. Oceans. Fields full of wheat and corn. Mighty rivers like the Nile. Lakes like Victoria in Uganda where I will be going tonight. The birds. The fish. The animals. All of it designed to bring us to our knees in awe and wonder.
“Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced, you offspring of Israel his servant, Jacob’s descendants — his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; his judgments govern the whole earth. Remember his covenant forever — the promise he ordained for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob as a decree, and to Israel as a permanent covenant: “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.” When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their behalf: “Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.” David remembers not just the miraculous works of creation but the specific acts of God for His people. The faithfulness of God in choosing His people and setting them apart for His holy purpose. The eternal covenant He made to give them a land and an identity. The protection God provided as He guided them from Egypt to the Promised Land. This is where prayer becomes personal. We reflect not just on what God has done generally but what He has done for us personally and we give Him praise.
“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord. Proclaim his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples. For the Lord is great and highly praised; he is feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him.” David next turns to the character and nature of God. God is worthy of our worship simply because He is God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. We don’t worship God for His blessings. We don’t worship God because of His benefits. We worship God for His greatness and holiness and glory and strength. Reflecting on the nature and character of God naturally brings us to our knees in humility. It serves as a good reminder to us of how fleeting and finite we are as human beings. Our lives come and go but God endures forever. And because God endures forever, we can trust Him.
“The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea and all that fills it resound; let the fields and everything in them exult. Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. And say, “Save us, God of our salvation; gather us and rescue us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and rejoice in your praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” Finally, David calls on the Lord, the judge and ruler of the earth, to save him and his people. He calls on God to deliver and rescue His people from the nations that seek to enslave, oppress, and terrorize. He calls on God to do what He’s always done which is protect and guide His people so they may be free to worship Him in spirit and in truth. God sets us free not just to do what we want. He sets us free so we might bring Him the worship He deserves. Take time today to thank God for His freedom and ask His Spirit to guide you in how you use that freedom to worship and serve the Lord.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 18-21, Psalms 68