It is a blessed time when the leader of a
nation acknowledges the supreme place of the LORD in his life and in the life
of the nation (Ps 21). Look at all the blessings that the king has received and
for which he gives thanks. Are you willing to exalt in the LORD’s strength? Or
do you feel like you need some of the glory? Can you take a back seat and let
Him be up front in everything?
Repentance has a certain look. Psalm 51 is
that look. Repentance wants cleansing (v2). It knows who has been offended (v4)
and his sinfulness (v5). The process of cleansing following repentance includes
the heart and spirit (v10). Being in God’s presence is a reward of restoration
(v11). Guilt gets dealt with (v14), we offer our broken spirit (v17), and then
the LORD delights in what we have to offer (v19). Repentance has gotten a bad
rap. Maybe it is time to give it a try. Use this psalm as a guide.
The LORD wants us to hear what He has to say
(Ps 81:8). Where Israel went off course on numerous occasions was their
tendency to worship other gods (v9). We can act all smug and say that we aren’t
guilty of this, but in reality we are. Think of worship in a broader context
than simply about whom we sing songs on Sunday. Worship is about the object of
our trust. Who do you trust when things get tough? Do you first look to your
credit card? Is prayer the “last resort” or the first? Who or what occupies the
lion’s share of our time and energy? Does Facebook or World of Warcraft get
more time than the Word? The LORD wants us to know that if we would listen, He
would answer (v14). Listen, not just when the storms of life come, but when
there is sunshine and a gentle breeze. Listen!
The LORD wants all of us, not just part (Ps
111:1). To put this in Army terms, he wants us on Active Duty, not in the
Reserves. And how can we do this? We can think about what the LORD has done
(vv2-9). This is an active, involved process. It means we keep Him as the focus
of our lives. We look for and seek out opportunities to acknowledge Him and His
works. We see Him working in the big and small things of life. When His hand is
present, we take notice and offer thanks. And this is a process. It takes time
and energy to shift our focus, but it is what the LORD wants us to do.
I know my tendency is to “let it rip” at
inappropriate moments. I speak when I should be silent. The psalmist (Ps
141:3-4) recognizes this tendency in himself and asks the LORD to help him bring
this element of his life into alignment with His character. He wants some other
people to help him as well, and he will welcome their interventions (v5). Are
you willing to allow other people to speak truth into your life? Rebuke?
Correction? So often we are resistant to the LORD’s voice of correction and
rebuke when it passes through another human being’s mouth. It takes humility
and a right-sized picture of our own importance to receive correction from
another person.