No more did he listen to the rush and roar of the thunderstorm. For with the touch of clinging hands and the throbbing bosom he grew conscious of an inward storm—the tingling of new chords of thought, strange music of unheard, joyous bells, sad dreams dawning to wakeful delight, dissolving doubt, resurging hope, force, fire, and freedom, unutterable sweetness of desire. A storm in his breast—a storm of real love.”
–Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)
“‘…Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments…’ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.'”
–Revelation 19:1, 6 (NIV)
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In preparing for this morning‘s devotion I came across this by F.W. Boreham, “God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light. He had no need to say, ‘Let there be song!’ because He was; and since He was, the morning stars sang together. Whenever and whoever created things have stood face-to-face with their Creator, they have burst into song.” We read from the Book of Job, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (38:7, NKJV) Think of what it will be like in heaven when we sing the songs of praise and songs of victory, “…”Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory…” (Revelation 19:6-7, NKJV) For now, we must be content in singing and in the music we have today; turn your attention to Psalm 150.
1 — Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 — Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 — Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 — Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 — Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 — Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (NKJV)
As we have been going through the psalms we have assuredly found ourselves reflected in them, perhaps many times. There has been despair and triumph, depression and victory. As in our own lives we see in the psalms great personal problems and issues, deeply staining sins, tragic misfortune, illness, advancing age, enemies and adversaries, valleys and mountaintops. (Wood) Now we come to the end and we are to sum up our reading of the Psalms as well as our lives–it is to be in praise! We are to praise God in each and every situation of life, in each and every emotional and mental issue that we may have. George Wood relates that “Saints are those colorful and transparent people who, in the many-hued circumstances of life, keep letting the Son shine through them.”
We need to learn how to worship, realizing that it is not only singing, but it is our whole life. True worship is awesome, so should our lives be. Steven Lawson defines worship as, “the proper response of the entire person–mind, heart, and will–to all that God is–Creator, Ruler, and Redeemer.” When I was coaching I would use this psalm as an analogy of a football player. The halfback runs, dancing through the opposition; the lineback, the loud cymbal crashes into the receiver as the linemen with clashing cymbals thrust through their opponents. The trumpet, the loud leader of the team–the quarterback. Oh, it is a grand psalm, come up with your own analogies, but the thing is that we should be praising the Lord in all circumstances and all seasons of life. F.B. Meyer states, “Each of our emotions and faculties may be a musical instrument in the best sense. Praise Him with the sound of your love! Praise Him with hope and faith! Praise Him with meekness and patience! Praise Him with courage and strength! Praise Him in work! Praise Him when tied by pain and weariness in a sickbed.”
I really enjoy good music, however, I’m not the best singer (except in my own mind) and I’ve tried to play instruments but to little avail. I can read music, but I cannot hear it to play it on an instrument. In fact, I found an instrument that boasted, “For the musically hopeless.” It was a harmonica, and you’re right I couldn’t play it either. However, I did learn to worship in my work, in my attitude, in my joy, in my dedication to my career, to my calling from the Lord. “All ends well in God. Life has a successful resolution. God kept His word and worked for your good in your life. There were days when you did not see where He was taking you or what good He was doing for you–but now eternity makes it all so plain. Nothing but joy awaits.” (Wood) Harmonica get ready for I’m going to send a melodious blast through it in heaven.
Oh there is so much more that I could write regarding this psalm, but I’ll shut down this devotion with the last verse: “Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!” (NLT)
All should praise the Lord, all the time for the Lord is good, and He is good all the time. We need to use our instruments–our gifts, our talents, and all aspects of our being–to praise the Lord. I know of people who use their smile to praise Him, others have a way with words to encourage, and we all can praise Him by living an obedient life. PRAISE THE LORD!
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne
And unto the Lamb
Forever and ever. Hallelujah! Amen”
–George F. Handel